Term2

• South Africa's constitution is a liberal democratic constitution, and it forms the cornerstone of our democracy. The rights of all people in the country is enshrined in a Bill of Right, and this affirms the democratic values of equality, human rights and freedom. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (1948) is reflected in our constitution, and all policies and laws should be in line with the constitution.
• As a result of discrimination during the time of Apartheid, against Blacks, Indian, Coloured and African citizens of South Africa, the Bill of Rights is particularly important to South Africans.
• Rights in the Bill of Rights


  • Life
  • Human dignity
  • Freedom of association
  • Basic education
  • Freedom of occupation, profession and trade
  • Freedom of opinion, religion and belief
  • Access courts
  • A healthy environment
  • Join trade unions and go on legal strikes
  • Healthcare, housing, water, food, and social security
  • Peaceful assembly, picket petitions and demonstrations
  • Freedom of residence and movement anywhere in South Africa
  • Freedom of expression – like the press, but it may not use hate speech, or incite acts of violence
  • Privacy – you may not be searched, nor have your home and possessions be searched
  • Security and freedom of a person – you cannot be detained without a trial, be punished cruelly or tortured, and you may not be subjected to domestic violence
  • Property, which can be taken away only if the correct laws and procedures have been followed
  • Access information under certain circumstances, which is held by the government
  • Language and culture, chosen in communities that have similar choices
  • Equality and protection from discrimination
• Fair discrimination and affirmative action are both allowed; for example, the Employment Equality Act of 1998, which makes special provisions for blacks, women and people with disabilities.
• Children's Rights

  • Care
  • To be held separately if arrested
  • A name and nationality
  • Protection from abuse, ill-treatment or neglect
  • Basic healthcare and social services
  • Basic shelter and nutrition
  • Protection from child labour or services such as child prostitution
• These rights are not absolute, in other words, you may not exercise your rights in a manner which will violate the rights of others.
• It is the duty of each and every citizen of South Africa to protect these rights, and to stand up and take action against violations of human rights.
• Examples of Violations against Human Rights

  • Police Beatings Claimed
  • No Textbooks, No Teachers
  • Women Forced to Remove Clothing at Taxi Rank
  • Rape Case against Prophet
  • Poor Service Delivery as a Result of Tender Fixing
  • Protests over Service Delivery Grows
  • Lesbian Beaten Up in Hotel
  • Free State Shaken by Attacks on Foreigners
• It is easy to feel powerless when we are faced with numerous violations of human rights – at the workplace, at school, and even in social settings. Whilst these abuses occur both internationally and in our country, we are able to make a great difference in our local context by addressing discrimination and violations of human rights. We should 'think global, but act local'.
• Arming ourselves with a good understanding of what our rights really mean, is essential in order for us to apply them in our own lives. We need to guard against the thoughts and actions that may violate others' rights. We need to create public awareness in order to mobilise public support.
• We should then act against discrimination and violations against human rights regardless of whether we are victims ourselves or whether the victim is a stranger. Organising and participating in campaigns and projects that highlight violations of human rights will help make a difference.
• Activism by civil society has grown exponentially in South Africa.
• An example of this was the role of citizens protesting the e-tolling system on roads in Gauteng.
• TAC Marches on Parliament

  1. Aim was to force the South African government to make antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) available to all people with HIV and AIDS

  2. Strategies included action by the courts, distribution of its now-familiar T-shirts and Zackie Achmat's refusal to take ARVs himself while millions of poor citizens could not get the drugs

  3. Eventually country-wide, mother-to-child transmission prevention and antiretroviral treatment programmes were implemented

  4. In late 1998 the price of ARVs for one person was approximately R4500.00 per month. In the early 2000s these prices began to drop significantly. By 2007 the drug cost less than R300.00 per month
• On 30 August 2006 the New York Times named TAC "the world's most effective AIDS group".
• Media


  Various forms of communication in society, including print media, electronic media, and social media networks
• Forms of media


  • Print media (magazines, newspapers, newsletters)
  • Electronic media (radio, television, internet, electronic magazines and newspapers)
  • Social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, e-mails)
• By distributing information for citizens to make informed decisions, media plays a significant role in promoting democracy.
• Radio


  • Has the greatest reach, as it is easily accessible
  • Radio systems are relatively cheap to purchase, and radio stations broadcast free, making radio one of the most affordable mediums
  • About 95% of the nation's population has access to radio
  • Community radio stations are supported by the Department of Communications
  • Some radio stations use the internet to stream their programmes
  • Cell phones that are 'radio enabled' have further added to the reach of radio to the general public
  • Listeners' being able to call in, e-mail or SMS their comments and contributions to a programme has made radio become very interactive
• Television


  • About 87% of the nation's population have access to television sets
  • Television, together with radio, has achieved significant results in educating rural, illiterate populations by making them aware of news events
• Printed Media


  • Access to newspapers have limiting factors, such as local availability, language and cost
  • The vast majority of publications are printed in English, a few in Afrikaans, and very few in African languages
  • Cheaper newspapers have been made more accessible to readers through the successful advent of tabloid newspapers in South Africa
  • Daily Sun, the first South African tabloid aimed at the black working class, has become the largest daily publication in the country
• Internet


  • Due to the impact of smartphones and a well-established infrastructure and network, the number of internet users in South Africa has been on a dramatic incline
  • Internet has become accessible to the mass market. In 2011 about 8.5 million people had access to the internet and by 2017 22.5 million people had access
  • Social networks are used increasingly by activists as an incredibly effective tool for low cost, quick grassroots organising
  • Social networking helped to schedule and coordinate the protests during the 'Arab Spring', when the removal of the governments of Tunisia and Egypt took place, and also informing the world of the process
• Social networking however does pose dangers: Information may not be factually correct, sources are easily concealed, by hackers for example, it can be used to discriminate and for hate speech, and it can also be used for cyber-bullying.
• Freedom of Expression


  South Africans' right to Freedom of Expression is protected. Article 16 in the chapter on human rights in the constitution is clear on this matter.
• Freedoms under Freedom of Expression


  • Freedom of the press and other forms of media
  • Receive or impart ideas or information
  • Artistic creativity
  • Academic pursuits and scientific research
• Limitations on Freedom of Expression

  • Propaganda for war
  • Incitement to imminent violence
  • Advocacy to race, ethnic, gender or religious based hatred that constitutes incitement to cause harm
• Established in 1994, the Freedom of Expression Institute serves to protect and foster these rights and oppose censorship.
• South Africans are also protected against exploitation and abuse by the media through the following methods: One clause in the print media code states that 'The press shall exercise exceptional care and consideration on matters involving dignity and reputation, bearing in mind that any right to privacy may be overridden only by public interest'. No child under the age of 18 years may be filmed, photographed or interviewed without the express consent of a parent or guardian if there is any chance the coverage may cause harm of any kind. Children who were the victims of, charged with, or convicted of abuse or exploitation may not be identified by the media. Concerns and complaints about reports in magazines and newspapers can be submitted to the Press Ombudsman. Serving as a voluntary watchdog over broadcast media is the Broadcast Complaints Commission; a self-regulatory body.
• Role of media in a democratic society

  • Providing an unbiased, accurate and reliable source of information needed by media users in order to make informed decisions
  • Acting as a 'watchdog' to ensure, for example, that government agencies and officials are acting suitably by investigating public officials and the private sector
• Factors that can threaten or limit the media's core functions

  • Profit (media could be seriously affected by advertisers, as they are heavily reliant on the income of advertising)
  • Government Control of the Media (attempts to censor and control the media could be made by government to ensure that their wrongdoings are not publicised)
  • Position Taken by Editors (owners, or the editors that are employed by them, determine the final content that will be published, as well as the presentation thereof)
• South African media ownership is concentrated in the hands of only a few companies, which own numerous newspaper and magazine titles. The main companies in South Africa are Media24, the Independent News & Media Group, Caxton and CTP, Avusa and Primedia.
• The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reaches 69.3% of television audience.
• The media is steered into specific positions by media organisations themselves
• Owners or editors


  Determine the final content that will be published, as well as the presentation thereof
• When media is owned by only a handful of people, this becomes a problem, by representing only certain sectors of society, or becoming a monopoly
• This would mean that only a single point of view on controversial matters would be promoted if one company owned all the newspaper and magazine publications
• Main media companies in South Africa

  • Media24
  • Independent News & Media Group
  • Caxton and CTP
  • Avusa
  • Primedia
• SABC


  Reaches 69.3% of television audiences, and 41.6% of radio audiences
• Black Economic Empowerment should lead to greater media diversity
• Media Development and Diversity Agency

  Independent, statutory body that creates an enabling environment for media development and diversity, supporting media projects and focusing on historically disadvantaged communities that use indigenous languages