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Attention: Editors and Reporters
5 July 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission in Limpopo will hold meetings with the Lephalale Local Municipality and the Matimba Power Station Management.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
4 July 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) will meet with the City of Johannesburg to receive feedback on complaints where the City of Johannesburg is involved. The SAHRC will in particular solicit feedback on the City’s implementation of the Commission’s recommendations in the Alexandra Report.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
28 JUNE 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is a state institution established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 to support constitutional democracy. The Commission is mandated in terms of Section 184 of the Constitution to promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights and to monitor the observance of such rights within the Republic of South Africa.
01 July 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) has written to the office of the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa to seek the intervention of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster on the plight of the members of the Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement (AbM).
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Friday, 30 June 2023
July 2023 will mark two years since the catastrophic events of the 2021 civil unrest that occurred mainly in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. During July 2023, the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission / SAHRC), together with multiple partners, will host a series of programmes which address the social issues and problems invoked by the July Unrest. The overarching theme guiding the July 2023 calendar is informed by the Commission’s Social Harmony National Initiative (SHiNE) and will focus on the inter-related themes of ‘poverty’, ‘inequality’ and ‘dignity’.
29 JUNE 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or the Commission) and the Department of Education will be hosting virtual Moot Court preparatory workshops aimed at preparing learners for the National School Moot Court Programme. The Commission and Department of Education collaborate with various institutions of higher education, law firms, and professionals who provide training to the learners in preparation for the National School Moot Court Programme.
29 June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will be conducting Social Harmony National Effort (SHiNE) support campaign aimed at promoting social cohesion, harmony, tolerance and respect for human rights across South Africa. It also aims at improving human relations and interactions across every spectrum in the society.
27 June 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission with Department of Health and Civil Society Organisations will be conducting a stakeholder engagement on teenage pregnancy in Paul Roux. Every year in the month of June, South Africans commemorate the events of 16 June 1976. The uprising began in Soweto and spread across the country, radically changing South Africa's socio-political landscape. The rise of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) and the formation of the South African Students' Organization (SASO) sparked political interest in many students, while others joined the wave of anti-apartheid sentiment within the student community.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 June 2023
The right to basic education is an immediate right in the Republic of South Africa and therefore, there should be no barriers in accessing and enjoying this right. The 2019 Phakamisa High School case confirmed that clauses 15 and 21 of the Admission Policy for Ordinary Public Schools was invalid and unconstitutional. The Court further declared that the Eastern Cape Education Department Circular 6 of 2016 was invalid as it caused a barrier for learners to access school nutrition due to the lack of documentation.
26 June 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Today, 26 June 2023, is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. On this day, the global community unites in solidarity and acknowledges the challenges faced by victims of torture. This day marks the coming into force of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) on 26 June 1987. The UNCAT is the binding international instrument prohibiting torture – a prohibition that section 12 of our Bill of Rights also entrenches.
21 June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will be hosting a provincial dialogue to deepen the understanding and culture of human rights with a specific focus on the right to healthcare under the theme: “The Impact of Substance Abuse on Youth’s Health”.
21 June 2023
Access to justice means that everyone should have an equal opportunity to seek and obtain a fair resolution of their legal issues. Without access to justice, a person has no avenue to enforce and promote respect for this right. The State has the primary responsibility to ensure that there is law and order in the country and the South African Police Service (“SAPS”) is responsible for preventing crime and protecting basic rights. SAPS does this by combating crimes, maintaining public order, protecting all people in the country, their property, upholding and enforcing the law.
19th June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) together with the Centre for Child Law (CCL) invite members of the media to the launch of a booklet; How to get documented, a step-by-step guide to getting birth certificates, citizenship documents and immigration visas for children in South Africa.
16th June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) joins the rest of the country in the commemoration of National Youth Day. National Youth Day is observed annually on the 16th of June in remembrance of the youth that was ambushed and killed by the apartheid police in Soweto on 16 June 1976 for protesting against the compulsory introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools.
14 June 2023
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office will conduct a human rights champion workshop on 14 and 15 June 2023. The identified human rights champions will be empowered on the mandate of the South African Human Rights Commission and how to be champions for human rights.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
05 JUNE 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/Commission) in Eastern Cape will be embarking on various monitoring activities in Elundini, Walter Sisulu and Emalahleni local municipalities. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic states that the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
4 JUNE 2023
The National Child Protection Week is an annual event led by the Department of Social Development (DSD) to raise awareness of the rights of children. The 2023 National Child Protection Week celebration is from the 29th of May to the 4th of June. The theme as proposed by DSD is “Let us Protect Children during COVID-19 and Beyond”.
The Commission has observed that there is a huge need to promote the rights of our children given the climate in which they currently live. Within this National Child Protection Week, an 8-month-old child died in an unregistered creche. Even though the crime statistics presented by the Minister of Police General Bheki Cele for the period 01 January to 31 March of 2023, show that the number of child murders dropped slightly, compared to the same period last year, it is still a matter of concern. This concern was also shared by the Christian Democratic Party leader Honourable Kenneth Meshoe when he said, ‘Why are children targeted and not protected’. It is thus clear that there is a need to promote, protect and monitor the rights of children to ensure that they thrive.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
1 June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) will conduct an inspection in loco, with the City of Tshwane and other stakeholders on 1 June 2023.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
31 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) in Gauteng will conduct a follow-up inspection visit to Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, on 1 June 2023.
30 May 2023
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office (“ECPO”) will host a human rights engagement with the Provincial Executive Committee (“PEC”) of the province to strengthen the working relationship with the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”). Subsequent to the human rights engagement conducted in the previous financial year, the ECPO and the PEC has improved their relationship, resulting in an improved observance of human rights. The engagement will further focus on engaging on the systematic human rights challenges the ECPO has identified in the province and the need for government to address these human rights violations. The provincial government will also be appraised on the most prevalent complaints within the province, the most unresponsive government stakeholders, as well as general human rights trends within the Province from the 2022/2023 financial year.
About us
Understanding PAIA
The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
Sentinel House, Sunnyside Office Park, 32 Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
011 877 3600 (Switchboard)