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Attention: Editors and Reporters
05 JUNE 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/Commission) in Eastern Cape will be embarking on various monitoring activities in Elundini, Walter Sisulu and Emalahleni local municipalities. 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.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
4 JUNE 2023
The National Child Protection Week is an annual event led by the Department of Social Development (DSD) to raise awareness of the rights of children. The 2023 National Child Protection Week celebration is from the 29th of May to the 4th of June. The theme as proposed by DSD is “Let us Protect Children during COVID-19 and Beyond”.
The Commission has observed that there is a huge need to promote the rights of our children given the climate in which they currently live. Within this National Child Protection Week, an 8-month-old child died in an unregistered creche. Even though the crime statistics presented by the Minister of Police General Bheki Cele for the period 01 January to 31 March of 2023, show that the number of child murders dropped slightly, compared to the same period last year, it is still a matter of concern. This concern was also shared by the Christian Democratic Party leader Honourable Kenneth Meshoe when he said, ‘Why are children targeted and not protected’. It is thus clear that there is a need to promote, protect and monitor the rights of children to ensure that they thrive.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
1 June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) will conduct an inspection in loco, with the City of Tshwane and other stakeholders on 1 June 2023.
30 May 2023
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office (“ECPO”) will host a human rights engagement with the Provincial Executive Committee (“PEC”) of the province to strengthen the working relationship with the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”). Subsequent to the human rights engagement conducted in the previous financial year, the ECPO and the PEC has improved their relationship, resulting in an improved observance of human rights. The engagement will further focus on engaging on the systematic human rights challenges the ECPO has identified in the province and the need for government to address these human rights violations. The provincial government will also be appraised on the most prevalent complaints within the province, the most unresponsive government stakeholders, as well as general human rights trends within the Province from the 2022/2023 financial year.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
30 MAY 2022
The Western Cape Provincial Office will today, 30 May 2023 be embarking on monitoring activities in and around Cape Town in accordance with Commissioner Makwetla’s provincial visit and the provincial SHiNE program of action. Section 184 (1) (c) of the South African Constitution states that the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
29 May 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) will conduct a Human Rights Champions’ workshop with Community Advice Offices in the Lejweleputswa District. The workshop aims to foster a culture of human rights, a deeper understanding of human rights and increase the realisation of human rights to enable participants to assist in identifying human rights abuses within the communities in which they live and work. It will further enable participants to conduct human rights and Constitutional awareness campaigns with their communities and develop long-term working relations with the SAHRC.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) has noted with grave concern the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, North of Pretoria. According to reports, 16 people have so far died as a result of contracting cholera in the area.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 May 2023
The SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office will be embarking on various monitoring activities in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality this week. Section 184 (1) (c) of the South African Constitution states that the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission in Free State and Department of Education will conduct a Provincial School Moot Court workshop in partnership with the University of the Free State, Legal Aid-SA, Department of Justice and Constitutional Democracy as a preparation for the essay rounds.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) in Eastern Cape working in partnership with the Eastern Cape Education Department and Fort Hare University will conduct the workshop for schools in the Amathole East and Amathole West Districts in preparation of the moot court competition essay rounds.
18 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) acknowledges the role emerging technologies and online platforms play in the development of our societal growth and evolution. Through implementing its mandate, the Commission has however noted increased risk in potential threats emerging from the pace at which technologies such as Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) are developing.
17 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) joins the rest of the world to observe International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT). This day was created in 2004 to draw worldwide attention to the continued violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex people and all of those with diverse gender identities or expressions.
16 May 2023
81% of SA Grade 4’s cannot read for meaning in 2021: The South Africa Human Rights Commission (Commission) is deeply concerned about the state of reading in South Africa. The results from the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) showed that in 2021, 81% of South African Grade 4 learners could not read for meaning in any language. This is up from 78% in 2016. South Africa was ranked last out of the 43 countries and experienced the largest decline of all the countries participating. It is additionally important to note that the South African assessment occurred a year later than most of the countries assessed.
11 MAY 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in Western Cape is set to meet with the Breede Valley Municipality on the 12th of May 2023. The meeting is part of the investigation into a complaint against Municipality that was received from a community member regarding unavailability of services in the area for the past 5 years.
11 May 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) notes with grave concern the recent media reports on the alleged crisis relating to the administration of the school nutrition programme in the Eastern Cape. It has been reported that learners in the Eastern Cape have gone for almost a month without receiving meals at school due to a delay of allocation of funds.
11 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in Limpopo is set to meet with the Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba on the 12th of May 2023. The meeting is part of the investigation into the complaints against MEC that were received from a number of individuals and institutions regarding utterances made by the MEC directed at a patient at Bela-Bela Hospital in August 2022.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission in Eastern Cape working in partnership with the Eastern Cape Education Department and Fort Hare University will conduct a workshop for schools in the Mdantsane BCM District in preparation for the moot court competition essay rounds.
04 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) welcomes the passing by the National Assembly of the Bill amending section 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The aim of this amendment is to recognise South African Sign Language (SASL) as one of the official languages of the Republic. The Commission views the adoption of the Bill as a step in the right direction to promote human rights and specifically the rights of persons who use sign language.
03 May 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) recognises that human rights are not the monopoly of one institution and that a range of institutions, bodies and authorities have an interest in advancing them. Given this, the Commission is therefore obliged to liaise, partner and work with them to ensure that policies and practices are synchronised as far as possible to achieve common objectives where circumstances warrant cooperation.
3 May 2023
ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters
Over the years, the Commission in the North West has received many complaints about unfinished and inadequate RDP houses in the North West. The complaints of unfinished houses include those that were not built beyond the foundation stage, those whose walls were built up to the halfway point, and those which were built to almost completion but are left without the roof. These houses make it impossible for the owners thereof to take occupation. As a result, these houses are vandalized. The complaints of inadequate houses relate to buildings that are inaccessible to persons with disabilities. They also relate to the use of inferior building materials and poor workmanship, and, as a result, this poses safety threats/risks to the livelihoods of the occupiers.
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Understanding PAIA
The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
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011 877 3600 (Switchboard)