Attention: Editors and reporters
Date: 11 November 2014
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) invites members of the media to a press conference that will be launching a report about the systemic challenges affecting the land restitution process in South Africa.
The press conference will be hosted as follows:
Date: 21st of November 2014
Time: 10:00 – 13:00
Venue: SAHRC Main boardroom at Forum 3 Braampark Office Park; 33 Hoofd Street in Braamfontein
The launch of this report follows hearings that were conducted by the Commission on Land Restitution on 12 November and 05 December 2013 to monitor and investigate the Systemic Challenges Affecting the Land Restitution Process in South Africa. The Commission convened hearings in terms of section 9(1)(c) of the Human Rights Commission Act, 54 of 1994 (HRC Act) which gives it powers to call on Government to provide responses on progress made towards the realisation of human rights.
The hearings were propelled by Land Restitution complaints and queries which are received by the Commission on a regular basis. As at August 2013, the SAHRC had 193 property and land related complaints nationally. Sixty percent of these complaints were at the investigation phase, 37% at assessment phase, and 3% at litigation phase. While some of the complaints were on the issue of the 1998 deadline, there were a number of challenges raised which made resolution of existing claims difficult.
It is for this reason that the SAHRC has compiled a report to address these challenges.
Commissioner Janet Love, SAHRC Commissioner responsible for Environmental and Natural Resources at the SAHRC will be addressing the media, accompanied by external stakeholders including Section 11 Committee members and the Rural Legal Trust.
Hard copies of the report will be available on the day of the launch.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Alucia Sekgathume
South African Human Rights Commission
T: +27 11 877 3627
Cell: 0826892364
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.