Celebrating 30 years of courage in SA's human rights advocacy

THE South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) held its 30th-anniversary symposium on Wednesday in Sandton, Johannesburg.

- KAREN SINGH

The symposium, themed “30 Years of Courage: Defending Human Rights, Dignity, Justice and Democracy for All”, served as a critical reflection on the commission's three-decade legacy, including its achievements and challenges.

For three decades, the SAHRC has been more than a watchdog, according to Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel.

He stated that it embodies commitment: a conscience, a catalyst, and a companion to South Africa's Constitution, transforming rights from abstract concepts into tangible experiences.

Nel said the SAHRC's investigations into racial discrimination, service denial, and violence in schools have made human dignity tangible.

A genuine human-rights culture is one where dignity, equality, and freedom shape governance and relationships, he said.

Since its inception, Nel stated that the SAHRC has probed violations and held power accountable.

He said the SAHRC has amplified unheard voices, including farm workers in wage disputes, victims of xenophobia, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Its investigative report on the July 2021 unrest stands as a landmark in truth-telling, documenting how racialised violence and governance failures undermined public trust and offered reforms to prevent recurrence.

"These cases are not statistics; they are stories of courage from a com-

mission that dared to listen and act,” said Nel.

In the Life Esidimeni tragedy, it exposed systemic neglect in mental health care and continues to monitor the implementation of its recommendations. “During the Covid-19 lockdown, it documented abuses by law enforcement, ensuring that emergency powers did not eclipse human rights.”