By Khotso Moleko
Only a few months ago, the coronavirus reduced the exaggerated claims that human rights and freedom are unshakable God-given and God-provided (by progressive humans) truths, for each human being.
Even the anti-religious conviction that each human being has complete ownership over “his or her” body to do whatever they like with it, was set aside without protest or need for a referendum.
Even the staunchest advocates of human rights forgot about their convictions and instead went to hide at home without any debates. Only the doctors and essential workers who were also terrified confronted the pandemic. Even so, these are not the most vocal supporters of human rights.
Without a doubt, the virus, or any disease for that matter, does not inquire if a person believes in rights, equality or not – if there is no adequate protection, sickness may occur.
The coronavirus did bring into question the risk of granting freedoms and the benefits of having tight controls over a county's citizens. In our reality as South Africans, the so-called best and the sweetest Constitution and liberal rights were tossed aside and dictatorial means were employed by a government led by a so-called author of freedoms to limit and in fact nullify all the freedoms of the people.
The police and soldiers did not waste any moment before, as mostly black personnel, shooting, killing as well as assaulting poor black citizens and others with the utmost ruthlessness and stamina. Where was the Constitution and where were the guaranteed and cast-in-stone rights and freedoms?
And if the government had not been tough, could the citizens have obeyed the restrictions?
It can be argued then that neither democracy nor dictatorship is wrong, especially since all praise is dedicated to a government that has overseen more death than the well-phrased HIV/Aids genocide of Thabo Mbeki.
The one thing that remains, is the reality guaranteed freedoms and human rights are not guaranteed.
The Star