Wounded victims lie in the street on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville following a brutal attack by the apartheid police on protesters who were demonstrating against the notorious pass laws. 69 protesters were massacred on the day which is now commemorated as Human Rights Day in a democratic South Africa.
Image: AFP
While the nation paused over the weekend to commemorate Human Rights Day, some residents of eThekwini sent a clear message of discontent by boycotting the celebrations.
Many deemed the occasion “useless,” feeling that their fundamental rights were continuously violated amid service delivery shortcomings, particularly water shortages, which left them struggling to meet basic needs.
27-year-old Londeka Zondi was among the Durbanites who made their feelings known to the Daily News. Zondi said the United Nations recognises access to safe, affordable, and sufficient water and sanitation as a fundamental human right, but that right was constantly being denied to people like her.
Zondi, from Glenwood, highlighted the daily indignity residents faced with dry taps, while paradoxically, millions of litres of water are wasted each day due to leaks caused by inadequate infrastructure and faltering municipal governance.
She said that last week, members of her community went almost four days without water and received no communication from local authorities.
“We felt abandoned; there was no explanation,” she said
Khanyisile Ndamase, a resident of Phoenix, noted the irony of celebrating human rights amid ongoing service challenges in her community.
“We didn’t have any water on Friday. What celebration could I possibly partake in with a dry tap?” she asked.
Ndamase added, “In every corner of Shastri Park, there are water leaks. You report one, and by evening, the same spot is leaking again. This is no longer just a water shortage; it’s a governance failure that demands accountability.”
Lindo Makhubo, another disillusioned Phoenix resident, said, “We are not celebrating Human Rights Day because our rights are being trampled every day.”
Her discontent stemmed from the lack of consistent water supply in their area.
She noted that the day is meant to honour past sacrifices for freedom and equality. This year’s Human Rights Day was themed, “A Legacy of Courage: Protecting Rights, Preserving Humanity.”
According to the South African Human Rights Commission’s recently released 2025 State of Human Rights Report, systemic challenges are threatening the country’s ability to uphold and protect human rights.
Key issues highlighted in the report include the treatment of individuals within the criminal justice system, inadequate provision of essential services, and persistent racism and xenophobia.
The Commission also warned about growing crises arising from local government inefficiencies, the adverse effects of climate change, and the unequal enforcement of laws, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including the homeless and informal traders.
DAILY NEWS