Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 March 2018

In the last few years, the South African Human Rights Commission in Mpumalanga (“Commission”) has received a number of complaints relating to sewerage spillages and waste water treatment challenges in Mpumalanga.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 March 2019

 

On 12 – 14 March 2019, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”), Western Cape Provincial Office (PO), will be hosting information sessions to amplify basic human rights awareness enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Constitution – the Bill of Rights. The information sessions are centered under the theme “Know Your Rights and Responsibilities”.

12 MARCH 2019

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) Gauteng Provincial Office in collaboration with the Constitution Hill will host a panel discussion on the theme “The Impact of Corruption on Human Rights”.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 March 2019  

The SAHRC Free State Provincial Office will host Legal Clinics/Help Desks on the 13th of March 2019 in Bloemfontein Communities. 

MEDIA STATEMENT

“Information is an asset, information is knowledge, and information is power”

6^th 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.

Attention Editors and Reporters
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

5^th 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 5^th 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.

Attention Editors and Reporters
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 8^th of March 2019 at 18 Kellner Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

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.

Attention Editors and Reporters
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.

22 February 2019

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.

21    February 2019

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.

19 February 2019
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

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) met with representatives of the Eldorado Park Community on 13 February 2018, following the release of the Commission’s Report into Inequality in Eldorado Park and Surrounding Areas and School Disruption at Klipspruit West Secondary School (“the Report”).

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.

05 February 2019
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.

Wednesday, 30 January 2019
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.