President Ramaphosa to deliver the keynote address at the 2022 Human Rights Day in Koster

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 21 March 2022, deliver the Keynote address at the 2022 Human Rights Day national event at the Reagile  Community Centre in Koster, North West.
 
The Human Rights Day theme is “The Year of Unity and Renewal: Protecting and Preserving Our Human Rights gains”.
 
The day commemorates 62 years since the Sharpeville Massacre that occurred on 21 March 1960 when 69 anti-apartheid protesters were killed by the  police.
 
This national day also honours 35 who were killed when police cracked down on community members at Uitenhage/Langa who had attended a funeral  on 21 March 1985.
 
Human Rights Day is also an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on the human rights gains achieved since the advent of democracy and to recommit to upholding the rights of all who live in South Africa.
 
During his visit, President Ramaphosa will also officially open the new Reagile Community Library, named after the area in which it is located.
 
The Reagile Community Library was formerly accommodated in an old unused municipality building which was unsuitable as a library.
 
The new facility has been made possible by funding of R7,5 million by the Community Library Service Grant administered by the Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation.
 
Twenty-two people were employed on the construction of this 500 sq metre community asset which features a literature collection of more than 8 000 titles; an activity/study room; a children’s library equipped with toy library collection, a story pit and outside play area; a public internet corner; an audiovisual room for persons with  visual disabilities, and a library collection area with designated space for adults and juvenile collections.
 
The library service is offered for free to the community. Community members can use the services internally and are required to register for membership to borrow books.
 
Human Rights Day is the focal day of the annual Human Rights Month programme of activities generated or supported by various sectors of society.
 
Monday’s formal programme will start at 11h00 and will be broadcast and streamed on a range of platforms.
 

Media enquiries: Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President
 
Issued by: The Presidency