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13 August 2012

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission has noted with concern the killing of Muhammad Kazi in what appears to be a racially motivated incident in Magaliesburg, North West.
07 August 2012

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission is looking at extending the deadline for submissions on the Charter of Basic Education Rights for Children in South Africa.
Date: Monday, 30 July 2012

On 23 July 2012 the Deputy Chair of the South African Human Rights Commission, Commissioner Pregs Govender together with the Western Cape Provincial Office facilitated a process to resolve the matter involving former Cape Peninsula University of Technology students who were involved in posting racist comments on the social networking site, Facebook. Two of the three former students attended the meeting with the Commission.
Thursday, 19 July 2012

The South African Human Rights Commission and its stakeholders today commence their consultative workshop to invite participants’ comments on, and engagement with, the obligations and indicators in the Charter on Basic Education Rights, with a focus on the reaching agreement on the nature and description of the indicators for monitoring the fulfillment of the right to basic education.
Tuesday, 17 July 2012

The South African Human Rights Commission and its stakeholders invite members of the media to their consultative workshop which will deliberate on issues relating the obligations and indicators in the Charter on Basic Education Rights.
Monday, 25 June 2012

The 26th of June marks the annual commemoration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1997 with the aim of supporting efforts to eliminate torture and promoting the application of the International Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or punishment (CAT).
Thursday, 07 June 2012

The South African Human Rights Commission has been receiving numerous complaints about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Gauteng.  The Commission has been monitoring the situation closely.
Thursday, 31 May 2012

Today, the South African government will appear before the 13th Session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations in Geneva.  The UPR is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council in which States peer review each other’s human rights record every 4 ½  years. The purpose of this process is to improve the human rights situation on the ground in Member States.
Date: Friday, 11 May 2012

The South African Rights Commission welcomes the steps taken by State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele to ensure that the Protection of Information Bill passes constitutional muster. The Protection of Information Bill in its current form is unconstitutional and unjustifiably limits people’s basic right to access information. The receptiveness of the Minister to the concerns expressed by the Commission, civil society and the public is commended.
Monday, 07 May 2012

The SA Human Rights Commission has observed with concern the abuse of social media to perpetuate racism and discrimination.
Wednesday, 18 April 2012

The SA Human Rights Commission is concerned about the number of road accidents involving the VIP Protection Unit. In addition, the Commission is calling for the Ministries of Police and Transport to urgently review guidelines on the usage of blue lights.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012

The SA Human Rights Commission (Commission) will commemorate this year’s Human Rights Month by launching the first phase of its national hearings on water and sanitation on Wednesday, 14 March 2012 at 6 Spin Street, Cape Town from 08:30 – 14:30. The Commission’s commemorations will take place under the theme of Constitutional accountability, the right to dignity and the progressive realisation of the right to water and sanitation in South Africa. The hearings are in accordance with the Commission’s mandate to monitor and assess the observance of human rights.
Date: 13 March 2012


The South African Human Rights Commission kicked-off its 2012 Human Rights Month Campaign at the Rammolutsi Township in Viljoenskroon in the Free State.
Media Advisory

What:    High-level experts share their views on the 2012-13 National Budget
When:   Thursday 23 February 2012, from 8:30 to 11:00
Where:  6 Spin Street Restaurant, 6 Spin Street, Cape Town
Wednesday, 01 February 2012

The SA Human Rights Commission condemns the reported use of excessive force by police to disperse protesters in Rondebosch in Cape Town. The Commission is in possession of photos and videos showing the alleged brutal attacks on the protesters by the Police. In addition, it is not at all clear to the Commission why a protest march against poor service delivery or the lack thereof is seen as a criminal act by the police as demonstrated by their aggressive reaction in this particular matter.
Thursday, 26 January 2012

The South African Human Rights Commission is still continuing with its investigation of a complaint relating to poor water quality and service delivery in the eMalahleni Municipal area in Mpumalanga.
Monday, 23 January 2012

The SA Human Rights Commission is concerned about the homophobic utterances allegedly made by King Goodwill Zwelithini. The Commission will be writing to the King to ascertain whether he did in fact make such statements and if he did, to immediately retract them.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development exempts certain private bodies from submitting information manuals to the SAHRC in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
Friday, 06 January 2012

The SA Human Rights Commission (the Commission) condemns the reported attack on two teenage girls by a group of men at the Noord taxi rank in Johannesburg during December 2011.
Monday, 12 December 2011

The SA Human Rights Commission condemns this morning’s execution of Ms Janice Linden by China after she was arrested for drug-possession in 2008. According to reports she was subsequently sentenced to death in 2009.  Her sentence is a violation of commonly accepted basic human rights, particularly the rights to life and dignity.

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)