Transforming Society
Securing Rights
Restoring Dignity
26 July 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) is working with the Centre of Applied Legal Studies (CALS) to bring water to the Kunene, Merelisa and Toboyi villages in the Butterworth area.
22 JULY 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission’s Gauteng Provincial Office is partnering with the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), Wits School of Law will host a dialogue with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng. The dialogue will focus on the right to health and obstetric violence.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Equality courts are specialised courts designated to hear matters relating to unfair discrimination, hate speech and harassment. In terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 (PEPUDA) the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) has a mandate to assist complainants in bringing complaints to the equality courts, to conduct investigations into cases and advise complainants.
20 July 2022
The Commission in the Eastern Cape 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 are malnourished as a result living in abject poverty. Despite this tragedy, it appears that the Department of Social Development forfeited an amount of R67 million of unspent funds to National Treasury in the previous financial year.
18 July 2022
The Commission in Mpumalanga will be embarking on a campaign to raise awareness about the right to equality, the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (“PEPUDA”) and Equality Courts in the Ehlanzeni District from 18 to 22 July 2022. This follows similar campaigns in the Gert Sibande and Nkangala Districts.
18 July 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in the Northern Cape Province will be conducting a joint outreach programme in the Pixley Ka Seme District from Monday, 18 July to Friday, 22 July 2022.
18 July 2022
In November 2009, the United Nations (UN) officially declared 18 July Nelson Mandela International Day which is commonly known as Mandela Day. This day was declared in honour of Nelson Mandela and is celebrated every year on his birthday, 18 July. This year’s Mandela Day in South Africa is framed under the Nelson Mandela Foundation Food and Nutrition Programme and will be celebrated under the theme: “Equality and Food Security.”
ATT: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) joins South Africans and the world at large in celebrating the Nelson Mandela Day - 2022, themed “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” to highlight the plight of food security and climate change.
In 2009, when the United Nations General Assembly declared Nelson Mandela’s birthday, the 18th of July, as Nelson Mandela International Day, Madiba called on the people of the world to honour him by helping their communities.
12 July 2022
The SAHRC in the Eastern Cape has noted through various reports and community engagements complaints relating to the right to a healthy environment within the Buffalo City Municipality. This includes concerns relating to the spilling of sewage into rivers and beaches surrounding local communities and attractions, and the lack of maintenance of key infrastructure in order to prevent ongoing environmental concerns.
12 July 2022
Over the years, the Commission has received and investigated complaints relating to the placement of markers on holders’ identity documents.
In the various complaints received, the identity document holders alleged that their identity documents were endorsed with markers by the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) without affording them an opportunity to make representations. They further alleged that the endorsements strip them of their legal identity, make it difficult for them to assert their human rights and deny them opportunities for full participation in social and economic life.
12th July 2022
ATT: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission or SAHRC) invites members of the media to the release of its annual complaints Trends Analysis Report (TAR), for the financial year 2020-2021. The report will be released on Wednesday 13 July 2022 to coincide with the Commission’s countrywide Mandela Day activities.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
On Tuesday, 12 July 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will meet with the City of Tshwane and the Department of Water and Sanitation in Pretoria to assess progress made in implementing its recommendations concerning the state of the City of Tshwane’s rivers and the Roodeplaat Dam.
Date: 11 July 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The SAHRC Chairperson Advocate Bongani Majola conducts a provincial visit in Free State Province from the 11th to 15th of July 2022 to address human rights challenges including issues relating to access to healthcare.
Attention: Editors and reporters
Date: 08 July 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission has invited the Heads of the Gauteng Provincial Departments of Health, Infrastructure Development and Treasury to appear before it on Monday, 11 July 2022, as it continues with its monitoring of the healthcare system in the province.
Since 2018, the Commission has been raising concerns about the dire state of health facility infrastructure in the province. Our investigations have highlighted in part, the poor condition of buildings, the power failures, the lack of safety features, the non-functioning lifts, the non-payment of service providers and the impact of these failures on the provision of healthcare.
08 July 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
From 8 to 17 July 2021, South Africa experienced unprecedented violent unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. The unrest was characterized by looting, destruction of property and the disruption of economic activity. The inadequate response due to ill preparedness by the security apparatus of the country was laid bare for all to witness. The result was an estimated 354 deaths, over R50 billion lost to the economy and many having suffered loss of property and livelihoods.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
On 14 March 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) commenced an inquiry into racial discrimination and other forms of discrimination in advertising (“the Advertising Inquiry” or “the Inquiry”). The first leg of the Inquiry concluded on 18 April 2022, and the second leg of the Inquiry will run from 29 August 2022 until 9 September 2022.
05 July 2022
On the 2nd of July 2022 the South African Human Rights Commission Eastern Cape provincial office noted from media reports the alleged gang rape of a 13 year old learner by fellow grade 12 learners at the Maria Louw High School in Komani, Eastern Cape. Based on the seriousness of the allegations as well as the urgent need to ensure that the safety of children is upheld, the Commission conducted a site inspection at the school yesterday the 4th July 2022.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) regrets the postponement of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Inquiry on Access to Water. The Inquiry was scheduled to commence this Monday, 04 to 15 July 2022.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 JUNE 2022
Violations of the right to equality remain pervasive in South Africa 27 years into our democracy. In its 2019/2020 Trends Analysis Report, the Commission found that equality-related complaints remained the highest reported complaints nationally. In Mpumalanga, equality-related complaints have also remained high, ranking the fourth highest reported complaints in the 2021/2022 financial year.
26 June 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Today, 26 June 2022, is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The South African National Preventive Mechanism (South African NPM), established to fulfil South Africa’s international law obligations, solemnly marks this day by noting how the country can do more to discharge its duty to prevent torture and other ill-treatment.
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.
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011 877 3600 (Switchboard)