Author: Lindile Kheswa

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Honourable guests, fellow SayPro leaders, staff, youth, and partners,

Today, as we gather to commemorate Human Rights Day, I am deeply honoured to speak on behalf of the SayPro Royal Committee — and to stand with you in remembrance, in reflection, and in renewed commitment.

Human Rights Day is not just a historical marker. It is a living legacy — a reminder of the price that was paid for our freedom, and the promise we are still working to fulfil.

We remember the tragedy of Sharpeville not only to mourn, but to mobilise — to rise with courage, to lead with compassion, and to ensure that never again will the dignity of any person be denied, overlooked, or forgotten.

As the SayPro Royal Committee, we believe that human rights are not only political — they are personal. They live in the homes of the unemployed mother, in the dreams of a rural child, and in the everyday lives of young people who just want a chance.

And that is why SayPro exists — to turn rights into reality.

Rights to education.
Rights to safety.
Rights to expression, employment, justice, and identity.

These are not privileges for the few — they are the inheritance of us all.

From the Royal Committee’s perspective, our role is not only ceremonial. It is one of moral responsibility. It is our duty to uphold the values of dignity, fairness, and unity — not just in words, but through action. And we are proud to walk this journey alongside SayPro, whose impact continues to touch lives across this nation and beyond.

Let us never forget: True freedom requires follow-through.
It is not enough to have rights in the Constitution — we must see them in our classrooms, our communities, and our leadership.

As we celebrate this Human Rights Day in 2025, we call upon:

• Our leaders to lead with justice, not just power.
• Our youth to rise as agents of change, not victims of silence.
• Our elders to continue guiding with wisdom, not fear.
• And all of us — to never grow comfortable in a world where others still struggle to breathe freely.

To the SayPro team: your work embodies the spirit of this day.
To our young people: your voice matters, your story matters, your future matters.
And to our nation: let us walk boldly in the footsteps of those who marched before us, not just to remember — but to redeem.

Together, let us build a society where human rights are not simply remembered on a single day — but respected every day.

May the values of equality, justice, and humanity forever be our compass.

I thank you.

Delivered by: Mary Mapula Malebe
Title: Secretary, SayPro Royal Committee
Date: 21 March 2025
Theme: “Protecting Human Dignity, Honouring Our Legacy”

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Ladies and gentlemen, elders, youth, leaders, and champions of humanity,

It is with deep honour and gratitude that I stand before you today, on this sacred occasion — Human Rights Day, a day that calls each of us to reflect, remember, and recommit.

I am Mary Mapula Malebe, Secretary of the SayPro Royal Committee. I speak today not only as an administrator or servant of leadership — but as a daughter of this soil, a witness to our shared struggles, and a believer in the unshakable power of community.

Today we remember the lives lost in Sharpeville in 1960. We remember not only the bullets, but the bravery. Not just the pain, but the protest — the protest of ordinary men and women who said “enough is enough.”

Human Rights Day is more than a national commemoration. It is a spiritual calling — a reminder that dignity is not granted by systems or status. It is the birthright of every child born on African soil.

At SayPro, and through the Royal Committee, we carry a sacred duty — to uphold the values of respect, equality, culture, and people-first development.

We must ask ourselves:

• Are we truly free if our youth cannot find work?
• Are we truly equal if girls are still silenced in boardrooms and classrooms?
• Can we claim justice while rural communities still live in isolation?

The answer lies not only in policy — but in participation.
Not only in the Constitution — but in conscience.

This is why the SayPro Royal Committee exists:
To bridge tradition and progress.
To ensure that development is rooted in culture, community, and compassion.
To serve not with authority — but with accountability to the people.

As a Committee, we honour this day by standing with SayPro in their mission:

• To educate, empower, and equip the youth,
• To create programmes that restore dignity,
• And to remind every person that they matter — not because of what they have, but because of who they are.

Let us use this day to renew our collective spirit. Let us build bridges between elders and the youth, between public institutions and the people, between technology and tradition.

Let us teach our children that human rights are not distant ideals — they are lived truths. And it is our shared responsibility to defend them every single day.

As the SayPro Royal Committee, we pledge our support, our voices, and our leadership. We will walk with you, work with you, and rise with you.

In the words of our ancestors:
“Motho ke motho ka batho ba bang.”
A person is a person through others.

May we carry that spirit forward — boldly, proudly, and with purpose.

Thank you.
May dignity, unity, and human rights guide all that we do.

Delivered on Human Rights Day – 21 March 2025

Good morning, SayPro family, honoured guests, fellow South Africans,

It is both a privilege and a calling to stand before you today — not just as Deputy Treasurer of the SayPro Royal Committee, but as a daughter of the soil, a servant of the people, and a guardian of our shared legacy.

Today, on Human Rights Day, we do more than commemorate a chapter in history. We ignite a flame of remembrance — for the souls of Sharpeville who fell so we could rise, for the voices that demanded justice when silence was the easy choice, and for the generations that continue to march for equality, freedom, and dignity.

This day is sacred.

It reminds us that human rights are not given — they are fought for, protected, and lived.

As the SayPro Royal Committee, we carry with us the wisdom of traditional leadership, the spirit of unity, and the deep responsibility to ensure that our people — young and old — are never forgotten, never left behind, and never silenced.

We thank SayPro for creating platforms where voices are amplified, youth are empowered, and justice is pursued not only in law but in life.

From our role in the Committee, we are here to serve — not with titles, but with truth.
We are here to say: the fight is not over.

• When a young woman is still afraid to walk home at night — our work is not done.
• When a child goes to school hungry — justice has not been served.
• When elderly citizens are excluded from healthcare and safety — dignity has been denied.

We must remember that human rights live in everyday choices:
How we govern.
How we lead.
How we serve.

As Deputy Treasurer, I understand the power of resources. But more than that, I understand that what we treasure most must be our people — their lives, their potential, their dreams.

SayPro continues to be a light in dark places — creating opportunity where there was none, building futures where others saw despair, and nurturing talent in communities often overlooked.

To all the youth watching today: You are not powerless. You are purpose-filled.
You are the next generation of protectors of rights, bearers of justice, and builders of peace.

Let us work hand in hand — from royal councils to grassroots movements, from boardrooms to classrooms — to ensure that every person in this country is treated not as a number, but as a human being.

We must budget for justice, plan for progress, and invest in a future that is fair, inclusive, and free.

To my fellow members of the SayPro Royal Committee: let us never grow weary in honouring our traditions while advancing transformation. We are the bridge between the wisdom of our ancestors and the dreams of our children.

And to SayPro: thank you for your unwavering commitment. You remind us that human rights must not only be remembered, they must be realised — every single day.

Let us rise together, for justice.
Let us rise together, for dignity.
Let us rise together, for humanity.

May our voices echo the truth: Human rights belong to all. And we will protect them — as a people, as a nation, and as a movement.

Thank you.
Ngiyabonga. Ke a leboga. Baie dankie. Thank you.

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Ladies and gentlemen, SayPro leadership, young people, partners, and fellow South Africans,

Good day.

It is with great humility and deep pride that I stand before you today, on behalf of the SayPro Royal Committee, to commemorate Human Rights Day 2025 — a day that speaks to the very soul of our democracy and to the heartbeat of our mission at SayPro.

Human Rights Day is not just a reminder of our history — it is a call to action.

We remember the brave men and women of Sharpeville, who in 1960 marched not with violence, but with dignity. They stood against injustice, not with weapons, but with willpower. And many paid with their lives so that we could one day speak freely, vote freely, and live freely.

As the SayPro Royal Committee, our presence here today affirms our unshakable commitment to defending and promoting the rights of our people — especially the youth, the vulnerable, and the voiceless. We are not just here to preserve culture and tradition — we are here to invest in the future.

And the future, friends, is human rights.

Human rights mean:

• Access to quality education for every child, no matter where they are born.
• Economic opportunities for women, youth, and people living with disabilities.
• A life free from abuse, discrimination, and poverty.
• The right to dream — and to have the tools and support to make that dream a reality.

At SayPro, we do not treat human rights as an annual slogan. We build them every day — through training, leadership programmes, social innovation, and community impact.

As Treasurer of the SayPro Royal Committee, I also want to speak about the value of stewardship — ensuring that resources, whether financial, human, or cultural, are used wisely, fairly, and in service of justice.

Because the fight for human rights is not only about loud voices — it is also about responsible actions.

Let us honour Human Rights Day not only by remembering the past but by funding the future.
Let us support organisations like SayPro who are doing the real work — on the ground, in schools, in townships, in boardrooms — bridging the gap between potential and power.

To the youth: your voice matters. Your future matters. Your rights matter.

To the leaders here today: may we lead with integrity, with compassion, and with courage.

And to every citizen of this nation: never forget that you are worthy of dignity, of safety, of opportunity — not because of your background or your bank account, but because you are human.

That alone is reason enough.

Let us walk forward together — with unity, with purpose, and with love.

Thank you. Long live human rights. Long live SayPro. Long live our people.

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[Opening – Warm Greeting]

Good morning, esteemed guests, SayPro leadership, partners, youth, and community members,

It is a true honour to stand before you today, on this important occasion — Human Rights Day — a day of deep remembrance, renewed commitment, and unshakable hope.

As the Deputy Chairperson of the SayPro Royal Committee, I speak not only from a place of leadership but from a place of service — to our people, our heritage, and our future.

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[Reflection on the Day]

On 21 March, we remember the courage of those who stood at Sharpeville in 1960 — ordinary men and women who faced bullets with nothing but dignity and the desire to be treated as human beings.

Their sacrifice was not for speeches. It was for change.
It was for a South Africa — and an Africa — where rights are not privileges, and justice is not negotiable.

Today, we do not gather in silence. We gather in action.
Because the fight for human rights did not end at liberation. It continues — in classrooms, in clinics, in courts, in the hearts of our young people.

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[The Role of SayPro and the Royal Committee]

At SayPro, our mission is clear: to empower, educate, and transform.
The Royal Committee is here not as observers, but as custodians — of culture, of community, and of accountability.

We stand alongside SayPro in ensuring that development reaches those who need it most.
That youth are not only trained — but trusted.
That tradition and innovation walk side by side.

Human rights include:

• The right to opportunity,
• The right to education,
• The right to be heard,
• And the right to lead one’s own future.

And it is our duty, as leaders, to protect these rights not just in law — but in life.

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[Call to Unity and Action]

To the youth: you are not the leaders of tomorrow — you are the leaders of now.
To our elders: your wisdom is our foundation.
To our partners and supporters: let us continue to invest not only in projects, but in people.

Let us build a society where no one is invisible.
Where rural voices matter.
Where human dignity is not dependent on wealth, status, or place of birth.

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[Closing – A Hopeful Commitment]

As we mark Human Rights Day in 2025, let us do more than remember.
Let us rebuild, restore, and reimagine.

On behalf of the SayPro Royal Committee, I pledge our continued support, guidance, and presence as we walk this path together — toward a future that is free, fair, and full of promise for all.

Human rights are not just a legacy — they are a living responsibility.
Let us honour them with action.

Thank you.
May we never forget where we come from — and may we never stop building where we’re going.

Ke a leboga.
Baie dankie.
Thank you.

Delivered on Human Rights Day – 21 March 2025

Distinguished guests, SayPro leadership, community partners, young people, and fellow South Africans,

I greet you all with great pride and humility on this important day — Human Rights Day 2025.

It is both a privilege and a solemn duty to stand before you as Chairperson of the SayPro Royal Committee, an advisory body rooted in the values of heritage, dignity, and collective leadership.

Today, we pause to remember — not just to look back, but to look forward with purpose.

We remember the brave souls of Sharpeville.
We remember the voices that were silenced too soon.
We remember that freedom was not given — it was demanded, defended, and earned at great cost.

But we also remind ourselves that human rights must live beyond remembrance. They must be active, visible, and enforceable in the daily lives of our people — especially the most vulnerable.

At SayPro, we believe human rights are not abstract. They are personal.
They are the right of a child to learn,
The right of a young person to dream,
The right of a mother to walk safely at night,
The right of a father to earn with dignity,
The right of every person to belong, contribute, and thrive.

As the Royal Committee, we are here to uphold the dignity of tradition while guiding the spirit of transformation. Ours is a voice of wisdom, but also of action. We represent a bridge between legacy and future — and we are proud to lend that strength to SayPro’s mission.

In the work of SayPro, we see human rights in action:

• When youth are trained and mentored,
• When communities are empowered through data and development,
• When innovation is used to break the cycle of poverty,
• When gender justice and equality are non-negotiable principles,
  — that is what real human rights look like.

But let us be honest. Our struggle is not over.
The battle today is against inequality, unemployment, exclusion, and systemic barriers.
And this time, we cannot afford to fail.

It is no longer enough to speak of rights. We must resource them.
We must protect them, even when they are inconvenient.
We must teach them, especially to those who never had the chance to learn.
And we must demand of ourselves and our institutions to walk the talk — with courage and compassion.

As Chairperson of this Royal Committee, I commit to ensuring that our leadership — rooted in culture and integrity — remains a guiding force in this journey.
Let us lead with heart. Let us lead with history. But most of all, let us lead with honour.

Let this Human Rights Day not just be a day of commemoration, but a call to action:

✅ To empower,
✅ To protect,
✅ To educate,
✅ And to transform.

Because true freedom is not merely the absence of chains — it is the presence of opportunity.

I thank you for your commitment, and I thank SayPro for continuing to be a vehicle of change, hope, and human dignity.

May we honour our past by fiercely defending our future.

Ke a leboga.
Baie dankie.
Thank you.

Clifford Lesiba Legodi
Chairperson – SayPro Royal Committee
Human Rights Day, 21 March 2025

To the Esteemed Members of the SayPro Royal Committee,

On behalf of the entire SayPro team, I extend my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for your gracious visit to our organisation on this special day, 16 May 2025.

Your presence was not only an honour, but also a powerful symbol of unity, leadership, and shared purpose. We were deeply inspired by your wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to the upliftment of our people.

Your visit reminded us that leadership rooted in heritage, respect, and service continues to guide us toward a future grounded in dignity, justice, and opportunity for all.

Thank you for taking the time to engage with our programmes, our youth, and our staff. Your insights and support reaffirmed our mission and energized our ongoing work in community development, education, and empowerment.

May this be the beginning of a long-lasting partnership anchored in trust, vision, and progress.

With sincere appreciation and respect,

Lindile Kheswa
SayPro

Good morning, colleagues, friends, and fellow champions of equality,

It is an honour to speak on this Human Rights Day — a day that holds deep historical weight, emotional truth, and a powerful call to action for all of us.

As the Chief Strategic Human Capital Officer of SayPro, I work every day with our most valuable asset: our people. Our employees, our volunteers, our beneficiaries — the lives we touch and the lives we grow. And on this day, I’m reminded that human rights are not only about justice in the courts — they are also about justice in the workplace, in opportunity, in access, and in dignity.

Human Rights Day reminds us of the bravery of those in Sharpeville and beyond who stood against an unjust system — not just for themselves, but for future generations. And as we honour their courage, we must ask ourselves: How are we treating the people in our systems today? Are we building workplaces and societies that are inclusive, empowering, and fair?

At SayPro, we are proud to be part of the solution.

As a people-centered organisation, we do not just invest in projects — we invest in people. And in my role, that means ensuring that every individual we train, support, employ, or partner with is treated with the respect and recognition they deserve.

But let’s be clear: human capital development is a human rights issue.

• When young people are denied access to skills, we violate their right to opportunity.
• When women are underpaid or overlooked, we ignore their right to equality.
• When workers are not trained, protected, or empowered, we fail the promise of transformation.

Our mission is to build systems that don’t just absorb talent — but develop it strategically, equitably, and sustainably. That’s what true empowerment looks like.

At SayPro, we are actively:

• Championing inclusive hiring and talent development,
• Creating platforms for youth to lead and grow,
• Prioritising mental wellness and workplace dignity,
• And measuring our progress, not just by profit or output, but by how many lives we truly uplift.

Because human capital is not just a resource — it is a right.
A right to learn, to earn, to grow, and to thrive.

Today, I call on leaders across all sectors to rethink how they treat their people. Do your employees feel safe, respected, and heard? Are your systems built to support or to exploit? Do your decisions reflect your values?

Human Rights Day is not only a day of remembrance — it is a day of recommitment.

At SayPro, we recommit to the dignity of every staff member, every beneficiary, every youth, every woman, every dreamer.

Because real change begins within our institutions.
Real dignity begins with how we treat each other daily.
And real justice means creating environments where people don’t just survive — they soar.

Let us build workplaces, programmes, and nations where human rights live in the policies we make, the culture we shape, and the futures we help build.

Thank you for walking this journey with us. Let us keep building a future where people are not just employed — but empowered. Not just included — but invested in.

Human rights begin with how we treat people. Let’s choose to treat them with purpose, power, and pride.

Thank you.

Delivered on Human Rights Day

Good day to all SayPro leaders, partners, staff, beneficiaries, and fellow defenders of dignity,

Today, we pause — not to reflect only on the pain of our past, but to honour the vision that drives our future. Human Rights Day is not simply a commemoration; it is a strategic milestone, reminding us why we lead, who we serve, and what we must protect at all costs: human dignity, freedom, and equality.

As SayPro’s Chief Strategic Chancellor Officer, my focus is long-term. My role is to ensure that everything we build today lays a foundation that is strong enough to uplift generations tomorrow. And on this Human Rights Day, I say clearly — we cannot afford short-term thinking when it comes to human rights.

The legacy of Sharpeville — the pain of those who marched and died for justice — teaches us this: freedom must be designed, defended, and delivered with intention. At SayPro, our strategies are not created in boardrooms alone. They are informed by the streets, the stories, and the struggles of real people. We don’t just respond to injustice — we redesign the systems that allow it.

Let me be clear: Human rights are not slogans. They are systems.
And systems must be intentional. They must be inclusive. They must be bold.

At SayPro, we take that responsibility seriously. Our strategic direction is built on:

• Sustainability — because dignity should not expire with donor cycles.
• Scalability — because one village transformed is not enough.
• Systems change — because no individual should rise alone while institutions fail the many.
• And solidarity — because none of us are free until all of us are free.

We are designing a continent where youth don’t just survive but lead.
Where entrepreneurs don’t just hustle but thrive.
Where education is not a luxury but a guarantee.

But vision means nothing without values. That’s why every SayPro strategy is grounded in justice, transparency, impact, and respect.

We don’t just build programmes — we build pathways to power.
We don’t just partner with funders — we align with forces for freedom.
And we don’t just scale ideas — we scale human potential.

Human Rights Day reminds us: Strategy must serve people, not power.

So, to all leaders, I say this: your title means nothing if it does not lift the voiceless.
To all institutions: your budget means little if it does not reach the margins.
And to all of us at SayPro: our legacy must be measured not in numbers, but in lives transformed.

Let this day be a moment of redirection — not just remembrance.
Let this be a day where we commit not only to speak of rights — but to strategize for justice, for access, for equity, and for long-term freedom.

Because Human Rights Day is not only about the past. It is a call to build a future that’s intentional, inclusive, and irreversible.

And that, my friends, is the future SayPro is building — one plan, one policy, one person at a time.

Thank you. And may our strategies always serve the people.

Distinguished guests, colleagues, community partners, and fellow change-makers,

Today, we gather not just to remember — but to reignite. We gather on Human Rights Day to honour those who stood with courage, and to commit ourselves to building a future where human dignity is non-negotiable, and opportunity is universal.

As the Chief Strategic Development Officer at SayPro, my role is to look forward — to shape the road ahead with vision, clarity, and commitment. But today reminds us that the future we seek must be rooted in the struggles of the past and the realities of the present.

We cannot plan for progress unless we acknowledge the injustices that still hold so many back.
We cannot talk about strategy without talking about equity.
And we cannot speak of development unless it is human-centred, rights-based, and driven by purpose.

At SayPro, we don’t just build programmes — we build pathways to dignity. We don’t just speak about change — we strategically design it, sustain it, and scale it.

Human Rights Day is a bold reminder that rights are not given — they are claimed, defended, and made real through our daily work. Strategy without compassion is empty. Development without justice is flawed. That’s why our strategic direction as SayPro is anchored in five powerful truths:

1. Every person matters. Our strategies must reflect the value of every life, especially the marginalized and forgotten.
2. Access is power. Whether it’s education, healthcare, technology, or economic opportunity — we must design systems that open doors, not build walls.
3. Youth are not just the future — they are the now. Our focus on youth development is not charity; it is strategic nation-building.
4. Sustainable impact is intentional. We do not aim for quick wins — we aim for long-term change that transforms lives and communities.
5. Collaboration is key. No organisation, no leader, no government can do this alone. True development is collective.

On this day, as we remember Sharpeville and all those who laid down their lives in the name of freedom and fairness, we must ask ourselves: What legacy are we building? What future are we designing?

At SayPro, our answer is clear:

• We are designing a future where young entrepreneurs are supported and not stifled.
• Where rural schools are not forgotten, but funded and flourishing.
• Where human rights are not merely legal phrases, but lived experiences.
• Where strategy is not about power, but about people.

Let us remember: Human rights are not abstract. They are strategic.
They guide our priorities. They shape our goals. They remind us that the most powerful blueprint for development is one that protects, uplifts, and includes.

So, as we mark this Human Rights Day, I invite you to walk with SayPro — not just as an observer, but as a builder. Help us co-create a future that is bold, just, and beautiful. A future where everyone can thrive — not just survive.

Let us be strategic. Let us be intentional. Let us be just.

Thank you, and may the work we do today echo in the freedoms of tomorrow.