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Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 JUNE 2022
Violations of the right to equality remain pervasive in South Africa 27 years into our democracy. In its 2019/2020 Trends Analysis Report, the Commission found that equality-related complaints remained the highest reported complaints nationally. In Mpumalanga, equality-related complaints have also remained high, ranking the fourth highest reported complaints in the 2021/2022 financial year.
26 June 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Today, 26 June 2022, is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The South African National Preventive Mechanism (South African NPM), established to fulfil South Africa’s international law obligations, solemnly marks this day by noting how the country can do more to discharge its duty to prevent torture and other ill-treatment.
Date: 24 June 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission will conduct a site inspection of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on Monday, 27 June 2022, as it continues with its investigation into the public health system in the province. The visit follows reports that about 870 operations have been cancelled at the Hospital so far this year because of overbooking, equipment problems, maintenance issues, and shortages of linen.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has over the past few years received and noted myriad challenges faced by the people living and sleeping on the streets (referred to as ‘homeless people’) in the Cape Town Metro and the province at large. The number of the homeless people has increased significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There have also been several complaints lodged in recent years relating to the treatment of homeless people by law enforcement agencies.
22 JUNE 2022
Human rights are universal legal guarantees protecting individuals and groups against actions and omissions that interfere with fundamental freedoms, entitlements, and human dignity. South Africa is hailed as one of the leading economic countries in the African continent, with one of the most celebrated Constitutions in the world because of its progressive human rights framework.
22 June 2022
The Eastern Cape Provincial Office (“ECPO”) will host a human rights engagement with the Provincial Executive Committee of the province to strengthen the working relationship with the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”). Further, the engagement will focus on engaging on the systematic human rights challenges the ECPO has identified in the province and the need for government to be held accountable. The Provincial government will also be appraised on most prevalent complaints within the Province, the most unresponsive government stakeholders, as well as general human rights trends within the Province.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
22 June 2022
The Constitution of the Republic requires all spheres of government and all organs of state within each sphere to secure the well-being of the people of South Africa; provide effective, transparent, accountable and coherent government for all people; and to co-operate with one another in mutual trust and good faith by fostering friendly relations; assisting and supporting one another; consulting one another on, matters of common interest; and adhering to agreed procedures.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office of the South African Human rights Commission (KZN PO) (the Commission or the SAHRC) will hold a Provincial Inquiry on access to water in KwaZulu Natal. The Inquiry will commence on the 4 July 2022 and will continue until 15 July 2022.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tomorrow, the South African Human Rights Commission’s (“Commission”) Gauteng Provincial Office will host a stakeholder engagement on the plight of homeless community in Mogale City. In the recent past, the Mogale City Municipality’s Public Safety unit has been accused of serious human rights violations and heavy-handed treatment of homeless people.
20 June 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) has noted media reports of violence resulting in multiple deaths in the Qhumanco Village in Cofimvaba, and growing tensions between South Africans and non-nationals within the area. Reports have also alluded to allegations of xenophobia which has emanated from criminal conduct and a growing distrust between members of the community.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) has opened an own accord investigation into a leaked audio recording in which the UNISA Principal and Vice-Chancellor and other women staff members are threatened with molestation and violence.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Today the world marks World Refugee Day, which is an international day for commemorating and honouring the strength and courage of refugees from across the globe. The day was first organized by the United Nations in June 2001, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees – to which South Africa is a member State. The day is also aimed at raising awareness about the particular challenges that occur in the refugee lived experience.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or the SAHRC) will conclude the receipt of oral evidence in the National Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 Unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provinces, on Tuesday, 21 June 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).
Attention: Editors and Reporters
On Friday, 17 June 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) Provincial Manager will visit Mogale City following reports of continued harassment and abuse by the Mogale City Public Safety unit against homeless people.
16th June 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) joins in the commemoration of Youth Day, observed each year on the 16th June, under the important theme seeking to focus our attention on: “Promoting sustainable livelihood and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow”.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Commemoration of Youth Day on the 16th of June coincides with the Day of the African Child every year.
In South Africa, the 16th of June 1976 has left an indelible mark on South Africa’s history and transition toward a constitutional democracy. Approximately 10 000 black school children marched peacefully to demonstrate and protest against the then government’s directive of decreeing Afrikaans as the language of instruction for the Bantu education curriculum. The youth of 1976 are remembered for their struggle for human rights, a struggle that insisted on an equal and quality education.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
13 June 2022
The SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office will this week be embarking on conducting various monitoring activities within the Amathole West and Chris Hani West Districts. 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.
13 June 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Free State provincial office in partnership with the Free State Department of Education, University of the Free State and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will be conducting a workshop for schools in the Xhariep District in preparation for the National Schools Moot Court Competition essay rounds.
Friday, 10 June 2022
The South African Human Rights Commission is concerned that the Rahima Moosa Hospital has suspended Dr. Tim de Maayer for airing the concerns regarding conditions which appear to him to be threatening the lives of children at the hospital. The Commission recalls that it had to visit the same hospital in 2018 after a number of babies died. At that time, the hospital complained of a variety of problems, including staff shortages and a lack of equipment and other necessities.
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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.
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