Attention: Editors and Reporters
24 March 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), Mpumalanga Provincial office, will be commemorating Human Rights Day under the Theme: “Recover Better: Stand Up for Human Rights”. The day is commemorated annually on 21 March to remind all South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in the country.

24 March 2021
Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will tomorrow receive a briefing from various stakeholders on their interventions concerning the upgrade of sanitation infrastructure in the Emfuleni Local Municipality and the rehabilitation of the Vaal River Integrated System.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
22 March 2021

Today, 22 March 2021, marks World Water Day (WWD), globally. The United Nations General Assembly through the adoption of resolution A/RES/47/193 on 22 December 1992 declared 22 March annual WWD. The aim of WWD is to raise awareness about the importance of water, which is the lifeblood of human existence. The theme for 2021 is “Valuing water”, which is apposite for South Africa given that it is a water scarce country and amongst the driest countries in the world.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 MARCH 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (the Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WC Office) recognises the significance of Human Rights Day in South Africa and the importance of this day with regards to the promotion of human rights of everyone in South Africa.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 19^th March 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or the SAHRC), on Thursday the 18^th March 2020 welcomed the decision of the Western Cape High Court in the matter with the City of Cape Town on Strandfontein.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

19 March 2021

On Tuesday, 23 March 2021, the Gauteng Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission will host a virtual launch of its 2020-2021 State of Human Rights Report – “Towards Ensuring the Right to Adequate Housing through the Upgrading of Informal Settlements.”

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 19 March 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) initiated an own accord investigation following a series of protest action by residents of Tugela Ferry in the uMsinga Local Municipality within the uMzinyathi District Municipality (“the Municipality”) over water shortages.  The Commission subsequently thereafter received complaints from both the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the National Freedom Party (NFP) on behalf of residents in the Municipality relating to the lack of access to water in the Municipality.  The Commission wrote to the Municipality in October 2019 as part of its investigation into the said allegations however, a response from the Municipality was not forthcoming despite various attempts by the Commission to elicit same.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 18th March 2021

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) welcomes the judgement handed down by Judge Siraj Desai, in the Western Cape High Court, on Wednesday, the 17th March 2021.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

17 March 2021

On 16 March 2021, the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission), together with the Office of the Public Protector (PP), met with the Minister of Higher Education, Innovation and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande. The meeting was convened to discuss and chart a way forward with respect to existing challenges in higher education and the funding thereof.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
16 March 2021

The Administrator of Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality (“Municipality”), Mr B.M Mhlanga (“Mr Mhlanga”), previously failed to attend subpoena proceedings scheduled for 11 November 2020 by the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”), necessitating the laying of criminal charges against him in terms of section 22 of the South African Human Rights Commission Act 40 of 2013. The subpoena proceedings related to the investigation of a complaint regarding water access challenges within the Municipality.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 March 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, 11 March 2021

Today, 11 March 2021, the High Court in Pretoria made an order in the matter between the EFF Student Command v Minster of Higher Education and Others, to which the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) was admitted as an amicus. This matter concerned a directive issued by the Minster of Higher Education for the University of South Africa (UNISA) to reduce its first-time student intake for the year 2021. As a result, UNISA accepted only 38 000 students, shy of the anticipated 58 000.

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.