Attention: Editors and Reporters
Thursday, 29 May 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (“SAHRC”/”Commission”) welcomes the announcement, made by President Cyril Ramaphosa today, on the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Thursday, 29 May 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) maintains that the sphere of local government is crucial in the attainment of the transformative vision of the Constitution. However, the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) 2023-24 report on local government released by the Auditor-General on 28 May 2025 shows that the local sphere of government is in a dire state.

Attention Editors and Reporters
Thursday, 29 May 2025

As we mark Hunger Day 2025, South Africa faces an urgent and ongoing hunger challenge.  Millions still experience hunger and food insecurity despite constitutional guarantees and international commitments. The right to adequate food is enshrined in Section 27 of our Constitution and supported by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which South Africa ratified in 2015. This ratification commits our country to take progressive steps to realise the right to food for all citizens.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Today,28 May 2025, the South African Human Rights Commission’s (the Commission) Gauteng Provincial Office will make oral submissions before the Usindiso Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating the prevalence of the proliferation of unsafe buildings, commonly referred as ‘bad buildings’, in region F of the City of Johannesburg. Usindiso Commission was established after the tragic fire at Usindiso building in 2023, which led to the untimely death of over 70 people.

Attention Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 27 May 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/ the Commission) is this week undertaking a series of strategic engagements in Gauteng from 26 to 28 May 2025, focusing on the protection of migrants’ rights. The week-long activities are led by Commissioner Aseza Gungubele, responsible for Migration; Human Settlements; and Climate Justice.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 27 May 2025

The South African Human Right’s (SAHRC) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will embark on a human rights and legal clinic in Worcester and surrounding areas. The clinic is part of initiates by the Commission to make its services more accessible to people who live in far flung areas.

FOR ATTENTION: ALL EDITORS
TUESDAY, 27 MAY 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission / SAHRC) welcomes the recent judgment handed down by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Pieters and Another v Stemmet and Another ([2025] ZASCA 60), which upholds the rights of long-term occupiers to security of tenure under the Extension of Security of Tenure Act 62 of 1997 (ESTA). This ruling affirms that land designated for agricultural purposes remains subject to protections under ESTA, even when it is located within a township.

FOR ATTENTION: ALL EDITORS
SUNDAY, 25 MAY 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission / SAHRC) joins the African continent and the global community in commemorating Africa Day, a day which marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963, now the African Union (AU).This day stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for liberation, self-determination, unity, and dignity for all Africans.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 26 May 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is an institution established and mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution) to promote, respect for, protection of, and observation of human rights.

 Attention: Editors and Reporters
Saturday, 23 MAY 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) has instituted legal proceedings under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 against Mr. Dawood Lagardien.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Wednesday, 21 May 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) through its Free State Provincial Office (FSPO) will brief the Free State Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Office of the Premier, on the contents of the inquiry report into the state of service delivery at local government level in the Free State Province.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Date: Tuesday, 20 May 2025

Access to water is essential to everyone’s health, dignity and prosperity. 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
Monday, 19 May 2025

On Tuesday, 20 May 2025, the South African People’s Tribunal on AgroToxins (SAPToA) and the South African Human Rights Commission will make representations on Highly Hazardous Pesticides and other Agrotoxins to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture.

Friday, 16 May 2025
Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) confirms that it has settled a complaint against Mr Renaldo Gouws in relation to a video he published in 2010, which contained racially offensive and harmful language directed at Black South Africans.

Joint Media Statement
Wednesday, 14 May 2025

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission), the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) have noted media reports that the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has decided to appeal Mr. Timothy Omotoso’s acquittal.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 13 May 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) North West Provincial Office (NWPO) will resume the third and final sitting of its investigative inquiry into the state of scholar transport in the province. This sitting will specifically focus on finalising the oral evidence of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Community Safety and Transport Management (COSATMA).

Sunday, 27 April 2025
Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/ the Commission) joins the country to mark Freedom Day 2025. This day is celebrated annually to remind us of an historic moment where on 27 April 1994, Black people in South Africa were for the first time able exercise their democratic right and vote.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Friday, 25 April 2025                                                                                       

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/ the Commission) North West Provincial Office (NWPO) is resuming its investigative inquiry into scholar transport challenges in the province. This inquiry seeks to examine and assess the challenges affecting the provision of learner transport, especially in rural and underprivileged communities, following numerous complaints about inadequate, unreliable, and unsafe scholar services that undermine learners’ constitutional rights.

Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) has received and accepted unconditional apologies from Mr Nhlamulo Baloyi and Ms Belinda Magor, following findings of prima facie hate speech contravention of Section 10 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (PEPUDA).

Editors/Reporters
Monday, 22 April 2025

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) have learnt with a sense of great loss and sadness about the passing away of Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church.