Human Rights Day serves as a stark reminder of the persistent and evolving challenges facing marginalised communities in South Africa, Wayne Ncube, the national director of Lawyers for Human Rights said as the country is gearing-up to commemorate this day.

“Socio-economic inequality, gender-based violence, xenophobia, and the erosion of access to justice continue to threaten the country’s democratic values. Yet, these issues are becoming further entrenched by the rise of divisive politics, increasingly echoing the rhetoric seen in parts of the Global North.”

According to Ncube, social media has amplified polarising narratives, scapegoating vulnerable communities and fueling discrimination under the guise of national interest.

“Inequality is exacerbated by a growing trend to criminalise poverty, pitting poor communities against one another,” he said.

Ncube added that the recent Stilfontein mine tragedy stands as a deplorable example.

“This is a situation where artisanal miners, striving to survive in a deeply unequal society, were vilified by sensationalist media narratives. This not only dehumanised those trying to eke out a living but contributed to the easily avoidable deaths of so many.”

Ncube said the push for economic and land reform, crucial to addressing the structural inequalities left by apartheid, has been hijacked by opportunistic scapegoating. Focus has shifted away from systemic failures and toward dangerous, menacing rhetoric targeting migrants and refugees, who are already at the socio-economic and political margins.

Social media fuels this, Ncube explained, by creating echo chambers where misinformation spreads faster than facts, weaponising public frustration against those least responsible for the conditions they face.

He is of the opinion that the role that some South Africans play in undermining global movements for justice and accountability is troubling.

“Apartheid-era wealth, built on exploitation, now bankrolls campaigns pushing global north powers - and the world - further to the right. This is accentuated by absurd narratives framing privileged Afrikaner farmers as the primary victims of persecution, further straining diplomatic ties and distracting from the country’s real struggles.”

Ncube said in the digital age, fiction is often louder than fact, and the fight for justice becomes increasingly complicated as misinformation is used to turn marginalized communities against themselves.

He gave the assurance that LHR remains committed to dismantling these narratives and safeguarding the rights of the vulnerable.

“Through free legal assistance, strategic litigation, and community empowerment, LHR pushes back against systemic injustices and works to ensure that justice is accessible to all. As threats to human dignity grow, LHR continues to stand alongside South Africa’s most marginalised, fighting for accountability, fairness, and a more just society,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sabeeha Majid, project officer at the Disability Rights Unit at Tukkies’ Centre for Human Rights highlighted a critical gap in the legislative process surrounding the Protection and Promotion of Persons with Disabilities Bill.

Speaking ahead of Human Rights Day, she said the Bill, published for public comment by the South African Law Reform Commission, is meant to advance the rights of persons with disabilities.

“However, the exclusion of accessible formats, such as Braille and easy-to-read versions, means that many persons with disabilities are unable to engage with it. This lack of accessibility contradicts the fundamental disability rights principle of ‘nothing about us without us’, rendering the public consultation process superficial."

While the public can submit comments on the Bill, it has become evident that persons with disabilities themselves are being excluded from the process, she said.

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Human Rights Day: Addressing inequality and marginalisation in South Africa