Attention: Editors and Reporters

13 August 2024

On or about 27 May 2024, the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) in the Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) was alerted through various media publications to an incident during a protest at Walter Sisulu University. In this incident, nine (9) students were injured by rubber bullets allegedly fired by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and security personnel. Some reports indicated the use of live ammunition to disperse the crowds. These reports alleged that the crowd management methods employed were excessive and fall outside of the prescripts of the empowering legislation.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

09 August 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) has noted with serious concern false and dangerous utterances by Councillor Kenny Kunene.

Mr Kunene participated in an interview on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in which he accused the Commission of issuing a media statement to the effect that it will take steps against individuals that were seen to be abusing Ms Chidimma Adetshina. Mr Kunene further called for the Department of Home Affairs to come to the Commission to verify the identity and immigration status of people who work at the SAHRC.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

09 July 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) marks Women’s Day by embarking on a month-long campaign to empower women to dismantle structures that oppresses them, defend and assert their rights when violated. This is a special campaign dedicated to Women’s month, August.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 08 August 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) has finalised its KZN Public Schools Monitoring Report. The report documents the Commission’s observations of the conditions of learning in selected schools across the various Districts of the Province. The report draws on a sample of selected schools to identify systemic and common challenges. In addition, provide the groundwork for future interventions and public policy shifts that are necessary in the province’s education sector.

Date: 08 August 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) supporting Commissioner Sandra Makoasha will today be inspecting and monitoring the detention facilities in Polokwane Police Station.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

07 August 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission has noted with concern violent incident that took place at Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong, Gauteng Province. The videos on social media show a well-known pastor carrying two pangas accompanied by a man holding a riffle in an altercation at the school.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

07 AUGUST 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (Commission) Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) in partnership with Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Incorporated (CDH) will commemorate Women’s Day by hosting a “Lawyers in Various Spaces Dialogue”.

Date: 07 August 2024

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) Limpopo Provincial Office (LPO) will continue with its hearing on mining activities in Limpopo today from 09h00 to 12h00.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

06 AUGUST 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“SAHRC”) Gauteng Provincial Office is investigating the funding crisis experienced by Non-Profit Organisations (“NPOs”) since the beginning of the 2024/2025 financial year. The crisis has had a devasting impact on the operational running of various NPOs in the province. Several NPOs have been forced to make drastic decisions such as retrenching staff and cutting down on the delivery of essential services.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 06 August 2024

Water is central in leading a life with dignity. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 in section 27(1)(b) entrenches the right to have access to sufficient water.  Municipalities which are designated as Water Services Authorities (WSAs) in terms of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997 play a crucial role in providing water. Unfortunately, some WSAs in the country are severely challenged and struggle to fulfil this important constitutional and statutory obligation of providing water to all households within their jurisdictions.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

05 AUGUST 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) North West Provincial Office will host a joint stakeholder engagement with the South African Police Service, the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Public Works.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

6 August 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (the Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) is undertaking series of activities in the Makana Local Municipality with a particular focus on service delivery concerns. A significant initiative this week involves engaging responsible stakeholders on the persisting challenge of access to water in the Makana Local Municipality. Access to water refers to the ability of individuals and communities to obtain safe, sufficient, and affordable water for drinking, sanitation, and other basic needs. The Constitution provides that the state must make water accessible in a progressively realisable manner.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

5 August 2024

On or about 27 May 2024, the South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) in the Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) was alerted through various media publications to an incident during a protest at Walter Sisulu University. In this incident, nine (9) students were injured by rubber bullets allegedly fired by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and security personnel. Some reports indicated the use of live ammunition to disperse the crowds. These reports alleged that the crowd management methods employed were excessive and fall outside of the prescripts of the empowering legislation.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

31 July 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) has noted with serious concern allegations of racism in Gauteng and the Western Cape. It is disturbing that these incidences continue to occur 30 years into democracy. It is more distressing to see that three of these incidents are alleged to have taken place in schools.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

31 July 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) North West Provincial Office will conduct a capacity-building workshop aimed at capacitating civil organizations and legal advice centers in Lichtenburg. The aim of the capacity-building workshop is to capacitate human rights champions on the Bill of Rights and the three mandates of the Commission.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

30 July 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be conducting information sessions on the Social Harmony National Effort (SHiNE).

Attention: Editors and Reporters

29 July 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission’s Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be holding a stakeholder engagement on the eradication of pit latrines in public schools in Mpumalanga.

The engagement follows reports indicating that there are several schools in the province that still make use of pit latrines, despite having such toilets been declared degrading, unsafe and banned by the Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure of 2013.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

25 July 2024

The Gauteng Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in collaboration with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is hosting a dialogue to unpack the National Investigative Hearing Report into the July 2021 Unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal (July Unrest Report).

Attention: Editors and Reporters

24 July 2024

The Western Cape Provincial Office (WCPO) of the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) will be conducting various monitoring activities in the Garden Route District. According to Section 184(1)(c) of the Constitution, the Commission is tasked with monitoring and assessing the observance of human rights in the Republic. The monitoring and assessment of potential and actual human rights violations allow the Commission to ensure redress and uphold human rights in the Republic.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

22 July 2024

The South African Human Rights Commission's (SAHRC) Eastern Cape Provincial Office (ECPO) will be conducting monitoring activities in the Alfred Nzo and Joe Gqabi District Municipalities from 22 - 26 July 2024. The ECPO has received complaints in these areas relating to potential human rights violations and considering this, the provincial office will conduct monitoring activities to collect additional information for further assessment. A community outreach engagement will be conducted at the request of the community in Mt Fletcher.