pattern save for seasons with floods and therefore agricultural activities, other than livestock raring, are not of much economic value. A few people were employed as cattle herd men and most women were self-employed clearing shrubs (ukutshaya inenje) in isiNdebele. v. Environmental Rights Section 73 of the Constitution guarantees the right to a safe and clean environment and also to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures. Environmental rights of people in Tsholotsho are not being fully realised. As mentioned above, the communities were facing challenges with regards to sanitation and were relieving themselves in the bushes. There is unmonitored cutting down of trees for fencing homesteads/fields, firewood and hut and kraal building that was evident during the visit and if no timely interventions are made, the environmental degradation in Tsholotsho district will be massive in the not so distant future. vi. The Right to Protection of Vulnerable Groups The ZHRC found that there are various vulnerable groups in Tsholotsho. Women and children were considered to be the most vulnerable groups. This was because they were burdened by practical gender roles and also because of limited access to economic opportunities. In particular women were walking long distances to access health related facilities for their children and the elderly, fetching water as well as rebuilding their destroyed homes. The children were also facing the same challenges in terms of walking long distances to school posing further abuse risks particularly for the girl child. Butabubili primary school is poorly equipped (Refer to Figure 8 below). The elderly, sick and disabled also had difficulties in accessing health related facilities especially for those who were chronically ill, as well as attending meetings thereby excluding them from developmental discourse and relief aid opportunities. The youth were mostly affected by idleness with the lack of employment and recreational activities hence resulting in high rate of pregnancy and HIV and AIDS prevalence. Page 18 of 22