The recent strike by members of Nehawu exposed how vulnerable we are as citizens when it comes to individual human rights. In short, our future as a democracy is in great danger if nothing gets done with this self-reproducing culture of disrespect of the rights of others including respect for life.
As they took to the street in what was, according to the Labour Court and the department of public service and Administration an illegal strike, Nehawu members went on a rampage destroying property and engaging in acts of violence and intimidation. Employees who are not members of the union and who wanted to exercise their rights to be at work and earn an income were barred from doing so.
On the other hand members of the public were denied their right to access healthcare as they were barred from entering hospitals and clinics to get healthcare. Ambulances carrying sick and dying patients were barricaded from entering hospitals and were chased away in the process putting at risk the lives of patients.
As a matter of principle it is important to state the obvious that anyone has a right to engage in a protest or strike action as long as such action is done in line with the laws of the country that include obtaining permission where such permission is required. But there is nothing in the constitution of the country that says that the exercise of one’s rights can or should be done at the expense of the rights of others as we saw with the Nehawu strike.
As we work on rebuilding our moral regeneration as a nation it is important that we focus particular attention on this issue of human rights and their protection. The disrespect for the rule of law and respect for the rights of others has become the norm in our country. We witness the rights of others being blatantly violated daily including destruction of property.
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