Right to human dignity a 'fundamental' right President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the right to human dignity as one of the “most fundamental” values enshrined in the Constitution. The President addressed the nation through his weekly newsletter ahead of the national commemoration of Human Rights Day this coming weekend. “This year, we mark three decades since South Africa adopted its democratic Constitution. The Constitution is more than the supreme law of the land; it is a solemn promise that never again should any person be stripped of their humanity and dignity. “As we observe [Human Rights] day, we must reflect on whether we are fulfilling the promise contained in our Constitution. “Of all the values enshrined in our Constitution, one of the most fundamental is the advancement of human dignity. It is the foundation on which the rights to equality, to freedom from discrimination, to education, to health, to a safe environment and others are built. It is the idea that every person possesses an inherent worth that must be respected and protected,” he said. The Bill of Rights within the Constitution formally enshrines the right to human dignity, stating: “Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected”. This right, the President said, must be “preserved in all circumstances”. “In our Constitution, human dignity is not an abstract ideal, but a concrete right that has meaning in people’s daily lives. The right to dignity is operationalised through law, institutions and policies. Our courts continue to assert this right and, where necessary, order government and those in power to take measures to enhance people’s dignity. “Protecting a person’s right to dignity is not limited to the way people treat each other. It is also about improving the circumstances in which people live. It lies at the heart of the policies and programmes of this government and of the work of many organisations and individuals across society,” he noted. A government at work Over the past three decades, government has worked to restore the dignity of South Africans, providing services such as water, electricity, healthcare, education and social support where these were “denied to them under apartheid”. “This work, which we have undertaken together as a society, has enhanced the human dignity of children, who are supported by a child support grant, who have access to early childhood development, who attend fee-free schools, who receive school meals and who will be able to access funding to study at a university or college. “The provision of housing, water and electricity has changed the lives of families across the country, reducing poverty and improving their quality of life,” President Ramaphosa said. He acknowledged that, despite the strides made since the dawn of democracy, challenges remain. Poverty, inequality and unemployment remain “stubborn obstacles to the full realisation of human dignity for every South African”. “Closing those gaps is a constitutional imperative that belongs to all of us. That is why we are working even harder to accelerate the momentum of economic recovery, so that our economy can grow faster, create employment and reduce poverty. “When we mobilise investment to build factories or open mines to create jobs and opportunities for emerging businesses, or when we build new roads and revitalise hospitals, we are working towards a society in which everyone has dignity. “When we lay new pipes to bring water to outlying villages or repair ageing water infrastructure in cities and towns, or when we restore the supply of electricity to communities, we are advancing the right to dignity,” the President explained. He stated that as uncertainty begins to affect the global economy, “we must hold fast to the path we are on” and be dedicated to treating every person with dignity. “We must sustain our massive investment in infrastructure, continue with far-reaching reforms in energy, water and logistics, overhaul our skills development system and expand support to small businesses. “On Human Rights Day this year, let us rededicate ourselves to the Constitution and to its most cherished principles. Let us resolve in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities to treat every person with the dignity that is their right – and let us never stop working until we have ensured that every person can live in dignity, comfort and peace,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za NeoB Mon, 03/16/2026 - 09:21 10 views