In February 2008 the South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

n government

Government of South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a constitutional democracy with a three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating in a nearly unique system that combines aspects of parliamentary and presidential systems. Legislative authority is held by the Parliament of South Africa...

 started a public participation process to create a pledge (or oath) of allegiance

Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of loyalty to the federal flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Christian Socialist Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942...

 to be recited daily by schoolchildren. The draft pledge was based on the preamble of the Constitution of South Africa

Constitution of South Africa

The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was...

.

Draft pledge

The first draft of the pledge reads as follows:

We the youth of South Africa

Recognising the injustices of our past,

Honour those who suffered and sacrificed for justice and freedom.

We will respect and protect the dignity of each person,

And stand up for justice

We sincerely declare that we shall uphold the rights and values of our Constitution

And promise to act in accordance with the duties and responsibilities

that flow from these rights.