The Commission will release a report of its findings arising from its investigation on 30th September 2016.
The investigation followed a mission led by the Chairperson, Advocate Lawrence Mushwana, to hotspots and temporary camps in KwaZulu-Natal to establish the nature and extent of the human rights challenges resultant from acts of violence directed at non-nationals.
At the end of the visit, the Chairperson expressed his deep concern over the impact on the vulnerable, in particular women, children and older persons who had been affected by the terrible incidents of violence. The Commission’s delegation visited the camps in Isipingo, Chatsworth and Greenwood in Durban which collectively housed more than two thousand migrants from different African countries. The Commission committed to continued monitoring of incidents wherever they may occur.
The probing of such complaints form a part of the Commission’s ongoing work around protections for the rights of vulnerable such as migrants. This body of work includes litigation on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, monitoring of the Lindela Repatriation Centre; reports to supra-national bodies.
The complaints were dealt with in terms of the Commission’s Complaints Handling Procedures which dictate that we consult with complainants and respondents during the course of the investigations. In November 2015 the Commission released a Preliminary Report following its investigation. The parties to the dispute were given until the 31st January 2016 to provide their comments. This preliminary report was an opportunity for the complainants and the King to make comments, if any, on the preliminary findings and recommendations of the Commission, before the Commission issued its final report.
The Commission’s intention was to release the report by February 2016, but having addressed the complexity of issues, applied itself to submissions in respect of its provisional report; it is now satisfied, it has made an impartial, equitable decision.
Ends
Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission
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