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Media Advisory: SAHRC Eastern Cape Provincial Office to conduct stakeholder engagements, community outreach and NSMCP Workshop

Attention: Editors and Reporters

22 August 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/ the Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) is currently investigating concerns regarding the use of space at the Komani Psychiatric Hospital. Psychiatric hospitals in the province are either full or overcrowded, resulting in challenges in accommodating psychiatric patients. Many patients are currently housed in local hospitals, while some are in correctional facilities awaiting transfer to appropriate care.

Given the critical nature of this situation, and the fact that the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality offices currently occupy space within the hospital, we believe it is imperative to convene a stakeholder meeting to address this matter further to identifying and implement a viable and sustainable solution for improving psychiatric healthcare in the province. Government stakeholders will be joining this engagement.

Additionally, the Commission collaborates with like-minded stakeholders and is committed to working with stakeholders such as the House of Traditional Leadership and Khoisan Leaders to strengthen human rights in the Eastern Cape.

To build and strengthen this partnership, the ECPO will host a stakeholder engagement with the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders to explore opportunities for joint initiatives on critical issues, including service delivery and the monitoring and evaluation of accountable stakeholders.

The desired outcomes of this partnership include implementing sustainable development programs within communities, enhancing the social well-being and welfare of communities, cooperating on addressing human rights concerns, promoting social cohesion, and upholding the customs of communities practicing customary law.

In conclusion, the ECPO is holding a community public outreach engagement to educate and empower the community about their rights and the rights of others. This involve explaining how human rights principles apply in everyday life.

 

The engagement will focus on human rights affecting service delivery and how the Commission can assist in promoting and protecting the community’s rights. This will be followed by a question-and-answer session. This is an important step in promoting public involvement and fostering a culture of human rights, which is crucial for creating long-term social change and protecting human rights. The community public outreach engagement aligns with the Commission’s Constitutional mandate to promote and provide education on human rights.

 

This will be followed by a workshop for schools in the Amathole East District in preparation of the National Schools Moot Court Programme (NSMCP) oral rounds. The NSMCP is an annual moot court competition aimed at creating greater consciousness and understanding in South African schools and communities about the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the values embodied by it through the active participation of learners in a moot court competition.

 

The NSMCP comprises of a hypothetical legal scenario, wherein, multiple questions on human rights issues are highlighted. The learners have to argue opposing views, based on the hypothetical case provided, using national, regional, international and where applicable, foreign legal instruments.

 

The stakeholder engagements are scheduled to take place as follows:

 

Date:   22 August 2024

Time:   10h00-13h00

Venue: SAHRC Boardroom, Waverley Park, Chiselhurst, East London

 

And

 

Date:   23 August 2024

Time:   11h00-12h00

Venue: House of traditional leaders Chambers

 

The information session is taking place as follows:

Date: 22 August 2024

Time: 10h00 – 14:00

Venue: Tyamara Great Place

 

And

 

The workshops will take place as follows:

Date: 23 August 2024

Time:  10H00 – 14H00

Venue: Amathole East Department of Education District Office, Butterworth

 

- Ends -

For further information, contact the SAHRC Provincial Manager, Dr Eileen Carter @ 043 722 7828/072 638 9016 or email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Zukiswa N Mqakanya @ 043 722 7828/ 063 301 3773 for whatsapp or email on: zmqakanya@sahrc.org.za

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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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