Date: 31 May 2020

The Human Rights Commission and several other groups have expressed strong opposition to the reopening plan, which appears now to be on ice again as the country awaits a briefing from the minister at 6pm.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to announce that the reopening of schools nationally for Grade 7 and 12 learners will be delayed for at least a week, backtracking on all previous announcements.

31 May 2020

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it will investigate a racism complaint after a picture of a baboon was superimposed on the face of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The photo was posted on social media.

31 May 2020

Basic education minister Angie Motshekga's plan for grades 7 and 12 to return to school tomorrow was stopped in its tracks yesterday, and a return to class is unlikely.

4 June 2020

Johannesburg - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is on Thursday meeting MECs following an intervention by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for schools to be ready to open on Monday.
The Chapter Nine institution intervened after being approached by teachers' unions. According to the unions, their call for provinces to provide enough protective equipment to all schools had fallen on deaf ears.

2 June 2020

The commission argues that as it stood, current regulations discriminate between schools that can and cannot comply with regulations on screening, sanitisation and physical distancing.

3 June 2020

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has confirmed that the Minister of Basic Education has come back to the Chapter 9 institution with revised back-to-school directions, which are expected to be gazetted on Friday.
This after the SAHRC said it would consider going to court to ensure the ministry gazetted new regulations this week to address the ability of some poorer schools to comply with Covid-19 regulations.

Attention: Editors and Reporters 

Tuesday, 2 June 2020

Following the re-opening of schools in the Western Cape yesterday, 1 June 2020 for Grades 7 and 12, notwithstanding the public announcement by the Minister of Basic Education on Sunday that the date for re-opening schools was to be postponed to 8 June 2020, the Commission was ready to approach the High Court to interdict the Western Cape Education Department from continuing with teaching and learning this week as this was in contrast with the national reopening of schools and contrary to section 9(1) of the Constitution’s safeguarding the equal enjoyment of rights and freedoms.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 28 May 2020

After doing some independent monitoring of schools for readiness in all 9 provinces and after consultations with various stakeholders, including teachers’ unions and school governing bodies, the South African Human Rights Commission has written to the Minister of Basic Education, Minister Angie Motshekga, recommending that she reconsiders 01 June 2020 as the date for the return of Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners to school.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 May 2020


The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) notes the announcement by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to re-open schools on 1 June 2020, initially for learners in Grades 7 and 12 to start school. The restart of learners in other grades will be announce later and those learner will return to school over time.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 May 2020


The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) commends all businesses that have upheld the lockdown regulations in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19. The Commission is, however, concerned that certain businesses may be unaware of their human rights obligations under the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Constitution).