SayProCMR 2025 Human Rights Day SpeechBy Timothy Mogoro, Non-Executive MemberSayPro Royal Committee

Delivered on Human Rights Day – 21 March 2025

Distinguished guests, SayPro leadership, community partners, and fellow citizens,

Good day to you all.

It is both an honour and a privilege to address you today on behalf of the SayPro Royal Committee as we gather to mark Human Rights Day 2025 — a day of remembrance, reflection, and reaffirmation.

As we pause to remember the lives lost in the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, we do so with solemnity and purpose. Those brave men and women did not die in vain. They stood — unarmed but unshaken — against the might of an unjust system. And because they stood, we walk in freedom today.

Yet, let us be honest: Human Rights Day is not just about memory — it is about accountability.

It is about asking ourselves:

• Are we truly living up to the promise of the Constitution?
• Are we doing enough to protect the vulnerable, the voiceless, the forgotten?
• Are we building a society where dignity is not a privilege for a few, but a right for all?

As a Non-Executive Member of the SayPro Royal Committee, I am proud to be part of a body that exists not only to advise, but to represent the moral conscience of our communities. Our role is to ensure that as SayPro grows, it never forgets why it was born: to serve, to uplift, and to transform.

We are not just here to lead — we are here to listen.
We are not just here to represent tradition — we are here to guide innovation with wisdom.
Because the struggle for human rights is not over — it has simply evolved.

Today, human rights mean ensuring our young people have access to education that prepares them for the future.
It means ensuring women and girls live free from violence and discrimination.
It means ensuring economic justice, job creation, and access to land and resources are not delayed any further.

And in all these areas, SayPro is doing remarkable work. From youth empowerment and digital literacy to social development and community outreach — we are building the very future the Sharpeville heroes dreamed of.

But let us be clear: progress is not permanent unless we protect it.
And rights are not truly rights until they are real in everyday life.

That is why I call upon all leaders, civil servants, traditional authorities, and every citizen — to stand up for justice, not just in speeches, but in service.

Let us build systems that are fair, not only functional.
Let us invest in people, not only policies.
Let us honour the past by refusing to accept any form of inequality today.

As the Royal Committee, we are committed to walking with SayPro — not behind, not above, but alongside — to ensure that every programme, every decision, and every initiative reflects the values of Ubuntu, integrity, and accountability.

In closing, let us remember this:
Human rights are not a gift from government.
They are not a slogan on paper.
They are a birthright — and it is up to all of us to protect them.

Thank you. May the spirit of Human Rights Day live not only in our hearts, but in our hands.

Timothy Mogoro
Non-Executive Member
SayPro Royal Commi