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15th November 2017

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The SAHRC NC Provincial Office will be hosting a media networking session on 23 November 2017 in Upington.
The purpose of the of the media briefing session is to share advocacy and legal activities conducted thus far and future plans of the Commission during the current financial year. Furthermore, the engagement will also discuss the role of the media in building a culture of human rights, and establish working relations for possible future collaborations and human rights campaigns.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

14 November 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission’s Eastern Cape Provincial Office has been inundated with complaints relating to a whole range of issues affecting the delivery of quality basic education in the province. To this end, the Eastern Cape Commission’s office will be hosting a Provincial Indaba on Education with a particular focus on School Infrastructure.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday 13 November 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) will host a National Investigative Hearing on the Status of Mental Health Care in South Africa, on Tuesday, 14 November 2017 until Wednesday, 15 November 2017 at the SAHRC Head Office in Johannesburg. In handing down his report into the Esidimeni debacle, the Health Ombud, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, recommended that the Commission be requested to undertake, nationally, a systematic and systemic review of human rights compliance and possible violations nationally related to mental health in South Africa. The National Investigative Hearing (the Hearing) is therefore a direct response to that recommendation and aims at looking at the national picture on mental health care.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

13th November 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) will convene a two day National Investigative Hearing on the Status of Mental Health Care in South Africa from Tuesday, the 14th November 2017 until Wednesday the 15th November 2017 at the SAHRC Head Office in Johannesburg.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

13 November 2017

The Mpumalanga Commission’s office will be hosting a stakeholder engagement with traditional leaders on “Human Rights and Dignity.” This is a follow-up engagement on the resolution taken during the stakeholder engagement held on 29 September 2016. The engagement was based on the systematic complaints on violation of human dignity received by the office during the 2015/16 financial year.  It was resolved that the Commission should provide workshops to inter alia community based institutions on human rights as enshrined in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Monday 13 November 2017

In February 2014 the South African Human Rights Commission launched its Report on the Right to Access Sufficient Water and Decent Sanitation in South Africa and dedicated this report to 6 year old Michael Komape, who in 2014 fell into a pit toilet at his school and died tragically. The Commission’s report reiterated Government’s constitutional obligation to co-operate across all spheres and departments to protect and advance human rights, recognising that rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent.
09 November 2017

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

The SAHRC is conducting a media and press stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening working relations with the media, as well as enhancing the media’s understanding of the SAHRC’s work.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday 7 November 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission or SAHRC) is particularly worried about the rate at which children are being abused in South Africa. The Commission is particularly concerned by recent reports of the alleged dissemination of semi-nude photos of a 14 year old minor by Emfuleni Mayor Simon Mofokeng. This and the alleged pre-existing sexual nature of the relationship he had with the girl child is construed as sexual grooming, which is a criminal offence as stated in Section 18 of the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act, a violation of the child’s right not to be abused as stated in section 28 of the Constitution as well as her right to privacy. These constitutional rights are also protected within international and regional treaties, which South Africa has signed and ratified.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

02 November 2017

On 07 – 09 November 2017, the South African Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”) in collaboration with Public Protector South Africa (PPSA), Mpumalanga provincial offices, will host public outreach clinics in three areas of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday 31 October 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is concerned over reports that violence, as well as incidents of disruption and intimidation have erupted at several university campuses amidst student protests taking place around the country.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

30 October 2017

In February 2017, the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) received a complaint from the African Diaspora Forum (ADF) in which they alleged that the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Herman Mashaba had made comments that were xenophobic and had the propensity to fuel xenophobic attacks.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Friday, 27 October 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission), pays close attention to crime and the impact it has on the rights of ordinary people in South Africa. The Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, released the crime statistics in Parliament on Tuesday, the 24th October 2017. The Commission is cautiously relieved that crime has dropped by 1.8% overall, however remains concerned that crime levels remain comparatively high with increases in serious crime categories such as murder (up by 1.8%), aggravated robbery  (up by 6.4%), car hijackings (up by 14.5%) and cash-in-transit heists (up by 10.9%).

Attention: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 23 October 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission) has noted, with great concern, the raid, arrest and detention of human rights defenders who were holding a meeting on 17th October 2017 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Commission understands that at the time of their arrest, these individuals were meeting to explore the possibility of mounting legal challenges to the government’s ban on drop-in centres serving key populations at risk of HIV, as well as the ban on water-based lubricants, an essential HIV prevention tool. These human rights defenders have since been accused of promoting homosexuality, leading to their arrest and detention for merely attempting to assist others in the realisation of fundamental human rights.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

23 October 2017

The SAHRC’s Gauteng provincial office will be hosting a provincial indaba on access to housing for migrants in Gauteng cities. The purpose of the indaba is to create a platform for actors from various sectors to discuss and provide a structured response to the issue of access to housing for migrants. It is hoped that a multi-sectorial approach to the issue will accelerate the progressive realisation of the right to adequate housing.
Attention: Editors and Reporters

22 October 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will conduct an outreach clinic/ roadshow in the uMhlathuze Local Municipality from 23 – 27 October 2017. The following areas will be visited viz. Mzingazi, Nseleni, Esikhawini, Ngwelezane and Dlangezwa (Vulindlela).  
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 20 October 2017

African Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 21 October annually in commemoration of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (the “African Charter”), which came into force on that day in 1985.  

Event: Africa Human Rights Day Venue:  SAHRC Training Centre, Forum 3, Braampark, 33 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein
Date:    Friday, 20 October 2017
Time:    09:45-13:30

R.S.V.P: Tshepo Legodi: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel: 011 492 1103
Attention: Editors and Reporters

Thursday, 19 October 2017

Like the rest of the nation, the South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or Commission) is shocked by recent reports of sexual violence directed against children, in schools across South Africa. One of these reports is of particular concern as it indicates that 87 children were molested, sexually harassed or otherwise sexually assaulted by a 57 year old school patroller at AB Xuma Primary School in Soweto. The Commission is deeply concerned that this abuse occurred over such a protracted period, that so many children report that they were sexually abused during this time and that the school authorities were either not aware of or ignored the then ongoing abuse. A further report has emerged over the past weekend, of a 17 year old learner who had been raped by a patroller in a separate incident in Pretoria. The Gauteng Department of Education has indicated that at least five separate incidents are under investigation, in Gauteng Province alone.   

Attention: Editors and Reporters

19 October 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission’s Eastern Cape Provincial Office will be hosting a media networking session.

Attention: Editors and Reporters

18 October 2017

The South African Human Rights Commission’s Mpumalanga Provincial Office will be commemorating International Day for the Elderly at Mashishing, Thaba Chweu Local Municipality. The commemoration is hosted under the theme: “Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participations of Older Persons in Society.”

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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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