Attention: Editors and Reporters

22 February 2018

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission or SAHRC) condemns the killing of five police officials and a retired soldier in the early morning hours of Wednesday, the 21st February 2018, at Ngcobo Police Station, in the Eastern Cape. Another police official was murdered in Pretoria, on the same day. Three robbers broke into the police official’s home and killed him while he was asleep. Just under a year ago, on 28th March 2017, the South African Police Service (SAPS) issued a statement, stating that 57 police officials had been killed during the 2016/2017 financial year.

22 February 2018

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission or SAHRC) acknowledges that the annual budget speech, delivered by the Minister of Finance, in the National Assembly, is a complex and difficult balancing act in ensuring that government allocates funds to render its services in the realisation of human rights. Particularly under the current difficult economic conditions, the Commission is fully aware of the difficulties in limiting expenditure, whilst collecting revenue through taxes and stimulating economic growth.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
22 February 2018

The Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be conducting an information session on its child friendly campaign which is aimed at popularising the Commission’s Child Friendly Complaints Handling Procedure (CFCHP). The engagement is also aimed at empowering children with information that shall enable them to identify human rights violations and report the violations directly to the Commission.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 February 2018

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host a roundtable discussion on “Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools”

The practice of corporal punishment in schools is contrary to the prescripts of the South African Constitution and international human rights norms and standards. Despite it being banned since 1997, many educators continue to practice corporal punishment as a form of discipline.  It remains a challenge which requires the committed involvement of all stakeholders, if it is to be overcome.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

13 February 2018

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host a roundtable discussion to launch the SAHRC thematic discussion paper on “Discrimination and Violence on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) in South Africa.”

MEDIA ADVISORY

Attention: Editors and Reporters
20 February 2018

The DOJ&CD, SAHRC and ProBono.Org in partnership with stakeholders from government departments and civil society organisations will be hosting an outreach clinic in Chatsworth. This initiative is designed to inform the community about their rights and responsibilities; to create a platform for the community to engage directly with stakeholders and to provide a free legal advisory desk.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) Gauteng provincial office will be hosting a three  day investigative hearing from 20th   – 22nd  February  2018 to address a complaint received from a UNISA staff member on 11 December 2017, regarding allegations of racial tension and harassment in the College of Law.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 16 February 2018

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“SAHRC”) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office instituted an Equality Court Application against the Sodwana Bay Guest House (“First Respondent”) and Mr André Slade (“Second Respondent”) in the Ubombo Magistrates Court, following several complaints that were received against them.

14 February 2018

Former Sodwana Bay guesthouse owner André Slade has been fined R50 000, payable to a charity, for racist remarks he made in 2016.
The Equality Court in Ubombo, Zululand, this week ruled that Slade’s comments and conduct amounted to unfair discrimination on the ground of race and hate speech and that they went against the constitution.

10 February 2018

Johannesburg – The Department of Home Affairs says most refugee status appeals are not from people fleeing war-torn countries for safety, but are made by young males seeking better economic opportunities.