Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
Mias De Klerk

Creator

Mias De Klerk

Mias de Klerk is professor in leadership and organisational behaviour at University of Stellenbosch Business School, editor-in-chief of the South African Journal of Business Management and the director at the Centre for Responsible Leadership Studies.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, but in this new era, we may be headed for the end of this global pact.

What is ‘right’ in human rights?

We tend to overfocus on the meaning of ‘rights’ by only considering what we are entitled to but we tend to forget doing what is the morally right thing to do

People’s power: Voters wait at a polling station outside the hostels in Umlazi, Durban. Voting remains critical to bring about the change desired. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP

To politicians and voters: With freedom comes the responsibility of freedom

Few recall the Bill of Responsibilities that accompanies the Bill of Rights. Unconfined freedom can be as devastating as legalised oppression

Grave concern: President Cyril Ramaphosa (above) regards allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu as requiring ‘the highest-priority attention’.

Make SA great again: I care enough to keep you accountable Mr President

We have not given up on you yet, Cyril Ramaphosa, but the people need to see real-time decisive action

The freedom to think independently, and allowing others the same freedom, is central to our democracy (Graphic: John McCann/M&G)

Freedom Day: I think, therefore I am free

The freedom to think independently, and allowing others the same freedom, is central to our democracy

The national dialogue must be driven by the people of South Africa. (Getty Images)

The flipside of human rights is responsibilities

South Africans celebrate Human Rights Day without reference to the responsibilities that accompany those rights

If the state of the nation irks you, ask yourself: What must I do to make my environment better? (Reuters/Radu Sigheti)

December 16: The Day of Reconciliation is a call for each individual to heal emotional wounds

Reconciliation requires hard work to create restitution and atonement. But it can only happen on an individual level, not a national or group level.

We will never survive as a nation or as humans if we put up racial barriers to isolate ourselves from one another, economically, socially and politically.

Tolerance: a good start but not sufficient

We need to move beyond tolerance to acceptance: an appreciation and celebration of different ideas, opinions and practices