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Attention: Editors and Reporters
19 January 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/ Commission) has issued a final investigative report in the matter of the South African Human Rights Commission // Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke & Head of Department: North West Department of Education & MEC For Education: North West Province.
The report relates to the incident that transpired at Laerskool Schweizer Reneke (School) on 9 January 2019. The incident related to the public dissemination of a photograph depicting four black and eighteen white learners seated at separate tables in a classroom at the school. The photograph sparked public outrage, with many people labelling the incident as racist. Members of the public and other concerned groups gathered within the vicinity of the school to protest against what they perceived to be racial segregation.
14 December 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
International Human Rights Day is a calendar day that is commemorated annually to bring awareness and to increase knowledge of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”) as a foundational blueprint for taking concrete actions to stand up for human rights and to tackle pressing global issues today. The UDHR will celebrate its 75 years by focusing on its legacy, relevance and activism. This year’s Human Rights Day slogan is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All” and the call to action is #StandUp4HumanRights.
13 December 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) in line with its mandate will visit Johannesburg Correctional Centre – Sun City on 14 December 2022.
Section 184(1)(c) of the Constitution obliges the Commission to monitor and assess the observance of human rights, including the protection of persons in places of deprivation of liberty in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
12 December 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will be commemorating the International Human Rights Day (IHRD) aimed at promoting and recognising the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) under the theme: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
10 December 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Human Rights Day 2022. This year’s Human Rights Day theme is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All” and the call to action is #StandUp4HumanRights.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
09 December 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will be embarking on various monitoring activities in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality, Chris Hani District Municipality and Sarah Baartman District Municipality. 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. The role of monitoring and assessing human rights and potential human rights violations, provides for an opportunity for the Commission to ensure redress and to ensure that human rights are upheld in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
8 December 2022
On 9 December 2022, the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will be commemorating International Human Rights Day under the theme “equality, peace, justice, freedoms, and the protection of human dignity”.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
08 December 2022
In commemoration of International Human Rights Day, the South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) will be hosting a Mental Health Awareness Initiative in Tembisa. International Human Rights Day celebrates the rights and freedom of all persons and encourages the respect and observance of rights for all nations and those outside the borders of the country.
Thursday, 08 December 2022
The 10th of December marks the commemoration of International Human Rights Day (IHRD). The day is globally observed annually in remembrance of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations General Assembly on the 10th of December 1948. This proclamation was the first global expression of human rights and is globally recognised as one of the first major achievements of the UN.
Date: 07 December 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
As the campaign for 16 days of activism on no violence against women and children draws to a close, the SAHRC Limpopo provincial office finds crucial to collaborate, and engage with stakeholders and communities to advance Equality and Social Harmony National Effort- SHiNE, as mechanisms to educate everyone about their Human Rights. It is a known factor that vulnerable groups in South Africa are subjected to violation of human rights in all spheres of life.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
06 DECEMBER 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng provincial office (GPO) will conduct a human rights awareness and capacity building workshop for the Be The Future Foundation. The capacity building workshop is aimed at empowering Human Rights Awareness in the province by training Community Based Organisations and Non-Profit Organisations about human rights and structures that can help with redress for human rights violations with a specific focus on the role of the Chapter Nine Institutions in promoting, monitoring and protecting human rights.
Date: 02 December 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The SAHRC’s North West Provincial Office received a complaint concerning the violation of the rights of the farm dwellers at Straatsdrift farms in Groot Marico under the jurisdiction of Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality. The human rights challenges raised involve, among others, shortage of water; lack of proper sanitation and healthcare services; inadequate housing; lack of police visibility; and violation of labourers’ rights.
29 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will be hosting a roundtable discussion with Chapters 9 and 10 institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
27 November 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The right to equality is one of the Commission’s strategic focus areas of work and informs a wide range of actions to promote, protect and monitor observance of the right to equality in the country. A continued strategic focus on equality by the Commission is informed by the persisting inequalities in the country. The Commission regularly receives complaints involving alleged violations to the right to equality; conducts investigations and issues investigative reports with findings and recommendations to seek redress for those whose human rights have been infringed.
24 November 2022
The Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be conducting a human rights capacity building workshop for Traditional Leaders (Emakhosi) as strategic stakeholders on Mental Health – Promoting and Protecting Human Rights.
Date: 23 November 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) is a Constitutional body, established to support constitutional democracy in terms of Section 181 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Constitution). Section 184(1) (b) of the Constitution obliges the Commission to promote the protection of human rights and monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic of South Africa.
22 November 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office (“ECPO”) is cognisant that it has to create, maintain and improve close relationships with key acting agents and role player in order to fulfil its mandate and to ensure that human rights are realised in the province. It is in light of this view that the ECPO has identified Metropolitan and District Municipalities as key role players in the realisation of human rights in the province.
22 November 2022
Over the years, the Commission in the North West has received complaints and enquiries relating to persons who allege they have been “blacklisted” from securing employment by their former employers.
Historically, the Commission addressed such complaints and enquiries by referring the affected persons to one of the entities that specialise in the recruitment processes of individuals in the mining sector in the North West. However, to date, the Commission is not aware of any person whose name has been cleared by the “blacklisting” agencies.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
In April, disruptive and heavy rains led to localized flooding of vulnerable settlements, infrastructure, roads, low-lying areas and bridges within the Eastern Cape Province. Damage has been specifically reported to areas within the Alfred Nzo District, Chis Hani, Amathole as well as the Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo District Municipalities respectively. In view thereof, the SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office has conducted monitoring visits in areas including Libode, Centane as well as the King Sabatha Dalindyebo District’s surrounding villages in order to assess the damage caused to these areas by the floods.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
21 November 2022
The Commission’s Eastern Cape Provincial Office (‘ECPO’) confirms that it is investigating several complaints which relate to inadequate sanitation services and systems regarding the collection, removal or disposal of human excreta, refuse and wastewater resulting in sewerage spills into East London rivers thus having a negative impact on the environment, bodies of water and the health & wellbeing of persons.
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)