Attention: Editors and Reporters
Friday, 17 January 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) in the Northern Cape Province will be conducting monitoring during the schools reopening for the 2025 academic year. The main objective of this monitoring initiative is to evaluate the current state of human rights in education, emphasising aspects that directly impact on learners, parents, and educators.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Wednesday, 15 January 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) has learned with grave sadness of the death of another child after being hit by a stray bullet in what is believed to be a gang-related shooting in the Cape Flats, Western Cape.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Wednesday, 15 January 2025

As the 2025 school year commences, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) would like to wish all learners, educators, parents and other stakeholders involved in advancing the realisation of the right to education a successful academic year ahead. The Commission further wishes to congratulate all matriculants and educators on achieving the highest matric pass rate since the dawn of democracy. May this coming academic year see even higher pass rates.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Thursday, 9 JANUARY 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) has noted media reports regarding the completion of the first phase of the Magalies Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant by the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. It is reported that water supplied from the Magalies Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant is safe for consumption.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Thursday, 09 January 2025

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) confirms that it has received complaints and has noted the various social media posts related to the alleged racist incident which took place during a flight from Durban to Cape Town on 26 December 2024.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 31 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) takes this opportunity to reflect on significant human rights issues in 2024, integral to its ongoing constitutional mandate. The Commission expresses deep concern that despite the concerted efforts of various stakeholders to foster the full realisation of human rights, considerable challenges remain entrenched in society.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 23 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) has written to the National Commissioner, Lt. Gen. Fannie Masemola, of the South African Police Service to express its deep concern over the number of human rights complaints that it continues to receive in respect of the arrest of adult private users, possessors and cultivators of cannabis – particularly within the Rastafari community.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Sunday, 22 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) has noted the saddening reports of the burning of the Bishop Lavis Magistrates Court in the Western Cape on Saturday night, 21 December 2024.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Friday, 20 December 2024

On Thursday, 20 December 2024, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) hosted the first launch of the Intersex Children: Guide for Parents Pamphlet. The SAHRC note that the rights of intersex persons, particularly children, are perpetually overlooked. In line with its constitutional mandate to promote, protect, and monitor the observance of human rights, the Commission augment the promoton of the rights of intersex persons, beginning at the time of birth.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Thursday, 19 December 2024

On Tuesday, 18 December 2024, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission), through the Office of Commissioner Madlingozi, together with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office (KZNPO), met with the KwaZulu Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, supported by the KZN South Africa Police Service (SAPS) Senior Management to discuss a range of human rights issues.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Wednesday, 18 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/the Commission) Mpumalanga Provincial Office (MPO) has exercised its authority as granted by section 15 of the SAHRC Act, in issuing a subpoena against the Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements. This action is prompted by their non-responsiveness to issues relating to the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses and multiple complaints lodged against the Department.

On 17 December 2024, the Makhanda High Court delivered a judgment affirming that the provision of scholar transport is a mandatory and integral component of the right to education. The Court ruled that the government of South Africa is obligated to provide scholar transport to learners in the Eastern Cape, emphasising the immediate realisation of the right to basic education as enshrined in Section 29(1) of the Constitution. The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission), acting as amicus curiae, contributed expert insights and advocated for the protection of the right to education, particularly in addressing systemic human rights violations affecting vulnerable communities.

Friday, 13 December 2024
Attention: Editors and Reporters

On Wednesday, 11 December 2024, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) led by, Commissioner Henk Boshoff met with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Honourable Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, to discuss some of the systemic human rights challenges affecting the local sphere of government in the country.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Thursday, 12 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/the Commission) Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) undertakes to join the Bela-Bela Local Municipality, South African Police Services (SAPS), and other stakeholders, in a cleaning campaign at Bela-Bela Town Clinic in Limpopo Province. The cleaning campaign is in line with enhancing the right to a clean environment in terms of Section 24 of the Bill of Rights.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Tuesday, 10 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) joins Africa and the global community in commemorating International Human Rights Day. Celebrated annually on 10 December, this day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948- defining moment in history that enshrined the inalienable rights of every human being, regardless of race, gender, religion, nationality, or social status.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 09 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) in partnership with the KwaDlangezwa Advice Office, University of Zululand, GCIS, Public Protector South Africa, and uMhlathuze Municipality will commemorate International Human Rights in Port Dunford, uMhlathuze Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Monday, 11 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/the Commission) Free State Provincial Office (FSPO) together with Commissioner Aseza Gungubele will conduct human rights promotion to vulnerable communities in the Free State Province on 09 -11 December 2024.

Attention: Editors and Reporters
Date: Friday, 06 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) led by Commissioner Nomahlubi Khwinana conducted a weeklong provincial visit in Mpumalanga from 02-06 December 2024. In line with her focal areas on Older Persons, Disability, and Children, Commissioner Khwinana together with the Mpumalanga Provincial Office monitored older persons homes at Sabie and Secunda; equality courts in Standerton and Witbank, and Thaduxolo Specialised School in eMalahleni. Commissioner Khwinana also delivered a keynote address during a commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Mbombela.

Attention: Editors and Report
Friday, 06 December 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/ the Commission) has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to record its concerns with the closed post-enactment consultation process currently taking place in respect of suspended sections 4 and 5 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (“BELA”) Act.

Friday, 06 December 2024
Attention: Editors and Reporters

On 03 December 2024, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) met with the Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, to discuss the reported cases of foodborne illnesses and related deaths. This meeting followed a prior engagement with the National Consumer Commission, during which the National Consumer Commission provided the SAHRC with a comprehensive progress report on their efforts. The SAHRC also commends the work of the National Action Task Joint (NATJOINTS) in addressing this critical issue.