The areas of focus for the Free State Provincial Office include legal services, advocacy and research. The Provincial Office Legal Services unit is responsible for providing quality legal services in the protection of human rights in our province through the efficient and effective investigation of complaints of human rights violations, the provision of quality legal advice and assistance to, as well as seeking redress through the courts for, victims of human rights violations. The Advocacy and Research unit is responsible for promoting human rights, thereby ensuring greater protection of human rights through various advocacy interventions, which includes training workshops, seminars, roundtable discussions, conferences, public campaigns, presentations, media interventions, community outreach, publications and dissemination of information.
Nature of Complaints Addressed by this Provincial Office
We will use existing data and graphs to complete this section
Achievements
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Racism: University of the Free State Reitz racist video in 2008 (Successful mediation by the Commission). Settlement agreement made an order of court.
Service delivery protests in 2012: Zastron residents/Mohokare Local Municipality (Successful mediation by the Commission)
Litigation
Pregnancy: Pregnant learners expelled from school in accordance with learner pregnancy policies adopted by Welkom and Harmony High Schools. The Commission joined the matter as amicus curiae (friend of the court). Pregnancy policy found to be inconsistent with the Constitution. Learners re-admitted and allowed to proceed with their studies.
Reports
- Open (unenclosed) toilets in Rammolutsi, Viljoenskroon (Complaint lodged in 2010). Violations remedied and recommendations implemented.
- Racism: Learners exposed to racist caricature and display of apartheid flag in class at Wilgehof Primary School. Teacher dismissed.
- Racism: Own initiative investigation into allegations of racism at Dr Viljoen Combined School. Anti-racism policy adopted by the school. Workshop on diversity management and anti-racism conducted. Recommendations implemented.
- Water and sanitation: The residents of Sibuyile Park Informal Settlement in Bloemfontein had insufficient access to water, no access to toilets, no refuse removal and no access to housing. The Municipality installed 6 stand-pipe taps which provided adequate water and a regular refuse removal service was instituted. 22 temporary toilets had been delivered to Sibuyile Park informal settlement; the toilets will be serviced / cleaned by a service provider once a week; 2 rolls of toilet paper will be provided per toilet per week.
- Improvement in complaint resolution rates for 3 successive years.
- Positive outcome in client satisfaction survey.
Buang Jones
Acting Provincial Manager
Tel: (051) 447 1130/33
Fax: (051) 447 1128
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