SAHRC to hold hearings into KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng unrest
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will be instituting hearings into the recent unrest that swept through KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, with proceedings expected to commence within the next three weeks.
Commissioner Chris Nissen on Wednesday said the process would be initiated in terms of its own Constitutional mandate and in response to numerous complaints received, as well as a request by President Cyril Ramaphosa for the Chapter 9 institution to investigate what he had called an attempted insurrection.
Nissen, who was in KwaZulu-Natal last week, said he had seen first-hand how various communities had been affected by the violence.
"The criminal aspect is the responsibility of the police. But when it comes to establishing and understanding what went wrong as well as issues surrounding social cohesion, that is when we step in," he said.
People affected by the unrest will be encouraged to share their stories and experiences during proceedings, Nissen added.
"We need to look at how we can mend, heal and build social cohesion, while it is also important that anyone who was victim to racist attacks come out so that the [attackers] can face the consequences."
Nissen said the SAHRC was in the process of organising the hearings and that they were scheduled to commence within the next three weeks.
"All Covid-19 protocols will be observed. Testimonies can be given virtually, but also in loco, as the people affected may not all have access to gadgets," he said.
In addition to unpacking the build-up and effects of the riots, Nissen said they would also explore socioeconomic rights and destitution as contributing factors.
“Poverty is no excuse to get involved in violence, but this is something we will have to look at as well."
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
The Aluminium Federation of South Africa (AFSA), is the voice of the South African aluminium industry.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Rittal is a world leading provider of top-quality integrated systems for enclosures, power distribution, climate control, IT infrastructure and...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
