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04 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) welcomes the passing by the National Assembly of the Bill amending section 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The aim of this amendment is to recognise South African Sign Language (SASL) as one of the official languages of the Republic. The Commission views the adoption of the Bill as a step in the right direction to promote human rights and specifically the rights of persons who use sign language.
03 May 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) recognises that human rights are not the monopoly of one institution and that a range of institutions, bodies and authorities have an interest in advancing them. Given this, the Commission is therefore obliged to liaise, partner and work with them to ensure that policies and practices are synchronised as far as possible to achieve common objectives where circumstances warrant cooperation.
3 May 2023
ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters
Over the years, the Commission in the North West has received many complaints about unfinished and inadequate RDP houses in the North West. The complaints of unfinished houses include those that were not built beyond the foundation stage, those whose walls were built up to the halfway point, and those which were built to almost completion but are left without the roof. These houses make it impossible for the owners thereof to take occupation. As a result, these houses are vandalized. The complaints of inadequate houses relate to buildings that are inaccessible to persons with disabilities. They also relate to the use of inferior building materials and poor workmanship, and, as a result, this poses safety threats/risks to the livelihoods of the occupiers.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
2 May 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) Western Cape provincial office will be hosting Summit on “UPGRADING OF AND PROVISION OF SERVICES TO INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE WESTERN CAPE”.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 April 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) joins the rest of the country in celebrating Freedom Day. This day recalls that historic day, 29 years ago on 27 April 1994 when scores of people young and old stood in long queues to experience for the first time the Constitutional right to vote alongside their previously enfranchised countrymen and women.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
25 April 2023
Today, 25 April 2023, is the Africa Pre-Trial Detention Day. This day is dedicated to raise awareness of the plight of persons who are held for prolonged periods without trial in police cells and correctional centres/prisons across Africa. This date coincides with the adoption by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights of the Guidelines on Arrest, Police Custody and Pre-Trial Detention ('the Luanda Guidelines'). The Luanda Guidelines require States to strengthen national systems and practices relating to arrest, police custody and pre-trial detention by highlighting the significance of a human rights-based criminal justice system.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
25 April 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) has issued a final investigative report in the matter of Kebaneile Tumelo Phinda and 2 others on behalf of the Residents of Agisanang, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa // Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and Tswaing Local Municipality. The report relates to the consolidated complaints received on 06 September, 08 September and 11 October 2021 regarding the sewer spillages and lack of basic municipal services including water, sanitation and electricity at Agisanang, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa.
21 April 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has noted with concern the growing number of acts of intimidation circulating on social media threatening civil society organisations in the country. Civil society organisations are being targeted for going out of their way to protect the violations of human rights of some of the most vulnerable inhabitants of this country.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
18 APRIL 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission and the Department of Education will be hosting virtual Moot Court preparatory workshops aimed at preparing learners for the National School Moot Court Programme. The Commission and Department of Education collaborates with various institutions of higher education, law firms and professionals who provide training to the learners in preparation for the National School Moot Court Programme.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
17 April 2023
As part of the 2023 National Schools Moot Court Competition (NSMCC), the SAHRC KZN Provincial Office and the KZN Department of Education will be conducting workshops on essay writing. The workshops have been organised into joint education district clusters.
03 April 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission in Gauteng kicks off its Social Harmony Through National Effort (SHINE) initiatives in the month of April 2023. The SHINE initiative is intended to encourage social harmony through national efforts. The Gauteng provincial office theme is “POSITIVE DIALOGUE IS OUR SAVING GRACE” focusing on the importance of dialogue and the sharing of lived experiences through our own narratives.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 March 2023
Human Rights Day is observed annually on March 21st to remember and honour those who died in the Sharpeville massacre on that date in 1960. This massacre took the lives of many people protesting against Apartheid pass laws, including children, and left an indelible mark on history. National Human Rights Day is extremely important to the South African Human Rights Commission, which is mandated by the Constitution to monitor, promote, and protect human rights.
27 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) wishes to inform the media and members of the public of the appointment of Mr Vusumuzi Mkhize as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective (today) Monday, 27th March 2023.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 March 2023
In terms of sections 13(1) (b) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) Act 40 of 2013, the Commission must develop and conduct educational programmes to foster public awareness and understanding of Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Further, the Commission has a duty to maintain close liaison and institutions with similar objectives in order to foster common policies, practices and to further the objectives and mandate of the Commission. Finally, the Commission may consider recommendations, suggestions and requests concerning the promotion of respect of human rights it may receive from any other source. This includes the media.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 MARCH 2023
The SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be commemorating Human Rights Day under the theme: “Consolidating and Sustaining the Culture of Human Rights into the Future.”
March month is commonly known as human rights month, during March month the nation comes together to celebrate and promote human rights and equality for all. The concept of human rights is based on the notion that every person is entitled to rights and freedoms in the Constitution simply by virtue of being human. In celebrating human rights month, the Commission continues to demonstrate its commitment towards its constitutional mandate of ensuring promotion and protection human rights for all.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
22 March 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) joins the world in commemorating World Water Day, under the global theme "accelerating change" to solve the global water and sanitation crisis.
Access to water and sanitation are fundamental to everyone’s health, dignity and prosperity. As such, Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa recognizes, and provides that: “Everyone has the right to have access to sufficient food and water.” The right to water entitles everyone to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use. Conversely, the right to sanitation entitles everyone to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, that is safe, hygienic, secure, and socially and culturally acceptable and that provides privacy and ensures dignity.
21 March 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) wishes all South Africans a happy Human Rights Day. The National Human Rights Day, which is commemorated annually in South Africa on the 21st day of March, is one of the important national days in our country’s calendar.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
20 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office will be hosting a Human Rights Day event in Kariega KwaNobuhle in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.
In order to raise awareness and combat human rights challenges, the SAHRC in Eastern Cape intends to host an information sharing session to provide a platform where the Commission has invited different stakeholders that support democracy and provide services. A complaints handling helpdesk will be provided.
18 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) has noted the planned “national shutdown” organised by the Economic Freedom Fighters earmarked for Monday, 20 March 2023.
17 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
To commemorate and celebrate Human Rights Day, the Gauteng Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission and Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc will host a Human Rights Day Celebration with Ikaneng Primary School. The school's learners were given the task to “Design a Human Rights Logo” based on their understanding of human rights and the responsibilities accompanying them.
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)