By Sinethemba Memela, Tatenda Muranda and Querida Saal, SAHRC researchers

Which department should take the lead in the provision of special-needs  housing?

Two years after the finalisation of a special-needs housing policy, it is yet to be tabled for approval.

The housing sector is beset with challenges, most notably a severe housing shortage, a sizeable backlog in housing provision and severe overcrowding. Despite these challenges, government’s efforts in addressing the housing problem must be acknowledged. Between 1994 and 2014, about 2.8 million state-subsidised houses and in excess of 875 000 serviced sites were delivered, benefiting around 12.5 million people. Read more

20 June 2017
 
By Bongani Majola, SAHRC Chairperson

The health department recognises this but not everyone, including asylum seekers, knows this

June 20 is World Refugee Day. There are about 65.6-million forcibly displaced people, and 22.5-million international refugees, the recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees states.
South Africa is host to a refugee population from many parts of the African continent and beyond. They
are fleeing persecution, civil conflict and wars that threaten life and limb. Refugees and asylum seekers
here face a number of problems and access to healthcare is arguably one of the most pressing. Read more

Thursday, 22 June 2017

The South African Human Rights would like to express its extreme concern about the destruction of Mangaung City Hall in Bloemfontein on 21 June 2017.

“The SAHRC supports the constitutionally guaranteed right of people to protest and further supports the rights of workers to organise and protest around their rights.  However, the Commission is unequivocal that in exercising their civil and political right to protest people should not violate the rights of others, nor engage in the destruction of property and public infrastructure,” said Advocate Bongani Majola, Chairperson of the SAHRC.

21 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said on Tuesday that refugees and asylum seekers should not be denied healthcare.
In a statement marking the World Refugee Day, which falls on June 20, the SAHRC said refugees and asylum seekers face a peculiar disadvantage in accessing healthcare given their status as non-nationals.

19 June 2017

The Cancer Association of South Africa hopes that a report on cancer treatment in KwaZulu-Natal helps highlight the crisis within the province's public healthcare system.

The South African Human Rights Commission found that the Health MEC and his department violated the rights of cancer patients at Durban's Addington and Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospitals to have access to health care services.

19 June 2017

The South Africa Human Rights Commission has slammed the KwaZulu-Natal Department of health for what it calls poor handling of the oncology crisis in provincial hospitals.  This after equipment for screening and treating cancer patients was found to be broken or non-existent in two major Durban public hospitals.

19 June 2017

A damning report by the South African Human Rights Commission has found that the KwaZulu-Natal department of health has failed its cancer patients.

The 68-page SAHRC report found that "the delays in the provision of‚ and in some cases the denial of‚ oncology services to cancer patients‚ some of whom are destitute and in need of health care‚ affects them in a most fundamental way”.

19 June 2017

DURBAN – The KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo will have to explain the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of cancer patients who were left to die without having ever received any treatment at all.

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) recognises the significance of World Refugee Day, which is commemorated on the 20^th June 2017.

05 June 2017

Their website calls them a leader in education for young women. A stepping stone to success.

But on Monday‚ Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School's claims were seriously under threat after they were at the receiving end of outrage and disgust when a pupil's alleged racist rant went viral.