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.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) is pleased to announce the commencement of work of the newly appointed Commissioners. Since the confirmation of the appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa in December 2023, Commissioners have hit the ground running since 03 January 2024. Areas of strategic focus have been allocated to each Commissioner. In addition, there is an appointment of Commissioners into the nine provinces to support the Commission’s vision of visibility and improve rapid responsiveness throughout the country in line with its mandate to promote, monitor and protect human rights.

08 Dec 2023

The municipality knows they do not have enough water Zita Goldswain The supply and demand for water in eMalahleni do not balance. This is no news for consumers as they have felt the effects of this deficit for the past few years. When one of the additional water plants is getting maintenance done, you can be assured that the municipality will send out a notification that the reservoirs are empty. Residents must brace themselves, because Thungela indicated that they will be doing maintenance on their plant this coming week from December 5 to December 8. Thungela adds 15M1 of water per day.

15 Dec 2023

Raw sewerage continues to now into the Olifants river Residents living along the banks of the Olifants River are subjected to indecent living conditions from the stench coming from the river. That's due to the raw sewage from Riverview waste water treatment plant that is flowing into the river constantly.