Attention: Editors and Reporters

05 October 2022

In the matter of Solidarity & Another v Black First Land First & 2 Others EQ2/19 Equality Court Gauteng Local Division, a complaint of hate speech in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 (‘the Equality Act’), was instituted against the Black First Land First (First Respondent) and two members of Black First Land First (the Second and Third Respondents) for comments they made following the death of three white learners arising from the collapse of a bridge at Driehoek Hoerskool in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 30 September 2022

Twenty-eight years into democracy, access to safe and decent sanitation continues to be a huge challenge, which has a disproportionate impact on the lives of women, children and persons with disabilities. Additionally, the usage of the demeaning bucket toilet system, which is an affront to human dignity, continues in South Africa. According to the Statistics South Africa’s Non-Financial Census of Municipalities for the year ended 30 June 2020, several households continue to use the bucket toilet system. Although between 2004 and 2019 a gradual and steady decline in the use of the bucket toilet system was recorded, however a sharp increase was noted, with 47,130 units being in use in 2020 compared to 42,434 units in 2019. The highest numbers of households using the bucket toilet were recorded in the provinces of Free-State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and the North West.  

30 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) has established the Disability Advisory Committee on the Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM). The seminal event marks a culmination of efforts initiated by the Commission in April 2019, to establish an IMM for South Africa. The IMM, under Article 33 of the Convention for the rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Convention/CRPD), seeks dedicated and independent monitoring of the rights of persons with disabilities in each country which has adopted the obligations under the Convention.
The IMM in South Africa, is located within the South African Human Rights Commission and is among the first IMMs in the continent.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

29 September 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng provincial office (GPO) will host a Deaf Awareness campaign at The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg on 29 September 2022.

29 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission, KwaZulu Natal Provincial Office (the Commission/ SAHRC) will host a roundtable discussion on social media and freedom of expression on the 30^th of September 2022. The dialogue will be held in a hybrid form, to allow for both physical attendance at the KZN provincial office and for virtual connectivity on Microsoft Teams (Link below).

28 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“Commission”) Gauteng Provincial Office will host a follow-up stakeholder engagement on the plight of homeless community in Mogale City. In the recent past, the Mogale City Municipality’s Public Safety unit has been accused of serious human rights violations and heavy-handed treatment of homeless people.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
28 September 2022

Learners with severe to profound intellectual disabilities (“LSPID”) have a need to access quality, publicly funded education and support. This is provided for in the (“LSPID”) conditional grant. The purpose of the LSPID conditional grant is to provide the necessary support, resources and equipment to identified special care centres and schools for the provision of education to children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities.

Date: 28 September 2022 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The SAHRC Free State Provincial Office has received several complaints including amongst others the illegal farm evictions of occupants protected by ESTA and the pounding of livestock by farm owners. 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

27 September 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) will conduct a newsroom visit to provide an opportunity for media houses to interact with the North West Provincial Office (NWPO) and for the NWPO to share information on the work of the Commission.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 September 2022

The objective of the stakeholder engagements is to engage with government departments, civil society organisations and communities with the view to heightening awareness about human rights and institutions that can help with redress for human rights violations, with a specific focus on the role of the Commission in promoting, monitoring and protecting human rights.

26 September 2022 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is a Constitutional body, established to support constitutional democracy in terms of Section 181 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Constitution). Section 184(1) (b) of the Constitution obliges the SAHRC to promote the protection of human rights and monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic of South Africa.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

26 September 2022

The Eastern Cape provincial office will conduct a human rights champion workshop on Monday, 26 September 2022. The identified human rights champions will be empowered on the mandate of the South African Human Rights Commission and how to be champions for human rights.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

26 September 2022
Over the years, the South African Human Rights Commission in Mpumalanga (“the Commission”) has received and investigated complaints relating to the placement and removal of markers on holders’ identity documents.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Saturday, 24 September 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/Commission) joins the rest of the country in celebrating Heritage Day 2022.  Heritage Day in South Africa is celebrated yearly on the 24th of September to appreciate the nation’s unique wealth of cultural diversity.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 22 September 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC) invites members of the media to the launch of the Social Harmony National Effort (SHiNE). 

The SAHRC is a national human rights institution mandated by the Constitution to promote respect for and a culture of human rights; promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights; and monitor and assess the observance of human rights in South Africa.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 September 2022

In the matter of Solidarity & Another v Black First Land First & 2 Others EQ2/19 Equality Court Gauteng Local Division, a complaint of hate speech in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 (‘the Equality Act’), was instituted against the Black First Land First (First Respondent) and two members of Black First Land First (the Second and Third Respondents) for comments they made following the death of three white learners arising from the collapse of a bridge at Driehoek Hoerskool in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
20 September 2022

The Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be hosting a dialogue on the impact of the lack of high school for learners with disabilities in the province.  Learners with disabilities and their parents in the province continue to face challenges because of the lack of and delay in building of a high school for learners with disabilities.
The Constitution guarantees the right to equality and prohibits unfair discrimination by the State and private individuals.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

19 September 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will be conducting various monitoring activities in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality and Chris Hani District Municipality Districts. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution states that, the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.  The role of monitoring and assessing potential and actual human right violations provides the Commission with an opportunity to ensure redress and to ensure that human rights are upheld in the Republic.

15 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

A mine dam collapse on Sunday 11 September 2022 caused flooding in the Charlesville and Itumeleng residential areas of Jagersfontein. The collapse caused large volumes of slime to engulf and destroy homes and properties of over 300 residents. At least one person reportedly died in the disaster.

Date: 15 September 2022 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is a Constitutional body, established to support constitutional democracy in terms of Section 181 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Constitution). Section 184(1) (b) of the Constitution obliges the SAHRC to promote the protection of human rights and monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic of South Africa.