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Attention: Editors and Reporters
11 December 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will be having an engagement with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to understand the quintiling of schools, the process of review of these designations and to discuss challenges experienced at certain schools relating to the quintile they have been assigned. These challenges had been identified through the Commission’s monitoring programme where it was noted that schools which are placed in quintiles 4 and 5 sometimes experience challenges due to receiving lesser financial resources per learner, per year. These challenges include the issue of quintile 4 and 5 schools not being included in school nutrition programmes.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
11 December 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) has issued its final report on its investigation into the challenges of school infrastructure in the North West. The investigation was prompted by complaints received by the Commission regarding challenges with school infrastructure in specific schools in the North West, as well as the Commission’s own observations during its monitoring work which, amongst others, assesses the state of infrastructure at public schools in the province.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
9 December 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will, in collaboration with the office of the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, launch its Social Harmony National Effort (SHiNE) programme in the Western Cape under the theme of Positive Role Models for Children”. To launch the SHiNE programme, the WCPO invited learners from schools to attend the SHiNE Event at the Castle of Good Hope with the Cape Town Arts Festival.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
9 December 2023
International Human Rights Day, celebrated annually on the 10th of December, commemorates the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR was adopted in 1948, in the aftermath of the devastation caused by World War II. It encompasses 30 articles which set out fundamental human rights to be universally protected and continues to serve as the basis for international human rights law.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
08 December 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) is aware of the letter prepared by Solidarity in respect of the SAHRC's National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) parallel report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Convention or ICERD). The SAHRC’s NHRI parallel report, submitted in November 2023, was prepared following a request from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Committee or CERD), and in anticipation of the South African government’s review of its 9th to 11th periodic report under the ICERD.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
8 December 2023
Today, on Friday, 8 December 2023, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) releases the report of its National Conference: Marking 110 years of the Natives Land Act: Reflecting on measures taken towards redistribution of land in South Africa.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
07 December 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) has noted the release of the 2023 Blue, Green, and No Drop Reports by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on 05 December 2023. The three reports are regulatory tools aimed at providing credible information and data on the state of water and sanitation services in the country.
The Blue Drop report assesses the state of all drinking water systems in the country. The Green Drop report assesses the state of all wastewater treatment systems in South Africa. The No Drop report is an assessment of the degree to which the drinking water distribution systems of municipalities supply water efficiently, without wasting water. Both the Blue and Green Drop reports include assessments of the condition of the infrastructure.
07 December 2023
As the campaign for 16 days of activism on no violence against women and children draws to a close, the SAHRC Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) will host an International Human Rights Day Commemoration to enhance Equality, Freedom and Access to Justice for All.
Wednesday, 06 December 2023
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. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHRC) is a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human beings.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
05 December 2023
The SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be hosting International Human Day commemoration under the theme: “Equality, Freedom and Justice for All.” The commemoration mainly focuses on raising awareness on the rights of women and girls as they are faced with a huge challenge of Gender Based Violence, Femicide (GBV+F) and many violations of their human rights.
Monday, 04 December 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) KwaZulu Natal Provincial Office will conduct a capacity-building workshop for Human Rights Champions with the South African Women Lawyers Association (SAWLA) Student Chapter, Durban Campus.
ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission in the North West is conducting monitoring activities across the province to assess the state of observance of human rights in the province. Municipalities to be visited include Rustenburg Local Municipality; Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality; Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality; Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality; Mamusa Local Municipality; Ditsobotla Local Municipality and Ratlou Local Municipality.
01 December 2023
Over the years, the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in Mpumalanga has received and investigated complaints relating to RDP houses. In the various complaints received, the complainants raised a number of issues including but not limited to the backlog of the RDP program, with some complainants alleging that they have been on the waiting list for a number of years; the wrongful allocation of houses coupled allegation of corruption and poor workmanship on the completed RDP houses.
30 NOVEMBER 2023
The Gauteng Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission and the International Commission of Jurists will host an “Access to Online Services For Persons With Disabilities” meeting with members of the banking sector, civil society, and government. The purpose of the meeting is to determine whether, despite all the technological advances that have been made, persons with disabilities have not been left behind and or ostracised from these advancements.
29 November 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission), Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) will host an engagement on 30 November 2023 with stakeholders within the small-scale fishing sector (both commercial and subsistence), the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment and civil society organisations operating within the fisheries sector, to unpack the challenges experienced within the sector. The Meeting will take place at the Garden Court Nelson Mandela from 10h00. The purpose of the engagement is to better understand the challenges faced by all role players in the sector with a view to deepening the knowledge and understanding of these challenges, so that the Commission may consider how best to use its mandate to seek resolution thereto.
Date: 28 November 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Limpopo Provincial Office and the University of Venda (UNIVEN) have jointly undertaken to host and facilitate a conference on the promotion of social cohesion and eradicating tribalism in the Limpopo Province.
27 November 2023
The SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) will be commemorating the International Day on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Children. The commemoration is aimed at raising awareness on the rights of women, the impact of gender-based violence as well as harmful cultural practices that violates their human rights.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in the Northern Cape Province extends an invitation to you and your media house to participate in a dedicated briefing session concerning the forthcoming events associated with the Social Harmony through National Effort (SHiNE) Project.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 November 2023
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office will conduct a human rights champion workshop on 27 November 2023. The identified human rights champions will be empowered on the mandate of the South African Human Rights Commission and how to be champions for human rights.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in the Northern Cape Province will embark on events aligned with the Social Harmony through National Effort (SHiNE) Project. The SHiNE initiatives aim to promote social harmony and understanding among the diverse communities in the country, recognising the importance of dialogue, compassion, and mutual respect. This is an important initiative to address the historical challenges of colonisation and apartheid, and work towards aligning the nation's culture with its Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Encouraging self-reflection, family discussions, and sharing personal stories are effective ways to foster understanding and empathy among individuals.
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)