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Attention: Editors and Reporters
25 April 2023
Today, 25 April 2023, is the Africa Pre-Trial Detention Day. This day is dedicated to raise awareness of the plight of persons who are held for prolonged periods without trial in police cells and correctional centres/prisons across Africa. This date coincides with the adoption by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights of the Guidelines on Arrest, Police Custody and Pre-Trial Detention ('the Luanda Guidelines'). The Luanda Guidelines require States to strengthen national systems and practices relating to arrest, police custody and pre-trial detention by highlighting the significance of a human rights-based criminal justice system.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
25 April 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) has issued a final investigative report in the matter of Kebaneile Tumelo Phinda and 2 others on behalf of the Residents of Agisanang, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa // Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and Tswaing Local Municipality. The report relates to the consolidated complaints received on 06 September, 08 September and 11 October 2021 regarding the sewer spillages and lack of basic municipal services including water, sanitation and electricity at Agisanang, Jachtkraal Farm, Delareyville and Letsopa.
21 April 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has noted with concern the growing number of acts of intimidation circulating on social media threatening civil society organisations in the country. Civil society organisations are being targeted for going out of their way to protect the violations of human rights of some of the most vulnerable inhabitants of this country.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
18 APRIL 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission and the Department of Education will be hosting virtual Moot Court preparatory workshops aimed at preparing learners for the National School Moot Court Programme. The Commission and Department of Education collaborates with various institutions of higher education, law firms and professionals who provide training to the learners in preparation for the National School Moot Court Programme.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
17 April 2023
As part of the 2023 National Schools Moot Court Competition (NSMCC), the SAHRC KZN Provincial Office and the KZN Department of Education will be conducting workshops on essay writing. The workshops have been organised into joint education district clusters.
03 April 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission in Gauteng kicks off its Social Harmony Through National Effort (SHINE) initiatives in the month of April 2023. The SHINE initiative is intended to encourage social harmony through national efforts. The Gauteng provincial office theme is “POSITIVE DIALOGUE IS OUR SAVING GRACE” focusing on the importance of dialogue and the sharing of lived experiences through our own narratives.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 March 2023
Human Rights Day is observed annually on March 21st to remember and honour those who died in the Sharpeville massacre on that date in 1960. This massacre took the lives of many people protesting against Apartheid pass laws, including children, and left an indelible mark on history. National Human Rights Day is extremely important to the South African Human Rights Commission, which is mandated by the Constitution to monitor, promote, and protect human rights.
27 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) wishes to inform the media and members of the public of the appointment of Mr Vusumuzi Mkhize as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective (today) Monday, 27th March 2023.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 March 2023
In terms of sections 13(1) (b) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) Act 40 of 2013, the Commission must develop and conduct educational programmes to foster public awareness and understanding of Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Further, the Commission has a duty to maintain close liaison and institutions with similar objectives in order to foster common policies, practices and to further the objectives and mandate of the Commission. Finally, the Commission may consider recommendations, suggestions and requests concerning the promotion of respect of human rights it may receive from any other source. This includes the media.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 MARCH 2023
The SAHRC Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be commemorating Human Rights Day under the theme: “Consolidating and Sustaining the Culture of Human Rights into the Future.”
March month is commonly known as human rights month, during March month the nation comes together to celebrate and promote human rights and equality for all. The concept of human rights is based on the notion that every person is entitled to rights and freedoms in the Constitution simply by virtue of being human. In celebrating human rights month, the Commission continues to demonstrate its commitment towards its constitutional mandate of ensuring promotion and protection human rights for all.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
22 March 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) joins the world in commemorating World Water Day, under the global theme "accelerating change" to solve the global water and sanitation crisis.
Access to water and sanitation are fundamental to everyone’s health, dignity and prosperity. As such, Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa recognizes, and provides that: “Everyone has the right to have access to sufficient food and water.” The right to water entitles everyone to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use. Conversely, the right to sanitation entitles everyone to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, that is safe, hygienic, secure, and socially and culturally acceptable and that provides privacy and ensures dignity.
21 March 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) wishes all South Africans a happy Human Rights Day. The National Human Rights Day, which is commemorated annually in South Africa on the 21st day of March, is one of the important national days in our country’s calendar.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
20 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office will be hosting a Human Rights Day event in Kariega KwaNobuhle in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.
In order to raise awareness and combat human rights challenges, the SAHRC in Eastern Cape intends to host an information sharing session to provide a platform where the Commission has invited different stakeholders that support democracy and provide services. A complaints handling helpdesk will be provided.
18 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC/ Commission) has noted the planned “national shutdown” organised by the Economic Freedom Fighters earmarked for Monday, 20 March 2023.
17 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
To commemorate and celebrate Human Rights Day, the Gauteng Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission and Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc will host a Human Rights Day Celebration with Ikaneng Primary School. The school's learners were given the task to “Design a Human Rights Logo” based on their understanding of human rights and the responsibilities accompanying them.
15 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Annually, South Africa commemorates national Human Rights Day on 21 March and March as human rights month. The day commemorates the sacrifice of the 69 people who lost their lives, whilst protesting repressive, apartheid pass laws on the day in 1960 at Sharpeville, but also celebrates the Constitution as the key framework for the achievement of a rights-based society as well as the advancement of human rights.
15 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
On 14 March 2023, the SAHRC released its report following an investigation of allegations that, during the March 2021 welcoming period at certain Stellenbosch University residences, students were compelled to not speak any language other than English.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
13 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is pleased to announce that a settlement has been reached with Mr Steve Hofmeyr in a matter pertaining to comments he made on social media relating to the LGBTIQ+ community. The settlement agreement has been made order of court.
13 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The SAHRC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office will conduct human rights month commemorative events, in the Zululand and Amajuba Districts from the 13th – 22nd of March 2023.
12 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) can confirm that it has reached a settlement with Mr Steve Hofmeyr in a matter related to comments he made concerning the LGBTIQ+ community. The settlement will be made an order of court tomorrow in the High Court in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
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)