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MEDIA STATEMENT: SAHRC Continues to Monitor Human Rights Observance and Calls For Calm

31 March 2020

ATT: Editors and Reporters

In accordance with its mandate, the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) continues to monitor the observance of human rights during the national lockdown due to COVID-19. The Commission is aware of and is disturbed by footage circulating via social media depicting members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) and South African Police Service (SAPS) officials using force against people who fail to comply with lockdown regulations.

The Commission finds these incidents unpleasant and deeply concerning. The Commission is aware of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on the death of a 41-year-old man who was shot Sunday, 29 March 2020, while standing at his home’s veranda, during COVID-19 lockdown enforcement in Vosloorus. IPID has confirmed that an Ekurhuleni Metro Police official and a security guard were arrested for murder and attempted murder following the killing of the man in Vosloorus. The directorate confirmed that children aged 5, 6 and 11-years-old, were injured during the incident. Read more

EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS DURING COVID - 19 LOCKDOWN

Until at least the 16^th April 2020, the public is requested to use the contact details below for urgent complaints and queries directed at the SAHRC. Please call the number of the provincial office in the province where you are:

•   Northern Cape Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Chantelle Williams
Mobile Contact: 079 439 5557
Telephonic Contact: (054) 332 3993

•   Eastern Cape Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Abongile Sipondo
Mobile Contact: 082 055 6430

•   Western Cape Provincial Office:
Acting Provincial Manager: Bahia Sterris
Mobile Contact: 073 075 2278

1) Nonandi Diko- Legal Officer- 0824605640
2) Nelther Magazi- Legal Officer- 0748080066

• Limpopo Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Victor Mavhidula
Mobile Contact: 071 566 5188

•   Free State Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Thabang Kheswa

Intake Officer: Ms Alinah Khompeli
Tell: 051 447 1130
Cell: 078 067 0994 (WhatsApp only)
Email: akhompeli@sahrc.org.za

•   Mpumalanga Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Eric Mokonyama
Mobile Contact: 078 670 4360

•   North West Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Osmond Mngomezulu
Telephonic Contact: (014) 592 0694
Mobile Contacts:
Betty Mabusela (Intake Officer) 079 127 2528
Zamathuli Luthuli (Senior Legal Advisor) 067 173 8817
Thabang Mabule (Human Rights Officer) 076 084 9284

•   Gauteng Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Buang Jones
Telephonic Contact: 073 749 6168/072 258 7131/082 876 2784/061 814 7143/ 081 067 2751

•   KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager: Lloyd Lotz
Mobile Contact: 071 446 2333

SAHRC Videos

KEEP IT CONSTITUTIONAL

The Foundation of Human Rights along with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development have launched an innovative online video series titled, “Keep It Constitutional”. The series helps you learn about the rights that you and everyone else in South Africa have, so that if anyone threatens these rights, you can do something about it.

FOCUS AREAS

The Commission identifies, discusses and integrates strategic priority areas in line with the Human Rights Matrix. The Commissioners also assigned specific provinces and United Nations treaty bodies amongst themselves. These strategic priority areas, treaty bodies and provinces are set out in below.