WeeklySA_AdminCOMMEMORATION: Rallying call for South Africans to celebrate the day but to never forget the Sharpeville massacre…
By Jane Mufamadi
The month March is more than just a month on the calendar. It stands as a solemn yet empowering reminder of our long and painful journey towards freedom, justice, and human dignity.
The Human Rights Day, observed annually on March 21, is rooted in the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, a moment that changed the course of our history. On that fateful day, 69 peaceful protestors lost their lives while standing up against the oppressive pass laws of apartheid.
Their sacrifice was not in vain — it sparked a global outcry, fuelling the anti-apartheid movement and ultimately contributing to the democratic freedoms we enjoy today.
Yet, the legacy of Sharpeville — and of countless other human rights violations in our past — is at risk of being forgotten by newer generations who did not live through those dark days.
It is our responsibility to ensure that the lessons of history are never lost. At Freedom Park, we believe that one of the most powerful ways to honour this legacy is through storytelling — the ancient art that connects us to our past, helps us make sense of the present, and inspires us to shape a more just and humane future.
Storytelling as a tool for human rights education for centuries. It has been central to the African culture, serving as a bridge between generations, a means of education, and a tool for resistance.
Long before history was written in books, it was passed down through oral traditions reflecting stories of triumph, suffering, resilience, and hope. The apartheid regime sought to erase, suppress, and distort many of these stories, denying generations of South Africans access to their own heritage. But stories, like the people who tell them, are resilient.
South Africa’s liberation struggle was built on stories — those whispered in detention cells, sung in freedom songs, and recorded in the testimonies of those who lived through injustice.
Through storytelling, apartheid’s atrocities were documented, condemned, and ultimately exposed to the world. It was stories that gave the oppressed hope, mobilised activists, and inspired international solidarity.
At Freedom Park, we continue this tradition by using storytelling to educate young people about the past, empower them to engage with the present, and equip them to build a future grounded in human rights principles.
We recognise that history books alone are not enough. To truly understand the sacrifices that brought us to where we are today, young people need to hear the voices, feel the emotions, and connect with the lived experiences of those who fought for freedom.
Ungasali Annual Storytelling Festival: Giving Voices to the Past is one of the most significant ways we bring history to life.
It is through the Ungasali (Do not be left behind) Annual Storytelling Festival, which is an initiative that brings together master storytellers from around the world to share narratives that highlight themes of resistance, resilience, and reconciliation.
This year’s festival, scheduled for Freedom Park Amphitheatre March 15, at the Freedom Park Amphitheatre, will feature renowned storytellers from South Africa, Scotland, Kenya, and England, weaving together narratives that transcend borders and generations. The theme for this year’s festival, Youth Echoes: Shaping Global Futures Through Stories, places young people at the centre of human rights discourse.
The festival will engage 1 500 learners from primary and secondary schools, offering them an immersive experience that combines traditional African folklore, contemporary storytelling, theatre, and live musical performances.
By exposing young audiences to stories of struggle and triumph, we hope to spark meaningful conversations about justice, democracy, and human rights. We want them to see history not as something distant and disconnected, but as something that shapes their lives today and demands their participation in shaping the future.
Keeping Memory Alive – a call to the youth – can feel like an abstract concept reduced to a few pages in a textbook, or a footnote in a history lesson. But history is not just a subject to be studied; it is a lived experience, one that continues to shape our society today.
The youth of today must understand that the freedoms they enjoy were not freely given; they were hard-fought and won through blood, sweat, and sacrifice. By immersing them in the storytelling tradition, we help them connect with history in a personal and meaningful way.
We create a space where they can ask difficult questions, engage with history beyond textbooks, and, most importantly, see themselves as custodians of the democracy that was won through immense struggle.
Through storytelling, we also challenge young people to think about the unfinished work of human rights in South Africa.
While we have made great strides since 1994, many injustices remain. They include economic inequality and gender-based violence, xenophobia, and systemic racism. The next generation must be inspired not only to remember the past but to carry forward the torch of justice.
A Call to Action: Storytelling as Resistance and Remembrance Human Rights Month is a time to reflect on where we come from and to recommit to the values of freedom, dignity, and equality.
It is a time to remember that the fight against injustice is ongoing, and that we all have a role to play in protecting human rights.
At Freedom Park, we will continue to ensure that the voices of the past are not silenced but instead serve as a guiding force for the present and future. We invite all South Africans — young and old — to join us in this journey of remembrance and learning.
Through storytelling, we do not just recount history; we make history to come alive. And in doing so, we reaffirm our collective responsibility to never forget, never repeat the injustices of the past, and always be willing to defend human rights for all.
• Dr Mufamadi is the CEO of Freedom Park
Comment
TIME’S UP FOR BUSHIRIS
The ruling by a Malawian magistrate’s court to deport one of the wealthiest pastors in the world and thus paving the way for him and his wife to face a litany of criminal charges in South Africa, should be hailed as a legal victory for the rule of law.
After almost five years of diplomatic discussions by both the South African and Malawian governments in their commitment to justice, the cooperation at last yielded the desired results following the recent court ruling that Shephered Bushiri, the controversial preacher of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church and his wife, Mary, should be deported to South Africa to stand trial on a number of criminal charges.
Both were arrested and faced various charges that included alleged rape, a multi-million rand money laundering investment scheme, immigration laws and violation of their bail conditions. They have been fugitives from justice after fleeing – while on bail – to Malawi in November 2020. With a net worth estimated at 150 million US dollars, Bushiri is expected to appeal the ruling by the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Court. The South African authorities have indicated that they would oppose the application.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development welcomed the ruling to deport the couple and stressed that South Africa remained committed to strengthening legal and diplomatic partnerships to ensure that fugitives were brought to justice and that legal systems remained fair, credible and effective.
While we acknowledge that Bushiri and his wife are innocent until proven guilty, we urge the pastor, who has already allegedly tarnished the image of the men and women of the cloth, to respect the rule of law and allow the court process to proceed. Both would be legally defended in a trial that is expected to be fair and credible. At the time when they fled the country, the couple had indicated that they feared they would not get a fair trial in South Africa. That fear must be thrown out the window because the ministry of Justice remained committed to credible legal systems.
Bushiri would also not be the first pastor to face criminal charges in this country. Controversial Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso , was arrested in April 2017 and has been on trial in the Gqeberha High Court on charges that included alleged rape, human trafficking, racketeering and sexual assault. He and his two accused have pleaded not guilty. Judgment is expected to be delivered next month. Self-proclaimed prophet, Paseka ‘’ Mboro’’ Motsoeneng is out on R3000 bail after he was arrested for allegedly threatening teachers at a Katlehong primary school with a panga in August last year. He and two of his co-accused are facing charges that included alleged assault and intimidation. They have also claimed to be innocent.
Bushiri and his wife should do the right thing and come to South Africa to face the music. They might not like the tune but it is their only choice. They cannot remain fugitives from justice for the rest of their lives. They can run but they will never be able to hide. The long arm of the law will always catch up with them .
