Media Statement

Friday, 3 March 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) has requested an urgent meeting with the Honourable Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini and Mr Thokozani Magwaza, the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), to discuss the lack of clarity on the payment of social grants by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the impact this could have on social grant beneficiaries as from the 1st of April 2017.

21 February, 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission has voiced its "strong condemnation" for acts of violence directed at foreign nationals.

Commenting on community violence in Pretoria West over the weekend and on Monday and in Rosettenville‚ Johannesburg‚ in the preceding week‚ the commission said in a statement: "We understand that the police are still investigating the facts relating to the two incidents and would wait until the investigation yields more information. The Commission is against and condemns any violent attacks on persons on the basis that they are foreign nationals and any destruction of property as both violate human rights of people‚ despite the reason."

15 February 2017

If you spend any amount of time on social media, chances are you’ve seen somebody being racist.

Sometimes it’s subtle, other times it’s blatant and the incidents blow up like it did for Penny Sparrow, Justin van Vuuren, Chris Hart, Velaphi Khumalo and Matthew Theunissen.

12 February 2017

A mother has been forced to pull her daughter out of the Deutsche Internationale Schule in Pretoria following allegations of racist insults directed at the girl.

The Gauteng education department has launched a preliminary investigation into the incident after the child was allegedly called a “black b**ch” by a schoolmate.

07 February 2017

Members of The Chinese Association in Gauteng have laid charges against people making xenophobic and racist remarks against Chinese nationals on social media in recent weeks.

"The xenophobia directed at the Chinese community is of great concern, in the face of past tragic xenophobic experiences in our country, directed at other minority communities," the association said in a statement on Tuesday.

01 February 2017

Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu has resigned following damning findings by the health ombudsman that ninety-four patients in South Africa died after being moved from the Life Esidimeni hospital to various NGOs said Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba at a press conference in Pretoria.

“This is a provisional number because…not all the information we could get from the NGOs was often complete... I suspect the number is higher,” said Makgoba.

Media Statement

Thursday, 23 February 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission the (Commission) has communicated its deep concern regarding media reports of escalating violence directed at foreign nationals and the destruction of property in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The Commission further notes media reports of a march against foreign nationals, planned to take place on Friday, 24 February 2017, in central Pretoria.

Media Statement

Monday, 20 February 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is deeply concerned with reports of escalating incidents of violence directed at foreign nationals and of destruction of property. Media reports indicate that at least three houses were destroyed as a result of community violence in Pretoria West over the weekend and a further twelve had been destroyed in Rosettenville, Johannesburg in the preceding week. New reports indicate that thirty shops were damaged and looted in Atteridgeville and Lotus Gardens late on 20 February 2017.

15 February 2017

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Human Rights Commission will host a two day National Investigative Hearing on racial discrimination beginning on Wednesday.

Policymakers, researchers and civil society organisations are expected to make submissions.

16 February 2017

Of the cases investigated by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Limpopo those of equality based on racial discrimination are in the majority. This is followed by complaints about hate speech.