Media Statement

As South Africa commemorates Human Rights Month 2026, the African National Congress (ANC) calls on all South Africans to reflect on the sacrifices that secured our freedom and to recommit ourselves to defending the democratic gains achieved through decades of struggle.

This year’s commemoration carries particular significance as our country marks 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the supreme law that entrenches the rights, dignity and freedoms of all who live in our country.

In honour of this historic milestone and the enduring struggle for human rights, the ANC will mobilise communities across the country under the banner of “The People’s March: Defending Our Sovereignty and Democratic Gains,” which will take place on 21 March 2026, Human Rights Day.

In Johannesburg, the march will begin at Mary Fitzgerald Square and proceed peacefully to the Constitutional Court, the guardian of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Across the country, communities in various provinces will gather in solidarity to celebrate our democratic achievements and reaffirm the values of justice, equality, human dignity, constitutionalism and national sovereignty.

Human Rights Month draws its historic significance from the tragic events of 21 March 1960 in Sharpeville, when apartheid police opened fire on peaceful protesters opposing the unjust pass laws of the apartheid regime. The blood of those who fell in Sharpeville became a turning point in the struggle for freedom, justice and human dignity in our country.

Their sacrifice was not in vain. The ideals that inspired that struggle were captured in the Freedom Charter of 1955, which proclaimed, amongst others, that the people shall govern. Those principles were later entrenched in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which remains the supreme law of our land. At the heart of the Constitution lies Chapter Two, the Bill of Rights, which affirms the dignity, equality and freedom of all who live in South Africa.

The Bill of Rights is not merely a legal framework; it is a living covenant between the democratic state and the people of South Africa. It embodies the aspirations of generations who fought against colonialism and apartheid, many of whom paid the ultimate price so that future generations could live in a society founded on justice, equality and human dignity.As we mark three decades of constitutional democracy, the ANC reaffirms that the rights contained in the Bill of Rights must find practical expression in the daily lives of our people. The commitments outlined in the recent State of the Nation Address and the 2026 National Budget are directed at fulfilling these constitutional obligations.

The focus on strengthening and fixing local government, investing in water infrastructure, improving energy security, expanding infrastructure investment and protecting the social wage represents concrete steps to advance the rights to dignity, basic services, economic participation and social justice.

The Budget further affirms government’s commitment to a people-centred developmental path that prioritises economic inclusion, job creation and social protection. By strengthening state capacity, investing in network industries such as energy, logistics and water, and supporting vulnerable communities through the social wage, the democratic state continues to give practical meaning to the vision of the Freedom Charter that the people shall share in the country’s wealth.

Human Rights Month also reminds us that the Constitution affirms not only the rights of individuals, but also the collective rights of our nation. South Africa’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination remain fundamental pillars of our constitutional democracy.

Our country is a sovereign democratic state with regular free and fair elections, a vibrant and independent media, constitutionally protected rights and an unwavering commitment to transformation and redress the injustices of colonialism and apartheid.

As we commemorate Human Rights Month and thirty years of our Constitution, the message remains clear, South Africa is a sovereign democratic nation. Our democracy is not for sale and our sovereignty will never be compromised.

The ANC therefore calls on all South Africans to join the commemorations of Human Rights Day on 21 March, including participation in The People’s March: Defending Our Sovereignty and Democratic Gains, as we celebrate our constitutional democracy and recommit ourselves to the ongoing task of building a better life for all.

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