17 January 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will be conducting monitoring of the state of readiness for reopening of schools. 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. The role of monitoring and assessing human rights and potential human rights violations, provides for an opportunity for the Commission to inspect areas of potential violation, and facilitate redress where required.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

17 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) is embarking on a school monitoring programme within the 4 education districts in the province. The purpose of the programme is to observe the levels of readiness of schools to open for the 2024 academic year. The programme shall assess inter alia: enrolments, availability of LTSM, conditions of teaching and learning, etc.

17 January 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in the Northern Cape Province will be conducting monitoring during the schools reopening for the 2024 academic year. The main objective of this monitoring initiative is to evaluate the current state of human rights in education, emphasising aspects that directly impact on learners, parents, and educators.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

17 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Free State Provincial Office (FSPO) will embark on a school readiness program that consists of monitoring of schools within the province, as a mechanism to ensure the observance of and the promotion of Human Rights.  Section 29 of the Constitution of South Africa states that everyone has the right to basic education, including adult basic education and to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

16 January 2024

Basic Education is one of the focus areas identified by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to effectively fulfil its mandate of promoting, protecting, and monitoring the realisation of Human Rights in South Africa.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

16 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) will visit The Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital on 16 January 2024.

The Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital, in Krugersdorp is a teaching institute for Wits University, University of Johannesburg as well as the North West University. The Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital, serves as a referral centre for most central, regional and district hospitals in southern Gauteng and parts of the North-West province and sees hundreds of patients for treatment and rehabilitation.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

15 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) is concerned at reports that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) expects to have to find places for currently 688 new applicants at the start of the school year. Following budget reductions across all state funded institutions and departments, plans to build schools to meet the expected demand could not be carried out. As a result, the annual drive to assist in placing learners from other provinces wishing to attend schools in the Western Cape and late applicants from the Western Cape will be even more difficult than usual.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 15 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) remains concerned with the ongoing floods that affected Ladysmith, Dundee, Mandeni and more recently those that occurred over the weekend in parts of the KZN North Coast and other surrounding areas, as well as the adverse weather conditions (heavy rains, whirlwinds, and lightning) which continue to affect parts of the KwaZulu- Natal Province.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) is concerned at reports that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) expects to have the mammoth task of placing 18000 unplaced learners in schools at the start of the school year. Following budget reductions across all state funded institutions and departments, plans to build schools to meet the expected demand could not be carried out. As a result, the annual drive to assist in placing learners from other provinces wishing to attend schools in the Western Cape and late applicants from the Western Cape will be even more difficult than usual.  

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 January 2024

As South Africa prepares for the commencement of the 2024 school year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/ Commission) takes a moment to reflect on the critical issues surrounding school uniforms and learner appearance policies. The SAHRC's “School Uniform and Appearance Policies” Report, issued in October 2023, brought to light various challenges that impact the rights and well-being of learners across the nation.

One of the key recommendations from the SAHRC's report emphasizes the necessity to cap the costs of school uniforms. The Commission acknowledges the financial strain that expensive school uniforms can place on learners and their families. Therefore, it is imperative for the National Department of Basic Education (NDBE) to conduct a baseline assessment to determine a reasonable cap on the costs of basic school uniforms, considering the socio-economic circumstances of the country.