 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Attention: Editors and Reporters
20 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng provincial office (GPO) will conduct a capacity building workshop for Human Rights Champions/ Monitors (HRC) in Boipatong, Vanderbijlpark. The capacity building workshop is aimed at empowering Human Rights Champions 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.
20 November 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
In April 2022, disruptive and heavy rains led to localized flooding of vulnerable settlements, infrastructure, roads, low-lying areas and bridges within the Eastern Cape Province. Damage was reported in areas within the Alfred Nzo, Chis Hani, Amathole as well as the Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo District Municipalities. In the aftermath of the flood disaster, the Eastern Cape Provincial Office (“ECPO”) conducted monitoring visits in the affected areas to assess the damage caused by the floods and the progress made by government to respond to the reported damage caused by the floods.
18 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) together with The Forge and Changing the Lense will host a LGBTQ+ Symposium under the theme of the Black Queer intellectual archives and the presentation and performance of Queerness in the media.
18 November 2022
The KwaZulu Natal Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is conducting stakeholder engagements, community human rights champions workshop, media engagements / newsroom visit as well as monitoring activities in the different district of KwaZulu Natal Province from the 14 November 2022 to 30 November 2022.
18 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng provincial Office (GPO) today visits Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus.
Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital is a level 1 and 2 regional facility. This means that it deals with referrals from clinics, Community Healthcare Centres and District Hospitals in the area. The hospital opened its doors in 2014 and was previously located in Katlehong but due to the dolomitic conditions in Katlehong, a safer site was identified in Vosloorus.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
16 November 2022
The Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be conducting a human rights capacity building workshop for Women in Traditional Leadership (Emakhosikati) as strategic stakeholders on the Impact of Migration and Equality on Children. Migration has a huge impact on children in that the enactment, implementation and any non-compliance with the migration laws affect migrant children as it does to their parents.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
16 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission) has issued a final investigative report in the matter of Senna on behalf of the Residents of Palamakuwa, Extension 5 Lehurutse Zeerust // Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality. The report relates to the complaint received on 9 June 2020 regarding the lack of basic municipal services such as water, sanitation, electricity and roads in Palamakuwa outside Zeerust. It was further alleged that there had been no human settlement development in Palamakuwa since 2010.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
16 November 2022
On 17 November 2022, the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will conduct a provincial human rights dialogue themed “Enhancing the promotion and protection for Children’s rights to Education, Equality and respect for their language, culture and religion”.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
South Africa is one of the 156 States that recognises the right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment as envisaged in section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution). A safe, clean, and healthy environment is integral to the full enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water, and sanitation. Without a healthy environment, we are unable to fulfil our aspirations or even live at a level commensurate with minimum standards of human dignity.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
14 November 2022
The Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be conducting workshops to popularise and raise awareness about the Constitutional Court judgement which declared Section 10 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 invalid and inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (“the Constitution”) the extent that it prohibits an unmarried father from giving notice of the birth of his child under his surname, the absence of the child’s mother or without consent.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
14 November 2022
The purpose of this statement is to correct certain misapprehensions held and widely expressed by the EFF and Mr Malema, as well as in some media reports/articles, about the steps that the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has taken to date in respect of this matter and to provide a very brief explanation of the Commission’s discretionary powers in receiving complaints of human rights infringements more generally.
14 November 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
In a “REPORT INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SORROUNDING THE DEATHS OF MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS: GAUTENG PROVINCE”, the Health Ombuds recommended that the Minister of Health should request the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) to undertake a systematic and systemic review of human rights compliance and possible violations nationally related to mental health.
9 November 2022
The investigation follows allegations of environmental pollution and raw sewage pouring into the Wemmer Pan Lake. The Commission in the Gauteng Province, received complaints with photos via email from local businesses such as RANDCO and River Bend Villas, indicating the perilous nature of the lake’s pollution. According to the complaints received and media reports, the lake is heavily polluted, covered by an almost shiny oily layer and the stench of hydrogen-sulphide. This has negatively affected the local community, businesses, and those who use the lake for recreational purposes.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
9 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) has received various complaints relating to statements made by the President of the Economic Freedom Fighters (“EFF”), Mr Julius Malema MP, as well as posters/banners displayed by the EFF at the meeting of the EFF’s Provincial People’s Assembly in the Western Cape on 16 October 2022.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
09 November 2022
The United Nations General Assembly designated 19 November as World Toilet Day. The Day seeks to raise awareness and foster action towards access to safe sanitation. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Target 6.2 of the SDG 6 calls for the achievement of safe toilets for all by 2030. Despite this noble goal, the world is seriously off track in achieving this target. According to estimations, the world will need to work four times faster to be able to deliver on the promise of safe toilets for all by 2030.
Media Advisory: SAHRC Gauteng Provincial Office to conduct monitoring activities across the province
Attention: Editors and Reporters
08 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) Gauteng Provincial Office is conducting various monitoring activities across the province. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution states that the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
07 October 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) Northern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will be conducting various monitoring activities in Namakwa District Municipality District. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution states that, the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic. The role of monitoring and assessing potential and actual human right violations provides the Commission with an opportunity to ensure redress and to ensure that human rights are upheld in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (The Commission) has instituted legal proceedings under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 2000 against Mr Steve Hofmeyr based on comments made by Mr Hofmeyr relating to the LGBTIQ+ community in April 2022.
02 November 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC) confirms that it has interacted with both the national and certain provincial structures (KZN & Gauteng) of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the past few days. It is aware of the protest marches by regional structures of the DA to two of the SAHRC’s provincial offices as well as the media interest in the wake of such protests.
Media Advisory: SAHRC Free State Office will host an empowerment workshop for Human Rights Champions
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The SAHRC Free State Office will host an empowerment workshop for Human Rights Champions. The workshop will educate Human Rights Champions on the role they play in promoting democracy, the SAHRC's mandate, protecting the rights of communities, and related legislations.
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)