1.2 Government's influence on our existence

Economic and management sciences

Grade 5

What affects my existence

Module 3

Government’s influence

The influence that the government exerts on a person’s existence

South Africa is a democratic country. This means that all the citizens are equa l – all are equally important. But it was not always the case. Before 1994 South Africa had laws that determined that people had to live in particular areas according to their race and the same principle was applied to decide which schools and educational institutions children had to attend. When this was in force, some groups received greater financial support from the government, which affected the quality of their existence.

Discuss the following in your groups:

Is it fair to provide some groups with greater advantages than other groups? Is this still happening in South Africa?

[LO 1.2]

A set of rules has been formulated to protect the rights of all the citizens of the country. You are one of the citizens, too, and the rules are known as T he Constitution . The police have to ensure that everyone lives according to these rules and protect all the citizens.

1. The following are some of the rights that we have as citizens of the country:

• Everyone should be able to feel safe – no one may hurt you.
• Everyone is free to practise a religion of his or her choice.
• Everyone should go to school.
• You may speak the language of your choice.
• Each one should have a house to live in.
• People have to take good care of the soil, plants and animals – this is life.
• Perhaps you are able to add some more…
• The following newspaper article tells of someone whose rights were violated. Read it carefully and then discuss it in your groups .

RIGHTS OF CRIME IMPORTANT

Congratulations to Alex Carmichael on his victory over amongst othersthe police regarding the rights of the victims of violence and crime.It is high time that somebody does something about the rights of the many people at the receiving end of the behaviour of tyrants and violators of the rights of other people.

Nowadays it seems as if only these people have rights and privileges, but not their victims!

We live in a sick society due to the rot that has settled in the community. Life is cheap – human lives have less value than those ofslaughter animals. Perpetrators are sometimes sent to jail for a shortperiod of time, where they receive food, clothing and medical care,because it is their right – for this the victim also pays by means ofincome tax. Often the victim suffers serious injuries, or the bread-winner of a family is killed which leaves the family close to starvation.Let these perpetrators reward the victims of their deeds financially.Perhaps we should establish a union that will take care of the interestsof the victims of violence and crime so that justice will prevail.

Peter Barton

Plumstead

Try to find newspaper articles telling of one of the rights/rules in the list on the previous page that has been violated. Discuss the violation as a class.

Remember - you are a citizen and also have rights that must be respected by other people.