24 March 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Over the years, the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) has received and reviewed complaints about service delivery from numerous local governments in Free State. The difficulties cited range from a lack of access to water and housing to sewage spills, sewage treatment obstacles, trash collection failures, and road potholes.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

24 March 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or the Commission) led by Commissioners will visit KwaZulu-Natal from 25 – 27 March 2024 to address human rights challenges in the province.

The Commissioners will lead monitoring activities of various areas affected by human rights challenges, honour the selfless work carried-out by human rights defenders past and present, and hold an engagement with Isilo Misuzulu kaZwelithini, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB), along with other members of the ITB.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Date: 22 March 2024

The United Nations General Assembly through the adoption of resolution A/RES/47/193 on 22 December 1992 declared 22 March as the World Water Day (WWD). The South African Human Rights Commission joins the global community in commemorating the WWD under the theme “water for peace”.

Water is the life blood of human existence. Water is important in leading a life of human dignity. Water is the bedrock of prosperity as it is intrinsic to every aspect of human livelihood. Water is central in the preservation of peace. The absence of water has the potential to spark tensions and lead to conflict. Water scarcity and water inequality has featured as the main driver or cause of protest action in South Africa.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 March 2024

The SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be embarking on the provincial human rights awareness campaign from 22 – 27 March 2024. The campaign is meant to increase awareness about SAHRC role and mandate as well as basic human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (“the Constitution”).

Attention: Editors and Reporters

20 March 2024

The SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be commemorating National Human Rights Day under the theme: “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights.”

The month of March is commonly known as Human Rights Month during which the nation comes together to celebrate respect for, promotion of human rights and equality for all. The concept of human rights is based on the notion that every person is entitled to rights and freedoms in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa simply by virtue of being human. In celebrating human rights day, the SAHRC continues to demonstrate its commitment towards its constitutional mandate of ensuring promotion and protection of human rights for all.

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (“NWPO’) will host a gala event in commemoration of National Human Rights Day. The aim of the commemoration is to remember and celebrate the contribution of past and present-day human rights defenders in advancing human rights in South Africa and the North West Province in particular, under the theme “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

20 March 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or the Commission) in the Western Cape will commemorate Human Rights Day on 20 March 2024.

This year’s Human Rights Day Commemoration is under the theme: “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights” by recognising the Human Rights Activists and Defenders who fought for human rights. The objective of this event is to celebrate the achievements of the past while at the same time create awareness of human rights and promote equality. Community members would have an opportunity to report any human rights violations to the Western Cape Provincial office.

20 March 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission’s KwaZulu Natal Provincial Office (the Commission) in partnership with the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality will commemorate Human Rights Day/Month and TB Day in the Macabazini Area, Ward 11. Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on 21 March and serves as a reminder of the struggles that many of our human rights defenders fought for to ensure a just and equitable society for all free from all forms of violence, oppression and inequalities.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

20 March 2024

The North West Provincial Office of the Commission, led by Commissioner Nomahlubi Khwinana, will meet with the MEC for the Department of Education in the North West.

Date: 20 March 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) undertakes to conduct a community outreach at Bantwane Community, a farming community under the Bantwane Traditional Council found in Groblersdal.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

19 March 2024

South African Human Rights Commission Releases Final Hearing Report on Stormvlei Farm Investigation

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), on 14 March 2024, released the Final Hearing Report concerning the complaints brought by Mr Dirk Biegenaar and Mr Michael Swartbooi against Stormvlei Farm in Swellendam, Western Cape.

Date: 19 March 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) will host a Human Rights Day Commemoration under the theme: “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights” by recognising the Human Rights Activists and Defenders who managed to stand in the gap for human rights of the communities in Limpopo Province, who further managed to create  awareness of human rights that promote equality, and curb severe human rights violations that are continually witnessed daily due to abject poverty, inequalities, and discrimination faced by older persons, persons with disabilities, women, children, and the LGBTQ+ communities.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

19 March 2024

The Director General of Home Affairs, Mr Tommy Makhode, is to appear before the Commission following the institution of subpoena proceedings against him. The subpoena proceedings are in connection with a complaint relating to the delayed processing of an application for permanent residence.

Date: 19 March 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Access to water is essential to everyone’s health, dignity and prosperity. In recognition of the fundamental importance of water, the Constitution entrenches the right to have access to sufficient water.

It is important for municipalities appointed as water services authorities to fulfil their crucial and direct role of providing everyone, particularly vulnerable communities, with access to water.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 March 2024

In commemorating Human Rights Month, Professor Tshepo Madlingozi, Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) visited the Eastern Cape. During the visit Commissioner Madlingozi and the Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) conducted a series of impactful activities within the province pertaining to education and equality matters.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 March 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng Provincial Office (Commission) confirms that it has received several complaints relating to unplaced learners in Gauteng. Unplaced learners are learners who should be accessing schools including LSEN schools and centres but have not been allocated a school to date.

11 March 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission's (SAHRC) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) is embarking on a crucial mission: monitoring children’s rights, police stations and the school uniform report recommendations at schools in Joe Gqabi District Municipality. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution empowers the SAHRC to monitor and assess the observance of human rights throughout the country. This includes inspecting areas of potential violation and seeking redress where necessary.

11 March 2024

In the month of March 2024, the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will conduct human rights advocacy interventions aimed at building up for the human rights day commemoration and to promote respect for human rights and culture of human rights.