Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 June 2024

The Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host the Provincial Heads of Chapter 9 bodies in the Western Cape. The Chapter 9 Forum meeting follows stakeholder engagements of provincial heads of the SAHRC, Electoral Commission, Commission for Gender Equality and Public Protector to discuss the need for collaborations in order to avoid duplicating resources.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 11 June 2024

Access to water is a fundamental human right which is enshrined in section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. In the provision of water, particularly to domestic households, municipalities, designated as Water Services Authorities (WSAs) in terms of the Water Services Act (1997) play a crucial role. Regrettably, some WSAs in the country are severely challenged and struggle to fulfil this important constitutional and statutory obligation of providing water to all households within their jurisdictions.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

10 June 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) calls for political parties to prioritise service delivery and human rights promises they made to voters when negotiating the models of coalitions. For the first time in the national democratic elections, no political party has achieved an outright majority. This means the national government will be formed through a coalition agreement.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 06 June 2024

After releasing its KwaZulu Natal Water Inquiry Report in September 2023, the South African Rights Commission (Commission) is visiting District Municipalities to monitor progress on the implementation of its recommendations, and to assess the state of human rights in the respective region.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

06 June 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will be conducting a capacity-building workshop on possible measures for the eradication of Gender-Based Violence as well as the Child Care and Protection Policy Framework, with a focus on the importance of the Child Protection Register. This workshop is part of the observance of child protection week (29 May to 05 June 2024). It comes in response to increasing reports of children being sexually abused by their close and trusted caregivers, including male relatives, educators , fathers and strangers.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

06 June 2024

The North West Provincial Office of the Commission will be conducting a stakeholder engagement with the Rustenburg Local Municipality Mayor to discuss issues of mutual cooperation and raise human rights issues of concern for the consideration of the Municipality as part of its Integrated Development Planning process.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

05 June 2024

The North West Provincial Office will conduct a subpoena hearing in respect of the Municipal Manager and Mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM). The subpoena hearing relates to a long-standing complaint relating to access to basic services by the residents of Straatsdrift Farm. The Municipal Manager of NMMDM was previously subpoenaed to appear before the Commission on the same matter on 20 September 2023, during which he made certain undertakings, some of which have not been honoured.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

02 June 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) endorses the 2024 National General Elections as free and fair.

The SAHRC observed the elections on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of May 2024. During this period, the Commission observed 161 voting stations and gathered 98 reflections from Human Rights Officials and Champions, resulting in a significant national footprint across 259 voting stations.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

31 May 2024

The Children’s Rights Unit (CRU) within the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has joined South Africa in observing National Child Protection Week from 29 May to 5 June 2024. This week-long campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting children from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

28 May 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or the Commission) joins the world, continent, and nation in marking the occasion of South Africa’s seventh democratic elections. For South Africa, the right to vote has a profound historical context. Just thirty years ago, most South African citizens were denied the right to vote, and those who demanded to exercise this right were often imprisoned or even killed.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

28 May 2024

The North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) is hosting an event to promote the Social Harmony National Effort (SHINE). The goal of SHINE is to encourage all South Africans to think about and take small but meaningful actions to promote respect, social harmony, solidarity, and healing in their homes and communities.

28 May 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission), Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) working in partnership with the Eastern Cape Education Department will conduct workshops for schools in the Amathole East, Amathole West and Sarah Baartman Districts in preparation of the moot court competition essay rounds.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

23 May 2024

The SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office will be embarking on various monitoring activities in Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi District Municipality between 22^nd to 26 May 2024. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic. 

Date: 22 May 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) together with the SAHRC’s CEO Mr. Vusumuzi Mkhize meets with various stakeholders in the Limpopo Province, the purpose of the engagement is to strengthen the relationship between SAHRC in the province and its stakeholders.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

20 May 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in the Eastern Cape conducted an inquiry in 2022 on challenges relating to severe acute malnutrition. With this context in mind, the Commission will conduct an Imbizo under the theme: "Nourishing Futures: Collaborative Strategies for Sustainable Development". The aim of the Imbizo is to convene with stakeholders to foster partnerships, share best practices, identify opportunities for joint initiatives and outline a roadmap towards minimizing hunger and to tackle hunger collectively.