Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Today the 2^nd June 2019, the Grahamstown High Court granted the application of the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC or Commission) to join as an amicus curiae in the matter of Centre for Child Law and 25 others v Minister of Basic Education and 4 others.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

1 July 2019

An application will be heard in the Grahamstown High Court for the admission of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) as an amicus curiae in the matter of Centre for Child Law and 25 others v Minister of Basic Education and 4 others, tomorrow, on the 2^nd July 2019. This ground-breaking case concerns the ability of undocumented learners to access to their right to a basic education.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

28 June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) is deeply concerned that municipalities are not improving in their audit outcomes. On Wednesday 27 June 2019, the Auditor-General, Mr Kimi Makwetu released the MFMA 2017-18 report on the local government audit outcomes. The report reveals a regression in the audit outcomes. The Commission continues to share the Auditor-General’s frustration that despite previous reports containing recommendations, the majority of municipalities have been slow in implementing the recommendations of the Auditor-General, with some blatantly disregarding the recommendations of the Auditor-General.  

Attention: Editors and Reporters

28 June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) visited twenty seven (27) police stations across all nine (9) provinces, country-wide on 26 June 2019 to mark the day designated as the International Day Against Torture. The Commission inspected the conditions under which persons who are detained in those police stations were held and engaged with the South African Police Service (SAPS) authorities in the process. This was a first initiative in visiting places of detention for the Commission, to mark the international day in support of victims of torture and it proved to be a great success. The Commission appreciates the support received from and commends Stations Commanders for their assistance.  

Attention: Editors and Reporters

28 June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) welcomes the judgment handed down on 27 June 2019 by the High Court sitting in Johannesburg in the National Credit Regulator v Standard Bank (South African Human Rights Commission intervening as amicus curiae), a matter relating to the interpretation of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 (“NCA”).

Attention: Editors and Reporters

26 June 2019

Tomorrow, 27 June 2019, the Randburg Magistrates’ Court sitting as the Equality Court will hear the South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) hate speech case against Mr Angelo Agrizzi. This application by the Commission follows Mr Agrizzi’s testimony at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry in which he admitted to using racial slurs.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

25th June 2019

Today, 26 June 2019, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/ Commission) marks the International Day in Support for the Victims of Torture. The significance of this day is traced back to 26 June, 1987 when the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) came into force. The UNCAT is the main international mechanism which proclaimed the absolute prohibition of torture in binding international law instrument. Similarly, this absolute prohibition has been entrenched in section 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

24 June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host advocacy and outreach interventions in the Laingsburg Local Municipality from 25-28 June 2019.

Attention: Editors and reporters

Date: 24 June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission will conduct a site inspection of the Dr George Mukhari Hospital on Tuesday, 25 June 2019, following a complaint lodged by the Public Servants Association alleging the neglect of patients and ill treatment of hospital staff by hospital management.  

21 June 2019

Attention: Reporters and Editors

On 24 June 2019, the South African Human Rights Commission (“The Commission”) will conduct a public outreach engagement in Ekangala, Bronkhorstspruit.

20 June 2019

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South Africa Human Rights Commission (Gauteng Provincial Office), will attend a sampling session with the City of Tshwane and the Department of Water & Sanitation in Hammanskraal on Thursday, 20 June 2019, in a bid to resolve the drinking water quality issues in the area.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

18 June 2019

In commemoration of World Refugee Day, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host the screening of a documentary entitled “Last Chance”. The documentary is part of “The OTHER People’s Film Festival,” an initiative of the Refugee Social Services.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

 14th June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) commemorates Youth Day on Sunday, the 16th June 2019, along with the rest of the people of South Africa.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

13 June 2019

As part of the 2019 Schools Moot Court Competition, the Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be hosting the first capacity building workshops aimed at empowering both learners and educators in preparation to partake in the national competition later in the year. The workshop is expected to create awareness on how the Constitution and the law work through court process to protect, demonstrate interconnectedness and promote respect of fundamental human rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

10 June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host advocacy and media interventions in the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality and Alfred Duma Local Municipality from the 11 – 12 June 2019.

Attention: Editors and reporters

Date: 10 June 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission will conduct a site inspection of the Mamelodi Hospital on Tuesday, 11 June 2019, as it continues with its investigation into the public health system in the province.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

05 June 2019

The Limpopo Provincial Office in partnership with the Limpopo Women Ecumenical Fellowship (WEF) will embark on the Child Protection Week campaign in Solomondale Community at William Mphamba Presbyterian Church on 06 June 2019.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

04 June 2019

The Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be embarking on the Child Protection Week campaign by visiting three schools in the province. During the campaign, the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) will be promoting its Child Friendly Complaints Handling Procedures (CFCHP). The campaign is also meant to empower children with information that shall enable them to identify human rights threats or violations and report such directly to the Commission.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

31 May 2019

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) and the Office of the Public Protector will convene the third session of the inquiry into socio-economic conditions in Alexandra, their impact on fundamental rights and whether such amounts to maladministration, abuse of power, corruption or improper conduct.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

28 May 2019

On Wednesday, 29 May 2019, the Randburg Magistrates Court sitting as the Equality Court will hear the South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) discrimination and hate speech claim against Mr Angelo Agrizzi. This application by the Commission follows Mr Agrizzi’s testimony at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry in which he admitted to using racial slurs.