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30 August 2023
The chairperson of the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), advocate Bongani Majola, says the commission was concerned about the slow pace of the land restitution process.
Majola spoke at the national conference marking 110 years of the Natives Land Act, which was held at the Birchwood Hotel on Wednesday.
The chairperson of the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), advocate Bongani Majola, says the commission was concerned about the slow pace of the land restitution process.
Majola spoke at the national conference marking 110 years of the Natives Land Act, which was held at the Birchwood Hotel on Wednesday.
22 July 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has confirmed that it is taking the owner of La Gardi shop to the Equality court over remarks against the LGBTQI+ community.
The Gqeberha-based catering shop placed a sign outside the establishment saying that LGBTQI+ people are not welcome.
“LGBTI not welcome at La Gardi catering plastics, save our children,” the sign read.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has confirmed that it is taking the owner of La Gardi shop to the Equality court over remarks against the LGBTQI+ community.
The Gqeberha-based catering shop placed a sign outside the establishment saying that LGBTQI+ people are not welcome.
“LGBTI not welcome at La Gardi catering plastics, save our children,” the sign read.
21 Aug 2023
WHILE the confiscation of alcohol may have been the trigger for a standoff and shootout between police and alleged gangsters in Ravensmead at the weekend, several other issues concerning policing have come under the spotlight. The confrontation resulted in the wounding of two officers a SAPS member and law enforcement officer on Friday. According to information, it was alleged that members of the 28s gang had barged into the Ravensmead police station, demanding the return of alcohol that was previously confiscated.
WHILE the confiscation of alcohol may have been the trigger for a standoff and shootout between police and alleged gangsters in Ravensmead at the weekend, several other issues concerning policing have come under the spotlight. The confrontation resulted in the wounding of two officers a SAPS member and law enforcement officer on Friday. According to information, it was alleged that members of the 28s gang had barged into the Ravensmead police station, demanding the return of alcohol that was previously confiscated.
18 Aug 2023
Parents keep 4,000 pupils away from school for a month Driekoppies community demands one school to be repaired Magubha Primary which was built in 1970 by the community has seen its structure deteriorate badly in recent years. PHOTOS MANDLA KHOZA By Maudla Khoza Thousands of pupils from four schools in Driekoppies, Mpumalanga, have been stopped from attending classes since July by their parents in protest over poor infrastructure at one of the schools. Today, exactly a month since the third term started on July 18, there has been no teaching and learning for more than 4,000 pupils from the village in Malelane. Parents told Sowetan that the protest was in solidarity with nearly 1,000 pupils from Magubha primary who have not been attending class as their parents feared for their lives because their classrooms were old, had cracks and posed a danger to the pupils. The other three schools are Driekoppies Combined, Bukhosibetfu Inclusive and Joseph Matsebula Secondary.
17 Aug 2023
SAHRC equips Equality Court clerks Barry Viljoen Equality Court clerks from Limpopo attended a twoday training session presented by the South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC at Park Inn by Radisson, starting last Thursday. Professionals from the SAHRC delivered presentations that provided better insight into the mandate of the SAHRC, complaints handling procedures, lodging of cases with the Equality Court and understanding the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, no 4 of 2000 Pepuda as well as case studies as group activities. SAHRC provincial manager, Victor Mavhidula said the aim of Pepuda is to prevent and prohibit unfair discrimination and harassment, to promote equality and eliminate unfair discrimination and to prevent and prohibit hate speech.
SAHRC equips Equality Court clerks Barry Viljoen Equality Court clerks from Limpopo attended a twoday training session presented by the South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC at Park Inn by Radisson, starting last Thursday. Professionals from the SAHRC delivered presentations that provided better insight into the mandate of the SAHRC, complaints handling procedures, lodging of cases with the Equality Court and understanding the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, no 4 of 2000 Pepuda as well as case studies as group activities. SAHRC provincial manager, Victor Mavhidula said the aim of Pepuda is to prevent and prohibit unfair discrimination and harassment, to promote equality and eliminate unfair discrimination and to prevent and prohibit hate speech.
17 July 2023
Inside EWN looks at the effects of the recent truck attacks in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng.
The motive behind the recent burning of trucks on national roads is unclear but the widespread nature thereof undoubtedly presents economic implications.
More than 20 trucks were torched last week, with incidents reported in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng.
11 Aug 2023
Limpopo Women's Month launched to advance women emancipation and empowerment As part of linedup series of Women's Month Celebration events, the Limpopo Provincial Government has launched the Women's Month Programme at GaNkwana Village outside Jane Furse on Tuesday 1 August. According to the provincial government, the launch of the Women's Month Programme in Sekhukhune District Municipality SDM , unveiled the 2023 agenda, which focuses on accelerating socioeconomic opportunities for women's empowerment.
Limpopo Women's Month launched to advance women emancipation and empowerment As part of linedup series of Women's Month Celebration events, the Limpopo Provincial Government has launched the Women's Month Programme at GaNkwana Village outside Jane Furse on Tuesday 1 August. According to the provincial government, the launch of the Women's Month Programme in Sekhukhune District Municipality SDM , unveiled the 2023 agenda, which focuses on accelerating socioeconomic opportunities for women's empowerment.
09 Aug 2023
At least 23,000 people in the province get hot meals twice a day from the Gift of the Givers. About 3,000 families across the Eastern Cape are beneficiaries of food parcels from the humanitarian organisation. This excludes aid for the destitute during natural disasters like floods which hit the province recently. This is apart from other organisations that also do their bit to feed those who would otherwise go to bed on an empty stomach. Eastern Cape Gift of the Givers coordinator Corene Conradie said many children and adults in the province face malnutrition.
08 August 2023
Undocumented migrants are accused of illegally occupying land and houses in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, and 20 people were killed there in the first three months of the year. Pictures: Nigel Sibanda SA 'can't afford' illegal migrants ACTIONSA LEADER: SLAMS HOME AFFAIRS' INERTIA FILTH. Olievenhoutbosch residents pick through rubbish on a street in Marabastad in Centurion recently. Picture: Nigel Sibanda Both citizens and foreigners do crime rights commissioner. Lunga Mzangwe ActionSA president Herman Mashaba, who is known to advocate against illegal foreigners, doesn't care about the crime statistics he says South Africa cannot afford to have even one undocumented person in the country. "I'm very clear, I don't want to live in a country where there is even one undocumented person.
25 Jul 2023
DISGRUNTLED Wesbank residents who have experienced electricity challenges for nearly two years have now roped in the SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC , claiming Eskom has failed them. SAHRC commissioner Chris Nissen visited the area yesterday after community leaders requested that he intervene over what they described as lack of delivery of basic services. About two months ago, residents marched to Eskom's offices with a memorandum of demands calling for unplanned load shedding to stop. Last year, the stateowned entity met with community leaders who wanted it to account for its offline call centre and infrastructure damages, among other issues.
DISGRUNTLED Wesbank residents who have experienced electricity challenges for nearly two years have now roped in the SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC , claiming Eskom has failed them. SAHRC commissioner Chris Nissen visited the area yesterday after community leaders requested that he intervene over what they described as lack of delivery of basic services. About two months ago, residents marched to Eskom's offices with a memorandum of demands calling for unplanned load shedding to stop. Last year, the stateowned entity met with community leaders who wanted it to account for its offline call centre and infrastructure damages, among other issues.
12 Jul 2023
THE SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC hopes to release its provisional report into the July unrest later this month. In June 2021, the Constitutional Court sentenced former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months' imprisonment for contempt of court. Soon thereafter, the looting of businesses and burning of trucks started in parts of KwaZuluNatal and Gauteng, allegedly as a result of anger at Zuma's imprisonment. During the unrest, more than 300 people died nationally. In Phoenix, 36 people were arrested after 36 people were killed.
THE SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC hopes to release its provisional report into the July unrest later this month. In June 2021, the Constitutional Court sentenced former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months' imprisonment for contempt of court. Soon thereafter, the looting of businesses and burning of trucks started in parts of KwaZuluNatal and Gauteng, allegedly as a result of anger at Zuma's imprisonment. During the unrest, more than 300 people died nationally. In Phoenix, 36 people were arrested after 36 people were killed.
09 Jul 2023
THE South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC is yet to make public findings and recommendations following a national investigative hearing into the July 2021 unrest. The hearing was launched to uncover the causes of the unrest in Gauteng and KZN and its impact on human rights. The investigation began in KwaZuluNatal on November 15, 2021, and lasted three weeks, while the second leg of the hearing was in Gauteng between February 21 and March 4, last year. A panel was tasked with establishing the root cause of the alleged racially motivated attacks and killings, the causes of the lapses in law enforcement and the role of private security companies during the unrest. Government departments, state entities, business chambers and members of the affected communities gave evidence. President Cyril Ramaphosa was also called before the commission.
THE South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC is yet to make public findings and recommendations following a national investigative hearing into the July 2021 unrest. The hearing was launched to uncover the causes of the unrest in Gauteng and KZN and its impact on human rights. The investigation began in KwaZuluNatal on November 15, 2021, and lasted three weeks, while the second leg of the hearing was in Gauteng between February 21 and March 4, last year. A panel was tasked with establishing the root cause of the alleged racially motivated attacks and killings, the causes of the lapses in law enforcement and the role of private security companies during the unrest. Government departments, state entities, business chambers and members of the affected communities gave evidence. President Cyril Ramaphosa was also called before the commission.
07 Jul 2023
CASES were lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC , the Department of Basic Education and the Equal Employment Law Centre as pupils attending Colesberg Combined School are apparently being subjected to a bathroom ban during classes. Parents indicated that young children, including Grade 1 pupils, were only permitted to make use of the ablution facilities during break. "During break time there are long queues outside the restrooms and pupils miss out on the feeding scheme meal. For some children this is the only meal that they have for the day " parents pointed out.
CASES were lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC , the Department of Basic Education and the Equal Employment Law Centre as pupils attending Colesberg Combined School are apparently being subjected to a bathroom ban during classes. Parents indicated that young children, including Grade 1 pupils, were only permitted to make use of the ablution facilities during break. "During break time there are long queues outside the restrooms and pupils miss out on the feeding scheme meal. For some children this is the only meal that they have for the day " parents pointed out.
05 Aug 2023
Antigay WhatsApp group lands shopkeeper in more trouble Brandon Nel A WhatsApp group with a seemingly homophobic narrative has landed a Gqeberha man who barred queer people from entering his Parkside shop in further trouble with the SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC , with the matter now before the Equality Court The group, started by the owner of La Gardi Catering Plastics, Dawood Lagardien, has close to 700 members and has become the latest bone of contention for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual LGBTQIA+ community Lagardien grabbed headlines last month when he placed a sign outside his shop which read: "LGBTQflot welcome at Lagardi, save our children".
Antigay WhatsApp group lands shopkeeper in more trouble Brandon Nel A WhatsApp group with a seemingly homophobic narrative has landed a Gqeberha man who barred queer people from entering his Parkside shop in further trouble with the SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC , with the matter now before the Equality Court The group, started by the owner of La Gardi Catering Plastics, Dawood Lagardien, has close to 700 members and has become the latest bone of contention for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual LGBTQIA+ community Lagardien grabbed headlines last month when he placed a sign outside his shop which read: "LGBTQflot welcome at Lagardi, save our children".
04 Aug 2023
A GQEBERHA shop owner who put up a sign outside his establishment effectively banning gay, lesbian and transgender people from entering his business premises, could face a R500 000 fine. The sign, which reads "LGBTQ not welcome at La Gardi save our children", has caused an outrage with the South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC , instituting legal action against the shop owner for alleged hate speech and discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community. The owner Dawood Lagardien, who did not deny erecting the poster, declined to comment on Wednesday.
04 August 2023
THE WATER crisis in Warrenton has resulted in a stabbing and several fights, while guest houses and private residences that have made their water tanks available to community members have decided to lock their gates out of fear of violence. Community members are on tenterhooks after a resident was stabbed while queuing for water and was taken to the Warrenton Hospital for medical treatment earlier this week. "What more must we endure? This person could have died," they said. This follows an incident where an 11yearold girl was injured when she was hit by a vehicle on the N12 when she accompanied her mother to fetch water in March. Warrenton has been without any water since February this year after floods damaged the pipes.
27 Jul 2023
MEC Reagen Allen on terms 'Bravo, Charlie not racist' MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, has defended the use of "racist" terms in a public announcement for the Chrysalis Academy intake. In its call for applicants for January 2024, the department said it sought to admit 230 men into the "23 CHARLIE males course", while women for the "23 BRAVO female course" would be selected from the 2022 waiting list.
MEC Reagen Allen on terms 'Bravo, Charlie not racist' MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, has defended the use of "racist" terms in a public announcement for the Chrysalis Academy intake. In its call for applicants for January 2024, the department said it sought to admit 230 men into the "23 CHARLIE males course", while women for the "23 BRAVO female course" would be selected from the 2022 waiting list.
17 Jul 2023
SAHRC MEETS WITH KHAN ROAD UNREST VICTIMS AKHEEL SEWSUNKER Two years after the atrocities of the July unrest, the wounds are still fresh for some Khan Road residents who are still awaiting justice for the crimes that were committed during that week. The South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC held a meeting at Truro Hall in Northdale on Saturday to fill in the gaps of the report on the events that transpired at the Khan Road informal settlement from July 9 to July18, 2021, after two shooting incidents and a fire broke out at the settlement, leaving hundreds of residents homeless and sparking a humanitarian crisis. Two cases of murder and one of arson were opened for investigation.
SAHRC MEETS WITH KHAN ROAD UNREST VICTIMS AKHEEL SEWSUNKER Two years after the atrocities of the July unrest, the wounds are still fresh for some Khan Road residents who are still awaiting justice for the crimes that were committed during that week. The South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC held a meeting at Truro Hall in Northdale on Saturday to fill in the gaps of the report on the events that transpired at the Khan Road informal settlement from July 9 to July18, 2021, after two shooting incidents and a fire broke out at the settlement, leaving hundreds of residents homeless and sparking a humanitarian crisis. Two cases of murder and one of arson were opened for investigation.
14 Jul 2023
A protest march organised by local organisation Kopanang Africa held in Johannesburg in March last year highlighted injustices against foreign nationals. THAPELO MOREBUDI SA police accused of 'state xenophobia' 'Migrant women risk violence trying to make ends meet' By Koena Mesitale State xenophobia remains a sobering truth in SA as migrants recount how they can't trust the services they get from the police who they accuse of often looking at people's nationalities rather than helping them. Roshila Nair, convener at Global South Against Xenophobia said the phrase, "institutionalised xenophobia" is a phrase her organisation is quite familiar with. "We also refer to it as 'state xenophobia'. Xenophobia reflected in government and state actions," said Nair.
A protest march organised by local organisation Kopanang Africa held in Johannesburg in March last year highlighted injustices against foreign nationals. THAPELO MOREBUDI SA police accused of 'state xenophobia' 'Migrant women risk violence trying to make ends meet' By Koena Mesitale State xenophobia remains a sobering truth in SA as migrants recount how they can't trust the services they get from the police who they accuse of often looking at people's nationalities rather than helping them. Roshila Nair, convener at Global South Against Xenophobia said the phrase, "institutionalised xenophobia" is a phrase her organisation is quite familiar with. "We also refer to it as 'state xenophobia'. Xenophobia reflected in government and state actions," said Nair.
14 Jul 2023
Dairy shop bans LGBTQ+ people from its premises 'Not welcome' sign under probe By Khanyisile Ngcobo The SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC has confirmed it is investigating a complaint against a Gqeberha shop in the Eastern Cape over the display of a sign barring LGBTQ+ people. Earlier this week, images appeared on social media showing a sign outside spices and dairy shop La Gardi that reads: "LGBTQ not welcome at La Gardi. Save our children?", and citing the "right of admission reserved" policy.
Dairy shop bans LGBTQ+ people from its premises 'Not welcome' sign under probe By Khanyisile Ngcobo The SA Human Rights Commission SAHRC has confirmed it is investigating a complaint against a Gqeberha shop in the Eastern Cape over the display of a sign barring LGBTQ+ people. Earlier this week, images appeared on social media showing a sign outside spices and dairy shop La Gardi that reads: "LGBTQ not welcome at La Gardi. Save our children?", and citing the "right of admission reserved" policy.
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The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
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