lodge complaint button
commissioners button
programmes button
provinces button
publications button
calendar button
fraud hotline button
Media Advisory

18 May 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission has sadly learned of the untimely death of Professor Barry Hanyane. Professor Hanyane died on 11 May 2022 in hospital in Johannesburg. Prof Hanyane was an Associate Professor at the North West University in the Department of Public Management and Administration.
17 May 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) was first  commemorated in 2004 to raise awareness of the violence and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, including all people who have diverse gender identities or gender expressions. The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. The theme for 2022 is ‘Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights’.  
Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 May 2022

As part of the 2022 National Schools Moot Court Competition (NSMCC), the SAHRC KZN Provincial Office and the KZN Department of Education are conducting workshops on essay writing. The Workshops have been organised into clusters for mainstream schools and individual workshops for schools admitting learners with disabilities. 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 06 May 2022

The SAHRC (“the Commission or the SAHRC”) has noted that the residents of Tongaat and the surrounding areas have been without water for approximately 24 (twenty-four) days due to extensive infrastructure damage caused to the water treatment plant following the recent floods in the Province.  The SAHRC is extremely concerned with the impact of the disruption of the water supply on the local community/s, businesses, schools and other organisations/institutions and the length of time that the necessary repairs are expected to take.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

05 May 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission will be conducting a human rights champion workshops on 05 and 06 May 2022. The identified human rights champions will be empowered on the mandate of the South African Human Rights Commission. 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

04 May 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

From complaints received and reports obtained  from various media outlets, the Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has noted that there is increasing allegations of a lack of adequate Termination of Pregnancy services (TOP/Abortion) within the Province, as well as Nationally. Women seeking legal abortions appear to face a lack of accessible information on where to obtain an abortion, often experience stigma at facilities, and several obtain illegal procedures which may be fatal. Abortions were legalized in South Africa in 1996, during the country's transition from apartheid to independence and democracy.
03 May 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

During the past month, disruptive and heavy rains have lead to localized flooding of vulnerable settlements, infrastructure, roads, low-lying areas and bridges within the Eastern Cape Province. Damage has been reported to areas within the Alfred Nzo District municipality, as well as the Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo District Municipalities. The Eastern Cape South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) conducted monitoring visits in Libode and its surrounding villages and the King Sabatha Dalindyebo District’s surrounding villages to assess damage to various areas as has been reported to our office.
Date: 03 May 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.
21 April 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission/ SAHRC) has been actively monitoring areas most impacted by the floods, which ravaged the KwaZulu-Natal province last week. Commissioners visited families and shelters housing hundreds of displaced children.
20 April 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters

During the past two weeks, disruptive and heavy rains have lead to localized flooding of vulnerable settlements, infrastructure, roads, low-lying areas and bridges not only in Kwa-Zulu Natal, but also within the Eastern Cape Province. Damage has been reported to areas within the Alfred Nzo District municipality, as well as the Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo District Municipalities. The South African Human Rights Commission has been in contact with the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and will be embarking on its own monitoring activities from today onwards.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 14 April 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) pledges solidarity with the people of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, as they face the impact of the deadliest storm in South Africa’s recorded history, and the heaviest rains in 60 years. By the evening of Wednesday, the 13th April 2022, the floods related death toll in the province had risen to 306, and was expected to increase. The Commission extends its sincerest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and communities impacted by the deadly tragedy.
11 April 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters

On the 2nd of April 2022 the South African Human Rights Commission (The Commission) was alerted to concerning remarks made by Afrikaans musician Mr Steve Hofmeyr on social media relating to the LGBTIQ+ community. The Commission was further approached by a Non-Profit Organization stationed in Gqeberha, reporting the comments to our offices, as an alleged human rights violation.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 8 April 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) is deeply concerned by the ongoing tensions in Diepsloot, in Gauteng Province.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

4 April 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) has noted a systemic issue in the manner in which the South African Police Services (SAPS), City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Private Security Companies conduct themselves during evictions of unlawful occupiers and interactions with homeless persons in the Western Cape.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

31 March 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission Western Cape provincial office (WCPO) will host the annual stakeholder engagement for purposes of launching the report on homelessness.  The WCPO will further use this engagement to brief the Office of the Premier of the Western Cape on the work done and also reflect on the state of human rights in the province following various activities undertaken and complaints investigated by the WCPO.

30 march 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa will appear at its hearings into the deadly July anarchy on Friday.

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa will appear at its hearings into the deadly July anarchy on Friday.
30 April 2022

DURBAN – President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to appear before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) National Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng this Friday, April 1.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
29 MARCH 2022

On 30 March 2022, the North West Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will conduct a workshop to induct Mahikeng Local Municipality councillors on human rights.
29 March 2022

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

On 28 March 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) met with the Premier of the North-West Province, Honourable Bushy Maape, and the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Honourable Lena Miga, in Mahikeng. The meeting sought mainly to enhance cooperation in improving service delivery through good governance, accountability and consequences management in local government in the Province.
29 March 2022

President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to appear before the national investigative hearing into the July 2021 unrest on Friday.

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)