05 October 2015

By Commissioner Lindiwe Mokate, SAHRC Commissioner responsible for Children’s Rights and Basic Education

SAHRC, its role in SA society and mandate with reference to children

The SAHRC is an independent state institution established by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa  (Constitution) and operating within the framework of the Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles) adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution 48/134 in 1993.

12 November 2016

By Advocate Shafie Ameermia, SAHRC Commissioner responsible for Access to Justice and Housing.

It is now trite principle that it is only just and equitable to evict unlawful occupiers if alternative accommodation is provided where an eviction would otherwise result in homelessness.  The duty to provide alternative accommodation applies not only when an organ of state evicts people from their land, but also when a private landowner applies for the eviction of unlawful occupier/occupiers.

12 November 2016

By Commissioner Bokankatla Malatji, SAHRC Commissioner responsible to Disability & Older Persons

In his address to the delegates at the First Meeting between NHRIs, National Independent Monitoring Mechanisms designated under article 33.2 of the UNCRPD and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, held in Geneva on 25 September 2014, Adv Malatji called on governments to do more to promote rights of people with disability

27 November 2013

By Chairperson Lourence Mushwana, Commissioner responsible for Migration & Equality 

I am honoured to address the opening gathering of the conference on business and human rights convened by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI). I acknowledge with appreciation our host country Ghana for welcoming us to Accra and to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice for their invaluable contribution to the planning and support of this conference.

13 September 2013

By Chairperson Lourence Mushwana, Chairperson of the International Coordinating Committee for National Institutions promoting and protecting human rights (ICC)

I am honoured to address you today in my capacity as the Chairperson of the International Coordinating Committee for National Institutions promoting and protecting human rights (ICC).

13    September 2013

By Chairperson Lourence Mushwana, Commissioner responsible for Migration & Equality 

Lecture delivered at the Kacheon University, South Korea

It is a great pleasure to be here with you today. I would like to thank the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and the authorities of the Gachon University for inviting me to share with you my little experience as a human rights defender/activist.

27 June 2013

By Deputy Chairperson Pregs Govender, SAHRC Deputy Chairperson responsible for Basic Services & Health Care

I would like to thank each of you, for the time you have taken to share your expertise, insights and experience with the Human Rights Commission. This conference is an important step in effecting our Constitutional-legislative mandate in relation to the right to information. Section 50 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act provides that ‘A requester must be given access to any record of a private body if (a) that record is required for the exercise or protection of any right.’ This conference will feed into the Commission’s broader mandate in relation to business accountability for human rights, as articulated in our Constitution, in international law and in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (“Protect, Respect and Remedy”).

03 October 2012

By Deputy Chairperson Pregs Govender, Commissioner responsible for Basic Services & Health Care

The 2nd Annual Public Lecture held on Wednesday 03rd October 2012, at the University of Witwatersrand.

Today, human rights in South Africa, is defined by the Lonmin-Marikana massacre. The images of human beings killed in a hail of bullets ripped through our awareness...raising consciousness about the hard truth that the right to life and other Constitutional rights are still denied to many who are Black, poor and  working class.

Statement by Pregs Govender, Deputy Chair of the South African Human Rights Commission

28 August 2012

The tragic killing of over 30 Lonmin workers at Marikana has re-focused the spotlight on the living and working conditions of those who died and bring an added urgency to the South African Human Rights Commission’s provincial hearings on ‘Water is life; Sanitation is dignity’. These hearings also honour the memory of Commissioner Sandi Baai, who passed away on the 15 August, who strongly believed that those in positions of power must listen closely to people who are poor, especially when they make and implement policy.

Thursday, 25 August 2011

By Commissioner Sandile Baai, SAHRC Commissioner responsible for the right to housing

On behalf of the Commission, I would like to thank you for responding to our invitation to attend this media briefing.

On the 08th of February 2010, the Commission received a complaint from Agri-SA against the Minister of Human Settlements, Mr Tokyo Sexwale, for the remarks he made during an interview on the SABC - Morning Live Programme, on the 03rd of November 2009.