The standout speakers of the day were Mncedisi Ngubane, a first-year accounting student, Mendy Cele, a second-year Human Resources and Management student, and Sthandwa Mampuru. The three students moved the audience by reframing human rights as the students’ lived daily experiences. “Human rights are not just ideas; they are personal, and they matter now,” Ngubane declared. “They are about how we are treated in our classrooms, in our friendships, and in our daily lives.”
Ngubane’s address took a bold turn toward the issue of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Addressing the men in the room directly, he challenged the normalisation of “jokes” and attitudes that lead to harassment. He defined “true strength” through empathy and integrity, rather than dominance, urging his peers to choose “courage over comfort” by calling out harmful behaviour among friends.
Following Ngubane, Mendy Cele provided a sobering look at the socio-economic barriers that prevent students from enjoying their basic rights. Cele highlighted the “hidden” human rights violations on campus, such as food insecurity. “The students are expected to concentrate in lectures while battling hunger,” she said. Cele also mentioned a digital divide, citing the lack of access to computers and transport to libraries. Lastly, she pointed out economic vulnerability as a challenge students face, noting that it leads to the tragic reality of students relying on blessers due to systemic poverty. “Higher education should be a place of safety and opportunity,” Cele argued. All three young voices agreed that reality shows that the right to education, safety, and dignity is not equally experienced by all students.