Date: 13 September 2022 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) 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 Commission 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

13 September 2022

On 13 – 16 September 2022, the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will conduct capacity building workshops aimed at capacitating faith based organisations and conduct stakeholder engagements with older persons, government employees, non-governmental organisations and community development workers.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

10 September 2022

The North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission will conduct the oral round of the Schools’ Moot Court Competition on 10 September 2022.
The objectives of the Schools’ Moot Court Competition are to nurture young minds and groom a new breed of young leaders to take on human rights issues and challenges in the country, using the law as one of their main instruments.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

09 September 2022

As part of the 2022 Moot Court Competition, and following the success of Mpumalanga learners who participated in the Essay Writing Phase of the Competition, the Mpumalanga Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the departments of basic education, and justice in Mpumalanga will be hosting the learners as they now take part in the Provincial Oral Rounds of the Competition.

09 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The National Schools Moot Court Competition was established in 2011 as a joint project of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Foundation for Human Rights. In 2019 the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) took over the competition as its flagship human rights advocacy project and successfully implemented same.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

08 September 2022

Background

Since the first democratic elections in South Africa held in 1994, the door towards accessing public schools has been unlocked for all learners in accordance with non-discriminatory principles. The provision of education progressed from serving the interests of a white minority to serving the interests of all South Africans. The rights of learners to equal, non-discriminatory schooling were enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the South African Schools Act.  

08 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission), Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will host a stakeholder engagement with the MSF Southern Africa to elaborate on the mandate and powers of the Commission in relation to promoting, monitoring and providing redress when human rights violations occur.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

7 September 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission working in partnership with the Eastern Cape Education Department, Walter Sisulu University and Fort Hare University, will host the provincial rounds of the national schools moot court competition (NSMCC) this weekend.  The provincial oral rounds consist of ten (10) participating schools with the aim of selecting a provincial team of four (4) successful schools to represent the Eastern Cape at the national rounds to be held in Gauteng at the Constitutional Court later this year.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
06 September 2022

On 6 – 9 September 2022, the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will conduct capacity building workshops aimed at capacitating faith based organisations and traditional leaders in Vryburg and Setlagole village.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

06 September 2022

On 13 September 2021, the South African Human Rights Commission in Mpumalanga (“the Commission) received a complaint against Lekwa Local Municipality (“the Municipality”) and the Department of Human Settlements (“DHS”).  The complainant was a community member on behalf of an elderly pensioner and beneficiary of an RDP house, Mrs Gumede*.

05 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters                    

The South African Human Rights Commission, Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) is concerned about the reported strike action that has been allegedly undertaken by Amathole District Municipality (ADM) officials pertaining to wage disputes. Media reports have indicated that the said strike action has, amongst other things, resulted in the sabotaging of water infrastructure, which consequently has negatively affected communities and services at large. The Constitution provides that Local Government structures have the objective to ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner and to promote a safe and healthy environment.

05 September 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) Gauteng Provincial Office is initiating the second leg of the investigation inquiry into continuing complaints or allegations of racial discrimination or discrimination in general in advertising within South Africa. 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Wednesday, 31 August 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC) and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) National Conference on Local Governance will conclude on 01 September as follows:

31 August 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission, KwaZulu Natal Provincial Office (the Commission) in partnership with the KwaZulu Natal Department of Education (DoE), and other stakeholders, will conduct workshops in preparation for the Provincial Oral Rounds of the National Schools Moot Court Programme (NSMCP). The Commission and DoE following the workshops, will host the Provincial Oral Rounds at the Durban Magistrate Court.

31 August 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) Gauteng Provincial Office’s second leg of the investigation inquiry into continuing complaints or allegations of racial discrimination or discrimination in general in advertising within South Africa adjourned on Tuesday and will resume again on Thursday morning, as follows:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

30 August 2022

The SAHRC North West Provincial Office will be conducting stakeholder engagements with government officials, older persons, and community development workers, as well as monitoring activities in mental health facilities and police stations in Mahikeng from 30 August 2022 to 1 September 2022.

30 August 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The Bill of Rights provides the communities with fundamental rights to access social services. In this regard, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 places the responsibility on the government to ensure that basic services are progressively expanded to all, within the limits of available resources. Basic services include water, sanitation, electricity, housing, refuse and waste removal. These are critical services that are meant to improve the lives of people. In South Africa, the government has committed to providing a basic amount of free water and electricity to poor people.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 30 August 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC) has noted myriad systemic challenges within the sphere of local government, which hinder the attainment and enjoyment of human rights. As part of its responses to these challenges, the SAHRC and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) will be hosting a National Conference on Local Governance under the theme, “Local Government, Accountability, Service Delivery, and Human Rights.” The hosting of the conference is in line with the SAHRC’s and CRL Rights Commission’s mandate to promote, protect and monitor the observance of human and community rights in South Africa.

29 August 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

South Africa has made positive progress across a number of critical areas since the dawn of democracy in 1994. Despite the achievements attained, South Africa continues to experience escalating rise in poverty, large-scale unemployment, and deep-seated structural inequalities. The challenge that lies ahead is how to promote the interests of the poor people, vulnerable groups, marginalised communities, and many others who are yet to enjoy the full benefits of our democracy.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
29 August 2022

The Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will host workshops on children’s rights following rising numbers of learner pregnancy amid Covid-19 as well as enquiries relating to allegations of sexual violations of learners by educators within the province.