Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 08 March 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the SAHRC”) is deeply concerned by the recent attacks on non-nationals, which commenced on Sunday 28 February 2021 at the Soldiers Way Market trading precinct / area in the Durban CBD that left several non-nationals including women injured and traumatised. It has also been alleged that members of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) attacked and assaulted non-nationals and petrol -bombed their shops / business in the Durban CBD on Monday 08 March 2021. The SAHRC condemns these on-going violent attacks and the looting and threats on businesses owned by non-nationals in the city.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 8th March 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) has received a number of complaints from prospective TVET College and university students regarding the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). These prospective students, and currently enrolled students at institutions of higher learning, have criticised the manner in which NSFAS has handled their applications for financial aid. Further, the complaints also deal with the accessibility and flaws in NSFAS’ appeal procedures for students who have been rejected by the scheme. The Commission is particularly concerned about the implications on inter alia the right to further education, in terms of section 29(1)(b) of the Constitution.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 8th March 2021

Today, the 8th March 2021, marks International Women’s Day, globally. The United Nations celebrated International Women's Day for the first time in 1975. Then in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. South Africa recognises its National Women’s Day on the 9th August of every year, a commemoration of the historic march, led by women against the oppressive pass laws of the then Apartheid regime.

Thursday, 4 March 2021
Attention: Editors and Reporters


The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) has opened an own accord investigation following various complaints, including from the leader of the United Democratic Movement General Bantu Holomisa, against ENCA reporter Lindsay Dentlinger.

Thursday 4 March 2021

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) commends the Competition Commission and various School Governing Bodies (SGBs) on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on school uniform prices and the procurement thereof on Monday, 01 March 2021. By signing the MOU, the SGBs concerned undertook to inter alia abide by the Undertaking on Best Practice Principles of Procurement which encourages school uniforms to be as generic as possible, enabling parents to have wider options from a number of suppliers. The SGBs also undertook to encourage their affiliates to appoint exclusive suppliers only after a competitive bidding process.

Tuesday, 3 March 2021.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

On the 3rd of March 2021, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) and the Chief Whips Forum held a historic meeting that was the first of its kind.

03 March 2021

The Commissioner responsible for civil and political rights at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), Mr. Chris Nissen will be conducting a Provincial Visit in the Gauteng Province from 03 March 2021 until 05 March 2021.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

26 February 2021

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the SAHRC the Gauteng Provincial Office of the Commission has produced a five part podcast series looking at the work of the Commission.

25 February 2021
Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) has become aware of reports alleging that there is continuous sewage sludge and solid waste flowing from the Pienaars River into the Roodeplaat Dam (“The Dam”).

Thursday, 25 February 2021
Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) notes with concern the recent unsubstantiated comments made by various public figures and political leaders attacking the independence of the judiciary.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

24 February 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) Eastern Cape provincial office will be monitoring schools in Stutterheim, Lesseyton and in Aliwal North Ward 1 villages (Ndofela, Bikizana, Mboni and Qhimerha), on 25 and 26 February 2021. The Commission will monitor and assess the observance of human rights and compliance of Covid-19 regulations.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

17 February 2021

The Commission will be conducting monitoring of schools and health care facilities in the areas of Nkandla, Melmoth, and Eshowe on the 17th - 18th February 2021. The Commission will be monitoring and assessing the observance of human rights at these facilities, and compliance with relevant legal prescripts regulating such facilities, including compliance with the COVID-19 regulations.

16 February 2021
Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will on Wednesday, 17 February 2021 from 09:00 host a virtual media briefing to release the findings of the investigations into the sewage problem of the Vaal River.

10 FEBRUAY 2021

Attention: Editors and Reporters

In July 2020 the SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) received complaints from several members of the public relating to a social media post made by one Hamilton Mkhothokgo, who is a student and comedian, popularly known as Mr Chase,  (Respondent), which was widely disseminated. The Respondent was found to make remarks regarding the Vatsonga nation which the SAHRC was convinced constitute hate speech, harassment as well as unfair discrimination based on ethnic and social origin. The remarks included, amongst others, statements referring to offering the lives of the Vatsonga nation as sacrifices to the Covid19 virus, as this specific ethnic group do not bring any value to society.

 09 February 2021

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will conduct human rights monitoring at various mental healthcare facilities in the North West Province.

 Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 08 February 2021

The SAHRC Gauteng Provincial Manager will be laying criminal charges against the Municipal Manager of Merafong Local Municipality, Mr Langa Thibini, for failure to comply with a subpoena notice issued in terms of section 15(1) of the South African Human Rights Commission Act 40, of 2013 (“the SAHRC Act”).

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 08 February 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) receives high volumes of complaints relating to poor service delivery which is a national and systemic issue. The SAHRC’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office has over the past few years been inundated with such complaints from frustrated residents across the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The majority of complaints being received relate particularly to the lack of access to adequate water which is an intrinsic right to all persons living in the Republic.  The inability of the public and the most vulnerable of communities to access adequate water during this challenging period of the Covid 19 pandemic is of huge concern to the SAHRC as it lends itself to the transgression of a number of human rights including the right to human dignity, access to adequate water as well as the right to life.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Wednesday, 3^rd February 2020

The arrival of the first batch of vaccines against the virulent and transmissible COVID-19 virus, on Monday the 1^st February 2021, is welcomed by the South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission). The Commission looks forward to more vaccines arriving soon and people getting access to them. Regarding the batch just received, the Commission is hopeful that inoculations can proceed within the next two weeks once all regulatory and quality assurance processes have been successfully completed.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
29 January 2021

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the SAHRC the Gauteng Provincial Office of the Commission has produced a five part podcast series looking at the work of the Commission.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 21st January 2021

                      
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) is deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of the Minister in the Presidency, Mr. Jackson Mthembu, at the young age of 62.