Transforming Society
Securing Rights
Restoring Dignity
12 August 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission will be hosting a virtual Moot Court preparatory workshop aimed at preparing learners from the participating schools, for their provincial moot court oral rounds.
09 August 2022
Commissioner Philile Ntuli of the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is conducting a provincial visit in the KwaZulu Natal Province from 10 to 12 August 2022.
Following the floods disaster that affected the KwaZulu Natal Province in April 2022, the Commission has conducted a series of monitoring interventions to assess the human rights impact thereof. The monitoring has been geared towards ensuring that the response of the KwaZulu Natal Government to the disaster is based on a human rights approach.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 09 August 2022
09 August 2022 marks 66 years since the 1956 march that saw about 20 000 women descend on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the introduction of an apartheid pass law which was aimed at restricting black women’s movement in urban areas. The heroic act of defiance led by struggle icons such as Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams saw scores of women from across the country converge at the Union Buildings to deliver a petition containing more than 100,000 signatures calling for the end of this unjust act.
7 August 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) wishes to inform the media and members of the public that Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane is no longer employed by the Commission. His contract as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commission expired on 31 May 2022.
7 August 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission in the Eastern Cape (the Commission) has received complaints, coupled with various media reports pertaining to the death of children due to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) caused by hunger. Studies and statistics further indicate that many children in the province live in abject poverty and as a result are malnourished. In view thereof, and in line with its mandate, the Commission will be hosting a Provincial Inquiry into the Right to Food and Child Malnutrition.
The panel for this inquiry will include Commissioners Angie Makwetla, as well as Jonas Sibanyoni, and proceedings will be livestreamed.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) led by its Chairperson Adv Bongani Majola will on Saturday 06 August 2022 visit Matholesville and Kagiso in Krugersdorp following reports of a crisis in the area.
04 August 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is concerned about the escalating high level of gruesome and atrocious attacks on women. The recent reported incidence of alleged gang raping of 8 women in Krugersdorp is a cause for serious concern.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
In April, disruptive and heavy rains led to localized flooding of vulnerable settlements, infrastructure, roads, low-lying areas and bridges within the Eastern Cape Province. Damage has been specifically reported to areas within the Alfred Nzo District, Chis Hani, Amathole as well as the Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo District Municipalities respectively. In view thereof, the Eastern Cape South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) conducted monitoring visits in areas including Libode, Centane as well as the King Sabatha Dalindyebo District’s surrounding villages in order to assess the damage caused to these areas by the floods.
4 August 2022
On Sunday morning, 26 June 2022, a reported number of about 21 young people lost their lives at the Nyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park. The events leading up to their deaths are still under investigation. Against this background, questions have arisen regarding how social ills and issues of social discord affect young people in particular.
03 August 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng provincial office (GPO) will conduct a capacity building workshop for Human Rights Champions/ Monitors (HRC) in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng. This capacity building workshop is aimed at empowering HRC in the province by heightening awareness about human rights and structures that can help with redress for human rights violations with a specific focus on the role of the Chapter Nine Institutions in promoting, monitoring and protecting human rights.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
3 August 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission/SAHRC”) in the Eastern Cape will be conducting a site inspection of a community stationed on the roadside on the N10 between Cradock and Middleburg. The community was established in 1997 and there have been numerous engagements throughout the years with the relevant acting agents of government to assist the community with housing and basic services. Sections 26 and 27 of the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to housing and basic services and the state must take reasonable measures within its available resources to ensure that these rights are realized. It appears that the community is still without basic services and housing.
03 August 2022
The Mpumalanga Provincial Office of the SAHRC will be embarking on a public campaign in Nkomazi Local Municipality to popularise and raise awareness about the Constitutional Court judgement which declared section 10 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 invalid and inconsistent with the Constitution to the extent that it prohibits an unmarried father from giving notice of the birth of his child under his surname, in the absence of the child’s mother or without her consent.
2 August 2022
In July 2022, the UNGA declared that everyone has a right to a healthy environment, and affirmed that climate change and environmental degradation were some of the most pressing threats to humanity. The South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission/SAHRC”) in the Eastern Cape is actively investigating and monitoring alleged human rights violations in respect of section 24 of the Constitution which determines that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well-being.
29 July 2022
On 29 July 2022, the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will be commemorating International Mandela Day in honouring the legacy of Nelson Mandela, and his values, through volunteering and community services. Mandela believed in equality and advocated for people to rise above colour and social class and come together and help each other.
28 JULY 2022
The Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be commemorating the World Day against Trafficking in Persons targeting community based organisations and other civil society organisations.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
International Albinism Awareness Day is a calendar day that is commemorated annually to bring awareness on the plight of persons living with albinism globally. The SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office has noted through media reports and from complaints received, that persons living with albinism face an infinite number of challenges such as being subject to discrimination and a lack of assistance from various government departments. Albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically. This leads to various forms of stigma. The manner in which discrimination faced by persons living with albinism manifests itself, and its severity, varies from region to region. The SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office has identified that persons with albinism face challenges of lack of access to education, health services and social assistance.
27 July 2022
Today the South African Human Rights Commission in Limpopo will join the Ramokgwakgwa Special School – Modjadjiskloof in the Mopani District Municipality to celebrate 67 minutes of service for Mandela Day.
27 July 2022
The Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will host a workshop 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.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in the KwaZulu-Natal will hold a Provincial Inquiry on access to water in KwaZulu-Natal. The Inquiry will be held in Durban and will commence from Monday, 15 August 2022 and continue until Friday, 19 August 2022.
26 July 2022
In July of every year, South Africa and the world celebrates the life of former President Nelson Mandela, in honour of his birthday on 18 July, which has since been declared Nelson Mandela International Day.
The South African Human Rights Commission.
About us
The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
27 Stiements Street, Braamfontein
011 877 3600 (Switchboard)