Over the past several months, the Office of Commissioner Madlingozi in the Equality Focal Area has held dialogues with Rastafari communities. In these dialogues, there have emerged countless stories of unlawful cannabis-related arrests, high unemployment rates due to criminal records stemming from historical cannabis-related convictions, school expulsion over children’s dreadlocks, and systematic exclusion from the rapidly growing cannabis industry. Members of the Rastafari community expressed the trauma of feeling unrecognised and unprotected under South Africa’s democratic dispensation, despite their uniquely African faith and the precolonial health and spiritual use of cannabis by various indigenous African communities.

As the state institution constitutionally mandated to promote, protect, and monitor the observance of human rights, the Commission seeks to find systematic solutions to these and other challenges experienced by the Rastafari and other cannabis communities. The Roundtable will convene members of the Rastafari community from across South Africa, leading religious, cultural, and constitutional experts, and state institutions, including the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, National Prosecutions Authority, South African Police Service, and Department of Basic Education.

Due to the volume and systemic nature of complaints received by the Commission from the Rastafari community, this holistic and comprehensive intervention is required rather than treating complaints individually.

The Commission invites media and other stakeholders to observe the Roundtable. Details are as follows:

• Event: Rights of Rastafari Roundtable
• Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
• Time: 08:00
• Venue: Birchwood Hotel, Johannesburg

 ENDS

 For further information, Mr Wisani Baloyi on 081 016 8308 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Given Makhuvele @ 082 773 4428/ 072 1977 581 (WhatsApp) email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.