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27 June 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission with Department of Health and Civil Society Organisations will be conducting a stakeholder engagement on teenage pregnancy in Paul Roux. Every year in the month of June, South Africans commemorate the events of 16 June 1976. The uprising began in Soweto and spread across the country, radically changing South Africa's socio-political landscape. The rise of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) and the formation of the South African Students' Organization (SASO) sparked political interest in many students, while others joined the wave of anti-apartheid sentiment within the student community.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 June 2023
The right to basic education is an immediate right in the Republic of South Africa and therefore, there should be no barriers in accessing and enjoying this right. The 2019 Phakamisa High School case confirmed that clauses 15 and 21 of the Admission Policy for Ordinary Public Schools was invalid and unconstitutional. The Court further declared that the Eastern Cape Education Department Circular 6 of 2016 was invalid as it caused a barrier for learners to access school nutrition due to the lack of documentation.
26 June 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Today, 26 June 2023, is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. On this day, the global community unites in solidarity and acknowledges the challenges faced by victims of torture. This day marks the coming into force of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) on 26 June 1987. The UNCAT is the binding international instrument prohibiting torture – a prohibition that section 12 of our Bill of Rights also entrenches.
21 June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will be hosting a provincial dialogue to deepen the understanding and culture of human rights with a specific focus on the right to healthcare under the theme: “The Impact of Substance Abuse on Youth’s Health”.
21 June 2023
Access to justice means that everyone should have an equal opportunity to seek and obtain a fair resolution of their legal issues. Without access to justice, a person has no avenue to enforce and promote respect for this right. The State has the primary responsibility to ensure that there is law and order in the country and the South African Police Service (“SAPS”) is responsible for preventing crime and protecting basic rights. SAPS does this by combating crimes, maintaining public order, protecting all people in the country, their property, upholding and enforcing the law.
19th June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) together with the Centre for Child Law (CCL) invite members of the media to the launch of a booklet; How to get documented, a step-by-step guide to getting birth certificates, citizenship documents and immigration visas for children in South Africa.
16th June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) joins the rest of the country in the commemoration of National Youth Day. National Youth Day is observed annually on the 16th of June in remembrance of the youth that was ambushed and killed by the apartheid police in Soweto on 16 June 1976 for protesting against the compulsory introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools.
14 June 2023
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office will conduct a human rights champion workshop on 14 and 15 June 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
05 JUNE 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/Commission) in Eastern Cape will be embarking on various monitoring activities in Elundini, Walter Sisulu and Emalahleni local municipalities. 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.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
4 JUNE 2023
The National Child Protection Week is an annual event led by the Department of Social Development (DSD) to raise awareness of the rights of children. The 2023 National Child Protection Week celebration is from the 29th of May to the 4th of June. The theme as proposed by DSD is “Let us Protect Children during COVID-19 and Beyond”.
The Commission has observed that there is a huge need to promote the rights of our children given the climate in which they currently live. Within this National Child Protection Week, an 8-month-old child died in an unregistered creche. Even though the crime statistics presented by the Minister of Police General Bheki Cele for the period 01 January to 31 March of 2023, show that the number of child murders dropped slightly, compared to the same period last year, it is still a matter of concern. This concern was also shared by the Christian Democratic Party leader Honourable Kenneth Meshoe when he said, ‘Why are children targeted and not protected’. It is thus clear that there is a need to promote, protect and monitor the rights of children to ensure that they thrive.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
1 June 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) will conduct an inspection in loco, with the City of Tshwane and other stakeholders on 1 June 2023.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
31 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) in Gauteng will conduct a follow-up inspection visit to Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, on 1 June 2023.
30 May 2023
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office (“ECPO”) will host a human rights engagement with the Provincial Executive Committee (“PEC”) of the province to strengthen the working relationship with the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”). Subsequent to the human rights engagement conducted in the previous financial year, the ECPO and the PEC has improved their relationship, resulting in an improved observance of human rights. The engagement will further focus on engaging on the systematic human rights challenges the ECPO has identified in the province and the need for government to address these human rights violations. The provincial government will also be appraised on the most prevalent complaints within the province, the most unresponsive government stakeholders, as well as general human rights trends within the Province from the 2022/2023 financial year.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
30 MAY 2022
The Western Cape Provincial Office will today, 30 May 2023 be embarking on monitoring activities in and around Cape Town in accordance with Commissioner Makwetla’s provincial visit and the provincial SHiNE program of action. Section 184 (1) (c) of the South African Constitution states that the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
29 May 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) will conduct a Human Rights Champions’ workshop with Community Advice Offices in the Lejweleputswa District. The workshop aims to foster a culture of human rights, a deeper understanding of human rights and increase the realisation of human rights to enable participants to assist in identifying human rights abuses within the communities in which they live and work. It will further enable participants to conduct human rights and Constitutional awareness campaigns with their communities and develop long-term working relations with the SAHRC.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) has noted with grave concern the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, North of Pretoria. According to reports, 16 people have so far died as a result of contracting cholera in the area.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 May 2023
The SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office will be embarking on various monitoring activities in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality this week. Section 184 (1) (c) of the South African Constitution states that the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission in Free State and Department of Education will conduct a Provincial School Moot Court workshop in partnership with the University of the Free State, Legal Aid-SA, Department of Justice and Constitutional Democracy as a preparation for the essay rounds.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) in Eastern Cape working in partnership with the Eastern Cape Education Department and Fort Hare University will conduct the workshop for schools in the Amathole East and Amathole West Districts in preparation of the moot court competition essay rounds.
18 May 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) acknowledges the role emerging technologies and online platforms play in the development of our societal growth and evolution. Through implementing its mandate, the Commission has however noted increased risk in potential threats emerging from the pace at which technologies such as Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) are developing.
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)