Media Statement:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday 1 September 2017

The assault charges against Mr Robert McBride, the Head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) are now before a Court of law.  The presumption of innocence must therefore apply until the conclusion of the case.

31 August 2017  

The Witzenberg Municipality has apologised to a group of backyarders whose shacks and some belongings were destroyed during an eviction in Wolseley last week. This is according to South African Human Rights Commissioner in the Western Cape, Chris Nissen.
It follows a meeting with the Witzenberg Municipality Mayor and municipal manager, called on behalf of the residents by Nissen and the Witzenberg Rural Development Centre.

31 August 2017

The DA has written to KwaZulu-Natal legislature speaker Lydia Johnson calling on her to take "the strongest possible steps within her legislative mandate" and suspend health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo from the provincial legislature. This follows the recent disclosure that the MEC blocked the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) from performing oversight at KwaZulu-Natal hospitals following its recommendations in a damning June report into the province’s oncology crisis.

29 August 2017

The African National Congress (ANC) has been asked to take up racism complaint against Rajesh Gupta for calling his guards “monkeys and causing them much distress”. The call to lead a case of racism against Rajesh Tony Gupta was put forth by Lawyers for Human Rights and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, which asked the ruling party to either lodge the complaint at the Human Rights Commission on its own or with them.

G4S is a Pretoria-based provider of security solutions. The Gupta allegedly made the libelous statement after the guards did not answer when he called them. The incident reportedly took place in 2012. BuzzSouthAfrica gathered that the letter of complaint was part of hundreds of emails leaked from the Gupta family. In a letter sent to the ruling party, the executive director of Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Neeshan Balton‚ and Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights said Rajesh’s racist remarks are similar to Penny Sparrow case which ANC took up.

Source: Buzz South Africa

29 August 2017

Lawyers for Human Rights and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation have approached the ANC to lead a case of racism against Rajesh "Tony" Gupta at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)‚ either as the sole complainant or with them.

26 August 2017

Bloemfontein - The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says the fact that municipalities in the Free State are placed under administration will not help relieve poor communities.

25 August 2017

On Friday 18 August 2017, the High Court ruled on one of South Africa's most publicised hate speech matters in a victory for the human rights of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and gender non-conforming (LGBTI GNC) community.

25 August 2017

Health workers brace for an increased need for palliative care as waiting lists grow.

KwaZulu-Natal has just two public-sector oncologists left. As the province scrambles to recruit new specialists, treatment waiting lists grow and so too does the demand for specialised care for the sick and dying.

24 August 2017

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu has appointed seasoned health practitioner and academic Ronald Green-Thompson to help overhaul the provincial health department.

24 August 2017

Durban – KwaZulu-Natal premier Willies Mchunu announced on Thursday that provincial planning commissioner, Professor Ronald Green-Thompson, had been assigned to “turn around the situation in the Department of Health”.