Durban, 21 March 2025 — The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli, led the province’s official Human Rights Day commemoration at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on Thursday, 21 March 2025. The event brought together provincial leadership, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, and members of the public under the theme “Deepening a Culture of Social Justice and Human Rights.”
In his keynote address, Premier Ntuli reflected on the historical significance of 21 March 1960, when peaceful protestors were brutally killed during the Sharpeville Massacre. “Today we remember the pain of our people, the brutality of the apartheid state, and the price paid for the freedoms we enjoy,” he said. “We must never forget that unchecked state power can easily suppress the legitimate aspirations of its own people.”
Premier Ntuli paid homage to the sacrifices made by South Africans in the struggle for freedom and reaffirmed government’s commitment to building a society rooted in equality, dignity and justice for all.
Marking multiple milestones in the country’s democratic journey, the commemoration also acknowledged the 30th anniversary of the South African Human Rights Commission, the 31st anniversary of the first democratic elections, and the 28th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of South Africa.
However, the Premier did not shy away from addressing the province’s ongoing human rights challenges. He highlighted the deepening inequalities along racial, gender and class lines — especially affecting women, children, rural communities, the disabled, and the elderly.
“KwaZulu-Natal continues to experience alarming levels of gender-based violence, child abuse, and attacks on vulnerable groups, including the LGBTQIA+ community and people living with albinism,” Ntuli said. “We are particularly concerned about the increase in teenage pregnancies, often involving older men or educators who take advantage of young girls.”
In response, the provincial government outlined a series of interventions, including the establishment of Victim Friendly Rooms in police stations, community shelters for abused women, behavioural change programmes, and expanded economic support for vulnerable groups.
As part of its economic empowerment drive, the province had prioritised food security initiatives, land negotiations for displaced farming communities, and housing support for military veterans, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.
The Premier also introduced ongoing efforts to engage men in the fight against gender-based violence, including “Khuluma Ndoda” platforms and “Boys to Men” mentorship programmes.
A special moment during the event was the celebration of 103-year-old Mkhulu John Khetha Ntaka, a revered elder from the Qadi Tribal Authority, recognised for his service to the community and the Presbyterian Church.
In closing, Premier Ntuli called on all sectors of society — business, education, faith-based, traditional, and civil society organisations — to unite in building a province where the culture of human rights is truly alive and inclusive.
“Let us use this day to remember that women’s rights are human rights, and every child deserves the chance to thrive,” he concluded.
Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier