Attention: Editors and Reporters
6 March 2024
The Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) of the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) will host its annual media briefing on 6 March 2024 from 10h00 until 12h00 at 3rd Floor, 1 Thibault Square, 1 Long Street, Cape Town.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
5 MARCH 2024
The Commission in the North West secures redress for an elderly woman who was set to be evicted from her home by virtue of an Order from the Tribal Court of the Royal Bafokeng Nation (“Tribal Court”).
On 29 August 2022, the Tribal Court issued a judgment in a matter before it, directing that Ms Angelina Mathuloe (“Mathuloe”) vacate her home of more than 21 years “forthwith”. Ms Mathuloe unsuccessfully lodged an appeal against the judgment of the Tribal Court at the Magistrate Court of Rustenburg, Sitting as the Tribal Appeal Court.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
05 March 2024
In commemorating Human Rights Month, Professor Tshepo Madlingozi, Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), will undertake a visit to the Eastern Cape Province Office (ECPO). The ECPO will be facilitating a series of activities within the Province, with a particular focus on matters relating to education and equality, the focus areas of Professor Madlingozi.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 04 March 2024
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC / Commission) continues to monitor the ongoing water challenges in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Metro). The Commission has since January 2024 undertaken various initiatives, such as convening meetings with affected communities; participating in war room meetings; and liaising with and issuing correspondences to various government actors across the three spheres of government.
04 March 2024
Attention: Editors and Reporters
On 29 June 2023, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) wrote to the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa to seek the intervention of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster in the persistent human rights violations reportedly experienced by AbaHlali BaseMjondolo and its members.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
28 February 2024
In October 2023, The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission), Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) conducted an information gathering exercise, and found detailed, shocking, and worrying pregnancy statistics which were shared by both the departments of Health and Education where children as young as 11 years of age were reported to be pregnant and some tested HIV/Aids positive.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 February 2024
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) office in the Free State (“FSPO”) will be conducting monitoring activities in the Xhariep District Municipality. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution states that, the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 February 2024
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) office in the Western Cape will host a strategic stakeholder engagement with role players in the social housing sector. The aim of the engagement is to unpack issues regarding the financing, regulation, and oversight regarding social housing.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 February 2024
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) Children’s Rights Unit (CRU) twill be hosting its inaugural child-led conference on Online Safety for children, on the 24th of February 2024. The conference will be led by a newly elected cohort of Child Rights Ambassadors (CRAs) within the SAHRC.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
21 FEBRUARY 2024
On 21 & 22 February 2024 the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will conduct capacity building workshops aimed at capacitating traditional leaders in Morokweng Village under Kagisano Molopo local Municipality and Taung Village under Greater Taung local municipality.
20 February 2024.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) Gauteng Provincial Office will investigate the alleged arrest and detention of a minor by the South African Police Service (SAPS) officials for not carrying a birth certificate/identity document.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
20 February 2024
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Free State Provincial Office (FSPO) will commemorating World Day of Social Justice with the following Institution: University of the Free State Department of Sociology, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development as well as the Champions of Human Rights. Every year on February 20th, the World Day for Social Justice acts as a platform for raising awareness of global social justice concerns. Moreover, the World Day of Social Justice recognises the importance of promoting efforts to address challenges such as poverty, exclusion, employment, gender equity, and universal access to social well-being and justice.
Date: 20 February 2024
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) convenes a meeting with different stakeholders around Groblersdal to understand the challenges that may be causing racial tension in the area. The meeting aims to ignite strategies that may be employed to address the racial tension.
19 February 2024
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) of the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) is actively participating in crucial stakeholder engagements stemming from complaints regarding inadequate service delivery in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM) from 20-21 February 2024. These engagements are intended to facilitate discussions between the affected community and the responsible municipality, allowing for a thorough examination of the implementation status of service delivery plans. This is in accordance with section 184 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa that; the Commission must promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 19 February 2024
Access to water is a fundamental human right which is enshrined in section 27(1) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Water has the capacity to create peace and has the equal potential to spark conflict and social unrest. In South Africa, several protest-related events have occurred due to water scarcity and water inequality. On 22 March 2024, South Africa will join the world in commemorating World Water Day under the global theme “Leveraging water for peace”. This theme is important in the South African context which is marred by high levels of deteriorating water and wastewater infrastructure. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) urges the South African government to pay urgent attention to this dire state of water resource management and distribution which if not urgently addressed may lead to social unrest and destabilise peace in the country.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
19 February 2024
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) office in Western Cape will be conducting various monitoring activities in the Garden Route District Municipality. Section 184 (1)(c) of the Constitution states that, the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic. The role of monitoring and assessing potential and actual human right violations provides the Commission with an opportunity to ensure redress and to ensure that human rights are upheld in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
19 February 2024
In January 2024 the Free State Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission undertook intensive school monitoring activities throughout the Free State Province.
The FSPO visited a number of schools in all five districts, to determine school readiness for the current academic year, as well as to monitor for any possible human rights violations, and other challenges.
19 FEBRUARY 2024
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) convened an Investigative Inquiry to examine Accessibility to Public Transport In Gauteng For People With Disabilities from 20 to 22 November 2023.
In May 2023, the Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) received a referral complaint in terms of section 3 of PEPUDA from the High Court (Johannesburg), sitting as an Equality Court. The complaint alleged that the current environment at railway stations, bus stations, and taxi ranks poses a danger to and is not accessible to commuters with disabilities. The Complainant views the current state of affairs within the public transport system as a form of unfair discrimination on the basis of disability.
Understanding PAIA
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.
Sentinel House, Sunnyside Office Park, 32 Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
011 877 3600 (Switchboard)