3 December 2021

Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says she cannot recall Cabinet discussing whether the July unrest was an in fact an insurrection.

She testified at the South African Human Rights Commission’s investigative hearings into the unrest.
“I doubt or I don’t recall that we went to that level. When the incident happened, others were in portfolio committees and there were urgent meetings, as cabinet we really tried to apply our minds on what could have been the root cause,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
At the time she was the minister of communications.

03 December 2021

Police minister Bheki Cele could not have provided “executive direction” during the July unrest and looting because he did not receive any intelligence reports from national commissioner Lt-Gen Khehla Sitole or crime intelligence.
Cele made this assertion in an affidavit he will present to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Friday afternoon.
“As stated, pertaining to the violence mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng for the period leading up to the outbreak and from the time the violence broke out to the time it was brought under control, I did not receive an intelligence report from either the national commissioner or the divisional commissioner: crime intelligence,” Cele’s affidavit reads.

3 December 2021

DURBAN - A CONSULTANT to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), told the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) inquiry into the July unrest yesterday that social media played a major part in encouraging the looting.
David Bruce, an independent researcher and consultant at the ISS, said social media posts had encouraged unlawful behaviour during the July unrest.

3 December 2021

DURBAN - David Bruce of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) told the South African Human Rights Commission that the police response to the July unrest was perceived to be not vigorous enough and they did not take it seriously.
The SAHRC’s national investigative hearing heard testimony from survivors, various community members, as well as industry players in commerce and private security.

2 December 2021

DURBAN - Police Minister Bheki Cele will testify at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) hearing in Umhlanga on Friday, which is investigating the July unrest.
This week, National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole took the stand.

7 December 2021

The United Phosphorus South Africa Limited (UPL) says it will make a written submission to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) following testimony that the company allegedly failed to comply with environmental regulations.
This after hazardous chemicals polluted the air and waterways when the warehouse was set alight during the July unrest.

10 December 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has rejected as unfounded suggestions that the unrest that happened in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July is a reflection of the Constitution’s failure to uphold basic human rights.

10 December 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the University of Cape Town’s Online High School have partnered on an initiative that aims to accelerate access to Online Learning, particularly for girl children in rural areas. In its pilot phase, set for the 2022 school calendar, this important collaboration will focus on the communities of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, about 50 km northwest of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal.  

17 December 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called for calm amid threats of unrest by disgruntled pro-Zuma supporters.

This after the High Court in Pretoria ordered the former president’s medical parole to be overturned.

18 December 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC has called for calm amid fears of unrest emanating from former president Jacob Zuma's ordered return to prison. The High Court in Pretoria ruled this week Zuma should serve out the remainder of the 15month sentence imposed by the Constitutional Court.