As part of its effort to promote the culture of human rights in farming communities, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will conduct provincial hearings on human rights in farming communities.

The Commission considers it necessary to host such hearings as it seeks to highlight the impact of human rights violations and its impact on farming communities.These hearings are also informed by the large number of human rights complaints received from farming communities, the number of submissions received, the extensive research that has been conducted on this issue, as well as media reports on various forms of human rights violations occurring within farming communities.

These hearing will be focusing on the following human rights issues:

• Safety and security
• Land rights and tenure
• And socio economic rights

The Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, 2 Commissioners and two external experts will oversee the hearing in the Western Cape. A legal team from the SAHRC will lead evidence from witnesses. The witnesses will be members from various sectors working in farming communities including NGO's, SAPS, Farmers Unions', various provincial government departments, and local governments.

"The commission believes that these hearings should be set up in a non-accusatory manner as these hearings should provide an opportunity to gather all the facts and seek systematic redress", said MC Moodliar, Head of Legal Services in the Commission. Interpreters have been arranged for translation and the SAHRC will open a complaints desk where people can lay complaints of any form of human rights abuse to the Commission.

The Western Cape hearings are open to the public and will be held in Malmesbury Town Hall from the 3-4 July 2002.

Issued by: The South African Human Rights Commission
Phone: 011 484 8300
For further information contact:
Commissioner Charlotte McClain on 083 357 0980

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