Transforming Society
Securing Rights
Restoring Dignity
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) has become aware of reports alleging that there is continuous sewage sludge and solid waste flowing from the Pienaars River into the Roodeplaat Dam (“The Dam”).
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) notes with concern the recent unsubstantiated comments made by various public figures and political leaders attacking the independence of the judiciary.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
24 February 2021
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) Eastern Cape provincial office will be monitoring schools in Stutterheim, Lesseyton and in Aliwal North Ward 1 villages (Ndofela, Bikizana, Mboni and Qhimerha), on 25 and 26 February 2021. The Commission will monitor and assess the observance of human rights and compliance of Covid-19 regulations.
17 February 2021
The Commission will be conducting monitoring of schools and health care facilities in the areas of Nkandla, Melmoth, and Eshowe on the 17th - 18th February 2021. The Commission will be monitoring and assessing the observance of human rights at these facilities, and compliance with relevant legal prescripts regulating such facilities, including compliance with the COVID-19 regulations.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will on Wednesday, 17 February 2021 from 09:00 host a virtual media briefing to release the findings of the investigations into the sewage problem of the Vaal River.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
In July 2020 the SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) received complaints from several members of the public relating to a social media post made by one Hamilton Mkhothokgo, who is a student and comedian, popularly known as Mr Chase, (Respondent), which was widely disseminated. The Respondent was found to make remarks regarding the Vatsonga nation which the SAHRC was convinced constitute hate speech, harassment as well as unfair discrimination based on ethnic and social origin. The remarks included, amongst others, statements referring to offering the lives of the Vatsonga nation as sacrifices to the Covid19 virus, as this specific ethnic group do not bring any value to society.
ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters
The North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will conduct human rights monitoring at various mental healthcare facilities in the North West Province.
Monday, 08 February 2021
The SAHRC Gauteng Provincial Manager will be laying criminal charges against the Municipal Manager of Merafong Local Municipality, Mr Langa Thibini, for failure to comply with a subpoena notice issued in terms of section 15(1) of the South African Human Rights Commission Act 40, of 2013 (“the SAHRC Act”).
Monday, 08 February 2021
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) receives high volumes of complaints relating to poor service delivery which is a national and systemic issue. The SAHRC’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office has over the past few years been inundated with such complaints from frustrated residents across the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The majority of complaints being received relate particularly to the lack of access to adequate water which is an intrinsic right to all persons living in the Republic. The inability of the public and the most vulnerable of communities to access adequate water during this challenging period of the Covid 19 pandemic is of huge concern to the SAHRC as it lends itself to the transgression of a number of human rights including the right to human dignity, access to adequate water as well as the right to life.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Wednesday, 3rd February 2020
The arrival of the first batch of vaccines against the virulent and transmissible COVID-19 virus, on Monday the 1st February 2021, is welcomed by the South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission). The Commission looks forward to more vaccines arriving soon and people getting access to them. Regarding the batch just received, the Commission is hopeful that inoculations can proceed within the next two weeks once all regulatory and quality assurance processes have been successfully completed.
29 January 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.
Thursday, 21st January 2021
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) is deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of the Minister in the Presidency, Mr. Jackson Mthembu, at the young age of 62.
15 January 2021
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) has noted Government’s decision to postpose the reopening of schools by two (2) weeks. The Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Regina Mhaule, stressed that this decision was made in part to alleviate pressure on the health system.
21 December 2020
Over the years, the South African Human Rights Commission in Mpumalanga (“Commission”) has received a number of complaints relating to water and sanitation challenges in Mpumalanga which impact negatively on communities, affect many aspects of their daily living and ultimately pose a serious risk to their health.
14 December 2020
Over the years, the SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office has received numerous complaints regarding undocumented children, who have been denied access to schools due to lack of documentation. The Commission considers this continuing conduct from some schools as a gross violation of the rights of children enshrined in the Constitution.
14 December 2020
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”), Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be conducting a workshop on the right to equality under the theme: “Fighting Gender Inequality.” Gender inequality is rooted in gender-based discrimination, social norms and gender stereotypes.
11 December 2020
To mark the 25th Anniversary of the SAHRC and to commemorate International Human Rights Day the Gauteng Provincial Office of the Commission has produced a five part podcast series looking at the work of the Commission.
9 December 2020
The SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office will commemorate International Human Rights Day and 25 years’ celebration of SAHRC at Phahla Manoge village, in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality to share and popularise its constitutional mandate.
Tuesday, 8th December 2020
The 10th December 2020, marks an auspicious day when the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the South African Human Rights Commission, The Project Justice Trust and Constitution Hill are joining in a partnership to observe International Human Rights Day - to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the signing of the South African Constitution into law in 1996, the 25th anniversary of the SAHRC and the 20th year since the passing of the first black Chief Justice in post-Apartheid South Africa, the late Chief Justice Ismail Mohamed.
3rd December 2020
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or the SAHRC) has taken action agianst Beloftebos Wedding Venue and Others, in the Equality Court, Western Cape Division, in a matter of unfair discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, against same-sex couples.
The South African Human Rights Commission.
About us
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.
Braampark Forum 3, 33 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein
011 877 3600 (Switchboard)
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