Social activists handed a memorandum to human rights officials at Constitutional Hill on Wednesday, Human Rights Day, after about 2 000 people marched through central Johannesburg.
Social Movement Indaba spokesperson Silumko Radebe said the memorandum, outlining issues on unemployment, housing, evictions and basic services, was handed to the South African Human Rights Commission.
”The main thing is that those socio-economic rights were being violated, so this march was an attempt to reclaim those rights as well as remembering Sharpeville,” Radebe said.
The memorandum also called on the Constitutional Court to ensure that rights are protected, he said.
Marchers included members of the Anti-Privatisation Forum, the Landless Peoples Movement and the Land Movement of South Africa.
”We’re basically highlighting that our social and economic human rights are being ignored and violated,” Radebe said.
A copy of the memorandum was not handed to the Constitutional Court because officials were not present, he said.
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said about 2 000 people took part in the march. ”It all went well and was over by about half past one.”
Police diverted traffic as the march proceeded along Market, Rissik, Joubert and Kotze streets, he said. — Sapa