Attention: Editors and Reporters

18 July 2022

In November 2009, the United Nations (UN) officially declared 18 July Nelson Mandela International Day which is commonly known as Mandela Day. This day was declared in honour of Nelson Mandela and is celebrated every year on his birthday, 18 July. This year’s Mandela Day in South Africa is framed under the Nelson Mandela Foundation Food and Nutrition Programme and will be celebrated under the theme: “Equality and Food Security.”

18 July 2022

ATT: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) joins South Africans and the world at large in celebrating the Nelson Mandela Day - 2022, themed “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” to highlight the plight of food security and climate change.

In 2009, when the United Nations General Assembly declared Nelson Mandela’s birthday, the 18th of July, as Nelson Mandela International Day, Madiba called on the people of the world to honour him by helping their communities.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

12 July 2022

The SAHRC in the Eastern Cape has noted through various reports and community engagements complaints relating to the right to a healthy environment within the Buffalo City Municipality. This includes concerns relating to the spilling of sewage into rivers and beaches surrounding local communities and attractions, and the lack of maintenance of key infrastructure in order to prevent ongoing environmental concerns.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
12 July 2022

Over the years, the Commission has received and investigated complaints relating to the placement of markers on holders’ identity documents.
In the various complaints received, the identity document holders alleged that their identity documents were endorsed with markers by the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) without affording them an opportunity to make representations. They further alleged that the endorsements strip them of their legal identity, make it difficult for them to assert their human rights and deny them opportunities for full participation in social and economic life.

12th July 2022

ATT: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission or SAHRC) invites members of the media to the release of its annual complaints Trends Analysis Report (TAR), for the financial year 2020-2021. The report will be released on Wednesday 13 July 2022 to coincide with the Commission’s countrywide Mandela Day activities.

Date: 11 July 2022 

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The SAHRC Chairperson Advocate Bongani Majola conducts a provincial visit in Free State Province from the 11^th to 15^th of July 2022 to address human rights challenges including issues relating to access to healthcare.

11 July 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters

On Tuesday, 12 July 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) will meet with the City of Tshwane and the Department of Water and Sanitation in Pretoria to assess progress made in implementing its recommendations concerning the state of the City of Tshwane’s rivers and the Roodeplaat Dam.

Attention: Editors and reporters
Date: 08 July 2022

The South African Human Rights Commission has invited the Heads of the Gauteng Provincial Departments of Health, Infrastructure Development and Treasury to appear before it on Monday, 11 July 2022, as it continues with its monitoring of the healthcare system in the province.
Since 2018, the Commission has been raising concerns about the dire state of health facility infrastructure in the province. Our investigations have highlighted in part, the poor condition of buildings, the power failures, the lack of safety features, the non-functioning lifts, the non-payment of service providers and the impact of these failures on the provision of healthcare.

08 July 2022
Attention: Editors and Reporters

From 8 to 17 July 2021, South Africa experienced unprecedented violent unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. The unrest was characterized by looting, destruction of property and the disruption of economic activity. The inadequate response due to ill preparedness by the security apparatus of the country was laid bare for all to witness. The result was an estimated 354 deaths, over R50 billion lost to the economy and many having suffered loss of property and livelihoods.

06 July 2022

Attention: Editors and Reporters
On 14 March 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) commenced an inquiry into racial discrimination and other forms of discrimination in advertising (“the Advertising Inquiry” or “the Inquiry”).  The first leg of the Inquiry concluded on 18 April 2022, and the second leg of the Inquiry will run from 29 August 2022 until 9 September 2022.