In November 2017, the DSD failed to appear at the Commission’s National Investigative Hearing on the Status of Mental Health Care in South Africa. Despite numerous attempts to secure submissions from the Department of Social Development (DSD) at the hearing, the DSD failed to respond.

A number of organisations and public bodies made submissions to the Hearing, some of which indicated that it was critical for the Commission to hear from the DSD in order to consider effective protections for the rights of mental health care users who came within the Department’s jurisdiction.  

Being of the view that this information is indeed necessary for its probe into the status of mental health care in the country, the Commission served a subpoena to the former Minister of Social Development in February 2018.

The Director General of Social Development will represent the Department at the Hearing at the SAHRC National Office in Braamfontein at 10.00am.  

Ends
 
Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission
Forum 3, Braampark Office Park
33 Hoofd Street Braamfontein  

The media are welcome to attend.

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission

For more information, please contact:

Gail Smith - SAHRC Spokesperson. Cell: 060 988 3792 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gushwell Brooks - Communications Co-ordinator.  Cell: 082 645 8573 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.