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South African Human Rights Commission

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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) was inaugurated in October 1995 as an independent chapter nine institution. It draws its mandate from the South African Constitution by way of the Human Rights Commission Act of 1994.[1]

South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)
National Institution overview
FormedOctober 2, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-10-02)
TypeChapter nine institution
JurisdictionSouth Africa
Headquarters27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein
Employees160
Annual budgetR204 608 000
National Institution executives
Parent National InstitutionNone (Independent)
Key documents
  • Constitution s.184
  • Human Rights Commission Act (Act 54 of 1994)
Websitewww.sahrc.org.za
Map
Map

Commissioners

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A seven-year term is given to appointees.

2009/2010

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Seven commissioners were appointed for a seven-year term in 2009/2010, namely Adv Lawrence Mushwana, Dr Pregaluxmi Govender, Ms Lindiwe Mokate, Adv Bokankatla Malatji, Adv Loyiso Mpumlwana, Ms Janet Love (part-time) and Dr Danfred Titus (part-time). Mushwana, who was previously the Public Protector, was elected Chairperson and Govender was elected Deputy Chairperson in October 2009.[2][3][4] In July 2010, the National Assembly's justice committee decided unanimously that Mpumlwana's failure to disclose a civil judgement against him during the nomination process meant that he was not fit and proper to serve on the SAHRC.[5]

In February 2014, Advocate Mohamed Shafie Ameermia was appointed commissioner focusing on housing and access to justice.[3]

2017

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For the seven-year term in 2017, Bongani Christopher Majola was appointed Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, with Fatima Chohan the Deputy Chairperson. The full-time commissioners were Adv Bokankatla Joseph Malatji, Philile Ntuli, Adv Andre Hurtley Gaum, Matlhodi Angelina (Angie) Makwetla. The part-time commissioners were Adv Jonas Ben Sibanyoni and Christoffel Nissen.[6]

Criticism and controversies

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The commission has been involved in a number of controversies ranging from accusations of racial double standards,[7] promoting racist practices,[8] political bias,[8][9] to hosting a toxic work culture.[8][9][10]

Accusations of racial double standards

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The trade union Solidarity has criticised the commission for what it claims is racial bias and prejudice. A comparative study revealed that the SAHRC is much more likely to self-initiate investigation where the perpetrator is white, and that it is more lenient in its punishment of black perpetrators.[7][11]

Complaints were laid at the SAHRC against controversial politician Julius Malema regarding several statements he had made. Malema had said "kill the Boer" (Boer meaning white South African/Afrikaner), that he "was not calling for the slaughter of whites, yet" and had made racist remarks against Indian South Africans, accusing them of exploiting black people. In March 2019 the SAHRC stated that Malema's comments were not found to be hate-speech, claiming to have found no basis in law for Malema's comments to be ruled as hate speech.[12] This was despite Malema being found guilty in 2011 by the Johannesburg High Court of hate speech for chanting "Shoot the Boer".[13]

SAHRC commissioners admit that the Commission is biased in favour of black people. Dr. Shanelle Van Der Berg of the SAHRC justified the SAHRC's ruling on Malema by stating that the council applies different thresholds of what constitutes hate speech depending on the race of the alleged perpetrator, due to the nation's history.[14] Priscilla Jana, a commissioner responsible for race and equity issues, has stated that the SAHRC is "purposefully lenient to black offenders in incidents concerning racial utterances made to white victims because of the historical context".[15]

In July 2023, the Johannesburg High Court set aside the SAHRC ruling that Julius Malema's utterances at a 2016 gathering were not hate speech.[16]

Political bias

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See also: 2021 South African unrest

In November 2024 the Daily Maverick reported that the commissions' report into the cause of the July 2021 unrest had been doctored so as to drop any mention of President Jacob Zuma's arrest being connected to the incident.[7] The Daily Maverick's report stated that SAHRC employees working on the report were pressured by the commission's chairperson, Chris Nissen, and the SAHRC Commissioner Philile Ntuli to remove any findings that connected the cause of the riots to Jacob Zuma thereby indicating a notable political bias within the organisation to protect the former president.[7]

The SAHRC CEO, Vusumuzi Mkhize, was placed on precautionary suspension in 2024 for making politically and racially disparaging remarks about the then newly formed Government of National Unity in a hot mic incident.[7][9][10]

References

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  1. ^ "About the SAHRC - Overview". South African Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  2. ^ "SAHRC Elects New Chairperson and Deputy". ngopulse.org. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Office of the Commissioners". sahrc.org.za. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  4. ^ Mataboge, Mmanaledi (9 October 2009). "To err is human, says Mushwana". mg.co.za. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Advocate not fit and proper to serve on HRC". iol.co.za. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  6. ^ "South African Human Rights Commission - Office of the Commissioners". www.sahrc.org.za. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  7. ^ a b c d e Brink, Eugene; Mulder, Connie (2017-04-05). "How the response to black and white racism differs - Solidarity". Politicsweb. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  8. ^ a b c Davis, Rebecca (2024-11-15). "Fear and loathing rife at SA Human Rights Commission". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  9. ^ a b c Westerdale, Jarryd (2024-11-04). "Racial remarks, factions, and GNU bashing: Inside 'toxic' SA Human Right Commission". The Citizen. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  10. ^ a b "Human Rights Commission appears before Parliament's justice committee". SAnews.gov.za. South African Government News Agency. 4 November 2024.
  11. ^ Mulder, Connie (2017-04-10). "Letter to the Editor: Solidarity does have an axe to grind". www.dailymaverick.co.za. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  12. ^ "SAHRC finds Malema comments referred to commission not hate speech". News24. 27 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Malema guilty of hate speech". TimesLIVE.
  14. ^ "The SAHRC Joke | South Africa (2019)". YouTube. 27 March 2019.
  15. ^ "My 'combi-court' rant wasn't racist, Mazibuko tells SAHRC". The Citizen. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  16. ^ Kgosana, Rorisang. "Court sets aside SAHRC decision that exonerated Malema of hate speech". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
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