09th September 2016

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will be hosting a two day National Hearing on the 13th – 14th September 2016 to address the Underlying Socio-economic Challenges of Mining-Affected Communities in the country.

07th September 2016

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has noted with concern the allegations of marginalisation and discriminatory treatment of Black female learners at Pretoria High School for Girls, the Sans Souci High School in Cape Town, Saint Michael's School for Girls (SMS) in Bloemfontein, as well as other incidents and allegations emanating from other schools since.  

26th August 2016

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

On the 26th of August 2016 at 09h00 Commissioner Dr. Danny Titus of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will present to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police.

8th August 2016

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The 9th August 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the 1956 women’s anti-pass march in Pretoria.  National Women’s Day has been set aside to reflect on the courage and commitment of the women of 1956, but also to reflect on women’s empowerment and gender equality in South Africa.

1st August 2016

Attention: Editor and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission has finalised a complaint lodged against the South African Broadcasting Authority by Die Afrikanerbond lodged on 29th June 2016.

Chairperson of the SAHRC, Adv Lourence Mushwana sends an urgent letter to Honourable Minister M Gigaba, Department of Home Affairs, requesting a detailed report from the Department on its response to the proposed entry into South Africa by Pastor Steven Anderson

27^th July 2016

 Attention: Editor and Reporters

 The Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Advocate Lourence Mushwana has sent an urgent letter to Honourable Minister M Gigaba, Department of Home Affairs, raising concerns about the Department’s position on the proposed entry into South Africa by Pastor Steven Anderson.

Chairperson of the SAHRC, Adv Lourence Mushwana sends a letter of concern to Honourable Minister M E Nkoana-Mashabane, Department of International Relations and Cooperation as the SAHRC commemorates International Justice Day on 17^th June 2016

 Attention: Editors and Reporters

 17^th July 2016

The Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Advocate Lourence Mushwana has sent a letter of concern to Honourable Minister M E Nkoana-Mashabane, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, raising concerns about:

MEDIA INVITE: SAHRC hosts a four-day provincial visit in the Western Cape
July 11, 16
 
ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters
 
The South African Human Rights Commission will be hosting a four-day provincial visit by Adv. Bokankatla Joseph Malatji from 11th – 14th July 2016 in the Western Cape.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

19th June 2016

The 20th June 2016 marks the 16th anniversary of world refugee day, a day that has been set aside to reflect on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers around the world. For this year’s commemoration of World Refugee Day, the Secretary General of the United Nations has called on everyone to “recall our common humanity, celebrate tolerance and diversity and open our hearts to refugees everywhere."

19th June 2016

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission will be hosting a five day provincial visit from 20th to 24th June 2016 in Mpumalanga.
The overall aim of the provincial visit is to promote the work of the Commission particularly in the area of Socio-economic rights within the Mpumalanga Province.

MEDIA STATEMENT

15th June 2016

Conclusion of Hearings on: Impact Of Protest-Related Actions on the Right to a Basic Education in South Africa

As South Africa prepares to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Soweto student uprising of June 1976, the country finds itself facing critical questions about how we balance our democratic right to protest with the constitutional right of children to education.  

15th June 2016

Attention: Editor and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) welcomes the judgment handed down on 8 June 2016 by the High Court in Pretoria in the matter of Residents of Arthurstone Village v Amashangana Tribal Authority and Others.  The High Court found in favour approximately 150 residents who were evicted from a piece of communal land known as the Arthurstone Farm in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga Province.  They were evicted and homes demolished at the behest of their traditional council, the Amashangana Tribal Authority.  The eviction and demolition of homes had a devastating effect on the evicted women, children and older persons. They were traumatised by the loss of their homes, rendered destitute and caused serious hardships as well as socio-economic challenges.  

10th June 2016

Attention: Editor and Reporters
 
The South African Human Rights Commission held a conciliation meeting on 7 June to conclude its investigation into a hate speech complaint against Western Cape resident, Matthew Theunissen.  Theunissen engaged in a racist Facebook rant which went viral on social media.   The matter was reported to the SAHRC on 3 May and given the nature of the complaint the Commission investigated the matter as an own initiative investigation.
 

13 – 15th June 2016 (3 day hearing)

Two years ago during protests in Malamulele in Limpopo, at least 5 schools were set alight.  The Commission understands that those schools have still not been repaired. In October 2014, protests relating to access to water broke out in Zeerust, North West Province. During these protests, children were barred from attending school. The protests took place close to the examination period and the barring of children from attending school jeopardized examination preparations by matriculants. The North West Province also experienced protests in June 2013, February 2015, and in June 2016 protests in Majakaneng village resulted in closure of schools. This trend is prevalent across almost all provinces in the country.

08th June 2016

Attention: Editor and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has noted with concern the increase in the killing of members of political parties in the build-up to the Local Government Elections, which are to be held in early August this year.

25th May 2016

Africa Day is commemorated annually on 25 May to mark the day when the Organisation of African Unity (now known as the African Union) was formed in 1963 in acknowledgement of the solidarity and unity of countries across the African continent.

Wednesday 5 May 2016

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) condemns the burning of schools in Vuwani District in Limpopo Province affecting tens of thousands of learners.

26th April 2016

On 28th & 29th April 2016 the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in partnership with the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) and the SA Police Services (SAPS) will, host a Dialogue on Policing and Human Rights

12th April 2016

Attention: Editor and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) would like to convey is condolences to the family and friends of Sikhosiphi (Bazooka) Rhadebe, the Chairperson of the Amadiba Crisis Committee, who was gunned down at his home on Tuesday, 22 March 2016. Mr. Rhadebe was a selfless human rights activist, who was murdered in the most cowardly way.

14th March 2016
 
Attention: Editor and Reporters
 
The year 2015 marked an important 20 year landmark in the protection and promotion of human rights in South Africa.