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MEDIA STATEMENT
“Information is an asset, information is knowledge, and information is power”
6th March 2019
Attention: Editors
Information regulators from around the globe are set to meet in Johannesburg from the 10-13 March 2019 at the Vodacom Commercial Park for the International Conference of Information Commissioners (the ICIC2019), an international gathering of Information Commissioners from more than twenty five (25) countries and representing all continents, who will gather to discuss the right of access to information (RTI). The right to information is provided for in a number of human rights instruments internationally and regionally, and in national constitutions globally.
5th March 2019
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC), invites editors, senior journalists and reporters to participate in a formal engagement with the Commission, the South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF), other media and interested stakeholders to strengthen the Commission’s relationship with the media and to share its work in the last year.
Attention Editors and Reporters
5th March 2019
Commissioner André Gaum and Commissioner Chris Nissen of the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission or SAHRC) will be visiting Fairdale Primary and High Schools, along with Tsitsa Primary School and Nalikamva Primary School in Mfuleni, Western Cape on Tuesday, the 5th March 2019.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 04 March 2019
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) welcomes the cabinet decision of 28 February 2019, to refer the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) to parliament for ratification in terms of section 231 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. The Commission would like to commend the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Honourable John Jeffery for his role and support in this regard.
1st March 2019
Justice Kate O’Regan, former Constitutional Court judge, outlining the importance of media freedom in South African National Defence Union v Minister of Defence and Another, stated that:
“Freedom of expression lies at the heart of a democracy. It is valuable for many reasons, including its instrumental function as a guarantor of democracy, its implicit recognition and protection of the moral agency of individuals in our society and its facilitation of the search for truth by individuals and society generally.”
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 February 2019
The SAHRC Free State Provincial Office will host a media stakeholder engagement on the 8th of March 2019 at 18 Kellner Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein.
26 February 2019
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) welcomes the decision by the Springs Magistrates’ Court (sitting as an Equality Court) in the matter between Joseph Mona v Harry Leicester and Others.
22nd February 2019
The Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC), Advocate Bongani Majola, visited Curro Academy in Mahikeng, today, Friday, 22nd February 2019. This visit followed media reports of the rape of the nine-year-old schoolboy at the school.
10:00 - 13:00
Victoria Hall, 0B Rand Airport Road, Airport Park, Germiston Lake
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) Gauteng Provincial Office will host a media engagement session. The purpose of this session is to develop strategic partnerships with media outlets and explore challenges facing the media in human rights reporting and coverage and the media’s role during human rights violations.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
In May 2018, the South African Human Rights Commission (“The Commission”) was made aware of an incident where Mr Ashwin Willemse walked off the set of a live broadcast at SuperSport studios allegedly after a verbal clash with two rugby analysts, Mr Nick Mallett and Mr Naas Botha. Following the incident, SuperSport appointed Advocate Vincent Maleka SC to conduct an independent review of the cause(s) of the statements and the resultant walk out by Mr Willemse.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) will convene the third and final session of the inquiry into allegations of approximately 150 megalitres of raw sewage spilling into the Vaal River daily.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
15 February 2019
Attention: Editors and Reporters
11 February 2019
During the month of January 2019, the SAHRC Mpumalanga provincial office embarked on roadshows visiting schools around Ehlanzeni Region. Due to its findings, the Commission saw it befitting to work collaboratively with the Mpumalanga Department of Education in its endeavor to fight against unsafe school environment.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
7 February 2019
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) and the South African Local Govenment Association (SALGA) have formally recorded a collaborative agreement which will see both bodies strengthen a rights based approach in the work and ethos of local government.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission is appalled by comments on social media apparently made by Black First Land First (BLF) Secretary and Spokesperson, Mr Lindsay Maasdorp and others in the wake of the Hoërskool Driehoek tragedy. The comments are insensitive, offensive, and inappropriate and do not align with the ideals and aspirations of our constitutional democracy. Kindness, compassion, and respect are basic human values which we should be extending to each other in a time of loss. Death does not discriminate. Grief cuts across race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nation, and culture. Dignity is a constitutional value to which we are all enjoined by our Constitution to respect.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) intends to initiate legal proceedings against Mr Angelo Agrizzi in the Equality Court. This follows his testimony at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry in which he admitted to using racial slurs.
In the audio clip played at the Inquiry, Mr Agrizzi is heard using the K-word numerous times while laughing with those he was in conversation with.
Attention Editors and Reporters
In October 2017 the South African Human Rights Commission (“The Commission”) initiated a four day investigative hearing into the service delivery protests in Eldorado Park and the disruption of teaching and learning at Klipspruit West Secondary School. The purpose of the hearing was to investigate issues relating to disruption of teaching and learning, allegations of racism, marginalisation, inequality, and excessive use of force during service delivery protests.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
On 19 December 2018 the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) expressed its concern over the then looming litigation between the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr. Herman Mashaba and the Gauteng Provincial MEC for Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Dikgang Moiloa. The media had reported that Cllr Mashaba intended to approach the courts alleging a deduction from and therefore reduction in the funding of the City of Johannesburg’s Human Settlement Development Grant (HSDG) to an amount of R68 million by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements. The Chairperson of the Commission immediately addressed correspondences to both the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Mashaba and the MEC, Mr Moiloa drawing their attention to Chapter 3 of the Constitution and urging them to do their utmost to speedily resolve the impasse and avoid litigation as best as possible.
Attention: Editors
On the 25 January 2019, the South African Human Rights Commission was informed that a learner with disabilities had died at Christiana School for the Blind in North West.
This is not the first time the Commission learns of the death of learners in special schools in the North West. In 2010, the Commission learned of the death of four learners at the Christiana School for the Blind. In August 2015, three female learners aged 16, 17 and 18 died in the fire that broke out at the North West School for the Deaf.
25 January 2019
In the last few years, the South African Human Rights Commission in Mpumalanga has received a number of complaints relating to sewerage spillages and waste water treatment challenges in various municipalities in Mpumalanga. The complaints alleged that the sewerage spillages and/or the inadequate treatment of waste water violated the affected communities’ right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being (section 24 of the Constitution), as well as the affected communities’ right to clean water (section 27 of the Constitution) and their right to dignity (section 10 of the Constitution).
About us
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)