People on the Move and Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is a national day that is observed annually on 21 March to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa. Every year on March 21st, South Africa remembers the Sharpeville massacre of 1960 on Human Rights Day. Human Rights Day commemorates the struggle for a democratic South Africa by paying tribute to all those who fought and...
South Africa at the Precipice of Opportunity – Covid-19 Vaccinations
Covid-19 Vaccines are being distributed and administered all over the world. India, Egypt, and Guinea are all developing countries that have commenced vaccination with the latter two being African countries which are administering vaccines. Regrettably, Africa as a continent, lags behind with respect to vaccinations (1). Despite South Africa being one of the continents most developed and wealthiest countries the vaccination plan and roll out has been slow and received criticism from a number of...
Exclusion of migrant women | Access to health care
Continuing the Series on Migrant Women. In the first edition of SIHMA’s series on the exclusion of migrant women, we discussed the particular lack of access to the labour market and the exclusion of migrant women from labour-related policy making (1). This second article addresses the even more intimate issue that is physical and mental well-being and access to health services. Indeed reports, such as the 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) reports entitled...
Heritage Day and Migrants’ History in South Africa - Interview with Dezz van Niekerk (Part 2)
Happy Heritage Day! On September 24th, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day! Through events all over the country, this day recognises, celebrates, and remembers the cultural diversity and heritage of all people in South African society. Heritage Day is a celebration that is quite specific to South Africa. Only a few countries around the world celebrate their cultural heritage and traditions in a national celebration, mainly in the Americas and the Caribbean – such as National Heritage Day in Turks...
Migrants’ History and Heritage in South Africa – Interview with Dezz van Niekerk (Part 1)
To celebrate and commemorate Heritage Day on September 24th, SIHMA interviewed Dezz van Niekerk – life coach, mentor, writer, popular educator, and specialized counsellor – and asked him about his thoughts on the history of migration and internal displacement in South Africa and how these are considered in contemporary society, especially when celebrating South African culture and heritage on Heritage Day. Dezz was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s,...
18th July - Nelson Mandela International Day 2020
The 18th of July marks a public holiday in South Africa, as a remembrance for Nelson Mandela's birthday. In 2009, the day was inaugurated as Nelson Mandela International Day by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), as a response to a global crisis of poverty and inequality. On this particular day people recognize and commemorate Nelson Mandela’s commitment to human rights, conflict resolution and reconciliation. The celebration is a call to action for everyone to elicit...
