Been a good long weekend

Over the past 3 weeks I’ve heard a lot of people talking about being really tired and needing a holiday and although we don’t get a holiday, having a long weekend is definitely a score.

So anyway, today is Human Right’s Day, and I found myself asking myself what exactly is Human Right’s Day all about? Yes, the name is fairly obvious, but what does it really mean, so I did some searching and came across the following explanation, taken from the Gov.za website:

The Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa.

The Constitution provides for the establishment of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The aim of the Commission is to promote respect for human rights, promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights, and to monitor and assess the observance of human rights in SA. The SAHRC was launched on 21 March 1996, 35 years after the fateful events of 21 March 1960 when demonstrators in Sharpeville were gunned down by police.

The Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952 extended Government control over the movement of Africans to urban areas and abolished the use of the Pass Book (a document which Africans were required to carry on them to ‘prove’ that they were allowed to enter a ‘white area’) in favour of a reference book which had to be carried at all times by all Africans.

Failure to produce the reference book on demand by the police, was a punishable offence. The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) proposed an anti-Pass campaign to start on 21 March 1960. All African men were to take part in the campaign without their passes and present themselves for arrest.

Campaigners gathered at police stations in townships near Johannesburg where they were dispersed by police. At the Sharpeville police station a scuffle broke out. Part of a wire fence was trampled, allowing the crowd to move forward. The police opened fire, apparently without having been given a prior order to do so. Sixty-nine people were killed and 180 wounded.

In apartheid South Africa this day became known as Sharpeville Day and although not part of the official calendar of public holidays the event was commemorated among anti-apartheid movements.

I’ve really enjoyed having today off, in a strange way it makes Saturday, Friday, and Sunday Saturday, so if you can adjust quickly, you really can make the most of it. Had a lovely braai last night with Fe and Johan, perfect weather! Enjoyed a delicious bottle of 2006 Wild Yeast Chardonnay from GetWine.co.za along with some great South African meat.

The kitties have been enjoying themselves, I think having me home for a few days in a row has given them a chance to explore a little. We’ve been letting them outside more and more, last night the doors were open and they went in and out, but always returned in and ended up falling asleep on the coach near the open door once they were too tired for jumping up and down on their fancy scratch post:

The long weekend also gave us some time to get some bedside lights, which we’ve desperately needed; along with this we got a cool sitting room light, don’t even get me started on what a mission it was to get this, from parts missing to incorrect plugs, the list goes on! As you can see, the bedside lights match the roof lights, which was darn useful!

So all-in-all, it’s been a good few days and I’m looking forward to heading back to work tomorrow to get some serious grind in, we’ve got some lovely projects bubbling and I’m dying to get my hands dirty!

I hope everyone’s had a good long weekend!