MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) will visit Windsor House Academy in Kempton Park, today, 26^th July 2017, following media reports of a group of learners being expelled on Monday, allegedly due to their hairstyles.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 24 July 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) recognises the legitimate concerns of the community of Imizamo Yethu, relating to housing as well as their right to protest as guaranteed in section 17 of the Bill of Rights, Chapter 2, of the Constitution. The Commission is concerned that this community’s concerns are far too common place throughout South Africa, with many other communities receiving poor service delivery, which results in denial of access to essential socio-economic rights.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

The Equality Court for the District of the Cape, sitting in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, on the 14^th July 2017, has once again confirmed that the use of the ‘K-word’, as a derogatory racial epithet, is in fact unlawful and bears consequences.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission) is encouraged that the Thabazimbi Equality Court has reconfirmed that the use of the ‘k-word’, as a racial epitaph, is unlawful and that those who continue to use it will be held to account.

Media Statement:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 17 July 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission or SAHRC) strongly condemns the irresponsible utterances by the Deputy Minister of Police, Bongani Mkongi. On Friday the 14th July 2017, the Deputy Minister, while addressing concerns around crime and hijacked buildings in Johannesburg, Hillbrow in particular, was quoted by media as saying that: “How can a city in South Africa be 80% foreign national? That is dangerous. South Africans have surrendered their own city to the foreigners.”

MEDIA INVITE:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 July 2017

On 11, 12 and 13 July 2017, the South African Human Rights Commission will host roadshows in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.

These roadshows are expected to serve as a platform to amplify awareness on pertinent issues relating to access to justice, the Commission’s child friendly complaints handling procedure and access to information. The roadshows are centered on the theme ‘amplifying human rights education in rural and farming communities’.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Friday, 7 July 2017
 
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission) notes the judgment handed down by the International Criminal Court, finding that the South African Government had violated the Rome Statute for failing to arrest Sudanese President, Omar Al Bashir, for crimes against humanity.

Media Statement:

 Attention: Editors and Reporters

 Monday, 5 July 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission) welcomes a judgment handed down by the Equality Court at the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court in favour of an asylum seeker, who had approached the Commission for relief.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 3 July 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission) wishes to express its grave concern about the targeting and intimidation of journalists by the Black First Land First (BFLF) group and the threats by BFLF to protest at the homes and places or worship of members of the media.

Media Statement:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 3 July 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission can confirm that it has received a response from the MEC of Health for Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, in response to the SAHRC’s investigative report on the state of oncology and health rights in KZN.

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.  

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 (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”.

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.

Thursday, 22 June 2017

The South African Human Rights would like to express its extreme concern about the destruction of Mangaung City Hall in Bloemfontein on 21 June 2017.

“The SAHRC supports the constitutionally guaranteed right of people to protest and further supports the rights of workers to organise and protest around their rights.  However, the Commission is unequivocal that in exercising their civil and political right to protest people should not violate the rights of others, nor engage in the destruction of property and public infrastructure,” said Advocate Bongani Majola, Chairperson of the SAHRC.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) recognises the significance of World Refugee Day, which is commemorated on the 20^th June 2017.

15th June 2017

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The globally acclaimed exhibition entitled: I Decide = I Am opens for the first time in South Africa at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on 19 June 2017. The thought provoking pictorial images by illustrator Nadezhda Georgieva, and award winning journalist Yana Buhrer Tavanier, featuring art works by Daniel Mosako which pieces together the Life Esidimeni tragedy. The exhibition is infused with poignant audio narratives in vernacular, of persons living with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities telling their stories of life without voice, choice and control.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 15 June 2017

On or about 19 February 2016, the Commission received a written complaint raising a number of challenges regarding the provision of health care services to oncology patients in the KZN Province.