SAHRC findings reveal everyday struggles

HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER STRESS

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NATIONAL Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) around the world share a broadly similar mandate, even though they operate in different legal and political contexts. Their common purpose is to promote, protect and monitor human rights within their respective countries.

The human rights landscape in South Africa came into sharp focus last September when South Africa’s NHRI, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), released four major reports. These reports detailed the everyday struggles that communities continue to face despite the country being under democratic rule for over 30 years. The findings offer a timely and sobering reminder of the pressures confronting ordinary people. These challenges range from access to water and healthcare to the state of schools, housing and basic services.

The State of Human Rights Report for 2024-25 highlights the significant impact these issues have on communities. In the period under review, the SAHRC finalised 7 516 complaints. This figure reflects both the scale of rights violations and the public's reliance on the Commission to intervene when systems fail. The majority of complaints related to economic and social rights, including healthcare, food, water and social security.