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Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) is concerned at reports that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) expects to have the mammoth task of placing 18000 unplaced learners in schools at the start of the school year. Following budget reductions across all state funded institutions and departments, plans to build schools to meet the expected demand could not be carried out. As a result, the annual drive to assist in placing learners from other provinces wishing to attend schools in the Western Cape and late applicants from the Western Cape will be even more difficult than usual.  
Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 January 2024

As South Africa prepares for the commencement of the 2024 school year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/ Commission) takes a moment to reflect on the critical issues surrounding school uniforms and learner appearance policies. The SAHRC's “School Uniform and Appearance Policies” Report, issued in October 2023, brought to light various challenges that impact the rights and well-being of learners across the nation.

One of the key recommendations from the SAHRC's report emphasizes the necessity to cap the costs of school uniforms. The Commission acknowledges the financial strain that expensive school uniforms can place on learners and their families. Therefore, it is imperative for the National Department of Basic Education (NDBE) to conduct a baseline assessment to determine a reasonable cap on the costs of basic school uniforms, considering the socio-economic circumstances of the country.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) is pleased to announce the commencement of work of the newly appointed Commissioners. Since the confirmation of the appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa in December 2023, Commissioners have hit the ground running since 03 January 2024. Areas of strategic focus have been allocated to each Commissioner. In addition, there is an appointment of Commissioners into the nine provinces to support the Commission’s vision of visibility and improve rapid responsiveness throughout the country in line with its mandate to promote, monitor and protect human rights.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Saturday, 31 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) is concerned with the recent flash floods that affected the area of Ladysmith and other surrounding areas, as well as the adverse weather conditions (heavy rains) which continue to affect some parts of the KwaZulu- Natal Province. The Commission appeals for the observance of human rights in responding to the flash floods and adverse weather conditions which continue to affect the most vulnerable communities.  The Commission calls on the Provincial Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure rapid and constant responsiveness to this on-going crisis.  The Commission further calls on communities to exercise caution during these periods and to aid their fellow residents where possible.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 December 2023

International Human Rights Day is annually celebrated on the 10 December to commemorate the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Under this declaration, states pledge to uphold, respect, and promote the rights of all people. The 2023 United Nations (UN) theme for International Human Rights Day is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

18 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (the Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will be hosting a human rights awareness outreach in commemoration of International Human Rights Day at the Haven Night Shelter, Napier Street, Cape Town, on Monday 18 December 2023. The commemoration of International Human Rights Day celebrates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a foundational international agreement regarding fundamental rights every year on 10 December.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (the Commission) Gauteng Provincial Office will embark on a monitoring roadshow in various parts of the Gauteng Province. The road show forms part of the Gauteng Provincial Offices monitoring initiatives aimed at assessing the observance and respect of human rights across the province. The districts to be visited during the roadshow include Ekurhuleni Municipality, Sedibeng District Municipality and the City of Johannesburg.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will be having an engagement with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to understand the quintiling of schools, the process of review of these designations and to discuss challenges experienced at certain schools relating to the quintile they have been assigned. These challenges had been identified through the Commission’s monitoring programme where it was noted that schools which are placed in quintiles 4 and 5 sometimes experience challenges due to receiving lesser financial resources per learner, per year. These challenges include the issue of quintile 4 and 5 schools not being included in school nutrition programmes.  

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) has issued its final report on its investigation into the challenges of school infrastructure in the North West. The investigation was prompted by complaints received by the Commission regarding challenges with school infrastructure in specific schools in the North West, as well as the Commission’s own observations during its monitoring work which, amongst others, assesses the state of infrastructure at public schools in the province.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

9 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will, in collaboration with the office of the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, launch its Social Harmony National Effort (SHiNE) programme in the Western Cape under the theme of Positive Role Models for Children”. To launch the SHiNE programme, the WCPO invited learners from schools to attend the SHiNE Event at the Castle of Good Hope with the Cape Town Arts Festival.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

9 December 2023

International Human Rights Day, celebrated annually on the 10th of December, commemorates the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  The UDHR was adopted in 1948, in the aftermath of the devastation caused by World War II. It encompasses 30 articles which set out fundamental human rights to be universally protected and continues to serve as the basis for international human rights law.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

08 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) is aware of the letter prepared by Solidarity in respect of the SAHRC's National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) parallel report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Convention or ICERD).  The SAHRC’s NHRI parallel report, submitted in November 2023, was prepared following a request from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Committee or CERD), and in anticipation of the South African government’s review of its 9th to 11th periodic report under the ICERD.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

8 December 2023

Today, on Friday, 8 December 2023, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) releases the report of its National Conference: Marking 110 years of the Natives Land Act: Reflecting on measures taken towards redistribution of land in South Africa.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

07 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) has noted the release of the 2023  Blue, Green, and No Drop Reports by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on 05 December 2023. The three reports are regulatory tools aimed at providing credible information and data on the state of water and sanitation services in the country.

The Blue Drop report assesses the state of all drinking water systems in the country. The Green Drop report assesses the state of all wastewater treatment systems in South Africa. The No Drop report is an assessment of the degree to which the drinking water distribution systems of municipalities supply water efficiently, without wasting water. Both the Blue and Green Drop reports include assessments of the condition of the infrastructure.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

07 December 2023

As the campaign for 16 days of activism on no violence against women and children draws to a close, the SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) will host an International Human Rights Day Commemoration to enhance Equality, Freedom and Access to Justice for All.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Wednesday, 06 December 2023

The 10th of December marks the commemoration of International Human Rights Day (IHRD). The day is globally observed annually in remembrance of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations General Assembly on the 10th of December 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHRC) is a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human beings.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

05 December 2023

The SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be hosting International Human Day commemoration under the theme: “Equality, Freedom and Justice for All.” The commemoration mainly focuses on raising awareness on the rights of women and girls as they are faced with a huge challenge of Gender Based Violence, Femicide (GBV+F) and many violations of their human rights.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 04 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) KwaZulu Natal Provincial Office will conduct a capacity-building workshop for Human Rights Champions with the South African Women Lawyers Association (SAWLA) Student Chapter, Durban Campus.
4 December 2023

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission in the North West is conducting monitoring activities across the province to assess the state of observance of human rights in the province. Municipalities to be visited include Rustenburg Local Municipality; Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality; Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality; Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality; Mamusa Local Municipality; Ditsobotla Local Municipality and Ratlou Local Municipality.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

01 December 2023

Over the years, the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in Mpumalanga has received and investigated complaints relating to RDP houses. In the various complaints received, the complainants raised a number of issues including but not limited to the backlog of the RDP program, with some complainants alleging that they have been on the waiting list for a number of years; the wrongful allocation of houses coupled allegation of corruption and poor workmanship on the completed RDP houses.

About us

Understanding PAIA

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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