- Title
- Civil protests and their impact on human rights in the Republic of South Africa
- Creator
- Melvin, Kokwe Sonwabo
- Subject
- Protest movements -- South Africa
- Subject
- Human rights -- South Africa
- Date Issued
- 2021-03
- Date
- 2021-03
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28184
- Identifier
- vital:73806
- Description
- This mini dissertation investigates civil protests and their impact on human rights in the Republic of South Africa. South Africa is a democratic country that subscribes to representative democracy. Its civilians vote for political parties that elect members to represent them in parliament or in government. Civilians are not members of armed forces, such as police, soldiers, or fire fighters. These people are ordinary citizen with no power or authority to engage in war as they do not have arms or gear to do so. Whenever they feel aggrieved with situation or action by authorities (political leaders, government, or employers), they embark on protest to voice their grievances or disapproval. However, in the process of protest there have been developments of intimidation, vandalism, abuse, and violation of other people's rights. This happens even though the right to protest is enshrined to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Section 17 of the constitution guarantees civilians the right to protest. It further stipulates the way in which protests should be conducted. The fact that protest is recognised as a right, means it plays an important role in assisting civilians expressing dissatisfaction with current situations and assert demands for social, political, and economic change. Additionally, the right to protest gives citizens right to participate in discourse. It is the individual and/or collective exercise of existing and universally recognised human rights that affords civilians opportunity to demand dignity, freedom of association and expression from authorities. Although this right is fundamental, it has its limitations, and its impact is crucial to human rights. This is so because every protest is human right inclined. Hence, this mini dissertation attempts to contribute to academic discourse by bringing forth human rights perspective on the impact of civil protest. The discourse has been majorly influenced by the following disciplines: sociology, social psychology, anthropology, political science, economics, and public administration. The existence of this study attempts to conscientize civilians about the importance of respecting, supporting, and protecting human rights. The study found that violent protests have negative impact on human rights. The negative impact is not only experienced by non-protesting civilians, but by protesting civilians. Because of the interdependency of rights, the study has also found that infringement of one right can lead to the violation of other rights. For instance, the burning of infrastructure such as clinic does not violate the right to access health only, but also violate the right to life, education, and security. Therefore, the study concludes that civilian's use of violence during protest action does not advance section 17 of the Constitution. Instead, it violates the same section or right. Moreover, negative impact of violent protests cost civilians dearly. Because after destroying property, the same civilians that destroy property are the ones who suffers. For instance, burning of police vehicles, makes it difficult for police to attend civilian's calls for help. Lastly, this mini dissertation concludes by recommending areas where government and civilians need to consider in respecting, supporting, and protecting human rights in a protest.
- Description
- Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Law, 2021
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (x, 74 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Law
- Language
- English
- Rights
- rights holder
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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- Downloads: 6
Collections
UFH Nelson R Mandela School of Law
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | 2021 signed dissertation_25082023095655.PDF | 30 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |