29 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission is calling on the Police Minister to ensure that officers don't use excessive force during student protests.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Friday, 30 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) welcomes the judgment handed down by the South Gauteng High Court on the 28th June 2017, in which the promotion of one predominant religion in public schools was found to be contrary to section 7 of the South African Schools Act.

Media Statement:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 29 June 2017

Today, the 29th June 2017, the Equality Court, sitting at the South Gauteng High Court, found in favour of the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) acting on behalf of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), in a matter against Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) International Relations Spokesperson Bongani Masuku, as first respondent and COSATU as second respondent,  for statements Masuku had made in February and March 2009, that have been found to be hate speech. The complaint was brought to the Commission in April 2009.

Thursday, 28 June 2017

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

South African Human Rights Commissioner, Advocate Mohamed Shafie Ameermia, has been awarded the Robert G. Storey International Award for Leadership in Dallas, Texas.  

28 June 2017

By Commissioner Andre Gaum

The process of the admission of pupils to schools for the 2018 academic year is well under way.
This is an opportune time to speak about the impact of admission policies on social transformation.
The management of the admissions raises a number of important issues around co-operative governance and separation of powers, as well as the reasonable exercise of public power or functions. Read more

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 26 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or the Commission), will launch its Civil and Political Rights Report 2016/2017 on the 28th June 2017, at 10:00 AM, at the Commission’s Offices in Braampark, Braamfontein. The launch of the report coincides with a seminar that will provide a space for discussion and debate on the state of civil and political rights in South Africa in 2016. The aim of the seminar is to discuss how the Commission, civil society, researchers and government departments can ensure that the civil and political rights contained in the South African Constitution are implemented.

Media Statement:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 26 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission can confirm that the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has met with SAHRC to discuss the SAHRC’s findings on the provision of cancer treatment at Addington Hospital and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALC Hospital) in KwaZulu Natal.

MEDIA STATEMENT

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 26 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is extremely concerned by the accounts of Metrorail commuters, in an article published by the City Press on Sunday, 25th June 2017, entitled, “Groped, doped on the train”.

By Sinethemba Memela, Tatenda Muranda and Querida Saal, SAHRC researchers

Which department should take the lead in the provision of special-needs  housing?

Two years after the finalisation of a special-needs housing policy, it is yet to be tabled for approval.

The housing sector is beset with challenges, most notably a severe housing shortage, a sizeable backlog in housing provision and severe overcrowding. Despite these challenges, government’s efforts in addressing the housing problem must be acknowledged. Between 1994 and 2014, about 2.8 million state-subsidised houses and in excess of 875 000 serviced sites were delivered, benefiting around 12.5 million people. Read more

20 June 2017
 
By Bongani Majola, SAHRC Chairperson

The health department recognises this but not everyone, including asylum seekers, knows this

June 20 is World Refugee Day. There are about 65.6-million forcibly displaced people, and 22.5-million international refugees, the recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees states.
South Africa is host to a refugee population from many parts of the African continent and beyond. They
are fleeing persecution, civil conflict and wars that threaten life and limb. Refugees and asylum seekers
here face a number of problems and access to healthcare is arguably one of the most pressing. Read more