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This year, we explore meaningful ways to commemorate Human Rights Day in Cape Town.

Instead of letting the day pass as just another public holiday, Capetonians have the opportunity to engage with the significance of this historic day through occasions that celebrate the principles enshrined in our constitution.

These events in the Mother City serve as platforms for education, dialogue and advocacy, allowing us to reflect on the importance of human rights and their enduring relevance in today’s society.

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Melodies of Equality Gathering

Join the Melodies of Equality Gathering at Cape Town’s iconic Castle of Good Hope to honour Human Rights Day. This event promises a family-friendly experience featuring renowned headliners and local artists performing jazz, Afro-soul, and gospel music, along with a variety of food stall vendors offering local cuisine.

Picture: Nina Ganci / Unsplash
  • Location: Castle of Good Hope, 1 Castle St, Cape Town City Centre
  • Date: 21 March 2024
  • Times: 12pm to 10pm
  • Tickets: quicket.co.za

Explore Iziko’s exhibitions for free

Picture: @izikomuseumssa / Instagram

Celebrate Human Rights Day by reflecting on the injustices and victories of our history through the lens of Iziko’s award-winning exhibitions, collections and curations, with free entry into the following museums: Bo-Kaap, South African Museum, Slave Lodge, Koopman’s De Wet, Rust en Vreugd and South African National Gallery.

Please note that some of the museums are not operational during loadshedding hours.

Visit the Long March to Freedom Exhibition

Picture: longmarchtofreedom.co.za

Empowerment comes through awareness. Deepen your understanding of South African history by strolling among iconic figures, both South African and international, who fought for the rights of South Africans and championed democracy in the country. The ‘Long March to Freedom’ is a globally renowned exhibition featuring 100 life-size bronze statues, set to expand into a procession of over 400 statues in the future.

The exhibition is also available online through the ‘Long March to Freedom’ virtual tour.

  • Location: Long March to Freedom, Century Boulevard, Century City, Cape Town, 7441
  • Times: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays | 10am to 4:30pm
  • Cost: SA citizens & permanent residents: R20 | International visitors or full guided tour: R75
  • Tickets: webtickets.co.za

The organisation has introduced a subsidised fee structure to make this incredible exhibition accessible to all South Africans. If you can afford to pay the full fee of R75, please do so as a donation to keep the project going.

Honour the past at District Six Museum

Picture: District Six Museum

The District Six Museum stands as a statement to the resilience of a marginalised community and the shared struggle of South Africans fighting for their basic rights. Its exhibitions place importance on dignity, identity and diverse cultures, shedding light on the fundamental human rights that every South African is entitled to.

Bookings are essential and can be made via Quicket.co.za

Witness Esther Mahlangu’s art up close

Picture: The Melrose Gallery / Facebook

Curator Nontobeko Ntombela describes Dr Esther Mahlangu‘s career as ‘a testament to passion, innovation and resilience.’

Human Rights Day is the perfect opportunity to see this celebrated South African artist’s vast oeuvre of work, currently on exhibit at the Iziko South African National Gallery until August 2024.

Entitled ‘Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective’, the exhibition is a celebration of African culture in contemporary life. ‘The exhibition celebrates Mahlangu’s voice, agency and pioneering spirit, symbolising her self-enunciation, self-determination and creativity,’ says Ntombela.

  • Location: Iziko South African National Gallery | Government Ave, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
  • Dates: 18 February to 11 August 2024
  • Times: Monday to Sunday | 9am to 5pm
  • Contact: 021 481 3970

Also read:

Cape Town museums you need to check off your bucket list

Picture: District Six Museum / Facebook

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