World Children’s Day – 20 November 2020

Attention: Editors and Reporters

As the world celebrates World Children’s Day, today being Friday, the 20th November 2020, we reflect on the strides we have taken as a country to advance children’s rights. South Africa specifically provides for the rights of children in the bill of rights in its progressive Constitution. It is a signatory to regional and international instruments that promote and protect the rights of all children.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 19 November 2020

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or the SAHRC) has noted that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will be staging a protest outside Brackenfell High School, in the Western Cape, on Friday, the 20th November 2020.   The Commission and its monitors will also be monitoring events tomorrow.

19 November 2020
Attention: Editors and Reporters

On Thursday, 19 November 2020, the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) will visit Sibanye-Stillwater, Lebanon Division, in Carletonville to meet with ex-mineworkers and their dependants. This visit follows reports that some of the mineworkers did not receive compensation for silicosis and TB after a settlement was reached with mining companies.

18 November 2020

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) will provide human rights monitoring training to community advice offices affiliated to the Community Advice Offices South Africa (CAOSA) in the North West Province.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

17 November 2020

The SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office will be conducting a provincial hearing into the status of schools for learners with special needs. The SAHRC has received an increase in complaints relating to the right to basic education of learners with special needs, and the alleged unresponsiveness of the Department of Education in Limpopo in respect of addressing the challenges these schools experience.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

16 November 2020

On the 11 of December 2019, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office conducted a strategic stakeholder engagement with the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) on one of the Commissions thematic area, business and human rights. Through the engagement a number of issues and challenges were ventilated with the Commission, amongst others: human rights violations at Mona Market in KwaNongoma; i.e. allegations of rape; unsafe environment; lack of street lights; lack of visible policing in the area; allegations that some traders were sleeping at the market etc.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 NOVEMBER 2020

On 11 November 2020, the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) convened a subpoena hearing in terms of section 15(1)(c) and (d) of the South African Human Rights Commission Act 40 of 2013 (“SAHRC Act”), following the failure of Mr B.M. Mhlanga (“Mr Mhlanga”), the Administrator of Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality (“Municipality”), to respond to allegations levelled against the Municipality relating to water shortages at Loding.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 12 November 2020

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) is deeply saddened by the passing of Thembekile Kimi Makwetu, the Auditor-General of South Africa, on Wednesday, the 11th November 2020. His term as Auditor-General of South Africa, commenced on the 1st December 2013 and was to end on the 30th November 2020.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Date: 10 November 2020

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) has embarked upon an investigation into Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital (“the Hospital”) following media reports that have shed light on a number of incidents that have brought the safety of patients and staff into question. Furthermore, the Commission has become aware of a number of reports of maladministration and the ill treatment of staff at the hospital.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
10 November 2020

The recent protests in Senekal by farmers, organisations and communities were occasioned by the alleged killing of a farm manager Mr Brendin Horner at Paul Roux, in the Eastern Free State. This has since resulted in racial and socio-economic tensions in these farming towns.