Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday 13 November 2017

In February 2014 the South African Human Rights Commission launched its Report on the Right to Access Sufficient Water and Decent Sanitation in South Africa and dedicated this report to 6 year old Michael Komape, who in 2014 fell into a pit toilet at his school and died tragically. The Commission’s report reiterated Government’s constitutional obligation to co-operate across all spheres and departments to protect and advance human rights, recognising that rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent.

THE United Nations designated October 31 as the World Cities Day. This day was adopted by the General Assembly on 27 December 2013.

10 November 2017

The World Cities Day is meant to galvanise efforts among different role players to address the challenges posed by urbanisation and contribute towards sustainable development. The general theme of World Cities Day is Bet- ter City, Better Life, while each year a differ- ent sub-theme is selected, to either promote successes of urbanisation, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanisation. The 2017 theme for World Cities Day was Innova- tive Governance, Open Cities.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday 7 November 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) is particularly worried about the rate at which children are being abused in South Africa. The Commission is particularly concerned by recent reports of the alleged dissemination of semi-nude photos of a 14 year old minor by Emfuleni Mayor Simon Mofokeng. This and the alleged pre-existing sexual nature of the relationship he had with the girl child is construed as sexual grooming, which is a criminal offence as stated in Section 18 of the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act, a violation of the child’s right not to be abused as stated in section 28 of the Constitution as well as her right to privacy. These constitutional rights are also protected within international and regional treaties, which South Africa has signed and ratified.

09 November 2017

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The SAHRC is conducting a media and press stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening working relations with the media, as well as enhancing the media’s understanding of the SAHRC’s work.

05 November 2017

Like the rest of the nation, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is shocked by recent reports of sexual violence directed against children in schools across South Africa.

27 October 2017

The horror case of a domestic worker, 41, from Bronkhorstspruit in Pretoria, who was allegedly raped by her employer’s son and forced to perform sexual acts on his dogs, attracted wide public attention when the 45-year-old suspect appeared in court yesterday.
The domestic worker said she was traumatised and confused about what had happened.

27 October 2017

#CoffinAssault pair have been sentenced to 11 and 14 years imprisonment. The SAHRC's Priscilla Jana discusses. Courtesy #DStv 403. To access the videos click here

Source: ENCA

28 October 2017

Bloemfontein - The South African Human Rights Commission in the Free State is to host a week-long roadshow in the Mangaung Metro Municipality, next week.

About 250 farmers drove in a convoy along the R74 and onto the N3 towards Johannesburg as part of the Black Monday protest

30 October 2017

 In KwaZulu-Natal, combine harvesters‚ tractors and bakkies caused a traffic snarl along the N3 near Bergville and Estcourt in the province’s midlands on Monday morning‚ as farmers drove home their protest against farm murders in the country.

02 November 2017

They work on matters including human rights violations, fighting for LGBT rights, sex worker employment conditions, land restitution, the drafting of wills, assisting with the application of domestic violence protection orders and helping refugees achieve refugee status.