This week, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) joined the nation in celebration as South Africa proudly marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (“the Constitution”).

The Constitution represents our social contract, grounded in our nation’s commitment to equality, freedom, and human dignity. The South African Constitution is hailed as a great achievement, as it introduced universal franchise, constitutional supremacy, the Bill of Rights, and the three spheres of government (Local, Provincial, and National). The Constitution also clearly distinguishes the three (3) arms of state, namely the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. 

It also laid the foundations for a democratic society based on justice, accountability, and respect for human rights. Over the past three decades, it has shaped various aspects of our social, political, cultural, economic, and technological lives through the rule of law, democracy and accountability, separation of powers and the associated checks and balances, and the Bill of Rights.

It is the Constitution that empowers the Commission and sister Chapter Nine (9) institutions to promote, protect, and monitor the observance of human rights. The Commission continues to hold the government and non-state actors to account, as empowered by this Constitution.

Despite laudable constitutional promises, poor service delivery across the country remains one of the thorny issues that South Africans continue to grapple with daily. Challenges such as a lack/sluggish programmes to address housing challenges; ailing healthcare infrastructure; lack of schools in certain areas forcing learners to walk distances and/or cross rivers; poor state of roads, which even delays or hinders essential services to access certain communities, remain features as grave human rights violations on the part of the government as envisaged in the Constitution.

To ensure meaningful enjoyment of the rights entrenched in the Constitution, the Commission has released several inquiry reports that highlight systemic challenges and offer clear recommendations to address them. These include tackling malnutrition, addressing the impact of poor roads on human rights, and improving service delivery in respect of access to clean water, sanitation, housing, education, and healthcare. This month, May 2026, the Commission will commence its inquiry into water challenges in Gauteng and continue its inquiry into hunger and food systems. The Commission has also litigated on pivotal matters, including children's rights and against manifestations of racism, homophobia, ableism and patriarchy. 

As we celebrate this constitutional milestone, the Commission encourages all eligible South Africans to register with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to ensure they exercise their constitutional right to vote in the forthcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).