Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission's (Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will be conducting monitoring of scholar transport challenges faced by learners in the Amathole East District Municipality.  Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution empowers the Commission to monitor and assess the observance of human rights throughout the country. This includes inspecting areas of potential violation and seeking redress where necessary.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Wednesday, 24 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC / Commission) has noted the ongoing protest action that commenced on 22 January 2024, by members of the Verulam community and other surrounding areas, regarding the lack of access to water, which has resulted in some of these communities being without water for more than 90 days. On 23 January 2024, the Commission convened an urgent meeting with representatives of the Verulam Water Crisis Committee, Tongaat Civic Association and eThekwini Municipality with a view to address the concerns.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

24 January 2024

Commissioner Aseza Gungubele of the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will be visit the province and conduct monitoring activities and stakeholder meetings in order to familiarize himself with the current state of human rights in the province. Commissioner Gungubele has been assigned as the Commissioner who will provide support to the Western Cape Provincial Office. As one of his first official duties, Commissioner Gungubele will seek to meet with the Member of the Executive Council for Education, Minister David Maynier, as well as conduct a number of inspections.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

23 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) office in Western Cape will be conducting various monitoring activities in Central Karoo 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

23 January 2024

The North West Provincial Office (NWPO) of the South African Human Rights Commission will convene subpoena proceedings against the Acting HOD for the North West Department of Education, Provincial Commissioner of SAPS and Principal of Orbit College, following their failure to respond to correspondences addressed to them in connection with various complaints currently being investigated by the NWPO.

17 January 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will be conducting monitoring of the state of readiness for reopening of schools. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic 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 inspect areas of potential violation, and facilitate redress where required.

17 January 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in the Northern Cape Province will be conducting monitoring during the schools reopening for the 2024 academic year. The main objective of this monitoring initiative is to evaluate the current state of human rights in education, emphasising aspects that directly impact on learners, parents, and educators.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

17 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Free State Provincial Office (FSPO) will embark on a school readiness program that consists of monitoring of schools within the province, as a mechanism to ensure the observance of and the promotion of Human Rights.  Section 29 of the Constitution of South Africa states that everyone has the right to basic education, including adult basic education and to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

16 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) will visit The Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital on 16 January 2024.

The Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital, in Krugersdorp is a teaching institute for Wits University, University of Johannesburg as well as the North West University. The Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital, serves as a referral centre for most central, regional and district hospitals in southern Gauteng and parts of the North-West province and sees hundreds of patients for treatment and rehabilitation.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

15 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) is concerned at reports that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) expects to have to find places for currently 688 new applicants at the start of the school year. Following budget reductions across all state funded institutions and departments, plans to build schools to meet the expected demand could not be carried out. As a result, the annual drive to assist in placing learners from other provinces wishing to attend schools in the Western Cape and late applicants from the Western Cape will be even more difficult than usual.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday, 15 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) remains concerned with the ongoing floods that affected Ladysmith, Dundee, Mandeni and more recently those that occurred over the weekend in parts of the KZN North Coast and other surrounding areas, as well as the adverse weather conditions (heavy rains, whirlwinds, and lightning) which continue to affect parts of the KwaZulu- Natal Province.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

11 January 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) is pleased to announce the commencement of work of the newly appointed Commissioners. Since the confirmation of the appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa in December 2023, Commissioners have hit the ground running since 03 January 2024. Areas of strategic focus have been allocated to each Commissioner. In addition, there is an appointment of Commissioners into the nine provinces to support the Commission’s vision of visibility and improve rapid responsiveness throughout the country in line with its mandate to promote, monitor and protect human rights.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Saturday, 31 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) is concerned with the recent flash floods that affected the area of Ladysmith and other surrounding areas, as well as the adverse weather conditions (heavy rains) which continue to affect some parts of the KwaZulu- Natal Province. The Commission appeals for the observance of human rights in responding to the flash floods and adverse weather conditions which continue to affect the most vulnerable communities.  The Commission calls on the Provincial Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure rapid and constant responsiveness to this on-going crisis.  The Commission further calls on communities to exercise caution during these periods and to aid their fellow residents where possible.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

21 December 2023

International Human Rights Day is annually celebrated on the 10 December to commemorate the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Under this declaration, states pledge to uphold, respect, and promote the rights of all people. The 2023 United Nations (UN) theme for International Human Rights Day is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.

18 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (the Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will be hosting a human rights awareness outreach in commemoration of International Human Rights Day at the Haven Night Shelter, Napier Street, Cape Town, on Monday 18 December 2023. The commemoration of International Human Rights Day celebrates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a foundational international agreement regarding fundamental rights every year on 10 December.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 December 2023

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (the Commission) Gauteng Provincial Office will embark on a monitoring roadshow in various parts of the Gauteng Province. The road show forms part of the Gauteng Provincial Offices monitoring initiatives aimed at assessing the observance and respect of human rights across the province. The districts to be visited during the roadshow include Ekurhuleni Municipality, Sedibeng District Municipality and the City of Johannesburg.