Democracy and Human rights

• Responsible citizenship means that you do your duty as a citizen, you fulfill your responsibilities, and do what is right or expected of you as a citizen.
• Responsible citizens:

  • Are aware of respect and promote human rights
  • Are concerned about the wellbeing of others
  • obey the law
  • Participate in civil and political activities
  • Vote in elections
• This Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom.' 
• The bill of rights include:

  - to be treated equally;

   to have dignity and self-respect;

   to have your own opinion and views and to follow any religion you chose;

   to express your ideas, views and opinions freely, as long as they don’t violate the rights of others;

   to live and work in a healthy environment;

   to be treated fairly at work;  to speak any language you chose  to have access to basic health care.
• When you discriminate against others, you display unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable behaviour, because they are different from you and think differently. Discrimination is a violation of human rights.
• Human rights violations are when you hurt someone else, are disrespectful, and act against their rights.
• Discussions are dialogues, talks, and conversations in which people share information, ideas, experiences, and opinions. Discussions can be formal or informal.

  Examples:

  • Online forums
  • Radio
  • Talks and workshops
• Projects that help people whose human rights have been violated usually run over a long time, even years. 

  They may be run by non-governmental organisations (NGO's), universities, or faith-based organisations
• A  campaign is a series of actions intended to change something. A campaign can be for or against something, for example, a campaign for more clinics in rural areas or anti-drug abuse.
• An event is a planned occasion or activity.  It may be part of a larger human rights campaign or project.
• Sharpeville massacre occurred


  21 March 1960
• Sharpeville massacre


  Occurred at the police station in the township of Sharpeville in the then Transvaal Province of the then Union of South Africa (today part of Gauteng)
• Sharpeville massacre


  1. Demonstrating against anti-black pass laws

  2. A crowd of about 7,000 black protesters went to the police station
• On 21 March 1960, a group of between 5,000 and 10,000 people converged on the local police station, offering themselves up for arrest for not carrying their passbooks
• The official figure is that 69 people were killed, including 10 children, and 180 injured, including 19 children
• The police shot many in the back as they turned to flee, causing some to be paralyzed
• 21 March has been commemorated as Human Rights Day in South Africa


  Since 1994
• Electronic media are any media that need electricity or batteries, such as the Internet and emails, websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, radio, TV, film and DVDs
• Print media include books, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, brochures, posters and billboards
• Role of the media in a democracy:

   The role of the media is to inform society about daily events that are newsworthy.

   In a democracy, the media’s communicated, and educate.

   The media play an important role in informing citizens about their government, their rights and freedom and their health and safety.

   expose violations of human rights

   report on unlawful activities, the courts and court cases
• The role and responsibility of the media in a democratic society include being fair, honest, and reliable
• Examples of when the media do not fulfil their roles responsibly include:  Most media make money from advertisements and sponsors. The media therefore aim to satisfy the interests of their advertisers. These may not be the same as the interests of the public. They may withhold information or give biased reports, to satisfy their sponsors.

   News entertains rather than informs. Some media are filled with gossip, scandals, sex and violence rather than facts.

   Political news is often more about personalities, than about politicians’ work and contributio
• Freedom of expression means that you can express your ideas and opinions freely through speech, writing, and other forms of communication. Freedom of expression is a basic right in a democratic society, and it applies to everyone, including individuals and the media. People may not express viewpoints that violate the rights of others.
• Constitutional limitations to freedom of expression . The right in the constitution does not include:

   propaganda for war

   incitement of imminent violence

   advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion  Incitement to cause harm. This means you have freedom of speech, but cannot use hate speech
• censorship: the control of information and ideas in a society, usually by the government.
• The Protection of State Information Bill:

  This bill is also known as the Secrecy Bill because it proposes long prison sentences for journalists or whistleblowers or anyone who reveals state secrets.
• Media Influence


  • Editors and managers select stories based on commercial interests, audience relevance, public interest, and entertainment value
• Editorial Power


  • Editors wield significant influence through topic selection, content allocation, and expressing opinions in editorials, shaping the tone and focus of news coverage
• Space Allocation


  • Determines prominence within media platforms, such as page placement in print or timing in broadcasts
  • Current events receive more coverage, with some topics receiving priority over others
• Geographical Disparities in South Africa
• Reporting of news

  • The press shall be required to report news truthfully, accurately and fairly
  • It shall be presented in contexts and in a balanced manner
  • It should be without any changes from the facts
• Gathering of news

  • News should be obtained legally, honestly, and fairly
  • Unless public interest dictates otherwise
• Independence and conflicts of interest

  • The press shall not allow commercial, political, personal, or other non-professional considerations to influence or slant reporting
  • Conflicts of interest must be avoided
• Privacy

  • The press shall exercise exceptional care and consideration in matters involving the private lives and concerns of individuals
  • Any right to privacy may be overruled only by valid public interest
• Dignity and Reputation

  • The press shall exercise exceptional care and consideration in matters involving dignity and reputation
  • Any right to privacy may be overridden only by valid public interest
• Discrimination and hate speech

  • The press should avoid discriminatory references to people's race, colour, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, physical or mental disability or illness, age, or another status
  • Except where it is strictly relevant to the matter reported
• Advocacy

  • A publication is justified in strongly advocating its own views on controversial topics
  • It has to treat its readers fairly by making it clear what the difference is between fact and opinion
  • It must not lie, hold back or twist the facts
• Comment


  • The press shall be entitled to comment upon or criticise any actions or events of public interest
  • Such comments or criticisms must be made fairly and honestly
• Children


  • The press shall not identify children who have been victims of abuse or exploitation
  • The press shall not identify children who have been charged with or convicted of a crime
• Violence


  • Due care and responsibility shall be taken by the press with regard to the presentation of brutality, violence and atrocities