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Annual Trends’ Analysis Report

2015/2016 Financial Year

3Annual Trends Analysis Report2015/2016 Financial Year

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1. List of acronyms........................................................................................... 4 2. Executive summary ..................................................................................... 5 3. Introduction .................................................................................................. 7 4. Background ................................................................................................. 9 5. Profileofcomplaints .................................................................................. 11

5.1. Nationaloverview:year-on-yearcomparisonofcaseload ................ 11 5.2. Cumulativedashboards .................................................................... 11 5.3. Totalcomplaintsperfinancialyear ................................................... 12 5.4. Totalcomplaintsperprovincialofficeperfinancialyear ................... 15

6. Acceptedversusrejectedcomplaints ........................................................ 17 6.1. Acceptedcomplaints ........................................................................ 18

6.1.1. Totalnumberofacceptedcomplaintsperfinancialyear perprovincialoffice............................................................. 18

6.2. Rejectedcomplaints ......................................................................... 20 6.2.1. Totalnumberofrejectedcomplaintsperfinancialyear perprovincialoffice............................................................. 20

7. Natureofrights .......................................................................................... 23 7.1. Rightsviolations ............................................................................... 23 7.2. Top5RightsViolations ..................................................................... 24

7.2.1. Equality ............................................................................... 25 7.2.1.1. Equalitycomplaintsreceivedperfinancial year .................................................................. 27 7.2.1.2. Equalitycomplaintsperprovincialoffice .......... 28 7.2.1.3. Equalitycomplaintsperspecificground ........... 31 7.2.1.4. Equality–race ................................................. 31

7.2.2. Labourrelations .................................................................. 33 7.2.3. Healthcare,foodwaterandsocialsecurity ........................ 35 7.2.4. Just administrative action ................................................... 39 7.2.5. Arrested,detainedandaccusedpersons ........................... 41

8. Bottom5RightsViolations ......................................................................... 44 8.1. Rightsviolationsperfinancialyear ................................................... 44

9. Enquiries .................................................................................................... 45 10. Litigation .................................................................................................... 46

10.1.Litigationatheadoffice .................................................................... 46 10.2.Litigationatprovincialoffices ........................................................... 49

11. ComplaintsresolvedthroughAlternativeDisputeResolution(ADR) ......... 52 12. Appeals ...................................................................................................... 53

12.1.Upheldversusdismissed ................................................................. 54 13. Investigativereports .................................................................................. 55 14. Hearings .................................................................................................... 63 15. Conclusion ................................................................................................. 70

Annexure 1 .......................................................................................................... 72

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1. LIST OF ACRONYMS

AdvoComm AdvocacyandCommunicationsUnitoftheSouthAfricanHumanRightsCommission

ADR AlternativeDisputeResolutionCCMA CommissionforConciliation,MediationandArbitrationCHP ComplaintsHandlingProceduresCRLR CommissionforRestitutionofLandRightsDSD DepartmentofSocialDevelopmentDOJCD DepartmentofJusticeandConstitutionalDevelopmentJICS JudicialInspectorateforCorrectionalServicesLegalAidSA LegalAidSouthAfricaLSU LegalServicesUnitoftheSouthAfricanHumanRightsCommissionPAIA PromotionofAccesstoInformationAct,(No.2of2000)PAJA PromotionofAdministrativeJusticeAct,(No.3of2000)PEPUDA PromotionofEqualityandEliminationofDiscriminationAct,(No.1of2000)SAHRC SouthAfricanHumanRightsCommissionSAHRCACT SouthAfricanHumanRightsCommissionAct(No.40of2013)SAPS SouthAfricanPoliceServiceStatsSA StatisticsSouthAfrica


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2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TheSouthAfricanHumanRightsCommission(theCommission)presentsthisannualtrends’analysisreport for the 2015/2016 financial year. The annual trends’ analysis report provides statistical andsubstantive analyses on a number of activities undertaken by the Legal Service Unit (LSU) of theCommission,bothatitsheadofficeandinallnineofitsprovincialofficesduringtheyearunderreview.Theindicatorsinthisannualtrends’analysisreporthavebeenderivedfromthedatacollectedfromtheenquiriesandcomplaintsintoallegedhumanrights’violationslodgedwiththeprovincialofficesoftheCommission.

Thereportdrawsacomparisonbetweenvariousindicatorsoverthepastthreefinancialyears,namelythe2012/2013,2013/2014and2014/2015financialyears,andthoseofthe2015/2016financialyear.ThecomparativeanalysesoftheindicatorsenabletheCommissiontoimproveoperationalefficienciesinrespondingtoreportedviolationsofrights,toidentifytrendsinreportedviolations,informthenatureof interventions required for thepromotionof theprotectionof rightsand toserveasa resource forreferencebyotherstakeholders.

“The comparative analyses of the indicators enable the Commission to improve operational efficiencies in responding to reported violations

of rights, to identify trends in reported violations, inform the nature of interventions required for the promotion of the protection of rights and

to serve as a resource for reference by other stakeholders.”

Thereportalsoprovidesananalysisontherights formingthesubjectofcomplaintsreceivedbytheCommissionandtheprevalenceofsuchcomplaintsregisteredateachoftheCommission’sprovincialoffices.Theanalysesrevealthat,overthelastfourfinancialyears,amajorityofthecomplaintslodgedwiththeCommissionrelatedtotheallegedviolationoftherightstoequality,labourrelations,healthcareservices,water,foodandsocialsecurity,justadministrativeactionandarrested,detainedandaccusedpersons.TheCommissionhastermedthesecomplaintsthe“Top5RightsViolations”.

Alleged infringementsof the right toequalitycomprisedanoverwhelmingmajorityof thecomplaintsreceivedbytheCommission.Allegeddiscriminationonthebasisofrace,disabilityandethnicorsocialorigin constitute themost commongroundsof unfair discrimination. For example, in the2015/2016financialyear,theCommissionreceivedatotalof749equalityrelatedcomplaints,505ofwhichwereonthebasisofrace.Allegationsofdiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityandethnicandsocialoriginrespectivelycomprisedthesecondandthirdcommongroundsofunfairdiscrimination.TheCommission’sstatisticsdemonstratethatdespitetheestablishmentoftheConstitutionoftheRepublicofSouthAfrica,1996(theConstitution)andtheplethoratheanti-racismlaws,racismremainsendemicinSouthAfrica.

During the 2015/2016 financial year, the Commission celebrated 20 years of its existence. It usedthisopportunitytoreflectontheconsiderableachievementstowardtherealisationandbuildingofthesocietyenvisagedintheConstitutionandthechallengesencounteredalongtheway.TheCommissionnoted,however,thatforsomecommunitiesthetransformationalimperativesoftheConstitutionremainadistantreality.

InMarch2016,theCommissionhostedatwo-dayconferencetoreflectonitsservicetohumanrightsandSouthAfrica’sconstitutionaldemocracysinceitsestablishmentin1995,aswellastoconsidertheobstaclesitencounteredinitsquesttopromote,protectandmonitorhumanrightsinthecountry.

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Forthethematicsegmentoftheconference,theCommissionchosetofocusonthescourgeofracisminSouthAfrica.TherationaleforthechoiceofthethemewastriggeredbythespikeinracismrelatedcomplaintslodgedwiththeCommission,particularlyinrelationtoallegationsofracismperpetuatedonsocialmedia.

Inconsideringcomplaintsregardingallegedviolationsofsocio-economicrights,accesstohealthcareservices, food,sufficientwaterandsocialsecurityhaveconsistently formedpartof theTop5RightsViolations.Inthe2015/2016financialyear,thesecomplaintsamountedto428ofthosereceivedbytheCommission.Inrespectofothersocio-economicrights,theCommissionreceived290housingrelatedcomplaintsand276educationrelatedones.ThisisnotsurprisinginlightofSouthAfrica’shighlyunequalsociety.TheConstitutionalCourthasrepeatedlypronouncedonthedisparitiesthatexistinoursociety,largelyaconsequenceofourhistoryshapedbyinstitutionaliseddiscriminationandsystemicdeprivation.InadditionmonitoringbodieshaveidentifiedSouthAfricaasoneofthemostunequalcountriesintheworld.

In line with its constitutional and legislative mandate to take steps to secure appropriate redresswherehumanrightshavebeenviolated,aswellasits2014–2017StrategicPlantoadoptaholisticapproachtoredressinghumanrights’violations, theCommission instituted litigation,alongsideotherdisputeresolutionmechanisms.Theseincludedconductinginvestigationswithaviewtomakefindingsandrecommendations,usingAlternativeDisputeResolution(ADR)mechanismsandhostingnationalhearingsinvestigatingsystemichumanrights’violations.TheCommissiondealtwith16ofthecomplaintslodgedwithitbywayofADR.

Duringthe2015/2016financialyear,theCommissionwasinvolvedincivilproceedingsintheGautengandWesternCapeDivisionsoftheHighCourtofSouthAfrica,theSupremeCourtofAppealandtheConstitutionalCourt.TheCommission’sinvolvementinlitigationincludedlitigationintheequalitycourts,defendingadelictualsuit,opposingajudicialreview,promotingtherespectandprotectingofconsumerrightsagainstunlawfulpracticesrelatingtoemolumentattachmentordersandenforcementofsocio-economicrights.

Attheprovincialofficelevel,theCommissionundertookanumberoflitigiousinterventionsinvariouscourtsinSouthAfrica.TherighttoequalityremainstherightmostfrequentlylitigatedbytheCommissionintheEqualityCourts.Mostofthesecasesinvolvetheuseofthe“k-word”andotherderogatorycommentswithracialundertones,suchasuseoftheterms“baboon”or“monkey”.Inthe2015/2016financialyear,31of54matterslitigatedbytheprovincialofficesrelatedtotherighttoequalityandhatespeech.

TheCommissionpublished four InvestigativeReports inwhich itmadeadversefindingsagainst theRespondentsandrecommendedcertainstepstobetakentoredresshumanrights’violations.Theserelatetotheallegedviolationoftheenvironmentalrightintermsofsection24oftheConstitution,theconstitutionalityoftheadministeringofcorporalpunishmentinthehome,discriminationonthebasisofdisability,andaccesstoadequatehousingandlackofpooraccesstobasicmunicipalservices.

TheCommission received 169 appeals against decisionsmade by provincial offices on complaintslodgedwiththeCommission.AnoverwhelmingmajorityofthoseappealswereproceduralinnatureandhavebeendismissedbythechiefoperationsofficeroftheCommission.Ofthe169appeals,onlysevenwereupheld.

TwoNationalHearingswereconvenedtoaddresscomplaintsidentifiedasbeingsystemicinnature:theNationalHearingRelatingtotheHumanRightsSituationofIndigenousPeoplesinSouthAfrica,andtheNationalHearingonUnfairDiscriminationintheWorkplace.


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3. INTRODUCTION

TheCommissionisanindependentinstitution,establishedintermsofsection181oftheConstitutiontosupportconstitutionaldemocracy.Itsmandate,ascontainedinsection184oftheConstitution,isto:

• promoterespectforhumanrightsandacultureofhumanrights;• promotetheprotection,developmentandattainmentofhumanrights;and• monitorandassesstheobservanceofhumanrightsintheRepublic.

The mandate of the Human Rights Commission is to:

• promote respect for human rights and a culture of human rights;

• promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights; and

• monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.

Intermsofsection184(2)oftheConstitution,theCommissionisempoweredtoinvestigateandreportontheobservanceofhumanrights;totakestepsandsecureappropriateredresswherehumanrightshavebeenviolated;toresearch;andtoeducate.TheadditionalpowersandfunctionsareprescribedbytheSouthAfricanHumanRightsCommissionAct,(No.40of2013)(theSAHRCAct).Additionally,thePromotionofEqualityandPreventionofUnfairDiscriminationAct,(No.1of2000)(PEPUDA),providesforthefunctionsandpowersof theCommissionincludingtheauthorityto institute legalproceedingsunderPEPUDA.1

“In terms of section 184(2) of the Constitution, the Commission is empowered to investigate and report on the observance of human rights; to take steps and secure appropriate redress where human

rights have been violated; to research; and to educate.”

TheCommissionhasanationalfootprintthroughitsprovincialofficesinthenineprovincesofSouthAfrica.Eachofficeisstaffedbyamanagerofaprovincialoffice(provincialmanager),seniorlegalofficer(s),legalofficer(s),advocacyofficer(s),fieldworker(s)andadministrativestaff.Theprovincialofficesreceivecomplaints fromwalk-in complainants, telephonically, electronically and from communities they visitthroughvariousoutreachandadvocacyinitiatives.

The manner in which the Commission handles the complaints is governed by the Commission’sComplaintsHandlingProcedures(theCHP),2whichmakesprovisionfortheCommissionto:

a) acceptacomplaintifitmakesafindingthatthecomplaintconstitutesaprima facieviolationofafundamentalright;3

1 Section20(1)(f)ofPEPUDA.2 ComplaintsHandlingProceduresoftheSouthAfricanHumanRightsCommissionGovernmentGazetteNo.34963of27

January2012;accessibleonwww.sahrc.org.za.3 Inaccordancewitharticle12(11)oftheComplaintsHandlingProcedures.

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b) rejectacomplaint,4

c) directly or indirectly refer a complaint that does not fall within the jurisdiction of theCommission, or that could be dealt with more effectively or expeditiously by anotherorganisation, institution, statutory body or institution created by theConstitution or anyapplicablelegislation;5 and

d) referacomplainttotheEqualityCourtintermsofPEPUDA.6TheCommissionmayassistthecomplainantininstitutingproceedingsinthiscourtincompliancewithPEPUDAandtheapplicableregulations.

Thisfourtheditionoftheannualtrends’analysisreportprovidesanoverviewofanumberofactivitiesoftheLSUoftheCommissionatbothitsheadofficeandprovincialofficesduringthe2015/2016financialyear.The indicators in this reporthavebeenderived fromthedatacollected fromtheenquiriesandcomplaintsthatwerelodgedwiththeprovincialofficesoftheCommission.Tothisend,thereportalsodrawsacomparisonbetweentheindicatorsofthepastthreefinancialyearsandthoseofthe2015/2016financialyear.

ThereportprovidesbackgroundinformationandthecontextascontainedintheCommission’sStrategicPlan for the 2014 – 2017 cycle.An overviewof the complaints received by theCommission in the2015/2016financialyearandhowthoseweredealtwithbytheCommissionfollows.Theoverviewisstructuredtoinclude:

a) thetotalnumberofcomplaintsreceivedbytheCommissionallegingrights’violations;b) thenumberofcomplaintsreceivedbyeachoftheprovincialoffices;c) thebreakdownofcomplaints thatwereacceptedreferred, rejectedand those thatwere

activewhenthe2015/2016financialyearcommenced;d) thetop5rightsformingthesubjectofthemajorityofcomplaintsreceivedbytheCommission,

includingmattersnotacceptedby theCommission.Theseare referred toas theTop5RightsViolations.Thisisfollowedbyabreakdownofbasisorthegroundsuponwhichtherights’violationsallegedlyoccurred;and

e) theTop5RightsViolationsthatwereacceptedbytheCommissionduringthe2015/2016financialyear.

The annual trends’ analysis report also provides information about the enquiries directed to theCommissionandananalysisofthem.Themodeofresolutionofmatterspercategoryofresolutionsuchaslitigation,ADR,issuingofreportbasedfindings,hearingsandappealsarethendetailed,followedbyconcludingremarks.

4 Intermsofarticle4(2)oftheComplaintsHandlingProcedureswhichstates,inpart,that[T]heCommissionmayrejectanycomplaint,which–(a) isbasedonhearsay,rumourorreportsdisseminatedthroughthemedia;(b) iscouchedinlanguagethatisabusive,insulting,rudeordisparaging;(c) isthesubjectofadisputebeforeacourtoflaw,oflaw,tribunal,anystatutorybody,anybodywithinternaldispute

resolutionmechanisms, or settled between the parties, or inwhich there is a judgment on the issues in thecomplaintorfindingofsuchcourtoflaw,tribunal,statutorybodyorotherbody;

(d) isananonymouscomplaint,subjecttotheprovisionsofarticle8oftheseProcedures;(e) is viewed to be frivolous, misconceived, unwarranted, incomprehensible, and manifestly incompatible with

fundamentalrightsordoesnotcomplywiththeprovisionsoftheActandtheseProcedures;and(f) islodgedaftertheexpiryofaperiodofthreeyearsfromthedateuponwhichanallegedviolationofafundamental

rightoccurred,subjecttotheprovisionsofarticle11oftheseProcedures.5 Articles12(8)and12(9)oftheComplaintsHandlingProcedures.6 Article12(10)oftheComplaintsHandlingProcedures.


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4. BACKGROUND

The Commission is an “A” rated National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) which adheres to theParisPrinciples7.TheParisPrinciplesservetoguidethenatureandfunctioningofanNHRIandalsoemphasisetheindependentnatureofNHRIs.Theystate,amongotherthingsthatnationalhumanrightsinstitutionsshould:

a) monitoranysituationofviolationofhumanrights;b) beabletoadvisethegovernment,Parliamentandanyothercompetentbodyonspecific

violations;c) educateandinformonissuesofhumanrights;andd) beabletousetheirquasi-judicialpowerswheretheseexist.

TheCommissionundertookseveralstrategicplanningsessions toconductasituationalassessmentthroughaPESTEL8,SWOT9andstrategicanalysesintermsofwhich:

a) TheCommissioncommitted itself toexplore thepossibilityofexpanding itspartnershipwith institutions supporting democracy, civil society, academic institutions and otherstakeholderstomitigatethefundingchallenges;

b) TheCommissiondeemedthat,giventhelimitedresourcesavailable,itmaybeusefultoidentifyandfocusonspecificareasofhumanrightsprotection,monitoringandpromotionthat are not covered by the mandates of any other existing Constitutional bodies.Partnershipswithinstitutionssupportingdemocracywouldensuregreaterstrategicfocusandprioritisationofrights;and

c) TheCommissionnotedthatitrealisestheincreasingneedforanintegratedapproachindeliveringonitsmandatetomonitor,protectandpromotehumanrights,andtoconsideritsmandateasavaluechain,witheachcomponentequallycontributingtoahumanrightsculture.

This report seeks to demonstrate how the Commission achieved these objectives by providing anoverviewofworkundertakentoachieveitspromotionandprotectionmandate.

Duringthe2015/2016financialyear,theCommissioncontinuedtoensurethatcomplaintswereresolvedexpeditiously,asprescribedinitsCHP,sothatefficiencyinitsCHPwasimproved,anddelaysintheresolutionofandresponsetocomplaintswasovercome.Inaddition,theCommissioncontinuedtotrainandempoweritsstaffintheLSUatalllevels,inordertoenhancetheircapacity.

“During the 2015/2016 financial year, the Commission continued to ensure that complaints were resolved expeditiously, as prescribed in

its CHP, so that efficiency in its CHP was improved, and delays in the resolution of and response to complaints was overcome.”

7 ParisPrinciples,adoptedbytheUNGeneralAssemblyon20December1993,resolutionA/RES/48/134.8 Aframeworkortoolusedtoanalyseandmonitorthemacro-environmental(externalenvironment)factorsthathavean

impactonanorganisation.Theresultofthisisusedtoidentifythreatsandweaknesses,whichareusedinaSWOTanalysis.9 Astudyundertakenbyanorganisationtoidentifyitsinternalstrengthsandweaknesses,aswellasitsexternalopportunities

andthreats.

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Byandlarge,overthefourfinancialyearsunderreview10,theCommissionhasmadegoodprogressinachievingthetargetsitsetinthe2014–2017StrategicPlanoftheCommission.Theseinclude:

a) ExceedingthetargetedfinalisationrateofallcomplaintslodgedwiththeCommission;11

b) Trackingrights’violationsthatformthesubjectofthemajorityofcomplaintsthatarelodgedwith it.12Thishasenabled theCommission to identifyways to improve theefficiencyofhandlingthosepersistingrights’violationsandtoadoptappropriatemeasurestoaddressthese;

c) Increasinglyusethecourtstodetermineandcreateprecedentinmattersinvolvinghumanrights.ThenumberoflitigiousinterventionsbytheCommissionhasaccordinglyincreasedduringthefinancialyearsunderreview.13

10 2012/13,2013/14,2014/15and2015/16financialyears.11 Seetable1.1forthefinalisationrateofcomplaintsoverthefinancialyearsunderreview.12 Seegraph9forTop5RightsViolationsoverthefinancialyearsunderreview.13 Seechapter11 (Litigation) foradiscussionon theCommission’s litigious interventionsover thefinancialyearsunder

review.


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INTS5. PROFILE OF COMPLAINTS

5.1 NATIONAL OVERVIEW: YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON OF CASELOAD

Caseload (complaints & enquiries)Finalised

(% of total)Carried over/active

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2011-2012 11 363 9 851 87% 1 512 13%2012-2013 4 947 3 972 8 919 -22% 7 047 79% 1 872 21%2013-2014 4 980 4 237 9 217 3% 8 550 93% 667 7%2014-2015 3 685 4 494 8 179 -13% 7 337 90% 842 10%2015-2016 4 613 4 625 9 238 13% 8 200 89% 1 038 11%

Table1:Year-on-yearcomparisonofcaseload

The tableabove ismadeupof thestatistical information from the2011/12period to the2015/2016period.14Statisticalinformationforthe2011/2012financialyearwasextractedfromthatyear’sAnnualReportinordertocalculatepercentagechangefromyeartoyear. Table1includesthetotalnumberofcomplaintsrecordedattheendofeachfinancialyearaswellasonceoffenquiries.Thetwototalsareaddedtogethertoprovideatotalofthecaseloadforeachofthefinancialyearsunder review.Thepercentagedifference in the caseload for each financial year is calculatedandillustratedastheyear-on-yearchange.Thetotalnumberoffinalisedcomplaints,includingonceoffenquiries,areextractedfromthecaseloadinordertocalculatethepercentageoffinalisedcomplaintsinrelationtotheAnnualPerformancePlantargetset.Thetargettofinaliseallcomplaintsreceivedineachfinancialyearhasbeenconsistentlysetat85%,measuringthenumberofcomplaintsfinalisedthroughthevariousmechanismsavailabletotheCommissionasspecifiedinitsCHP.

5.2 CUMULATIVE DASHBOARDS

STATUS as @ MONTH END 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016Registration 7 0 0 0Assessment 572 122 93 97Unclear-steeringcommitteeconsideration

1 5 4 4

Allocate 7 0 5 2Investigate 1 219 449 661 829Litigation-equality 20 42 32 34Litigation-other 1 2 1 0Negotiation/conciliation/mediation

7 9 2 2

Hearing 1 0 1 1Report 20 26 24 45Finalsignoff 17 12 19 24Monitoringreportrecommendation 10 6 7 1

14 Thestatisticalinformationforthe2011/2012financialyearwasextractedfromtheAnnualReportcompiledattheendofthesaidfinancialyear.

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INTS STATUS as @ MONTH END 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Monitoringdirectreferral(report/info.required)

62 45 33 19

Rejected 680 685 398 461Indirectreferral 1 228 1 843 1 122 1 251Directreferral 168 419 512 802Resolved 267 470 363 515Closed 660 845 408 526Grandtotals 4 947 4 980 3 685 4 613Transfer 157 258 52 50Totalcomplaints 5 104 5 238 3 737 4 663Enquiriesfinalised 3 972 4 237 4 494 4 625Percentagefinalisationofcases(Target85%)

79% 93% 90% 89%

Table2:CumulativeDashboardsperfinancialyearunderreview

TheCumulativeDashboardprovidesasnapshotofstatistical informationoncomplaints receivedbytheCommissionnationallyattheendofeachofthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.Thedashboardprovidesthestatusofcomplaintsreceivedineachfinancialyearandthetargetpercentagesachievedattheendofeachfinancialyear.ThatnumberincludesenquiriesmadetotheCommission.Thefinalisedcomplaintsareshadedinyellowasopposedtotheactivecomplaintswhichareshadedinwhite.Thetotal number of complaints includes those that have been transferred to other provincial offices forfurtherprocessingandhandling.Forthepurposesofpercentagecalculations,transferredcomplaintsarenotincludedinthecalculationandthesearelistedunderthepinkheaderinthetableabove.

5.3 TOTAL COMPLAINTS PER FINANCIAL YEAR

AshasbeenhighlightedabovetheCommission’scomplainthandlingisdealtwithbyitsprovincialoffices.Complaintinformationfromeachoftheprovincialofficesiscollatedatnationallevel,onamonthlybasis,andverifiedthroughtheCommission’scasemanagementsystem.

Graph1:Complaintsreceivedperfinancialyear


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INTSForthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,theCommissionreceivedover5000complaintsonlyduring

2012/13and2013/14.Thehighestforanyyearwas5238complaints,whichwasrecordedattheendofthe2013/2014financialyear.

Attheendofthe2014/2015financialyearasignificantdecreaseinthenumberofcomplaintsreceivedwasdiscernible.Thedecreasecouldbeattributedtothefactthatduringthe2013/2014financialyear,theCommissionembarkedonaprocessoffinalisingbackloggedcomplaintsthathadnotbeenfinalisedfor a number of years. The backlog project ensured that the number of complaints carried over to2014/2015wasreducedsignificantly,resultingintherelativelylownumberofcomplaintsattheendofthe2014/2015financialyear.

The4663complaintsreceivedat theendof the2015/2016financialyear increasedfromthe3737recorded at the end of the 2014/2015 financial year. In December 2015 and January 2016, theCommission receivedahighnumber of equality related complaints that hadbeen fuelledbymediareports of racial utterances on socialmedia, togetherwith complaints relating to violations of otherrightsthatwerenotrelatedtoanyutterancesmadeonsocialmedia.Accordingly,theincreaseinthenumberofcomplaintsthatwererecordedattheendofthe2015/2016financialyearcouldnotdirectlybeattributedonlytoutterancesmadeonsocialmedia.Otherfactorsthatcontributedtothehighnumberofcomplaintsinthe2015/2016financialyearincluded,butwerenotlimitedto,complaintsthatwerecarriedoverfromthepreviousfinancialyears.

“The 4 663 complaints received at the end of the 2015/2016 financial year increased from the 3 737 recorded at the end of the

2014/2015 financial year.”

Asevidentfromthegraph1above,thenumberofcomplaintsthathavebeencarriedoverintosubsequentfinancialyearshaveincreasedsteadilyfromthelowof667complaintsinthe2013/2014financialyearto1038inthe2014/2015financialyear.Theincreaseispartlyattributabletothosecomplaintsthatwerenotfinalisedinprecedingfinancialyears,duetohumancapacityconstraintsandalackofengagementbyrespondents.Thesearepartofthenextfinancialyear’sdata.

On average, theCommission finalised 3 450 complaints per financial year. The highest number ofcomplaintsfinalisedbytheCommissionwasduring2013/2014whenatotalof4313complaintswasfinalised.Theaveragenumberof active complaintsat theendof each financial year is 1104.TheCommission recorded thehighestnumberofactivecomplaintsat theendof2012/2013witha totalnumberof1870complaints.

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Graph2:Percentageoffinalisedandactivecomplaints

Thepercentagesdepictedinthegraphabovearecalculatedfromthenumberofcomplaintsreceived,excludingenquiriesandcomplaintsthathavebeentransferredtootherprovincialoffices.Whencalculatingthetargetpercentageoftheentireworkloadforafinancialyear,enquiresareincludedastheyformpartoftheworkoftheLSUatprovincialoffices.Asshownabove,morethan60%ofcomplaintsreceivedineachofthefourfinancialperiodsunderreviewwerefinalised.Thehighestpercentageachievedinallthefourfinancialyearswasduring2013/2014,with87%ofcomplaintsreceivedhavingbeenfinalised.OnaveragetheCommissionfinalised76%ofcomplaintsreceived.

Theaveragepercentageofactivecomplaintsat theendofeachfinancialyear in review is24%.Attheendofeachperiod,activecomplaintsthathavenotbeenfinalisedarecarriedovertothefollowingfinancial year and reflected in that year’s figures. If finalised during the subsequent financial year,carriedovercomplaintsarecountedasformingpartofthestatisticsforthatfinancialyear.Thelowestpercentage of complaints carried over into another financial year was recorded at the end of the2013/2014financialyearasshowninthegraphabove.TheCommissionidentifiesmatterswhichhavenotbeenresolvedwithin180daysasabackloggedcomplaintandwhereappropriaterespondstosuchcomplaintsaccordingly.

“The Commission identifies matters which have not been resolved within 180 days as a backlogged complaint and where appropriate

responds to such complaints accordingly.”


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INTS5.4 TOTAL COMPLAINTS PER PROVINCIAL OFFICE PER FINANCIAL YEAR

For thepurposesofcomplainthandling,provincialofficesarecategorisedaccordingto thecaseloadthateachreceives.Theyaredistinguishedbyeitherbeingahigh,mediumandlowcaseloadprovince.Provincial offices that fall under thehigh caseload categoryare those inGautengand theWesternCape.MediumcaseloadofficesaretheKwaZulu-Natal,EasternCapeandFreeStateprovincialoffices.ProvincialofficesthatfallinthelowcaseloadcategoryarethoseofNorthWest,NorthernCape,LimpopoandMpumalanga.

Gauteng and the Western Cape receive high levels of cases. Medium caseload offices are KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State. North West, Northern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga have low caseload levels.

Factorswhich affect the number of complaints the provincial offices receive include the size of theprovince,thepopulationoftheprovince,theaccessibilityoftheprovincialofficesandtheextenttowhichthepeople in theprovinceknowabout theCommissionand itswork.The tablebelow illustrates thenumbersofcomplaintsreceivedbytheCommissionperprovincialofficeforeachofthefinancialyearsunderreview.

Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 452 425 450 472Free State 468 460 316 485Gauteng 1 544 1 344 939 1 110KwaZulu-Natal 411 578 520 581Limpopo 255 480 405 417Mpumalanga 373 438 248 280Northern Cape 233 248 160 134North West 420 385 180 514Western Cape 948 880 519 670Totals 5 104 5 238 3 737 4 663

Table3:Totalnumberofcomplaintsperprovincialoffice

Thetableaboveshowsthetotalnumberofcomplaintsthathavebeenrecordedbyprovincialofficesforeachofthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.Thesetotalsincludecomplaintsthathavebeentransferredinternally tootherprovincialoffices.Forpurposesofcalculations, transfersareexcludedtoavoidaninflation of case volume statistics. The Gauteng provincial office consistently receives the highestnumberofcomplaints,followedcloselybytheWesternCapeprovincialofficeandthenKwaZulu-Natal.Thishasalsobeenthecaseintermsofthenumbersrecordedattheendofthe2015/2016financialyear.Onenoticeablechangeinthenumberofcomplaintsrecordedattheendofthe2015/2016financialyear,however,istherelativelyhighincreaseinthenumberofcomplaintsrecordedbytheNorthWestprovincialoffice.During theyear, thisprovincialoffice relocated toamorevisiblearea,whichcouldaccountfortheincreaseinthenumberofcomplaintsregistered.

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INTS The pie chart below illustrates the average percentage distribution of complaints received by the

Commissionperprovincialofficeoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.Thepercentagesarederivedfromthetotalnumberofcomplaintsreceived,showninthetableabove,attheendofeachfinancialyearunderreview.

Graph3:Percentagecomplaintsreceivedperfinancialyear,perprovincialoffice

TherehavebeenthreeofficialcensusessinceSouthAfrica’sfirstdemocraticelectionin1994:in1996,2001,andOctober2011respectively.Thepopulationin1996was40.6million,increasingby10.4%to44.8millionin2001.Thepopulationgrewby15.5%,oralmost7millionpeople,inthespaceof10yearstoreachatotalof51.7millionin2011.TheprovincesofGautengandKwaZulu-Natalaccountfor42%ofSouthAfrica’spopulation.Gauteng,with12.3millionpeople(23,7%ofthenationalpopulation)isthemostpopulatedprovince,while10.3million(19.8%)peopleliveinKwaZulu-Natal.TheEasternCapehas6.56million(12.7%)people,theWesternCape5.82million(11.3%),Limpopo5.4million(10.4%),Mpumalanga4.04million(7.8%),NorthWest3.51million(6.8%),andFreeState2.75million(5.3%).AlthoughtheNorthernCapeisgeographicallythelargestprovince,atalmostathirdofSouthAfrica’slandarea,itisanaridregionandhasthesmallestpopulation,withonly1.15millionpeople,or2.2%ofthetotalpopulation,livingthere.15

The information provided by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) above appears to suggest that theCommissionreceivesitshighestcomplaintvolumesfromthemostdenselypopulatedareasofSouthAfrica.

15 http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/population.htm#.V2ex9k0kqpo#ixzz4C6pGuk3t


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INTS6. ACCEPTED VERSUS REJECTED COMPLAINTS

Thedeterminationofacceptedandrejectedcomplaintsisinformedbythedefinitionsofthetwotermsassetoutinthedefinitions’sectionoftheCommission’sCHP.Rejectedcomplaintsaredescribedasthose complaintswhere therewas no human rights’ violation; the violation took place before 1994;orthematteriscurrentlybeforeanotherlegalforum.Thecomplaintshandlingflowchart(attachedasAnnexure 1), indicates that complaints that are referred, although not rejected complaints, are notinvestigatedbytheCommission.Thelatteraresenttoanotherorganisation,bodyorinstitutionwhichcanmoreeffectivelyandefficientlydealwiththemafteranassessmentofsuchcomplaintshasindicatedthismaybe appropriate based on the facts of the complaint.Referred complaints are thosewheretheCommissiondoesnothavethejurisdictiontodealwiththem.Suchcomplaintsareeitherdirectlyreferred(onlytolegislatedbodies)orindirectlyreferred.16

“Referred complaints are those where the Commission does not have the jurisdiction to deal with them. Such complaints are either

directly referred (only to legislated bodies) or indirectly referred.”

Graph4:Percentageofcomplaintsperrejectedandreferred,acceptedandassessmentstatus

Thegraphaboveillustratesthepercentagedistributionofacceptedandrejectedcomplaints,aswellasthosecomplaints thatarestillat theassessmentstage.Notwithstandingthepercentageofaccepted

16 Inpractical terms, theprovincialmanager is responsible forassessmentandmaymakeanyof the followingfindingsrelatingtocomplaintsreceivedattheirrespectiveprovincialoffices,namely,referraltotheSteeringCommittee,rejection,referral(directorindirect)andacceptance.IninstanceswheretheprovincialmanagermakesafindingthatthecomplaintdoesnotfallwithinthejurisdictionoftheCommission,orcouldbedealtwithmoreeffectivelyorexpeditiouslybyanotherorganisation, institution, statutory bodyor institution createdby theConstitution or anyapplicable legislation, then intermsof article 12(8)(a) of theCommission’sComplaintsHandlingProcedures “the complaint must ... be referred to such appropriate organisation, institution or body ... and the complainant must ... be notified thereof, in writing, and be provided with the contact details of such appropriate organisation, institution or body.” TheComplaints HandlingProceduresdistinguishbetweendirectreferralsandindirectreferrals.Adirectreferralisclassifiedasacomplaintwhichisreferreddirectlytoanotherorganisation,institutionorstatutorybodybecausetheprovincialmanagerhasfoundthatthecomplaintdoesnotfallwithinthejurisdictionoftheCommission,orcouldbedealtwithmoreefficientlyorexpeditiouslybyanotherorganisation,institutionorbody.Anindirectreferralrequiresnotificationofthecomplainant,inwriting,andforthecomplainanttobenotifiedwiththecontactdetailsoftheorganisation,institutionorbodytopursuethealternativeoptionhimselforherself.ThecomplainantisalsoadvisedtocontacttheCommissionagainshouldheorshenotgetaresponsefromtheorganisation,institutionorbody.ThisdoesnotprecludetheCommissionfromwritingtotheinstitutiononbehalfofthecomplainant.IninstanceswhereacomplainanthaswithdrawnthecomplaintorhasfailedtoprovidethefurtherinformationrequestedbytheCommissionwithinthetimeframegivenandthereforepreventstheprovincialofficefromtakingthecomplaintanyfurther,suchcomplaintmaybeclosed.

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INTS complaints during the 2013/2014 financial year decreasing from the 2012/2013 financial year, the

percentagesteadily increasedover the twosubsequentfinancialyears.Thepercentageofacceptedcomplaintsdidnotconstitutemorethan50%overthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.AbasisforthepercentageofacceptedcomplaintscouldbethatcomplainantsthatapproachtheCommissionappear,generallyspeaking,tobeunawareofitsconstitutionalmandate.TheCommissiondevotessignificantresourcesinreferringcomplaintstootherorganisations,institutionsorstatutorybodiesthatcanmoreeffectivelyandefficientlydealwiththese.Aconcertedeffortneedstobeundertakentoreachruralandperi-urbancommunitieswhoappeartoremainunawareoftheCommissionanditsmandate.

Complainants that approach the Commission appear, generally speaking, to be unaware of its constitutional mandate… A concerted effort needs to be undertaken to reach rural and peri-urban communities who appear to remain unaware of the Commission and its mandate.

InlinewiththeprovisionsoftheCHP,provincialofficesmusteitheraccept,rejectorrefercomplaintsbroughttotheCommission.Theprovincialmanagerisresponsibleforassessingcomplaintslodgedanddecidingwhethertoaccept,rejectorreferthem.Accordingtoarticle34(1)oftheCHP,anypartywhofeelsaggrievedbyanydetermination,decisionorfindingmadebytheprovincialmanagermaylodgeanappealwith(a)theChairpersonoftheCommission,iftheappealisofasubstantivenatureor(b)thechiefoperationsofficer,iftheappealisofaproceduralnature.17

“In line with the provisions of the CHP, provincial offices must either accept, reject or refer complaints brought to the Commission.”

6.1. ACCEPTED COMPLAINTS

6.1.1. Total number of accepted complaints per financial year per provincial office

Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 159 147 144 152Free State 149 135 67 138Gauteng 520 377 329 500KwaZulu-Natal 135 195 193 186Limpopo 197 212 153 154Mpumalanga 140 137 117 158Northern Cape 171 161 116 79North West 185 183 72 201Western Cape 573 317 327 411Totals 2 229 1 864 1 518 1 979

Table4:Acceptedcomplaintsperprovincialofficeperfinancialyear

17 SeebelowadiscussiononappealslodgedwiththeCommissionduringthe2015/2016financialyear.


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INTSTheGautengprovincialofficehasreceivedandrecordedthehighestnumbersofcomplaintsoverthe

fourfinancialyearsunder review,withasmallernumberbeing received inWesternCapeprovincialoffice.Thesetwoprovincialofficeshaveconsistentlybeentheonlyonestoacceptover300complaintsannually.Complaintsthathavebeenacceptedbytheremainingsevenprovincialofficesoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreviewhavebeenaround200(between7to10%).Thesefiguresareproportionatetocomplaintvolumesforeachoftheprovincialofficesperannum.

Graph5:Percentageacceptedcomplaintsperfinancialyear,perprovincialoffice

The pie chart above shows the average percentage of accepted complaints per financial year, perprovincialoffice.ThesearethepercentagesthateachprovincialofficecontributedtothetotalpercentagesofcomplaintsacceptedbytheCommissionperfinancialyearunderreview.

Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 35% 35% 32% 32%Free State 32% 29% 21% 28%Gauteng 34% 28% 35% 45%KwaZulu-Natal 33% 34% 37% 32%Limpopo 77% 44% 38% 37%Mpumalanga 38% 31% 47% 56%Northern Cape 73% 65% 73% 59%North West 44% 48% 40% 39%Western Cape 60% 36% 63% 61%National 44% 36% 41% 42%

Table5:Percentageofacceptedcomplaintsperprovincialoffice

Thetableaboveillustratesthetotalpercentagesofacceptedcomplaintsperprovincialofficeinrelationtotheindividualcaseloadofeachprovincialoffice.Thetableindicatesthat,nationally,theCommissionhasacceptedlessthan50%ofcomplaintslodgedeachyear.Ataprovinciallevel,theNorthernCapehasconsistentlyacceptedover50%ofcomplaintsreceivedforeachofthefouryearsshown.Infact,Table5aboveillustratesthat,onaverage,theNorthernCapeacceptedjustovertwo-thirdsofthecomplaintsitreceivedbetween2012and2016,whiletheWesternCapeacceptedoverhalf.Limpopo,Mpumalangaand the NorthWest accepted just under half of the complaints registered with those offices, whileGauteng,KwaZulu-NatalandtheEasternCapeacceptedaroundone-thirdofallcomplaints.TheFreeStateacceptedapproximatelyone-quarterofalllodgedcomplaints.

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INTS The reasons for the discrepancy in the number of accepted complaints betweenprovincesmaybe

attributabletoanumberoffactors.However,thenumbersofcomplaintswhichrequirereferralstootherbodiesorwhicharerejected,areperhapsindicativeofaconsiderableneedtopopularisethemandatesofbodiesliketheCommission,andotherinstitutionscreatedthroughtheConstitutionandstatutes.Inaddition,theCommissionitselfmustdomoretoimprovevisibilityandtoinitiateinvestigationsofitsownaccordwherecomplaintvolumesarenotatruereflectionofhumanrightschallengesontheground.

Thegraphbelowisthepercentagetrendlineoftheoveralltotalnumbersofcomplaintsacceptedoverthefourfinancialyearsfortheinstitutionasawhole.

Graph6:Percentageofacceptedcomplaintsperfinancialyear

Notwithstandingthedeclineinthenumberofcomplaintsacceptedfrom2012/2013tothe2013/2014financialyear,overthepreviousthreefinancialyears,thepercentageofacceptedcomplaintsappearstobeincreasing.TheincreasereflectedinthestatisticsmayindicatethatpublicconfidencelevelsintheCommissionareincreasing.Alternatively,theymaybeanindicatorthatviolationsinrespectofhumanrightsareontheincrease.

6.2. REJECTED COMPLAINTS

6.2.1. Total number of rejected complaints per financial year per provincial office

Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 272 262 296 313Free State 281 317 237 344Gauteng 719 732 531 539KwaZulu-Natal 159 298 285 343Limpopo 50 264 248 262Mpumalanga 141 287 130 121Northern Cape 56 84 43 52North West 166 200 105 302Western Cape 294 545 190 257Totals 2 138 2 989 2 065 2 533

Table6:Rejectedcomplaintsperprovincialofficeperfinancialyear

TheGautengprovincialofficehasoverthepreviousfourfinancialyearsrecordedthehighestnumberofrejections.Thisfigurehasshownadecline inthat719complaintswererejectedattheendofthe2012/2013financialyear,comparedto539at theendof the2015/2016financialyear.TheLimpopoandKwaZulu-Natal provincial officeshaveshown thehighest increases in complaints rejected from

44%

36%41% 42%


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INTS2012/2013to2015/2016.Thegraphbelowgivesapercentagecalculationofrejectedcomplaintsper

provincialoffice,perfinancialyearunderreview.

Graph7:Percentageofrejectedcomplaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

TheCommissionembarkedonaprocessofaddressingbackloggedcomplaintscommencingduringthe2012/2013financialyear.Consequently,theprocessofanalysisandreviewentailedinitsbacklogprocesswasintensifiedinthesucceedingyear.Anoutcomeofthiswasthatthenumberofcomplaintsrejectedby theCommissionrosetoalmost3000at theendof the2013/2014financialyear.A largenumber of complaintswere identified as having been addressed through other bodies, governmentprogrammes,wheremattershadinfactarisenbefore1994. Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 60% 62% 66% 66%Free State 60% 69% 75% 71%Gauteng 47% 54% 57% 49%KwaZulu-Natal 39% 52% 55% 59%Limpopo 20% 55% 61% 63%Mpumalanga 38% 66% 52% 43%Northern Cape 24% 34% 27% 38%North West 40% 52% 58% 59%Western Cape 31% 62% 37% 38%National 42% 57% 55% 54%

Table7:Percentageofrejectedcomplaintsperprovincialoffice

Table 7 above comprises the actual percentages of the complaints rejected by provincial offices inrelation to their respective complaint caseload per financial year under review. In as much as theNorthernCapeprovincialofficereceivedthelowestnumberofcomplaintsthroughoutthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,italsoconsistentlyrejectedthelowestpercentageofcomplaints.TheMpumalangaandNorthWestprovincialofficeshavealsorecordedalownumberofcomplaintsoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,rejectingapproximately40%perfinancialyearsincethe2013/2014financialyear.

TheGauteng,WesternCapeandKwaZulu-Natalprovincialofficesrecordedahighnumberofcomplaintsovereachfinancialyear,whiletheFreeState,EasternCapeandLimpopoprovincialofficesrecordedthehighestnumberofcomplaintsrejectedperfinancialyear.

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INTS AsatrendthepercentageofcomplaintsrejectedbytheNorthWestprovincialofficedeclinedoverthe

firstthreeofthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.Attheendofthe2015/2016financialyearanincreaseinthepercentageofcomplaints thatwererejectedbytheNorthWestprovincialoffice isnoteworthy.Thismaybeattributedtotheincreaseinthenumberofcomplaintsthatwererecordedattheendofthatyear.

Belowisthetrendlineofrejectedcomplaintsnationwideoverthepreviousfourfinancialyearsunderreview.

Graph8:Percentageofrejectedcomplaintsperfinancialyear

At a national level, the lowest recorded percentage by theCommissionwas during the 2012/2013financial year with 42% of complaints having been rejected.At the end of the 2013/2014 financialyear57%ofcomplaintsreceivedwererejected.Thispercentageisthehighestpercentageofrejectedcomplaintsthroughoutthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.

Followingthe2013/2014financialyear,thepercentagesofrejectedcomplaintshavedeclinedannually,asillustratedbythetrendlineingraph8.Complaintsthathavebeenreferredtootherorganisations,either directly or indirectly, form part of complaints that have been rejected as they have not beeninvestigatedbytheCommission.

42%

57% 55% 54%


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TS7. NATURE OF RIGHTS

7.1. RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Rights violations 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016Equality 511 556 493 749Human dignity 353 317 175 244Life 27 23 7 9Freedomandsecurityoftheperson 105 148 94 114Slavery,servitudeandforcedlabour 1 1 0 0Privacy 49 51 42 49Freedomofreligion,beliefandopinion 14 15 17 14Freedomofexpression 62 77 91 117Assembly,demonstration,picketandpetition

6 7 6 6

Freedomofassociation 4 4 1 5Politicalrights 1 1 6 2Citizenship 31 26 26 41Freedomofmovement,residence,passportandtoleavetheRepublic

13 11 9 18

Freedomoftrade,occupationandprofession

11 14 10 8

Labourrelations 574 527 334 440Environment 74 92 64 94Property 142 189 134 115Housing 290 285 157 290Healthcare,food,waterandsocialsecurity

236 361 338 428

Children 135 142 155 165Education 227 265 221 276Languageandculture 5 8 0 1Cultural,religiousandlinguisticcommunities

16 15 17 15

Access to information 192 144 110 150Just administrative action 592 635 366 379Accesstocourts,independenttribunalsand forums

50 53 34 33

Arrested,detainedandaccusedpersons

536 655 473 409

Limitationofrights 0 0 3 1Nojurisdiction 145 315 247 382Noviolation 414 261 97 102Assessment 288 40 10 7Totals 5 104 5 238 3 737 4 663

Table8:Totalnumberofcomplaintsperrightsviolationsperfinancialyear

Table 8 above shows thenumber of complaints lodgedwith theCommissionalleginga violation oftherightsintheBillofRights.ThetablealsoprovidesnumbersofcomplaintsinrespectofeachoftherightsintheBillofRights.Forpurposesofthisreportreferenceshallbemadetorights’violationswhichdescribessuchcategory.Thetopandbottomfiverights’violationsarediscussedinthenextsection.

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TS 7.2. TOP 5 RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ConsiderationoftheTop5RightsViolationsprovidesthebasisforidentifyingprevalentcomplainttypes.Thecomplaintcategoriesareofvalueastheyprovideinformationregardingprevalence,andwhetherlevelsofprevalencearemarkedincertainareas.Theyalsoindicatelevelsofawarenessaboutparticularrights,informpreventativeactionandaccountabilitymeasures,andgivesomeindicationwhetherthosewhoaremostvulnerableormarginalisedareabletoaccessbodiesliketheCommission.Internally,theanalysisoftrendsisreliedonbyotheroperationalunitsintheCommissiontoinformpriorityfocusareasfor interventions and monitoring.

A significant number of complaints lodged with the Commission related to the alleged violation of the rights to equality, labour relations, access to healthcare services, water, food and social security, just administrative action, and arrested, detained and accused persons. These are classified as the Top 5 Rights Violations.

During the four financial years under review, a significant number of complaints lodged with theCommissionrelatedtotheallegedviolationoftherightstoequality,labourrelations,accesstohealthcareservices,water,foodandsocialsecurity,justadministrativeaction,andarrested,detainedandaccusedpersons.TheCommissionhasclassifiedthesecomplaintsastheTop5RightsViolations.

“During the four financial years under review, a significant number of complaints lodged with the Commission related to the alleged violation of the rights to equality, labour relations, access to healthcare services, water, food and social security, just administrative action, and arrested,

detained and accused persons.”

It isnoteworthy that the reportingon thecomplaints relating tohealthcareservices, food,waterandsocialsecurity,havebeenconsolidatedastheyareallenshrinedinsection27oftheConstitution.TheCommissionappreciatesthattheserightsaredistinct,andyetmutuallysupporting,andwillprovideadisaggregatedreportinrespectofeachofthemintermsofsection27oftheConstitutioninthenextissueoftheannualtrends’analysisreport.

Graph9:Top5RightsViolationsperfinancialyear


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TSGraph9aboveillustratesthepercentagebreakdownsoftheTop5RightsViolationsreceivedbytheCommissionover the four financial yearsunder review.The right to equality has seena consistentincreaseover thisperiodfrom10%duringthe2012/2013financialyear to16%asat theendof the2015/2016financialyear.PercentagecalculationsoftheTop5RightsViolationsarebasedonthetotalnumberofcomplaintsrecordedattheendofeachyear.

7.2.1. Equality

Therighttoequalityisenshrinedinsection9oftheConstitution,whichprovidesforthepromotionofequalityandprohibitionofdiscrimination.Section9(2)oftheConstitutionstatesthatinorder“topromotetheachievementofequality,legislativeandothermeasuresdesignedtoprotectoradvancepersons,orcategoriesofpersons,disadvantagedbyunfairdiscriminationmaybetaken.”InSouthAfrica,section9(3)oftheConstitutionprohibitsunfairdiscriminationonthebasisof16identifiedgrounds,viz.race,gender,sex,pregnancy,maritalstatus,ethnicorsocialorigin,colour,sexualorientation,age,disability,religion,conscience,belief,culture,languageandbirth.

Discriminationononeormoreofthesegroundsisconsideredunfairunless it isestablishedthatthediscriminationisfair.Thisdistinctionisimportant,particularlybecauseofSouthAfrica’suniquehistoryofclassifyingandprivileginggroupsaccordingtorace,gender,disabilityandothercharacteristics.

Section 16(1) of the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to freedom of expression. TheConstitutionalCourtemphasisedtheimportanceoftherighttofreedomofexpressionasfollows;

“... freedom of expression is one of a ‘web of mutually supporting rights’ in the Constitution. It is closely related to freedom of religion, belief and opinion (s 15), the right to dignity (s 10), as well as the right

to freedom of association (s 18), the right to vote and to stand for public office (s 19), and the right to assembly (s 17) . . . The rights implicitly recognise the importance, both for a democratic society

and for individuals personally, of the ability to form and express opinions, whether individually or collectively, even where those views are controversial.”18

The right to freedom of expression is, however, not absolute but subject to limitation. In particular,section16(2)(c)oftheConstitutionstatesthattherighttofreedomsofexpressiondoesnotextendtoadvocacyofhatredthatisbasedonrace,ethnicity,genderorreligion,andthatconstitutesincitementtocauseharm.Section16(2)oftheConstitutionisdirectedatprohibitingwhatiscommonlyreferredtoashatespeech.

Accordingly, there is an interplay between some complaints relating to alleged violation of the righttoequality in termsofsection9of theConstitutionandhatespeechintermsofsection16(2)of theConstitution.

Themeasuresenvisagedundersection9(2)oftheConstitutionincludethePEPUDA.ThePreambleofPEPUDAconfirmstheinterplaybetweensections9and16(2)oftheConstitution.ItstatesthatPEPUDAwasenacted inter alia togiveeffecttosection9oftheConstitutionandtopreventandprohibithatespeech.Other legislation envisaged under section 9(2) of theConstitution include theEmploymentEquityAct (No. 55 of 1998), theDomestic ViolenceAct (No.116 of 1998), and the Protection fromHarassmentAct(No.17of2011).

18 Islamic Unity Convention v Independent Broadcasting Authority and Others2002(4)SA294;2002(5)BCLR433para26.

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TS PEPUDAmakesspecificprovisionsregardingtheroleoftheCommissionanditsreportingobligations,particularlyonthestateofequalityinthecountry,including:

• Institutinglegalproceedings;• Requestinginformationregardinganymeasuresrelatingtotheachievementofequality;• Assessing theextent towhichunfairdiscriminationon thegroundsof race,genderand

disabilitypersistsinSouthAfrica,andtheeffectsthereof;and• Makingrecommendationsonhowbesttoaddresstheproblems.

The Equality Court, which adjudicate matters specifically relating to unfair discrimination and hatespeech,wascreatedintermsofPEPUDA.

PEPUDAwasenactedandcameintooperationinSeptember2000.ThemainobjectivesofthisActare,amongothers,to

• FulfilSouthAfrica’sinternationalobligationsunderbindingtreaties;• Promoteequality;• Preventandprohibitunfairdiscriminationononeormoreprohibitedgroundssetoutunder

section9(3)oftheConstitution;• Preventandprohibithatespeech;• Preventandprohibitharassmentandasindicatedabove;and• EstablishEqualityCourts. (These courts have beenoperational throughout the country

sincelate2003.)

Despitetheenactmentoflegislation,thereremainanumberofconsiderablechallengesinrespectoftheachievementofequalityinSouthAfrica.Inequalityanddiscriminationremainasignificantchallengetoourdemocracy.AccordingtotheGinicoefficient,aswellasotherinequalitymeasurements,SouthAfricaranksasoneofthemostunequalcountriesintheworld.Thesedisparitiesarelargelyattributedtoapartheidanditsdiscriminatorylawsandpractices.

TheEmploymentEquityCommissionReportof2015highlightshugeinequalitiesonthebasisofrace,genderanddisabilityinemploymentopportunitiesandpractices,particularlyinrespectofthecompositionoftopmanagementpositions.

Inlinewithitsconstitutionalandlegislativemandatetopromotetherespectandprotectionoftherighttoequality,theCommissionhas,overtheyears:

• Receivedanddealtwithalargenumberofcomplaintsrelatingtotheviolationoftherighttoequalityandtheuseofracialepithetsandotherderogatoryremarkssuchas“baboon”or“monkey”.Theseincidentsofracialdiscriminationtakeplaceacrossspectrumsofsocietyincludingschools,universities,businessesandtheworkplace.

• Litigated a number of equality and hate speech related cases in the Equality Courts.MostoftheseEqualityCourtcasesinvolvetheuseofracialepithetsandotherderogatorycommentswithracialundertonessuchas“baboon”or“monkey”.19

• Releasedanumberinvestigativereportsinwhichitfoundcertainconductstoamounttoaviolationoftherighttoequalityandtheinterrelatedrighttodignity.TheseareavailableontheCommission’swebsite(www.sahrc.org.za).

19 Seesection12.2foradiscussionontheCommission’slitigationintheEqualityCourt.


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TS• Morerecently,hostedaNationalHearingonUnfairDiscriminationintheWorkplace.20 • Mediatedandassistedpartiestoreachasettlementinanumberofcomplaintsinvolving

discriminationonthebasisofrace.• PublishedEqualityReportswhichprovideareportonthecountry’sprogresstowardsthe

attainmentofequalityinrespectofthenationallegislativeframework.

Race,DisabilityandEthnicorSocialOriginarethemostcommongroundsofdiscriminationreportedtotheCommission.Inthe2015/2016financialyear,theCommissionreceivedatotalof749equalityrelatedcomplaints,505ofwhichwereonthegroundofrace.Discriminationonthegroundofdisability,andethnicandsocialorigin, respectivelycomprised thesecondand thirdmostcommongroundsofdiscrimination.

Givenourpast,inequalityinSouthAfricaishighlycorrelatedwithrace.SouthAfrica’shistoryhasbeenshapedbysegregation,oppressionandinstitutionaliseddiscrimination.Theinstitutionalisedpoliciesofsegregationandapartheidresultedinthesystematicdiscriminationandexclusionofblackpeopleinallfacetsofeconomic,politicalandsociallife. Apartheidendedin1994anditspoliticalinstitutionsweredismantled.Keypolitical,policyandlegislativechangesweremadeduringthetransitiontodemocracy.Chiefly,thetransitionculminatedintheadoptionof the InterimConstitutionof theRepublicofSouthAfricaof1993and thefirstdemocraticelectionsin 1994.Almost all legislation which discriminated on explicitly racial grounds had been abolished.Subsequently, in 1996, theConstitutionwas adopted against a historical backdrop of the apartheidsystemwhichhadentrenchedracialdiscriminationandinequalitythroughoutSouthAfricansociety.TheConstitutionprovidesamandate,aframeworkandtosomeextentablueprintforthetransformationofoursocietyfromitsracistandunequalpasttooneinwhichweallcanliveindignity.It(specificallytheBillofRights)hasbeendescribedasatransformativedocumentaimedatredressingthesocialandeconomicinequalitiesofthepast.Ourconstitutionaldemocracyisfoundedonexplicitvalues.Underpinningthesearehumandignityandtheachievementofequality inanon-racial,non-sexistsocietyunder theruleof law.Despite theConstitutionand theprovisions relating toequality,unfairdiscrimination remainsendemicinSouthAfrica.21

7.2.1.1. Equality complaints received per financial year

Duringthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,equalityrelatedcomplaintshaveconsistentlybeenoneoftheTop5RightsViolationsthattheCommissionhasdealtwith.Thenumberofthesecomplaintshassteadilyincreased,peakinginthe2015/2016financialyear.Withtheincreasingnumberofpeoplebeingawareoftheirrights,andastechnologyevolves,theinequalityoflivedrealitiesandthedisparityinthesocialdynamicsinSouthAfricahascometothefore.AnumberofmattersthathavebeeninvestigatedbytheCommissionrelatingtounfairdiscriminationhaveendedupbeinglitigatedbeforeEqualityCourts.

Financial year Complaints per financial year Equality per financial year2012-2013 5 104 5112013-2014 5 238 5562014-2015 3 737 4932015-2016 4 663 749

Table9:Equalitycomplaintsreceivedperfinancialyear

20 See16ofthisreportforadiscussionontheNationalHearingonUnfairDiscriminationintheWorkplace.21 Seethediscussiononracebasedequalityrelatedcomplaintsbelow.

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TS Thetableabovereflectsthepercentagesofequalityrelatedcomplaintsrecordedintheperiodunderreview. The percentages of equality related complaints received have steadily risen. The highestpercentageofequalityrelatedcomplaintsthattheCommissionreceivedwasattheendofthe2015/2016financialyear,inDecember2015andJanuary2016respectively.Theincreaseappearsdirectlyrelatedtothenumberofracialutterancesonsocialmediaandothermedia.

Graph10:Percentageofequalitycomplaintsperfinancialyear.

Equalityrelatedcomplaintsmadeup10%ofthosereceivedduringthe2012/2013financialyear.Thepercentageofcomplaintsreceivedwentupto11%duringthenextyearandthistrendcontinuedwith13%ofcomplaintsrecordedduringthe2014/2015financialyear.Attheendofthe2015/2016financialyearthepercentageofequalityrelatedcomplaintsincreasedto16%ofcomplaintshavingbeenrecordedduringthesaidfinancialyear.

Giventhehistoricalbackgroundofthecountry,itisinevitablethatconflictbehaviourthroughoutSouthAfricansocietyisinevitableinthewakeofyearsofsocial,culturalandpoliticalconditioning.Changingsocialdynamicsandsocialperceptionsareaformidablechallengetoovercome.TheeverincreasingnumberofequalityrelatedcomplaintsthattheCommissionhasreceivedovertheperiodunderreview,specificallyonrace,isbutoneindicatorofthechallengefaced.

7.2.1.2. Equality complaints per provincial office

Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 24 13 22 20Free State 45 46 19 57Gauteng 219 219 185 265KwaZulu-Natal 33 63 70 183Limpopo 16 49 43 46Mpumalanga 31 29 25 19Northern Cape 29 36 27 32North West 28 27 12 34Western Cape 86 74 90 93National 511 556 493 749

Table10:Equalitycomplaintsperprovincialoffice


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TSThe table above comprises statistical information of equality complaints per provincial office, perfinancialyearunderreviewandthetotalnationalfigure.OfthethreehighcaseloadprovincialofficesoftheCommission,theKwaZulu-Natalprovincialoffice’srateofequalityrelatedcomplaintshasshownanannualincrease.TheGautengprovincialofficehasregisteredthehighesttotalsofequalityrelatedcomplaintsthroughouttheperiodunderreview.

Graph11:Percentageequalityrightsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

ThegraphillustratesthepercentagedistributionofcomplaintsreceivedbytheCommissionbyeachoftheprovincialofficesoverthefourfinancialyears.

ThepercentageofequalityrelatedcomplaintsrecordedbytheGautengprovincialofficehas,surprisingly,decreasedoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.TheWesternCape’spercentageofequalityrelatedcomplaintshasbeeninconsistent.Complaintspeakanddecline,inmostcases,eachalternateyear.

Attheendofthe2015/2016financialyear,theCommissionrecordedthehighestnumberofequalityrelatedcomplaintswhencompared to theprevious threefinancial yearsunder review.AsGraph11shows,thehighestpercentagesarefromthehighcaseloadprovincialoffices.ThepercentagedistributionofequalitycomplaintsrecordedbytheWesternCapehasbeensporadicthroughoutthefourfinancialyears.WhereasthereisadeclineinthepercentagesofequalitycomplaintsrecordedbytheGautengprovincialoffice,theconverseisnotedinrespecttothepercentagedistributionforKwaZulu-Natal.Forthefirstthreefinancialyearsunderreview,thepercentagesofequalityrelatedcomplaintsrecordedinKwaZulu-Natalhaveincreasedatasteadypaceofbetween3%and6%.Attheendofthe2015/2016financialyear,however,thepercentageincreasedby10%.

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TS Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 15 9 16 10Free State 29 28 17 45Gauteng 112 116 115 178KwaZulu-Natal 15 47 41 47Limpopo 14 27 33 35Mpumalanga 25 20 20 15Northern Cape 16 34 26 25North West 27 17 7 26Western Cape 75 50 77 78Totals 328 348 352 459

Table11:Acceptedequalitycomplaintsperprovincialoffice

Fromthetotalnumberofequalityrelatedcomplaintsrecordedbyprovincialoffices,onlytheacceptedcomplaintsare illustrated in the tableabove.Table11shows that theGautengprovincial officehasacceptedthehighestnumbersofequalitybasedcomplaints.Thisstatisticisinlinewiththehighcomplaintvolumesrecordedintheprovinceannually.


Table12:Percentageofacceptedequalitycomplaints

Thepercentagesinthetableaboverepresentallacceptedcomplaintsperprovincialofficeinrelationtothenumberofcomplaintsthathavebeenrecordedbyeachoffice.Theoveralltotalsofequalityrelatedcomplaintshaveincreasedovertheperiodunderreview.Duringthisperiod,Gautenghasrecordedthehighestnumbersofequalityrelatedcomplaints.Theprovincialofficewiththesecondhighestnumber,theWesternCape,receivedsignificantlylessequalityrelatedcomplaints.Gautenghas,however,acceptedonlyasmallnumberofequalitycomplaintswhencomparedtotheWesternCapeasillustratedinTable12above.BoththeGautengandtheKwaZulu-Natalprovincialofficesreceivedalargenumberofracebasedcomplaints.Thetableabove,however,showsthatonly26%isreflectedforKwaZulu-Natal in2015/2016.Thisisbecausecomplaintsfrommultiplecomplainants,butonthesamefactsorcauseofaction,wereconsolidatedineachoftheoffices.


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TS7.2.1.3. Equality complaints per specific ground

Section9(3)oftheConstitutionstipulatesthegroundsofdiscriminationundertherightofequalityandprovides that “Thestatemaynotunfairlydiscriminatedirectlyor indirectlyagainstanyoneononeormoregrounds, including race,gender, sex,pregnancy,marital status,ethnicorsocialorigin, colour,sexualorientation,age,disability,religion,conscience,belief,culture,languageandbirth.”

Equality 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016Equality–age 10 20 13 24Equality–anyotherground 11 17 13 22Equality–belief 2 1 1 2Equality–colour 8 1 1 0Equality–conscience 0 1 0 0Equality–culture 4 6 8 5Equality–disability 45 70 62 66Equality–ethnicorsocialorigin 39 55 35 47Equality–gender 12 19 11 18Equality–language&birth 4 3 2 7Equality–maritalstatus 3 6 0 1Equality–pregnancy 1 2 0 1Equality–race 208 297 292 505Equality–religion 17 34 36 22Equality–sex 4 2 2 3Equality–sexualorientation 14 22 17 26Equality–nospecificgroundmentioned 129 0 0 0Totals 511 556 493 749

Table13:Equalitycomplaintsintermsofthegroundsofdiscrimination

Fromtable13above,threegroundsofunfairdiscriminationlistedundersection9(3)havebeenprevalentoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,namely,race,disability,andethnicorsocialorigins.Ineachofthesefinancialyearsthenumberofracerelatedcomplaintshaveexceeded200peakingat505inthe2015/2016financialyear.Disabilityandsocialoriginhaveremainedconsistentlyhigh.

7.2.1.4. Equality – race

SouthAfricabecameademocracyin1994.Notwithstanding22yearsofdemocracythatthecountryhasenjoyed,theeradicationoftheconsequencesofapartheidhavebeenchallengingtoaddress.

RacismhasshapedSouthAfricansocietysincecolonialtimes.RacistbeliefsfoundexpressioninthelawsofcolonialandapartheidSouthAfricaandshapedbothstateandsociety.ItisnotsurprisingthatwhenSouthAfricabecameademocracy,itadoptedaConstitutionfoundedonexplicitvaluesofhumandignity,equalityandnon-racialism.

DespitetheConstitutionandtheplethoraofanti-racismlaws,racismremainsendemicinSouthAfrica.InJanuary2016,awhitewoman,MsPennySparrow,posteda racistmessageon thesocialmediaplatform,Facebook,inwhichshesaid:

“These monkeys that are allowed to be released on New years Eve And new years day on to public beaches towns etc. obviously have no education what so ever so to allow them loose is inviting huge

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TS dirt and troubles and discomfort to others. I am sorry to say I was amongst the revellers and all I saw were black on black skins what a shame. I do know some wonderful thoughtful black people. This lots

of monkeys just don’t want to even try. But think they can voice opinions about the statute and get their way dear oh dear .from now I Shall address the blacks of South Africa as monkeys as I see the cute

little wild monkeys do the same pick drop and litter. ” (unedited version) MsSparrow’scommentscausedwidespreadoutrageandbecameatrendingtopiconvariousplatformsonsocialmedia.SomepeoplewerereportedlycontemplatingtohaveMsSparrowcriminallychargedwhileothers lodgedcomplaintsagainstMsSparrow to theCommission. TheCommission receiveda number of complaints againstMsSparrow.TheAfricanNationalCongress instituted proceedingsagainstherintheEqualityCourt.

Inthesameyear,severalallegedracistincidentswerereportedinvolvingotherindividuals,bothblackandwhite.Othercomplaintsaddressed reactions toMsSparrow’scomplaintssuchas those lodgedagainst Mr Velaphi Khumalo, a public official. Mr Khumalo reacted to Ms Sparrow’s comments byallegedlycallingforblackSouthAfricanstodotowhitepeoplewhat“HitlerdidtotheJews”.NotonlydosuchutterancesviolatetherightstoequalitybuttheyarealsoinimicaltothevisionoftheConstitutiontocreateasocietyfoundedonthevaluesofequalityandnon-racialism.

The Commission has, on various platforms, raised its concerns about the prevalence of unfairdiscrimination, inparticularracebaseddiscrimination inSouthAfricaand its impactonbasichumanrights. Inaddition to theconferencehosted inMarch2016, theCommissionhas in thepasthostedconsultativeprocessesandconferenceson racism, including theNationalConferenceonRacism in2000.TheCommissionhasalsohostedpublichearingsandpublishedreports,suchasonerelatingtoracismattheUniversityofPretoria,andracismintheSouthAfricanPoliceService,VryburgDistrictin1999.

Despitethesignificantachievementsoverthepast22yearsofdemocracy,deepinequalitiesandunfairdiscriminationremaincommonplace.Theachievementofequalityandnon-racialismwillremainadistantrealityformanyifthescourgesofinequality,particularlyracism,arenotaddressedfullyandcollectively.

Equa

lity

– ra

ce

East

ern

Cap

e

Free

Sta

te

Gau

teng

Kw

aZul

u-N

atal

Lim

popo

Mpu

mal

anga

Nor

ther

n C

ape

Nor

th W

est

Wes

tern

Cap

e

Tot

als

2012-2013 1 0 105 16 5 25 17 4 35 2082013-2014 4 37 100 40 28 23 28 12 25 2972014-2015 6 17 109 50 24 20 20 6 40 2922015-2016 11 42 183 163 24 10 23 13 36 505

Table14:Equality–racecomplaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

ThetableaboveismadeupofthenumberofracerelatedcomplaintsthattheCommissionreceivedduring theperiodunder review. Inall fouryears, theGautengprovincialoffice recorded thehighestnumberofequalityrelatedcomplaints.Inthreeofthefourfinancialyears,theKwaZulu-Natalprovincialofficerecordedthesecondhighestnumberofequalityrelatedcomplaints.ThenumberofcomplaintsrecordedbytheKwaZulu-Natalprovincialofficehaveincreasedannuallybutnotassharplyasitdidattheendofthe2015/2016financialyear.


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Graph12:Percentageequality–racecomplaintsperfinancialyear

7.2.2. Labour relations


Table15:Section23complaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Thetableaboveisshowsthenumberof labourrelationscomplaintsthathavebeenreceivedbytheCommissionperprovincialoffice.

LabourrelationsaresecondonthelistofTop5RightsViolationsintermsofsection23oftheConstitution,whichguaranteeseveryone theright to fair labourpractices, including theright to joina tradeunionand to participate in trade union activities.The LabourRelationsAct, (No. 66 of 1995) (LRA),waspromulgated to provide particularity and content to section 23 of theConstitution.22The purpose oftheLRAistocreateasystemunderwhichalllabourdisputescanberesolved.Otherlegislationthathasbeenenactedinter aliatogiveeffectsection23oftheConstitutionincludetheBasicConditionsofEmploymentAct,(No.75of1997)andtheEmploymentEquityAct,(No.55of1998).

A majority of the labour relations related complaints lodged with the Commission relate to unfairdismissal,unfair labourpracticeandother labourrelatedmatters.While thesematters fallwithin theambitofsection23oftheConstitution,theLRAhasentrustedotherstatutoryinstitutionsthejurisdictiontodealwithlabourdisputes.TheseincludetheCommissionforConciliation,MediationandArbitration

22 Gcaba v Minister for Safety and Security and Others2010(1)SA238(CC)para10.

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TS (theCCMA),23 theLabourCourt, theHighCourtandotherappellatecourts.TheCommission refersmostoftheselabourrelationsrelatedcomplaintstotheCCMAintermsofarticle12(8)and(9)oftheCommission’sCHP.Asshownintable6,complaintsrelatingtolabourrelationscomprisethemajorityofthecomplaintsthattheCommissiondirectlyorindirectlyreferstomoreappropriateinstitutions.

Graph13:Percentageofsection23complaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

TheCommissionrefers labourrelatedmatterstoeithertheCCMA,applicablebargainingcouncilsorlabour courts (whichwerealsoestablishedasper partD, section151of theLabourRelationsAct.Labourcourtshandledisputesarisingfromtherelationshipoftheemployer,employeeandtradeunions.

Insuchinstances,theCommissiondeferstothestatutorymandateofsuchstructuresandbodiestoprovideappropriaterelieftocomplainants.

WhiletheGautengprovincialofficerecordedthehighestpercentageofcomplaintsclassifiedasfallingunder thecategoryof fair labour relations in theperiodunder review, thepercentageof complaintsreceiveddeclinedattheendofthe2015/2016financialyear.

23 TheCCMAisanindependentdisputeresolutionbodyestablishedintermsoftheLRA.


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TSProvincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 12 3 3 2Free State 2 1 0 2Gauteng 21 23 5 2KwaZulu-Natal 5 6 4 2Limpopo 12 8 2 2Mpumalanga 3 2 2 4Northern Cape 17 2 0 0North West 10 8 0 2Western Cape 34 8 9 13National 116 61 25 29

Table16:Numberoflabourrelatedcomplaintsregisteredatprovincialoffices

The nationwide picture of complaints that have been recordedwhich relate to labour relations is adifferentonewhenthenumberofcomplaintsthathavebeenacceptedisanalysed. Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 21% 5% 9% 3%Free State 4% 3% 0% 3%Gauteng 13% 16% 5% 2%KwaZulu-Natal 18% 10% 8% 3%Limpopo 92% 18% 5% 5%Mpumalanga 3% 5% 8% 15%Northern Cape 46% 12% 0% 0%North West 18% 22% 0% 4%Western Cape 44% 9% 27% 21%National 20% 12% 7% 7%

Table17:Percentageoflabourrelatedcomplainsacceptedbyprovincialoffices

Thepercentageofacceptedcomplaintsthatrelatetolabourrelationsnationwidewereat20%attheendof the2012/2013financialyearanddeclined to7%at theendof the2015/2016financialyear.Throughout theperiodunder review, theGautengprovincialoffice recorded thehighestnumbersoflabour relations complaints. Theacceptancepercentageof these complaints hasbeenbelow20%throughout theperiodunder review.Provincial officeswithgreatereconomically activeoremployedpopulationstendtodealwithmorelabourrelatedcomplaintsthanotherprovinces.AsharpdeclineintheacceptanceratethroughoutthefourfinancialyearswasnotedintheLimpopoprovincialofficewherethe92%acceptancerateforlabourrelationscomplaintsduringthe2012/2013financialyeardroppedtoalowof5%attheendofthe2015/2016financialyear.

7.2.3. Health care, food, water and social security

ThirdonthelistofTop5RightsViolationsreceivedbytheCommissionovertheperiodunderreviewarecomplaintsrelatingtotheallegedviolationoftherightsintermsofsection27oftheConstitution,namely,therighttohaveaccesstohealthcareservices,food,sufficientwaterandsocialsecurity.

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TS Complaintsrelatingtotheserightshavegradually increasedoverthepastfourfinancialyearsunderreview.During the 2015/2016 financial year, they comprised the fourth highest complaints receivedbytheCommissionandconstituted9%oftheoverallcomplaintsreceivedbytheCommissioninthatfinancial year. The increase in complaints relating to health care services, water, food and socialsecurityappeartocoincidewiththegeneraltrendsofprotestactionoverthelackorinsufficientdeliveryofbasicservicesinvariouscommunitiesinSouthAfrica.Duringthe2013/2014and2014/2015financialyears,theCommissionhostedpublicenquiriesonAccesstoHousing,LocalGovernanceandServiceDelivery,theRighttoAccessSufficientWaterandDecentSanitationinSouthAfrica(2014)andAccesstoEmergencyMedicalServicesintheEasternCape(2014).Thesepublichearingsinvestigated,amongothers, systematic challengesexperienced in respectof the realisationof the rights tohaveaccesstohealthcareservicesandwater,andmay,given theirpublicnature,have increasedvisibilityof theCommission,andawarenessoftherightstorecourseinsuchmatters.

Typically,therighttoaccesshealthcareservicesgeneratedcomplaintsaboutthepoorstateofaffairsinhospitalsandclinics.Issuesincludedpoorworkingconditions,staffshortages,shortageofmedicationandessentialdrugs,trainingofpersonnel,buildinginfrastructure,equipment,emergencytransportation,andwaitingtimesinthesepublichealthestablishments.Thewaterrelatedcomplaintsare lodgedbyindividualsandcommunitieswhohaveno,orlimited,accesstosufficientwater.Othersarelodgedbycomplainantswhosewatersupplyhadbeendiscontinuedbythewaterserviceauthority.ThecomplaintscontinuedespitetheinstructivepronouncementbytheConstitutionalCourtintheCity of Johannesburg v Mazibukojudgment,whereO’ReganJstatedthat:

“… access to water has long been grossly unequal. This inequality is evident in South Africa. While piped water is plentifully available to mines, industries, some large farms and wealthy families,

millions of people, especially women, spend hours laboriously collecting their daily supply of water from streams, pools and distant taps. In 1994, it was estimated that 12 million people (approximately a quarter of the population), did not have adequate access to water. By the end of 2006, this number

had shrunk to 8 million, with 3,3 million of that number having no access to a basic water supply at all. Yet, despite the significant improvement in the first fifteen years of democratic government, deep

inequality remains and for many the task of obtaining sufficient water for their families remains a tiring daily burden. The achievement of equality, one of the founding values of our Constitution, will not be

accomplished while water is abundantly available to the wealthy, but not to the poor.”24

Deprivation of access to socio-economic rights, particularly to the poor, remains a challenge in ourconstitutionaldemocracy.ThecontextofthisisaptlyrecordedinthematterofNokotyana and Others v Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Others25wheretheConstitutionalCourtstatedthat:

“On several occasions this Court has been called on to decide difficult issues in connection with access to health care, housing and water, as well as the provision of electricity. This is understandable. Our history is one of land dispossession, institutionalised discrimination and systemic deprivation. The need for housing and basic services is still enormous and the differences between the wealthy and the

poor are vast.”

24 Mazibuko and Others v City of Johannesburg and Others 2010(3)BCLR239(CC);2010(4)SA1(CC)para2.25 2010(4)BCLR312(CC)para1.


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The tableabove ismadeupof the totalnumbersofsection27complaints thathavebeenrecordedbyindividualprovincialofficesoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.Attheendofthe2015/2016financialyear theNorthWestprovincialofficerecorded thehighestnumberofcomplaints relating tosection27followedbytheGautengprovincialoffice.


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TS Therehasbeenan increase in thepercentageof complaints receivedby theCommission from the2012/2013tothe2014/2015financialyear,andasteadyingofvolumesat theendof the2015/2016financialyear. TheLimpopoprovincialofficerecordedahighpercentageofcomplaintsrelatingtothissectionintheConstitution.Asattheendofthe2015/2016financialyear,theLimpopoprovincialofficesawasharpdeclinecomparedtothepreviousfinancialyears.Fourotherprovincialofficeshaveseendeclinesinthepercentagesofcomplaintsreceivedintermsofofsection27attheendofthe2015/2016financialyear,butnodeclineassignificantastheLimpopoprovincialoffice.Notwithstandingthis,section27remainsoneofthemostimportantrightsthatisentrenchedinChapter2oftheConstitution.

The percentage distribution for the NorthWest provincial office, indicates that from the 2012/2013financialyeartothe2014/2015financialyear,percentageshavehoveredaroundthe11%mark.Bytheendofthe2015/2016financialyearthepercentageofsection27complaints jumpedtoastaggering20%,makingthisprovincialofficethehighestonetohaverecordedcomplaintsthatrelatetosection27.Thebasisforthisincreasemaybeplacedontherecentproactiveinterventionsbytheprovincialofficeinengagingwithcommunitieswhereviolationsoftheirsocio-economicrightshavebeenhighlighted.


Table19:Acceptedsection27complaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Accepted complaints in termsof section27per individual provincial officeare reflectedabove.ThenumberofthesecomplaintsrecordedbytheWesternCapeprovincialofficeoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,showanoteworthy trend: thisprovincialofficeacceptedand investigatedfrom60%toabove90%ofcomplaintsduringtheperiodunderreview.Inprevioustrendsanalysesreports,somefactorsattributingtothisuptakewereattributedtotheinitiativebytheCommissiontoactivelypromoteservicedeliveryandsocio-economicrightsintheWesternCape.


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TSProvincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 57% 62% 61% 73%Free State 64% 68% 69% 65%Gauteng 38% 41% 65% 62%KwaZulu-Natal 41% 59% 78% 62%Limpopo 93% 69% 58% 76%Mpumalanga 95% 84% 78% 61%Northern Cape 100% 85% 100% 90%North West 56% 70% 79% 93%Western Cape 93% 61% 86% 92%National 72% 66% 72% 79%

Table20:Percentageacceptedsection27complaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Mostsection27rights’violationslodgedwiththeCommissionoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreviewhaveconsistedof those relating toaccess tohealthcareandaccess towater.Throughout the fourfinancialyearstheCommissionhasacceptedwellover60%ofsection27complaints.

7.2.4. Arrested, detained and accused persons

Duringthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,complaintsrelatingtotherightsofarrested,detainedandaccusedpersonshaveconsistentlyformedpartoftheTop5RightsViolations.Inthe2015/2016financialyear,thesecomplaintsconstitutedthethirdhighesttypeofcomplaintlodgedwiththeCommissionandnumbered409.Mostofthemcamefrominmatesdetainedincorrectionalservicesfacilitiesrequestingassistancetosecurecopiesoftrialtranscriptsaswellasassistancewithappealsagainsttheirconvictionsorsentencesorboth.Afewrelatedtoallegednon-conduciveprisonconditions.ThesecomplaintsareordinarilyreferredtoLegalAidSouthAfrica(LegalAidSA)ortotheJudicialInspectorateforCorrectionalServices,dependingonthenatureofthecomplaint.

Somecomplaintsfrominmatesincorrectionalcentresrelatetotheirlivingconditionsand/ortreatmenttheyreceive.SuchcomplaintsaredirectlyorindirectlyreferredtotheOfficeoftheJudicialInspectorate.



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TS Thetableaboveshowsthetotalnumberofcomplaintsthatrelatetosection35oftheConstitutionandrecordedbyprovincialofficesduringtheperiodunderreview.Inthistime,theFreeStateprovincialofficerecordedhighnumbersofcomplaintsrelatingtoarrested,detainedandaccusedpersonsduetothehighpublicprofilenatureofcorrectionalcentressuchasMangaungandGroenpunt.Thesaidprovincialofficehasconsistentlyrecordedthesecondhighesttotalsofcomplaintsrelatingtosection35throughoutthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.


Ofthethreeprovincialofficesthatareregardedashighcaseloadoffices,twoshowedadeclineinthepercentages of complaints relating to arrested, detained and accusedpersons.These areGautengandKwaZulu-Natal.Thedecreasemaybeattributabletotheinterventionsbytheseprovincialofficesin highlighting other organisations, institutions and statutory bodies that are better placed to moreefficientlyandeffectivelydealissuesrelatingtotheconditionsofdetentionatcorrectionalcentres(suchastheOfficeoftheJudicialInspectorate)andrepresentationincriminalproceedingsand/orappealandreviewprocedures(suchasLegalAidSA).However,thepercentagesofsuchcomplaintshavegraduallyincreasedintheWesternCapeprovincialoffice.IncreasesarealsonotedinthepercentagedistributionsfortheLimpopoprovincialoffice.

TheMpumalanga,NorthernCapeandtheNorthWestprovincialoffices,whichareregardedasthelowintakeofficesoftheCommission,havehadlowpercentagedistributionsthatarebelow10%throughoutthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.


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Table22:Acceptedsection35complaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Thenumbersofsection35complaintslodgedwiththeCommissionhavevariedfromahighof655toalowof409.Lessthan100ofthesecomplaintswereacceptedbytheCommission.


Table23:Percentageofacceptedsection35complaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Table23abovereflectspercentagedistributionsofacceptedcomplaintsperprovincialofficethatrelatetosection35duringtheperiodunderreview.Attheendofthe2012/2013financialyear,theLimpopoprovincialofficehadacceptedthehighestpercentageofcomplaintsrelatingtosection35,followedbytheWesternCape.

Duringthe2012/2013year,thehighestcategoryofcomplaintsacceptedbytheCommissionfellundersection35oftheConstitution.

7.2.5. Just administrative action

LastonthelistofTop5RightsViolationsarecomplaintsrelatingtojustadministrativeaction.Therighttojustadministrativeactionisguaranteedinsection33oftheConstitution,26whichessentiallyembracestheconceptofadministrativejustice.Administrativejusticeaims,inter alia,toensuregoodgovernanceandadministration,ensurefairdealinginanadministrativecontext,enhanceprotectionoftheindividualagainstabuseofstatepower,promotepublicparticipationindecisionmaking,andstrengthenthenotion

26 Section33(1)oftheConstitutionstatesthat everyone has the right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair.

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TS thatpublicofficialsareanswerableandaccountabletothepublictheyaremeanttoserve.27Thereisacloserelationshipbetweenadministrativejusticeandtheterm“administrativeaction”.Themeaningof“administrativeaction”insection33(1),isdemarcatedtoincludeactionsofanadministrativenaturewhicharetakenbybodiesthatexercisepublicpower.28

TherighttojustadministrativeactionhasbeengivenstatutoryforminthePromotionofAccesstoJusticeAct,(No.3of2000).Atotalof379ofthecomplaintsreceivedbytheCommissionin2015/2016financialyear related toallegedviolationsof the right to justadministrativeaction.Byand large, thesewerelodgedbypersonswhoareaggrievedbydecisionsofgovernmentdepartmentssuchastheDepartmentofHomeAffairs,SocialDevelopmentandothers.Othersrelatetoallegedmaladministrationbyorgansofstate.Suchcomplaintsaregenerallyreferredtootherinstitutions,suchasthePublicProtector,29 for resolution.


Table24:Justadministrativeactioncomplaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Thetableaboveismadeupofthenumberofcomplaintsthatrelatetojustadministrativeactionrecordedbyprovincialofficesperfinancialyear.OverthefourfinancialyearsunderreviewadeclineinthenumbersrecordedbytheKwaZulu-Natalprovincialofficestandsout,asdothoseforGauteng.

ThenumbersrecordedbytheWesternCape,however,havebeensporadicoverthefourfinancialyearsinreview.

27 LJKotzeThe application of just administrative action in the South African environmental governance sphere: An analysis of some contemporary thoughts and recent jurisprudencePELJvolume7(No2)200467.

28 LJKotzeThe application of just administrative action in the South African environmental governance sphere: An analysis of some contemporary thoughts and recent jurisprudencePELJvolume7(No2)200467–68.

29 Section182oftheConstitutionstatesthat: (1)[T]hePublicProtectorhasthepower,asregulatedbynationallegislation— (a)toinvestigateanyconductinstateaffairs,orinthepublicadministrationinanysphereofgovernment,thatisalleged

orsuspectedtobeimproperortoresultinanyimproprietyorprejudice.


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Graph16:Percentageofsection33complaintsperprovincialofficeperfinancialyear

AlthoughtheCommissionhasamandatetodealwithcomplaintsrelatingtoalltherightslistedintheBillofRights,itreferssomeofthecomplaintstoorganisationsorinstitutionsthatcoulddealwithsuchcomplaintsinamoreefficientandefficientmannerinaccordancewitharticle12(8)and(9)oftheCHP.ItmustbeborneinmindthattheCommission,incertainrespects,hasanoverlappingmandatewithotherinstitutionsestablishedtosupportconstitutionaldemocracyintermsofchapter9oftheConstitution.ThehighestpercentageofcomplaintsrelatingtojustadministrativeactionwasrecordedbyGauteng.ThereasonforthismaybeduetothefactthatNationalGovernmentdepartmentsarebasedintheGautengProvince.However,attheendofthe2015/2016financialyearadeclineinthepercentageofsection33relatedcomplaintsreceivedwasnoted.

Overthefouryearperiod,theEasternCapeandWesternCapeprovincialofficesprogressivelyrecordedahighernumberofcomplaintsthatrelatetojustadministrativeaction.

44

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8. BOTTOM 5 RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

8.1. RIGHTS VIOLATIONS PER FINANCIAL YEARR

ight

s vi

olat

ions

2012

/201

3

Rig

hts

viol

atio

ns

2013

/201

4

Rig

hts

viol

atio

ns

2014

/201

5

Rig

hts

viol

atio

ns

2015

/201

6

Assembly,demonstration,picketandpetition

6 Assembly,demonstration,picketandpetition



6

Freedomofassociation

4 Freedomofassociation



5

Politicalrights 1 Politicalrights 1 Politicalrights 6 Politicalrights 2Slavery,servitudeandforcedlabour

1 Slavery,servitudeandforcedlabour

1 Life 7 Freedomoftrade,occupationandprofession

8

Language and culture

5 Language and culture

8 Freedomofmovement,residence,passportandtoleavetheRepublic

9 Language and culture

1

Total 17 Total 21 Total 25 Total 15 Table25

Inallof thefourfinancialyearsunderreview, threerights’violationshaveremainedconsistently lowintermsofcomplaintsreceivedbytheCommission:therighttoassembly,demonstration,picketandpetition, freedomof association and political rights.Noting that the rights stated in the table aboveare entrenched in the Bill of Rights, these rights are as important as other rights enshrined in theConstitution.The rights in the tableaboveare those forwhich theCommission received the fewestcomplaintsduringtheperiodunderreview.

HighlevelsofprotestactionhavebeendocumentedinSouthAfricaoverrecentyears.Theincidentsofprotestactionrelatetoanumberofissues,includinglabour,politicalissuesandsocio-economicissuestonamea few.Protestaction fallswithin theambitof therights thatareprotectedundersection17oftheConstitution.TheCommissionhasrecordedjustsevencomplaintsthatrelatetoprotestaction.Rulesandregulationsgovern theconductof legallypermissibleprotestaction.The low incidenceofreportingonprotestactionmaymeanthatawarenessandadherencetolegalprescriptsareworkingwell.TheCommissionnotes,however,thatactionsthatexceedtheprescribedboundsforprotestactionhaveoftenresultedinarrestsandcriminalprosecutionincertaininstances.Protestaction,expressionandassociationremainimportantrightsaroundwhichawarenessinitiativesandpublicmobilisationforconsensusarerequired.Thetableaboveprovidesusefulinformationonrightswhichrequireattentionthroughtheirpromotion.

“Protest action, expression and association remain important rights around which awareness initiatives and public mobilisation for

consensus are required. The table above provides useful information on rights which require attention through their promotion.”


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Graph17:Totalnumberofenquiriesperfinancialyear

The total number of enquiries received by theCommission has increased annually during the fourfinancialyearsunderreview.Attheendofthe2012/2013financialyear,thetotalnumberofenquiriesrecordedwas3972.Thenumberofenquiriesreceivedincreasedatasteadyaverageof217perfinancialyear.Thetotalnumberofenquiriesattheendofthe2015/2016financialyearstoodat4625.

“The total number of enquiries at the end of the 2015/2016 financial year stood at 4 625.”

Graph18:Percentageofenquiriesperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Throughoutthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,theWesternCapeprovincialofficehasrecordedthehighestpercentageofenquiries.TheaverageannualpercentageofenquiriesthathasbeenrecordedbytheWesternCapeis31%ofallenquiriesrecordednationwide.ThehighnumberofenquiriesintheWesternCapeProvince isdisproportionatetothenumberofnon-enquirybasedcomplaintsreceivedby theprovincial office.TheGautengprovincial office, alsoa high volumeprovince, receives fewerenquiries,butmorecomplaints,comparedtotheWesternCape.

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10. LITIGATION

Intermsofsection38oftheConstitution,Section13(3)(b)oftheSAHRCActandsection20(1)(f)ofPEPUDA,theCommissionmaybringproceedingsinacompetentcourtortribunalinitsownname,oronbehalfofapersonorgrouporclassofpersons.Similarly,intermsofarticle42oftheCHPoftheCommission,theCommissionmayinstituteproceedingsinacompetentcourtortribunalinitsownname,oronbehalfofagrouporclassofpersonsatanystageafteracomplaintisreceived.Inlinewiththisauthority,theCommissionisentitledtouselitigation,alongsideotherdisputeresolutionmechanisms,tosecureappropriateredresswherehumanrightshavebeenviolated.Asevidencedbelow,duringthe2015/2016financialyear,theCommissionwasinvolvedincivilproceedingsintheGautengandWesternCapedivisionsoftheHighCourtofSouthAfrica,theSupremeCourtofAppealandtheConstitutionalCourt.TheCommission’sinvolvementinlitigationrangedfromlitigationintheequalitycourts,defendingadelictual suit, opposinga judicial review,promoting the respectandprotectionof consumer rightsagainstunlawfulpracticesrelatingtoemolumentattachmentorders,andenforcementofsocio-economicrights.

“In line with this authority, the Commission is entitled to use litigation, alongside other dispute resolution mechanisms, to secure

appropriate redress where human rights have been violated.”

10.1. LITIGATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Minister of Basic Education & 4 others v BEFA & 23 Others (SCA Case No. 20793/2014 & NGHC Case No. 23949/2014) ThismatterrelatestothefailurebytheNationalandtheLimpopoDepartmentofBasicEducation(theDBE)todelivertextbookstoanumberofschoolsinLimpopoprovincein2014.InMarch2014,anumberof Limpopo based school governing bodies and a community organisation namedBasic EducationforAll (BEFA) launched urgent proceedings seeking an order declaring unlawful the failure by theRespondents,whoareeducationalauthorities,todelivertextbookstovariousschoolsinLimpopo.BEFAallegedthattheDBE’sfailuretodelivertextbookstotheaffectedschoolsamountedtoaviolationof,inter alia,therighttobasiceducation,equality,anddignity.BEFAsucceededintheHighCourtinPretoria.

On5May2014, theHighCourt grantedanorderdeclaring the failureby theDBE to complete thedeliveryoftextbookstolearnersinLimpopoabreachofsection29(1)(a)oftheConstitution.Thehighcourt inter aliadeclaredtherighttobasiceducationtoincludetherightofeverylearnerinLimpopotobeprovidedwitheverytextbookprescribedforthelearner’sgradebeforetheteachingofthecurriculumforwhichsuchtextbookisprescribedisduetocommence.

TheDBEappealedwith leaveof thecourta quo totheSupremeCourtofAppeal(SCA)against thejudgmentofthehighcourt.BEFAlodgedacross-appealagainsttherefusalbyTuchtenJ,inthecourta quo,tofindthattheStateRespondentshadfailedtocomplywithapreviouscourtordergrantedbyKollapenJon24October2012.

TheCommissionparticipated inboth theHighCourtand theSCAproceedings. Itsparticipationwasmotivatedbyitsconstitutionalandstatutorymandatetopromotetherespect,protectionandmonitoringofhumanrightsinSouthAfrica.TheCommissionhadearlierinvestigatedandconvenedhearingsontheprocurementanddeliveryoftextbooksnationally.


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TheCommissionmadesubmissionsontheimportanceoftextbookstorealisetherighttobasiceducationandotherrightssuchastherighttoequalityanddignity.MrNgcukaitobiarguedthattextbooksareanessentialcomponentoftherighttobasiceducation.Theleadevidencecontainedininternationalstudies,whichshowedthattheperformanceofpoorlearnersfromruralareaswhohadaccesstotextbookswasbetterthantheperformanceofthosewithouttextbooks.

TheSCAheardtheappealon24November2015andjudgmentwasdeliveredon1December2015.TheSCAdismissedtheappealandoverwhelminglyapprovedthesubmissionsprofferedbytheCommissionandBEFA,whichhadputacrosssimilarargumentstotheCommission.TheSCAconfirmedthattherighttobasiceducationentitleseverylearnertobeprovidedwitheverytextbookprescribedforthelearners’gradebefore thecommencementof thecurriculumyear.TheSCAwenton todeclare that theDBEhadviolatedthelearners’rightstobasiceducation,equalityanddignity,andthattheDBEhadfailedtocomplywithpreviousordersofthecourta quo.

Association of Debt Recovery Agents NPC v The University of Stellenbosch Legal Aid Clinic & Others (CCT Case No. 127/2015 & WCHC Case No. 16703/2014)

Atthetimeofthisreport,thismatterwasonappealbeforetheConstitutionalCourtagainstthejudgmentoftheWesternCapeHighCourt.Itrelatestothedebtcollectionprocedureemployedinthemicro-lendingindustryand theconstitutionalvalidityofsection65Jof theMagistratesCourtAct, (No.32of1994),whichpermitstheattachmentofadebtor’searningsandobligeshisorheremployer(thegarnishee)topayoutofsuchearningsspecificinstalmentstothejudgmentcreditororhisorherattorney.

TheinitialapplicationwaslodgedbytheUniversityofStellenboschLegalAidClinic,actinginthepublicinterestandonbehalfof itsclientswhowerecitedas thesecond tosixteenapplicants in the initialapplication.TheCommissionwasadmittedasanamicus curiae.Someoftheissueswhichariseinthismatter fallwithin theCommission’smandate topromoteaccess to justice, respect forhumanrights,monitor andprevent rights’ abuses, especially in vulnerable communitieswhoareat greater risk ofexploitation. Priortothisjudgment,EmolumentAttachmentOrders(EAOs)wereissuedinthemagistratecourtstocompelemployerstodeductmoneys(instalmentsintermsofjudgmentdebt)owingtocreditors,fromthewagesofemployees.Thiscontinueduntil the fullamountof thedebtwaspaidoff.Suchorderswereissuedbyaclerkofthecourt.Theclerkwasnotobligedtoevaluatetheimplicationsoftheorderonthelivelihoodofthedebtor.Thismeantthattherewasnojudicialoversightintheprocessofissuingsuchorders.Theorderscouldalsobeissuedincourtswherethedebtordidnotliveorwork.Insomeinstances, thedebtors resided inStellenboschbut the judgmentsweregrantedandEAOs issued inKimberley,Wynbergandelsewhere. TheCommissionmadesubmissionsontheimplicationsofthecurrentpracticeinrelationtothegrantingof EAO against debtors. The Commission’s submission was based on South African and foreignjurisprudence in relation to theattachmentofproperty tosatisfyadebt. Ithighlighted thepractice intheUSA,Australia,GermanyandRwanda,whereEAOsarecapped,andrecommendedthatthesameshould be done inSouthAfrica. It alsomade submissions on the implications of attaching salariesof debtors and the correct interpretation of sections of theMagistratesCourtsAct in relation to thegeographicalareaswhereEAOsshouldbegranted. TheCourtfoundinfavouroftheapplicantsandplacedonrecordinthejudgmentitsindebtednesstotheCommissionanditscounselfortheircontributiontotheproceedings.TheCourtwentontodeclarecertainprovisionsofsection65oftheMCAunconstitutionalandinvalidtotheextentthattheyfailedtoprovideforjudicialoversightovertheissuingofanEAOagainstajudgmentdebtor.

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TheRespondentsinthemattera quoproceededtolaunchappealproceedingsbeforetheConstitutionalCourt on 27 July 2015 in this regard. TheCommission has been admitted as anamicus curiae in theConstitutionalCourtbuttheChiefJusticehaslimitedtheCommission’swrittensubmissiontothetreatmentofemolumentattachmentordersinforeignandinternationallawandappropriateremedies.TheappealshallbeheardbeforetheConstitutionalCourton3March2016.

Labia Theatre CC v SAHRC, The RIGHT2KNOW Campaign & Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (WCHC Case no. 8569/2015)

ThisisajudicialreviewapplicationagainstthefindingsandrecommendationsoftheCommission.

InFebruary2012,thePalestineSolidarityCampaign(PSC)approachedLabiaTheatreCC(Labia)toleaseoneofitscinemasforpurposesofscreeningafilmentitledRoadmap to Apartheid(thefilm).ThePSCallegedthatLabiahadinitiallyagreedtoscreenthefilmbutlateradvisedthePSCthatitwouldnolongerleasethecinematothePSC.Labiaallegesthatitdeclinedtoscreenthefilmbecauseofits“controversialpoliticalnature”.ThePSCthenlodgedacomplaintwiththeCommissionallegingthattherefusaltoscreenthefilmamountedtoaviolationoftherightstoequalityandfreedomofexpression.TheWesternCapeprovincialofficeoftheCommissiondeterminedthatthedisputebetweenthePSCandLabiacentredonthecorrectinterpretationtobegiventothetermsoftheagreementbetweenthepartiesanddeemedthatthecourtoflawwasthecorrectforumtoadjudicatetheissuesoftheinterpretationofthecontractbetweentheparties.ThePSCappealedagainstthefindingsoftheWesternCapeprovincialoffice.TheCommissionupheld thePSC’sappealandorderedLabia to screen thefilmwithin threemonthsfromthedateoftheappealfindings.

On8May2015,Labialodgedahighcourtapplicationtodeclareunlawful,andtoreviewandsetasidethe appeal findings. The Commission opposed the judicial review application. The pleadings haveclosed.On16January2016,theCommissionfiledanoticetoenroltheapplicationforhearingbutadatehasnotbeenassignedasyet.

On25May2015,thePCSproceededtolodgeanapplicationintheWesternCapeHighCourtsittingasanEqualityCourtforanorderdirectingLabiatoscreenthefilm.TheCommissionhasbeencitedasarespondentbutnoorderhasbeensoughtagainstitintheEqualityCourtmatter.

Atthedirections’hearingwhichtookplaceon1December2015,JudgeBozalekorderedthat:

i) Thepartiesaretofilealloutstandingpapersby15DecemberintermsofboththereviewapplicationandtheEqualityCourtmatter.Noapplicationsforcondonationarenecessaryinthisregard;

ii) TheCommissionistoobtainanindependentmediatortomediatebothdisputes(thereviewandtheEqualityCourtmatter);

iii) Thepartiesaretoaffordtheirfullco-operationtothemediationprocess;iv) Thedirectionshearingispostponedsine die;andv) Areportistobefiledregardingtheoutcomeofthemediation.

TheCommissionfacilitatedamediationbetweenthepartiesinaccordancewiththeorderofBozalekJon25to26February2016.


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Prophet Paseko Motsoeneng v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, SAHRC & Isaac Mangena (GHCJHB Case No. 23013/2015)

ThisisadelictualactionbroughtbyProphetPasekoMotsoeneng,theplaintiff,againsttheCommission.The plaintiff alleges that the Commission’s head of communications made defamatory statementsagainsthim inFebruary2013.Suchstatementwasallegedlycontained inwrittenanswers tomediarequestsintoaninvestigationthattheCommissionhadlodgedin2011againsttheplaintiff.

Inhisdelictualsuit,theplaintiffassertsthatthestatementwaswrongfulanddefamatory.TheCommissionisdefendingtheaction.

10.2. LITIGATION BY PROVINCIAL OFFICES

InadditiontotheabovementionedconstitutionalandlegislativeprovisionsthatempowertheCommissiontobringproceedingsinacompetentcourtortribunalinitsownname,oronbehalfofapersonorgroupor class of persons, section 20(1)(f) of PEPUDA specifically empowers theCommission to instituteproceedingsintermsofPEPUDA.

Article12(11)oftheCommission’sCHPprovidesthat:

“If the Provincial Manager makes a finding that the complaint should be referred in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Act 4 of 2000)

(hereinafter referred to as “PEPUDA”), the complainant must, within seven days of the finding, be notified thereof, in writing and be advised that the Provincial Manager or any member of

staff, as duly designated may assist him or her in instituting proceedings in the Equality Court, in compliance with PEPUDA and the Regulations Relating to the Promotion of Equality and

Prevention of Unfair Discrimination, 2003 (Government Notice R. 764 of 13 June 2003).”

Againsttheabovebackdrop,theprovincialofficesoftheCommissionundertookanumberoflitigiousinterventionsinthedifferentcourtsacrossSouthAfrica.MostoftheseEqualityCourtcasesinvolvetheuseoftheracialepithetsandotherderogatorycommentswithracialundertonessuchas“baboon”or“monkey”.Inthe2015/2016financialyear,31of51matterslitigatedbytheprovincialofficesrelatedtotherighttoequalityandhatespeech.

TheSupremeCourtofAppeal30heldthat“the word kaffir is racially abusive and offensive and was used in its injurious sense. This was an unlawful aggression upon the dignity of the complainants. The State witnesses testified about how they felt when so insulted by the appellant. It is trite that in this country, its use is not only prohibited but is actionable as well. In our racist past it was used to hurt, humiliate, denigrate and dehumanise Africans. This obnoxious word caused untold sorrow and pain to the feelings and dignity of the African people of this country. The appellant cannot claim that he did not know that the use of such word is offensive and injurious to the dignity of the complainants.”

30 SeePrinsloovTheState[2014]ZASCA96atpara20.

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InPresidentoftheRepublic of South Africa & Another v Hugo31,Goldstone,J,explainedthattheobjectoftheprohibitionofunfairdiscriminationandthemannerofapproachunfairdiscrimination,shouldbedealtwithasfollows:

“The prohibition of unfair discrimination in the interim Constitution seeks not only to avoid discrimination against people who are members of disadvantaged groups, it seeks more than that. At the heart of the prohibition of unfair discrimination lies a recognition that the purpose

of our new constitutional democratic orders, the establishment of a society in which all human beings will be accorded equal dignity and respect, regardless of their membership of particular

groups.”

Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 0 0 3 5Free State 1 0 3 7Gauteng 6 0 7 6KwaZulu-Natal 0 0 1 2Limpopo 3 1 8 7Mpumalanga 6 12 17 17Northern Cape 0 10 9 7North West 10 5 1 1Western Cape 1 14 13 2Totals 27 42 62 54

Table26:Litigationcomplaintsperprovincialoffice

TheGautengprovincialoffice,despitereceivingthehighestnumberofequalitybasedcomplaints,hasnotlitigatedinallsuchmatters.Asthetableaboveshows,theMpumalangaprovincialofficehadthehighestnumberofcomplaintsinlitigationoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.TheKwaZulu-Natalprovincialoffice,whichhistoricallyrecordsthethirdhighestnumberofcomplaintsonanannualbasis,recordedthelowestnumberofcomplaintsinlitigationoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.ThetablebelowhighlightsthecategoriesofcomplaintsthattheCommissionhastakenonlitigationoverthefourfinancialyearsunderreview.

31 1997(4)SA1(CC)atpara41.


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Rights violations 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Equality 11 14 32 31Human dignity 9 8 6 14Freedom of expression 1 11 14 4Property 1 1 0 0Housing 1 2 3 2Health care, food, water & social security

1 3 4 1

Children 0 1 1 1Education 0 1 0 0Cultural, religious and linguistic communities

0 1 1 0

Just administrative action 1 0 0 0Arrested, detained and accused persons

0 0 1 1

No human rights violations listed 2 0 0 0Totals 27 42 62 54

Table27:Litigationcomplaintsperstatus,perfinancialyear

TheoverallnumbersofcomplaintsthattheCommissionhastakenonlitigationnationwideincreasedduringthefirst threeyearsunderreview,but thesenumbersdecreasedat theendof the2015/2016financialyear.ThetableaboveillustratestherightsviolationsincomplaintsthattheCommissionhaslitigated.Inallthefourfinancialyears,equalityrelatedcomplaintswerethemostlitigated,followedbytherighttothefreedomofexpression.

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11. COMPLAINTS RESOLVED THROUGH ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)

Intermsofsection14oftheSAHRCAct,“the Commission may, by mediation, conciliation or negotiation endeavour e– (a) to resolve any dispute; or (b) to rectify any act or omission, emanating from or constituting a violation of or threat to any human right.”32Mediation isdefined in theCommission’sCHPas theprocessofinterventionbetweenpartiesbyanindependentpersonormediatortoreachanagreement,whereasconciliationisdefinedastheprocessofreconcilingamatterbetweenparties.Negotiationisdefinedastheprocessofconferringwithpartiesinordertoreachanagreement.Collectively,thesethreeprocessesarereferredtoasAlternativeDisputeResolution(ADR). Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 0 2 1 2Free State 4 6 2 3Gauteng 3 3 11 3KwaZulu-Natal 3 4 4 5Limpopo 0 0 5 1Mpumalanga 0 0 3 0Northern Cape 0 5 0 2North West 0 0 1 0Western Cape 1 0 0 0Totals 11 20 27 16

Table28:AlternativeDisputeResolution(ADR)complaintsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

Table28showsthenumberofcomplaintsdealtwithbymakinguseofADRmechanisms.ThenumberofmattersresolvedbywayofADRsdeclinedfrom27inthe2014/2015financialyearto16in2015/2016.

TheCommissionutilisesADRmechanismstodealwithcomplaintsonthebasisthattheyaremorecosteffectivethanothermeans,suchas litigation. TheuseofADRmechanismsalsoresult inaspeedyfinalisationofcomplaintssincetheprocesscanbesetupquickly.Importantly,inADRmechanisms,theCommissiondoesnotadjudicateortakesidesindisputesbuttriestoassistthepartiesinreachingandagreeingtoasettlementoftheirdisputethroughconsensusbuilding.Intermsofdealingwithhumanrights’ violationsADRmechanisms secure long lasting resolutions as opposed tomore adversarialcoursesofactionwhich,inmostinstances,polarisesparties.

“The Commission utilises ADR mechanisms to deal with complaints on the basis that they are more cost effective than other means, such

as litigation. The use of ADR mechanisms also result in a speedy finalisation of complaints since the process can be set up quickly.”

32 Section14oftheSouthAfricanHumanRightsAct,40of2013.


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Chapter 9,Article 34(1) of theCommission’sCHP states: “...any party to proceedings under these Procedures, who feels aggrieved by any determination, decision or finding, save for a finding made at a hearing as contemplated in Chapter 7 of these Procedures, may lodge an appeal with the following persons (a) the Chairperson, if the appeal is of a substantive nature regarding any determination, decision or finding of a Provincial Manager, within 45 days from the date of being notified of such determination, decision or finding by post, delivery, facsimile or e-mail; or (b) the Chief Operations Officer, if the appeal is of a procedural nature regarding any determination, decision or finding of a Provincial Manager, within 45 days from the date of being notified of such determination, decision or finding by post, delivery, facsimile or e-mail.”

Graph19:Totalnumberofappealsperfinancialyear

Onaverage,theCommissionreceives160to170complaintsonappealeachfinancialyear.Thehighestnumberof appeals that theCommission recordedwasduring2014/2015as illustrated in thegraphabove.Appealsarefinalisedbyeitherthechiefoperationsofficer(COO),onproceduralgrounds,orthechairpersonoftheCommission,onsubstantivegrounds.

“On average, the Commission receives 160 to 170 complaints on appeal each financial year.”

Provincial office 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Eastern Cape 29 14 22 16Free State 22 33 43 34Gauteng 71 60 58 46KwaZulu-Natal 9 11 24 16Limpopo 4 7 19 16Mpumalanga 0 4 6 9Northern Cape 2 2 6 6North West 5 6 10 13Western Cape 17 21 34 13Totals 159 158 222 169

Table29:Appealsperprovincialoffice,perfinancialyear

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ALS The average number of appeals over the four year period ranged between 160 and 170, with the

exceptionofthe2014/2015financialyearwhentheCommissionreceived222appeals.MostoftheseappealsoriginatefromtheGautengandFreeStateprovincialoffices.Asmentionedinprevioussectionsof thisreport, theGautengprovincialofficerecordsthehighestnumbersofcomplaintsonanannualbasis,andthehighnumbersofappealsrecordedcorrelateswith thenumberofcomplaintsreceivedeach financial year. There is a high number of appeals originating from complaints from the FreeStateprovincialoffice.Thisisduetothesignificantnumberofinternalappealslodgedbycomplainantswhooriginallylodgedcomplaintsfromcorrectionalcentres.Theprovincialofficereceivesasignificantnumberofcomplaintsfallingundersection35oftheConstitution. 12.1. UPHELD VERSUS DISMISSED APPEALS

Fina

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2012-2013 19 1 20 123 5 128 1482013-2014 13 0 13 84 5 89 1022014-2015 5 1 6 132 11 143 1492015-2016 6 1 7 111 8 119 126

Table30:Upheldanddismissedappealsperfinancialyearpercategory

Thetotalnumberofappealsfinalisedeachfinancialyearhavevaried.Thetableaboveshowsthenumberofappealsfinalisedeachfinancialyear,andthenumberofproceduralandsubstantiveappealsupheldanddismissed.Mostappealsthathavebeenfinalisedoverthefourfinancialyearshavebeenprocedural.Onayear-on-yearbasis,theCommissionreceivesmoreproceduralappealsthansubstantiveones.Themajorityofappealsinbothcategoriesaredismissed.


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During the 2015/2016 financial year, the Commission undertook several investigations into allegedviolations of fundamental rights and released four Investigative Reports in which it made adversefindingsagainsttheRespondentsandrecommendedcertainstepsbetakentoredresshumanrights’violations.Theserelateto:

• Theallegedviolationoftheenvironmentalrightintermsofsection24oftheConstitution;• Theconstitutionalityoftheadministrationofcorporalpunishmentinthehome;• Unfairdiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityandaccesstoadequatehousing;and• Thelackofpooraccesstobasicmunicipalservices.

“During the 2015/2016 financial year, the Commission undertook several investigations into alleged violations of fundamental rights and released four Investigative Reports in which it made adverse findings

against the Respondents and recommended certain steps be taken to redress human rights’ violations.”

Thefindingsandrecommendationsintheinvestigativereportsrelatingtotheallegedviolationof theenvironmentalrightandtheadministrationofcorporalpunishmentinthehomeareboththesubjectsofsubstantiveappealsinprogress.

The Western Cape provincial office released two Investigative Reports, while the Free State andGautengprovincialofficeseachreleasedoneInvestigativeReport.

SummariesofeachoftheInvestigativeReportsfollow.ThefullInvestigativeReportsmaybeaccessedfromtheCommission’swebsite(www.sahrc.org.za).

13.1. FREE STATE

Mr Johan Waldemar De Beer v E.C. Incinerators Services (Pty) Ltd (Enviroserv) & Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (FS/1314/0071)

This isan InvestigativeReport into thecomplaint lodgedbyMrJohanWaldemarDeBeeragainstaprivatecompanycalledE.C.IncineratorsServices(Pty)Ltd(Enviroserv)andtheMangaungMetropolitanMunicipality(theMangaungMunicipality).

On24May2013,thecomplainant lodgedacomplaintwiththeCommissioninwhichheallegedthatEnviroservwasviolatinghisrighttoanenvironmentthatisnotharmfultohishealthandwellbeingbyoperatingamedicalwasteincineratorwithintwo(2)kilometresfromhishomeatOrangeGroveFarminBloemfontein.Hefurtherallegedthatasaresultoftheincinerator,theairintheareawaspollutedandthatthisadverselyaffectedhishealth.TheCommissiondeterminedthatthecomplaintconstitutedaprima facieviolationoftheenvironmentalrightintermsofsection24oftheConstitutionandproceededtolaunchafullinvestigationintothismatter.

The complainant further alleged that since hemoved to the farm twoandhalf years from the dateof lodging the complaint he had been suffering from variousmedical conditions, including sinusitis,swollenglandsintheneckandunderthetongue,astuffynose,aburningsensationinthroat,blood

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TS comingoutofhisnose,burningeyes,abadbittertasteinhismouthfromsolidpresentintheairwhichheinhales,dizzinessandheadaches.Heindicatedinthecomplaintthathehadvisitedhisdoctoronseveraloccasionstoreceivemedicalattention.

The complainant also complained of large volumes of black smoke emanating from the incineratorthroughout thedayandnight.HeallegedthathecouldnotgetanyassistancefromtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairswhich toldhim that itdoesnot regulate incinerators.He thenproceeded totelephonicallylodgeacomplaintwiththeMangaungmunicipality’shealthdepartmentandsubsequentlyrequested a copy of Enviroserv’s atmospheric emission licence, which was given to him on 29 May 2013.

InJune2013,theCommissionaddressedanallegationslettertoEnviroserv.Initsresponse,EnviroservallegedthatitsincinerationfacilityunderwentrigorouspermittingprocessesincludingtheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentandPublicParticipationProcessasrequiredbylaw.Itfurtherallegedthatitcompliedwithapplicablelaws,includingtheNationalEnvironmentalManagement:WasteAct,(No.59of2008),andthatithadobtainedawastemanagementlicence.Itdeniedthatitwaspollutingordegradingtheenvironment.

TheCommissionrequestedmonitoringbaseddatafromEnviroservincludingitsauditandemissions’reports.TheinformationrevealedthatEnviroservhadcommissionedanAirQualityImpactAssessmentafterreceivingacomplaintfromthecomplainant.IthadalsocommissionedanambientairsamplingstudywhichallegedlyconcludedthattheambientconcentrationsofVOCandBenzeneatallfoursamplingsitesof the incineration facilitywereminimal and low,and that itwasveryunlikely that anypersonexposedtothemwoulddevelopanyadversehealtheffectsorcancerasaresultofsuchexposure.

Therespondentallegedthatithadatalltimesactedreasonablyandwiththefullknowledgeandapprovaloftheauthorities.

TheMangaungmunicipalityalleged,initsresponsetotheCommission,thatEnviroservwasoperatingonapermitissuedin2001intermsoftheAtmosphericPollutionPreventionAct(No.45of1965)andthatEnviroservwasrequiredtoapplyforanewatmosphericemissionslicenceintermsoftheNationalEnvironmentalManagementAirQuality ControlAct (No. 39 of 2004). During an inspection in loco,the Mangaungmunicipality observed the emission of black smoke which it attributed to personneloverstocking the incinerator. It then issuedacompliancenoticedated7May2013.ThecompliancenoticedirectedEnviroservnottocausepollutionorenvironmentaldegradationandrequiredEnviroservtotakestepstopreventtheexcessiveemissionofblacksmoke.

TheCommissionconsideredtherighttoanenvironmentthatisnotharmfultothehealthandwellbeingintermsoftheConstitutionandotherlegislationenactedtogiveeffecttotheconstitutionalenvironmentalright such as NEMWA, NEMA and NEMAQA. The Commission also considered the relevant caselaw,includingtheTergnietandToekomsActionGroupandOthersvOuteniquaKreosootpale(Pty)LtdandOthers(10083/2008)[2009]ZAWCHC6(23January2009),inwhichthecourtfoundacompanyoperatingwithouttherequiredlicenceundertheairqualitylawstoconstitutetheenvironmentalrightintermsofsection24oftheConstitution.

TheCommissionfoundthatEnviroserv’s failure toensure that itsmedicalwaste incineratorreachedcorrecttemperaturesatallmaterialtimesandtheconsequentexcessiveblackemissionswhichpollutedairintheareaviolatedthecomplainant’sconstitutionalrighttoacleanenvironmentthatisnotharmfultotheirhealthandwellbeing.


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The Commission found that Enviroserv’s failure to ensure that its medical waste incinerator reached correct temperatures at all material times and the consequent excessive black emissions which polluted air in the area violated the complainant’s constitutional right to a clean environment that is not harmful to their health and wellbeing.

TheCommissionrecommendedthat:

a) TheMangaungmunicipality,asthelicensingauthorityunderNEMAQA,isdirectedtousetheprovisionsofsections45orsection46 to revieworvary theAtmosphericEmissionLicenceissuedtoEnviroservhealthcarewasteincineratortoensurethattheconditionsarealignedwithbestpractice,withspecificreferencetocomparativeinternationalregulationwithinaperiodofsixmonths.

b) EnviroservwasrequiredtoprovideproofthatitisabletomeettherequirementsoftherevisedAtmosphericEmissionsLicencebeforeitcouldbeallowedtorecommenceoperations.

Enviroservhasappealedagainstthefindingsandrecommendationsmadeinthismatter.AnappealinthisregardisbeingprocessedbythechairpersonoftheCommission.

13.2. GAUTENG

Lubbe Viljoen v University of Pretoria (GP/2012/0677)

Thismatterconcernsacomplaintlodgedbythecomplainant,MrLubbeViljoen,againsttheUniversityof Pretoria (UP). The complainant alleged inter alia that he had suffered a rare medical geneticmetabolicdiseasesince2006,whichwasdiagnosedasMitochondrialCytopathyin2007.HeallegedthatMitochondrialCytopathy is categorisedas amedical disability.The complainant further allegedthat UP failed to provide him with reasonable accommodation for his medical disability during hispostgraduatestudieswhichresultedinhisacademiccareerbeingnegativelyimpacted.Suchreasonableaccommodationwouldinclude,asrecommendedbythecomplainant’sophthalmologist,adequaterestinbetweenworksessionstorecoverandperformnormally.

TheCommissionnotedthatthecomplainanthadalsolodgedcomplaintsinvolvingongoingacademicissues,includingorderingtheremarkingofthecomplainant’spastexaminationscripts,totheDepartmentof Higher Education and Training (DEHT), the Council for Higher Education (CHE) and the PublicProtector.Basedonapreliminaryassessmentof thematter, theCommissiondetermined that theseacademic issuesshouldbedealtwithby the relevanteducationalauthorities.TheCommission thusconfined its investigation to the allegations relating to the lack of a disability policy at the time thecomplainantlodgedthecomplaint.

TheCommissionaddressedalettercontainingtheallegationmadebythecomplainanttowhichtheUPrespondedinNovember2012bystating inter aliathatitdidnothaveanapprovedStudentDisabilityPolicybutusedthegeneralguidelinesandprocedurespertainingtostudentswithspecialneeds.Suchguidelineshadbeenincorporatedintoadraftpolicywhichwasintheprocessofbeingfinalised.InMay2013,theUPadvisedtheCommissionthatareviewofitsoverallpoliciesandguidelinespertainingtopersonswithdisabilitieshadbeenconducted.TheUPalsoadvisedthatitmadeprovisionforstudents

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As to the honours degree that the complainant could not complete, the UP emphasised that thecomplainantmustcomplywiththerelevantrequirementsinordertobeawardedthedegree.

ThecomplainanthadalsocomplainedthattheUPhadviolatedhisrighttohaveaccesstoinformationintermsofthePromotionofAccesstoInformationAct(No.2of2000)(PAIA).Inparticular,thecomplainantalleged that theUPhadcontravenedsection14(1)(e)ofPAIA in that itdidnot list thecategoriesofrecordsheldbytheUPwhichwereautomaticallyavailable.HealsoallegedthatthehewasforcedtolodgeaPAIArequestfordocumentssuchastheexaminations’regulationsandexaminations’scriptswhich,inthecomplainant’sview,oughttohavebeenautomaticallymadeavailable.

TheCommissionnoted thatwhile other jurisdictions, like theUnitedStatesofAmericaand Ireland,have legislation providing for prevention of discrimination on the basis of disability at university, nosuchdistinct legislation existed inAfrica. InSouthAfrica, legislation suchas thePEPUDAprohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofdisability.

The Commission noted that while other jurisdictions, like the United States of America and Ireland, have legislation providing for prevention of discrimination on the basis of disability at university, no such distinct legislation existed in Africa. In South Africa, legislation such as the PEPUDA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.

TheCommissionproceededtofindinter aliathat:

a) SomeaspectsofthecomplaintfelloutsideofthejurisdictionoftheCommission,inparticularthose relating to ordering retrospective relief, such as the re-mark of any past examinationpapers.

b) Thelackofadisabilitypolicyamountedtoaviolationofsection28ofPEPUDAwhichobligesinstitutionsperformingpublicfunctionstoenactpoliciestoeliminatediscriminationonthebasisofdisability.TheCommissionnoted,however,thatduringthecourseoftheinvestigation,theUPdevelopedthePolicyonStudentwithDisabilities,whichwasimplementedinOctober2013.

c) Given thedisputeof fact,nofindingcouldbemadewhetherornot theUP failed toprovidereasonableaccommodationforthecomplainant.

d) The UP’smanual in terms of section 14 of PAIA did not provide a list of all categories ofautomaticallyavailablerecordsandthatthenoticeintermsofsection15ofPAIAdidnotclearlystatetherecordsthatcouldberequestedwithoutlodgingaPAIArequest.

e) TheUP’sfailuretorespondtothecomplainant’sinternalappealintermsofPAIAdidnotamounttoaviolationofthisAct,andthatPAIAdoesnotprovideforanappealagainsttherefusalofPAIArequestsbyuniversities,butrequiressuchmatterstobedeterminedbyacourtoflaw.However,theCommissionnotedthattheUPoughttohavebeenmoreresponsivetothecomplainantbytimeouslyinforminghimthathedidnothavearighttoappealagainsttherefusalofhisPAIArequest.


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TSThe Commission further disagreed that the examination scripts ought to have been madeautomaticallyavailabletoallpersonsasthatwouldunderminetherighttoprivacyandwouldhaveresources’implications.

TheCommissionwentontorecommendthat:

a) theuniversityundertakethepublicisingormessagingofthedisabilitypolicytothewideruniversitycommunity;

b) theUPreviewsandalignsitprocessesinaccordancewithPAIA;andc) theUPprovidealistofautomaticallyavailablerecordsinitsmanualintermsofsection14

of PAIA.

13.3. WESTERN CAPE

Adriaan Mostert and Others v Joshua Generation Church (WP/1213/0887)

ThisisanInvestigativeReportintoacomplaintlodgedbyfourcomplainants,namely,AdriaanMostert,HannahMostert,SonkeGenderJusticeandCarolBower,againsttheJoshuaGenerationchurch.

Thecomplainantsallegedthatthechurch’sreligiousdoctrinesrequirestheuseofcorporalpunishmentby means of a rod. The complainants further alleged that the respondents asserted that corporalpunishmentdoesnothaveanegativeimpactonachildandtheparentingmanualontherespondent’swebsiteamountedtoapromotionofcorporalpunishmentasameansofdiscipline.TheCommissionattemptedtoresolvethecomplaintbywayofmediationorconciliationbutthepartiesfailedtoreachamutuallyagreeableoutcomeandthemediationprocesswasended.

TheCommissionconsideredthefollowingissueskeytoitsdetermination:

a) Whethertherespondent’sconductamountedtoaviolationoftherightofeverychildtobeprotectedfrommaltreatment,neglect,abuseordegradationintermsofsection28(1)(d)oftheConstitution;

b) Whetherthepromotionofcorporalpunishmentbytherespondentisinconsistentwiththestandardofbestinterestofthechildundersection28(2)oftheConstitution;and

c) Notwithstandingthatthecomplainantshadnotraisedthis,theCommissionalsoneededtodeterminewhetherornottheconductoftherespondentamountedtoaviolationoftherightstoequality,humandignityandfreedomandsecurityoftheperson.

TheCommissionconsideredthelawpromotingandprotectingtherightsofchildrenattheinternational,regionalanddomesticlevel.TheCommissionalsoconsideredcaselawdealingwiththeadministrationofcorporalpunishment.Inparticular,theCommissionconsideredtheChristian Education South Africa v Minister ofEducation2000(4)SA757inwhichSachsJheldthatthebanningofcorporalpunishmentwaspartofacomprehensiveprocessofeliminatingstatesanctioneduseofphysicalforceasamethodofpunishment.

TheCommissionalsoconsideredaminoritydissentingopinionoftheEuropeanCommissionofHumanRightsinCampbell and Cosans v United Kingdomwhichheldthat“corporal punishment amounted to a total lack of respect for the human being…”

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TheCommissionmadefindingsinthefollowingterms:

a) That corporal punishment inany form is inconsistentwith the constitutional valuesandviolatestheprovisionsofinternationalandregionalhumanrightsstandards;

b) Thatcorporalpunishmentamountstoaviolationoftherightofeverychildtobeprotectedfrommaltreatment,neglect,abuseordegradation;

c) Thepre-constitutionalcommonlawofreasonablechastisementviolateschildren’srightstofreedomandsecurityoftheperson;and

d) Thatcorporalpunishmentorchastisementamountstoaviolationoftherighttoequalityandhumandignity.

The Commission made findings in the following terms:

a) That corporal punishment in any form is inconsistent with the constitutional values and violates the provisions of international and regional human rights standard;

b) That corporal punishment amounts to a violation of the right of every child to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation;

c) The pre-constitutional common law of reasonable chastisement violates children’s rights to freedom and security of the person; and

d) That corporal punishment or chastisement amounts to a violation of the right to equality and human dignity.

TheCommissionmaderecommendationsrequiringtherespondenttodesistfromusingandadvocatingforcorporalpunishmentasameansofdiscipliningchildrenandthatitspastorandtrainersinvolvedinpresentingtheparentingcoursetakeacourseonalternativeformsofnon-violentdisciplineofchildren.TheCommissionalsorecommendedthatCabinetshoulddirecttheDepartmentofSocialDevelopmenttoinitiateAmendmentstotheChildren’sAct(No.38of2005),inordertogiveeffecttotheprohibitionofcorporalpunishmentintheprivatesphere(athome)andtoprovideforaccesstojustice,appropriateremedies and appropriate penalties against offenders. Other recommendations to the DepartmentofSocialDevelopment included thedevelopmentofnon-violentparentingcourses,abudget for theinclusionofnon-violentparentinginorderforSouthAfricatomeetitsobligationundertheUnitedNationConventionontheRightsoftheChildandtoreporttotheCommissionwithinsixmonthsfromthedateofthisInvestigativeReport.Finally,theCommissionrecommendedthatacopyofthisreportbegiventotheDepartmentofJusticeandCorrectionalServicesinordertoinformadvocacyprogrammesduringthe16daysofactivismofnoviolenceagainstwomenandchildren.


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TSThe Joshua Generation church has appealed against the findings and recommendations of theCommissioninthismatterandtheappealisunderconsiderationbytheCommission’schairperson.

Netreg Concerned Residents Organisation v City of Cape Town(WP/1213/0055)

This InvestigativeReportconcerns thecomplaint lodgedbyanon-governmentalorganisation,calledNetregConcernedResidentsOrganisation,againsttheCityofCapeTown.ThecomplainantlodgedthecomplaintonbehalfoftheresidentsofNetreg,BonteheuwelwhoresideinrentedhousingunitsthatareownedandmanagedbytheCityofCapeTown.Thecomplaintrelatestoanumberofissuesincludingpoormaintenanceofthehousingunitinwhichtheresidentsreside,lackofaccesstobasicservicessuchaswaterandsanitation,andinadequatestormwaterdrainagesystems.

Inparticular,thecomplainantallegedthatduetopoormaintenance,thehousingunitsareinastateofdisrepairwithceilingsfallingdown,leakingroofsandnon-flushingtoilets.Thecomplainantalsoallegedthat:

a) theresidentsareunabletoaccesstheirhomesduringrainydaysasaresultofthepoordrainagesystemthatcausesfloodinginthearea;

b) thetoiletsarefrequentlyblockedandunabletoflushresultingintheresidentsusingbucketstodisposeofthehumanwasteandhanddugpitlatrines.Attimes,rawsewageoverflowsontotheadjacentproperties;and

c) someresidentshavelimitedaccesstowaterandothershavenoaccessatall.

Aspartofitsinvestigationprocesses,theCommissionconductedaninspectionin locooftheareaandconductedinterviewswiththecomplainantbetweenJuly2012andOctober2012.InOctober2012,theCommissionaddressedanallegations’lettertotheCityofCaperequiringittorespond.InNovember2012,theCityofCapeTownrespondedbydenyingsomeoftheallegationsmadebythecomplainants.It confirmed the stateof disrepair of theelectrical andwater fittingsand the toilets, but blamed theresidentsforthepoorstateofaffairs.Inparticular,theCityofCapeTownallegedthat:

a) theCity ofCapeTownand theWesternCapeProvincialGovernment hadhad severalinteractionswith the complainant in termsofwhich theparties agreed that a surveyofoccupancyandthestructuralconditionofthehousingunitswouldbecarriedout;

b) manyoftheresidents’rentalaccountswereinarrears;c) thebuildingsurveyedwerefoundto(a)bestructurallysoundontheoutside;(b)haveno

constructionfaults;(c)beinastateofdisrepairduetoneglectbytheresidents,andsaidthatthewaterandelectricalfittingsweredamagedorstolen;

d) there is poor communication between the City of Cape Town as the residents do notapproachitforassistance;and

e) theCityofCapeTowncouldnotdisputetheallegedinadequacyofthestormwaterdrainagesystembutagainblamedtheresidentsforcausingtheblockagesofthedrainagesystembythrowingwastedirectlyintoit.

Theallegationsmadeagainst theCityofCapeTownclaimed that the survey that theCityofCapeTownallegedlyundertook,wasconductedinthewrongarea.ThecomplainantfurtherallegedthattheaccrualofarrearrentalswasduetotheoverchargesthattheCityofCapeTownleviedforwaterandtheleakagesofwaterfromthebrokentoilets.

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TS TheCommission considered international,African regional and domestic law, in the area of socio-economicrights.TheCommissionalsoconsideredcaselawincludingthejudgmentinBeja and Others v Premier of the Western Cape and Others(21332/10)[2011]ZAWCHC97;[2011]3AllSA401(WCC)inwhichthecourtquotedparagraph35ofthejudgment inDawood and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others; Shalabi and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others; Thomas and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others [2000]ZACC8;2000(3)SA936 stating inter aliathat “[Human] dignity therefore informs constitutional adjudication and interpretation at a range of levels. It is a value that informs the interpretation of many, possibly all, other rights.” TheCommissionalsoconsideredcaselawdealingwiththerelationshipbetweentherightstodignityandprivacy.

Ontheissueoftheadjudicationofsocio-economicrights,theCommissionlookedattheGovernment of the Republic of South Africa and Others v Grootboom and Others (CCT11/00) [2000] ZACC19;2001(1)SA46;2000(11)BCLR1169inwhichtheConstitutionalCourtfavouredthereasonablenesstestasopposed to theminimumcoreapproach indetermining thereasonablenessof themeasurestakenbythestatetorealisetherighttohaveaccesstoadequatehousingintermsofsection26oftheConstitution.TheCommissionalsoconsideredcaselawdealingwiththegovernment’sobligationstodeliverbasicservicesandtomeaningfulengagementbetweenresidentsandgovernment.

TheissuesthatremainedfordeterminationbytheCommissionwere(a)whetherthestateofthebuildingsandfacilitiesallegedbytheComplainantsisofsuchconditionthatitinfringesontheComplainants’righttoaccesstohousingandsufficientwaterandsanitation;theirrighttoanenvironmentnotharmful totheirhealthorwellbeing,dignity,andtheirrighttoprivacy,and(b)whetherthemunicipalityhadfulfilleditslegalobligationstoremedythesituation.

TheCommissionstatedthatitwascommoncausethatthehousingunitswereinadeplorablecondition.It furthernoted theoutdated inadequate sanitationnetwork, blocked toilets, leaking roofs, damagedceilings,anddamagedelectricalsystem.TheCommissionfurthernotedthat,notwithstandingthattheCityofCapehadbeenmadeawareofthedeplorableconditionsunderwhichtheresidentslived,ithadfailedtotakereasonablestepstorealisetherightsoftheresidentsofNetreg,Bonteheuwel.

TheCommissionfoundthat:

a) theconditionsofthehousingunitsamountedtoaviolationoftheresidents’rightstohaveaccesstoadequatehousing,privacyandhumandignity;

b) the inadequate sanitation services violated the residents’ rights to have access tosanitation,dignityandprivacy.Itfurtherfoundthatthepoorwastedisposalsystemviolatedtheresidents’environmentalright;

c) theCityofCapeTown’sfailuretoremedythedefectsinthehousingunits,afteritacquiredknowledgeofthedefects,wasunreasonable;and

d) therewasnomeaningfulengagementbetweentheparties.

TheCommissionproceededtorecommendthattheCityofCapeTown(a)AdvisestheCommission,withinthreemonthsofreceiptofthesignedreport,ofitsprogressindevelopingaplantoresolvetheproblemswhichhavealreadybeen identified inNetregandsurrounds. Itaddedthat theplanshouldmake provision for urgent repairs as well as ongoing maintenance, and provide clear timeframes;(b)Addresses the communicationbreakdownbetween the residentsand its officials and toengagemeaningfullywiththeresidents;and(c)ReviewsandstrengthensitspublicconsultationandeducationprocessestoensurethatitmeetswiththerequirementofmeaningfulengagementasrequiredbytheConstitution,nationallegislationandasclarifiedbytheConstitutionalCourt.


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14. HEARINGS

Intermsofsection184(2)oftheConstitution,section15(1)(c)and(d)oftheSAHRCActandArticles20to27oftheCHP,theCommissionisempoweredtoconductaninvestigationbywayofhostingahearingwherebyitmayrequireapersontoappearbeforeapresidingcommissionertoanswerquestionsunderoathoraffirmation.Accordingtosection184(2)(c)and(d)oftheConstitution,theCommissionisempoweredtocarryoutresearchandtoeducate.InadditionSection13(3)oftheSAHRCAct,statesthattheCommissioniscompetenttoinvestigateonitsowninitiativeoronreceiptofacomplaint,anyallegedviolationofhuman rights,and if,afteradue investigation, theCommission isof theopinionthatthereissubstanceinanycomplaintmadetoit,itmust,insofarasitisabletodoso,assistthecomplainant,andotherpersonsadverselyaffectedthereby,tosecureredress.

“The Commission applies a mixed methods’ approach whereby the hearing process is conducted in two key phases, namely conducting a number of public hearings whereby identified stakeholders are invited to make written and/or oral submissions under and oath or affirmation

before the hearing panel.”

Section15(1)oftheSAHRCstatesthat[P]ursuant to the provisions of section 13(3) the Commission may, in order to enable it to exercise its powers and perform its functions:

(a) Conduct or cause to be conducted any investigation that is necessary for that purpose;(b) through a commissioner, or any members of staff duly authorised by a commissioner

require from any person such particulars and information as may be reasonably necessary in connection with any investigation;

(c) require any person by notice in writing under the hand of a member of the Commission, addressed and delivered by a member of its staff or a sheriff, in relation to an investigation, to appear before it at a time and place specified in such notice and to produce to it all articles or documents in the possession or custody or under the control of any such person and which may be necessary in connection with that investigation: provided that such notice must contain the reasons why such person’s presence is needed and why any such article or document should be produced; and

(d) through a Commissioner, administer an oath to or take an affirmation from any person referred to in paragraph (c), or any person present at the place referred to in paragraph (c), irrespective of whether or, not such person has been required under the said paragraph (c) to appear before it, and question him or her under oath or affirmation in connection with any matter which may be necessary in connection with that investigation.”

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Article 21 of theCHP states that in resolving a complaint, theCommission is entitled, inter alia, toconducthearingsinthefollowinginstances:

(a) if a complaint cannot be resolved by way of conciliation, negotiation or mediation;(b) if a hearing will offer an appropriate solution regarding the complaint;(c) if it is in the public interest;(d) if the complaint cannot be fairly decided on the basis of documentary evidence or written

statements submitted by the parties or any other person having information relevant to the complaint only; or

(e) if a party requesting a hearing supplies reasonable grounds.

Moreover,intermsofarticle26oftheCommission’sCHP,thehearingpanelmustconsiderinformationand/or evidence submitted at the hearing together with other forms of information obtained by theCommission.Followingthis,thepanelmustsummarisetheinformationreceivedandmaymakefindingsand recommendations.

Duringthe2015/16financialyear,theCommissionhostedtwonationalhearingstoaddresscomplaintsidentifiedasbeingsystemicinnature,requiringthemtobeprobedatabroaderlevel.TheaforementionedsectionsformthebasisofinitiatingtheCommission’sinterventioninrespectofnationalhearings.

Thenatureof thehearingprocess isgenerally inquisitorial,asopposed tobeingaccusatorial,as itsprimaryobjectiveistoenlightentheCommissionaboutthechallengesconfrontingvariousstakeholdersin addressing systemic human rights violations. During this process, a wide number of relevantstakeholders,includingorgansofstate;civilsocietyandnon-profitorganisations;representativebodies;experts;andcommunities,amongothersareinvitedtoparticipate.

TheCommissionappliesamixedmethods’approachwherebythehearingprocessisconductedintwokeyphases,namelyconductinganumberofpublichearingswherebyidentifiedstakeholdersareinvitedtomakewrittenand/ororalsubmissionsunderandoathoraffirmationbeforethehearingpanel.Thepanelthenposesquestionsinordertoacquireadditional informationorclarityoninformationarisingfromsubmissions.Followingtheconductingofthepublichearings,ananalysisofinformationreceivedinadditiontoanalysisofsecondarysourcesthroughdesktopresearchisconducted.

Duringthe2015/2016financialyear,thefollowinghearingswereconducted:

• NationalHearingRelatingtotheHumanRightsSituationofIndigenousPeoplesinSouthAfrica(25-26November2015;9-10December2015;18January2016;11-12and14-15April2016)

• NationalHearingonUnfairDiscriminationintheWorkplace(8March2016)


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National Hearing Relating to the Human Rights Situation of Indigenous Peoples in South Africa

Thereisnointernationallyrecogniseddefinitionoftheterm“indigenouspeoples”,33andalthoughtheCommissionnotesthatmultipleAfricancommunitiesinSouthAfrica, includingNguni,Sotho-Tswana,VendaandTsonga-speakers,identifythemselvesasindigenous,forthepurposeofthisinvestigation,referencetoindigenouspeopleswaslimitedtothedifferentgroupsoftheKhoiandSanpeoplesinSouthAfrica.

Thepeculiarissuesfacedbyindigenouspeoplesbegantogainmomentumthroughtheestablishmentof the United Nations (UN) Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations (1985), the adoption of theInternationalLabourOrganisationConventionNo.169onIndigenousandTribalPeoplesinIndependentCountries (1989), and the adoption of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of IndigenousPeoples34(2007).

Thesituationof indigenouspeoplesgloballyhasbeendescribedascriticalandprecarious,35 noting thesystemicdiscrimination,marginalisationandexclusionfromsocial,politicalandeconomicaffairs.Indigenouspeopleshavehistoricallysufferedhorrificinjusticesincludingdispossessionofland;forcedassimilation;dehumanisationandextermination.Thishistoricallegacyisadirectresultofthewidespreadpovertyandexclusionstillexperiencedtoday,andindigenouspeoplesaresomeofthemostpovertystricken in theworld,andasagroup,areover-represented in thiscategory.TheKhoi-San inSouthAfricaarenoexception,andalthoughtheyformonlyasmallportionof thepoor inthecountry, theirdire situation is exacerbatedbymultiple factors, including thepervasivenegative stigmaand socialexclusion,adecliningculture,lackofofficialrecognitionandastrongpoliticalvoice,whichessentiallygiverisetomultiplerightsviolationswhichoccuronadailybasis.

ThecomplaintslaidattheCommissionhavepredominatelyfocusedon,butarenot limitedtoissuesdealing with equality, language, education, land redistribution, and the lack of recognition of theindigenouscommunitiesandtheirrespectiveleadership.Thesecomplaintshaveeitherbeenbroughtforwardonanindividualbasis,collectivelybytheKhoisanCouncil,orbytheLeadersandChiefsoftheindigenouscommunitiesatvariousroundtablemeetingshostedbytheCommission.

On27April2015,theCommissionreceivedamemorandumfromtheGautengProvincialKhoiandSanCouncil,whichwassimultaneouslydelivered to theCRLCommission, thePublicProtectorofSouthAfrica,andtheConstitutionalCourt.

33 The term “indigenous” has been the source of contention in theAfrican context,withmany countries advancing theideaof indigeneity of allAfricans toAfrica,which is particularly due to thedesire to promote ideals of national unityinamulticultural context.TheAfricanCommission’sWorkingGroupnotes thatdominationandcolonisationhavenotbeenexclusivelypracticedbywhitesettlersandcolonialists,andlimitingtheterm“indigenous”tothiscontextmaymakeitdifficult toapply the termmeaningfully inAfrica. WhileallAfricansmay rightlybeconsidered indigenous toAfrica,recognitionmustbegiventothefactthatsomegroupsarestructurallymoremarginalisedandvulnerablethanothers,leadingtosystemicdiscriminationandincreasedvulnerability.

Thetruespiritoftheterm,asexplainedbytheAfricanCommission’sWorkingGroup,isnotaimedatonegroupgainingadvantage over another nor is it aimed at promoting ethnic, cultural or racial distinction, but seeks to provide equalopportunitiesandavoicetoseverelymarginalisedgroups.Thehistoricallegacyofsubordinationanddispossessionfromlandandnaturalresources,togetherwiththedistinctculturesandwaysoflifeofindigenouspersonshasgivenrisetotherealitythatindigenouspeoplescontinuetosufferfromdiscriminationandmarginalisation,andfrequentlyhavelessrepresentationandaccess to recourse throughgovernment institutions. In thisway, thedesire to identify indigenouspeopleswithinthebroadersocietyservesasatoolfordemocracyandtheprotectionoffundamentalrightsandprotectionsforallpersons(AfricanCommissiononHumanandPeoplesRights“ReportoftheAfricanCommission’sWorkingGroupofExpertsonIndigenousPopulations/Communities”(2005), p101-103).

34 UNGeneralAssemblyResolutionA/RES/61/295,2October2007.35 UnitedNations“StateoftheWorld’sIndigenousPeoples”(2009),p1.

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The Commission notes that the memorandum outlined, among others, concerns relating to racialclassification,language,accesstohousingandland,theconcernofindigenouspeoplesincelebratingFreedomDayandHumanRightsDayunless their rights todignityandequalityare fully restored intermsoftheUnitedNationsontheRightsofIndigenousPeoples,andallegationsofviolenceagainsttheindigenouscommunitiessincethe“arrivaloftheBantugroupingsinthe1440sandthewhitesettlersin1652”.36

Inlightoftheabove,theCommissionresolvedtohostaseriesofpublichearingsthroughoutthecountrywithaviewofunderstandingprevailingchallenges, themeasures takenby theState toaddress thechallengesandtoidentifyappropriatepracticalmeasureswhichcanbefurtherimplementedtoaddressthese.HearingswerehostedinGauteng,theWesternCapeandNorthernCape,wherecommunities,civilsocietyorganisations,academicsandorgansofstatewereinvitedtoparticipate.

Inessence, the Inquiry found thatSouthAfricahasbeenprogressive in respectof theprotectionofthe rights of indigenous peoples,which include the establishment of numerous specific bodies andinstitutionsandtheenactmentofmultiple lawsandpoliciesaimedatpreventingunfairdiscriminationandprotectingtherightsofindigenouspeoples.Theseinclude,inter alia,anabundanceoflawsaimedatprotectingtherightsofindigenouspeoples’indigenousknowledgesystemsaswellasplanswithrespecttotherestitutionofland.However,theseefforts,ontheirown,areinsufficienttoadequatelyprotectandpromotetherightsofindigenouspeoples,andanoverallfailuretoeffectivelydesignandimplementlawsandpolicieshasinevitablygivenrisetoasituationwherebytheirrightscontinuetobeeroded.

Asaresultofcolonisationandapartheid,theKhoi-SaninSouthAfricabecamevirtuallyinvisibleasadistinctgroup,forciblyassimilatedintootherethnicgroupsandclassifiedas“Coloured”.Thesepeopleswerethereforesystematicallydeniedrecognitionasapeopleofequalworthandvalue,andthuswereessentiallydeniedtotherighttotheirveryexistenceasadistinctgroup.Notwithstandingthehistoricsignificanceof thecountry’s transition toademocracy foundedondignity,equalityandfreedom, theCommission has recognised as a serious concern the continued failure to officially recognise theKhoi-San peoples in the current democratic dispensation,with their continued ethnic categorisationas “Coloured”.After centuriesof forcedassimilation; discriminationanddehumanisation, this officialrecognitionformsanimperativecomponentintheabilitytheKhoi-Sanpeoplestolivealifeofdignityandrespect.

36 Thememorandumcalledforthefollowingrelief:• AnamendmentoftheConstitutiontoincludeandrecognisetheSanandKhoiasthefirstindigenouspeoplesof

SouthAfrica;• Anamendmentof theConstitution toprovide forparticipationof the indigenouspeoples in theparliamentary

processesintermsoftheHouseofTraditionalLeadership;• Reclassificationoftherace/nationofKhoi-Sanpeopletoindigenouspeoplesandnot‘Coloured’;• ThepromotionoftheKhoi,NamaandSanlanguages;• Anamendmentof theBroad-BasedBlackEconomicEmpowermentandAffirmativeActionpolicies to include

Khoi-SanandColouredpeoples;• Theprovisionofaffordablehousingfortheindigenouspeoples;• Restitutionofland;and• IntegrationofformerKhoi-SanSouthAfricanDefenceForceSoldiersandCapeCorpsMilitaryPersonnelintothe

SouthAfricanMilitaryServices.


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Asaresultofacombinationofamultitudeoffactors,includinginter-marriage,forcedassimilationandtheoppressionofKhoi-Sanidentityandcultureduringthecolonialandapartheideras,thepracticeoftraditional cultures and the use of traditional Khoi-San languages has significantly and consistentlydeclined.Inaddition,themarginalisationofindigenouspeoplesmeansthattheyareoftennotrepresentedinthedecisionmakingbodiesofthestate,andlackthevisibilityandpoliticalleveragetoensurethattheirvoiceisheard.Thisgivesrisetoasituationwherethespecialneedsandviewsofindigenouspeoplesarenottakenintoaccount,andmayleadtofurtherdiscrimination.

Accessto landisofparamount importanceto indigenouspeoples,notonlyasaresultof theirclosespiritual linkto land,but isalsovital inensuringthattheyareableto liveauniquewayof life in linewith their cultural beliefs. It is well established that the link between the multiple socio-economicchallengesfacedbyindigenouspeoplesisdirectlyattributabletothepastdiscriminatorypracticesanddispossessionofland.Inunderstandingtheinterdependenceofrights,thehearinghighlightedthefactthattheachievementofanumberofotherrights,includingthoseofself-determination,development,culture,andtheprogressiverealisationofsocio-economicrights,isthuspredicatedonthefulfilmentoftherightofaccesstoland,territoriesandnaturalresources.AlthoughsomelandhasbeenreturnedtoindigenouspeoplesinSouthAfrica,thishasbeenrestrictedtosmallgroups.IthasbeeninsufficienttomeettheneedsofthemajorityofKhoi-Sanpeoples,whiletheprovisionoflandwithoutthenecessarycapacityandskillsdevelopmenttoaccompanythismeasurehasfurtherhinderedtheabilityofthesepeoplestofullyrealisetheirrights.

TheCommission’sInquirymayhavecontributedtoimprovedaccesstojusticeforindigenouspeoplebyencouraginga recognitionof them inSouthAfrica,allowingaplatformforpublicexpression,andenhancinganunderstandingoftherightsandpersistentchallenges.MoreisrequiredtobedonebytheState,however,toensurethatthevisionoftheConstitutionmayberealised.

Therightsofindigenouspeopleareintegralandindispensablefortheircontinuedexistenceasapeoplewithdistinctculture,values,identityandwayoflife.Inthisregard,itisnotedthatnationalidentityisnotcomprisedofdominantidentitiesandculturesalone,butisbuiltuponthefoundationofallcultureswithinastate,andtheprotectionandpromotionofdiverseculturesonanequallevelisanimportantaspectofmaintainingournationalheritage.

While theconstitutionalguaranteeofcultural rights isagoodstartingpoint, thisalone is insufficientto fulfil theobligationsof theState.Therefore,what is required ismore thananabstention fromthepreventionofanexerciseofrights.Theobligationsofthestatetorespect,protect,promoteandfulfilrightsspeakstotheneedtoestablishanenvironmentinwhichpeoplearefreelyandequallyabletorealisetheirrightsthroughtheimplementationofpositivemeasuresdesignedandcapableofactuallypromotingtherealisationoftheserights.

In light of all availableevidence, theCommission’s recommendations, althoughnot prescriptiveontheformthatmeasuresandmechanismsdesignedtoachievetheprogressiverealisationofrightsforindigenouspeoplesshouldtake,stressesthedireneedformeasuresthatarecapableofrebuildingtrustbetweentheKhoi-Sanpeoples,othersocialgroups,andtheState.ItemphasisesthatthetruehealingofindigenouspeoplesinSouthAfricacannottakeplaceinanenvironmentinwhichtheirrightscontinuetobeeroded.

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National Hearing on Unfair Discrimination in the Workplace

Prior to1994, the institutionalisedsystemofsegregationunderapartheidwasbasedonoppressionand discrimination. While racial discrimination was the most obvious manifestation, other forms ofdiscrimination inherently developed, including on the basis of gender and disability among others,resultinginasystemofprivilegeanddisadvantage.Asaresultofthislegacy,thefundamentalimportanceofequalityisemphasised,andconsequentlyformsoneofthefoundingprinciplesoftheConstitution.

Despitetheexistenceofanumberoflawsandpoliciesaimedatpreventingunfairdiscriminationandpromotingtheachievementofequality,widespreadinstancesofdiscriminationpersistinSouthAfricansociety,includingintheworkplace.TheCommissioncontinuestoreceiveindividualcomplaintswhichindicatesystemicissuesrelatingtodiscriminationintheworkplace.Indeed,labourrelatedcomplaintshavecontinuouslyformedpartoftheTop5RightsViolationsreceivedbytheCommissionoverthelastfewyears,togetherwithcomplaintsrelatingtoequality.

Data and research on racial, gender and disability-based discrimination, particularly in relation toemploymentdiversity,managementdiversityandwagediscrepancy,isreadilyavailable.However,initialresearchconductedreveals thatagapexists inunderstandingtheoverall trends indiscrimination intheworkplace inSouthAfrica,particularlywith regard todiscriminationongroundsother than race,genderanddisability.Further,studiesthatareavailabledonotalwaysseektoidentifyissuesrelatingtosystemic formsofdiscriminationoutsideofemploymentequityandwage related factors,andarethereforeunabletoprovideinsightintotheunderlyingcausesandcontributingfactors.Onthisbasis,theCommissionresolvedtohostanationalhearinginvestigatingunfairdiscriminationintheworkplaceinorder todevelopadeeperunderstandingof theoverallequality trends in theworkplace inSouthAfrica,andtoanalysewhy,notwithstandinganabundanceoflawsandpoliciesinplace,discriminationintheworkplacepersistsonawidescale.WhilekeepingthescopebroadtoenabletheCommissiontoexamineallformsandmanifestationsofdiscrimination,thehearingalsolookedattheprevalenceofdeeperformsofstructuralorinstitutionaliseddiscrimination.

Notwithstandingthevitalrolesplayedbyeachstakeholderinrelationtolabourrelationsandthepromotionofequalityintheworkplace,theCommission’sInquiryrevealedthatlimited,andinsomeinstances,nointeractionbetweenthepartiestakesplace,resultinginasomewhatsiloapproachtoissues.

It is noted that most submissions received were limited to an exploration of direct discrimination,and generally neglected considerations of access barriers, indirect or institutionalmanifestations ofdiscrimination.Moreover,themajorityofsubmissionsfocusedonissuesofracial,genderanddisabilitydiscrimination and, to a lesser extent, discrimination on the basis of language, culture and religion,age, andHIVandAids.Despite ananalysis of complaints’ trendshighlighting discrimination on thebasisofsexualorientationasconsistentlyfeaturingwithinthetop10discriminationgrounds,almostnosubmissionsspecificallydealtwiththis.

Stakeholdersrecognisedthatsignificantadvancesandgainshadbeenmadeinlabourpracticessince1994. However, in asmuch as trends showed that unfair discrimination was still pervasive in theworkplace,therewasalsoarecognitionthattherearenumerousinstanceswhereunfairdiscriminationmayoccurinconspicuouslyorremainunreported.Therefore,whileananalysisoftheavailabledatamaybeindicativeofthegeneraltrends,thesearenotnecessarilyanaccuratereflectionoftherealityontheground,particularlyduetothefactthatmanynewgroundsofdiscriminationfrequentlyemergeandarenotnecessarilywellunderstood.


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Alackofawareness,inthisway,significantlyimpactsonthereportingandtheincidenceofdiscussionanddebateontheseissues.Whatisrequiredtherefore,isacarefulconsiderationandcommittedrecognitionoflesserknownformsofdiscriminationandofnotingthatthevulnerabilityofpersonssufferingfromsuchformsofdiscriminationmaybeamplifiedduetoitsinherentlyinconspicuousmanifestation.

Therighttoequalityisbroadandall-encompassing,andrequiresanexaminationofthenexusbetweenthenumerousvariables thathavecontributed to thevast inequalitiesstill prevalent inSouthAfricansociety.Thehistorical inequalities in the country asa result of apartheid, thegrowinggapbetweenrichandpoor,andtheprevalenceofpovertyinthecountry,requirethatinterventionsthatareaimedatpromotingandrealisingtherighttoequalitybegroundedinitssubstantiveform.Assuch,thechallengeofachievingequalityinvolvestheeradicationofsystemicformsofdominationandmaterialdisadvantagebasedonrace,gender,classandothergroundsofinequality.37Morethanthemereabsenceofunfairdiscrimination is therefore required: a commitment to advance those who continue to suffer fromdisadvantageandinequitableopportunitiesisneeded.

As at the end of the 2015/2016 financial year, the drafting of the reports into the abovementionedNationalHearingswasinprogress.TheCommissionaimstopublictheHearingReportsinthe2016/2017financialyear.

37 Albertyn,C&Goldblatt,B.(1998).FacingtheChallengeofTransformation:DifficultiesintheDevelopmentofanIndigenousJurisprudenceofEquality,SouthAfricaJournalonHumanRights,14,p.248-270.

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15. CONCLUSION

Duringthe2015/2016financialyear, theCommissioncontinuedtodeliveron itsmandatetoprotect,promoteandmonitorhumanrightsinSouthAfrica.Thisannualtrends’analysisreportcontainsindicatorsthathavebeenderivedfromthedatacollectedfromtheenquiriesandcomplaintsintoallegedhumanrightsviolationthatwerelodgedwiththeprovincialofficesoftheCommission.Thisreportalsodrawsacomparisonbetweentheindicatorsofthepastthreefinancialyearsandthoseofthe2015/2016financialyear.

Throughthisandpreviousannualtrends’analysisreports,theCommissionhasbeenabletoidentifycomplaints that have consistently comprised themajority of the overall complaints received by theCommission. This has enabled the Commission to track rights’ violations that are prominent andsometime systemic. Throughout the four financial years under review, an overwhelmingmajority ofthe complaints received by theCommission related to the alleged violation of the right to equality.Insomeinstances,theequalityrelatedcomplaintswereonthebasisofderogatoryutteranceswhichconstitutehatespeech.Discriminationonthebasisondisabilityandethnicandsocialoriginrespectivelycomprisedsecondandthirdcommongroundsofdiscrimination.

Despite the Constitution and the plethora of anti-racisms laws, racism remains endemic in SouthAfrica.Thisisindicativeofthefactthatthelegacyofcolonialismandapartheidwhichwasshapedbysegregation,oppressionandinstitutionaliseddiscriminationcouldnotbeundoneovernight.

GiventheprevalenceofracismandtheconstantlyrisingnumberofracismrelatedcomplaintslodgedwiththeCommission,particularlycomplaintsrelatingmainlytoallegationsofracismperpetuatedmainlythroughtheuseofsocialmedia,theCommissionchosetofocusonthescourgeofracisminSouthAfricaasathematicsegmentofthisannualtrends’analysisreport.

Byvirtueof itspositionasaNationalHumanRightsInstitution,theCommissionservesasathoughtleaderonthesubjectoftheadvancementofhumanrightsbroadlyand,byextension,ontheeradicationofrights’violations,includingracerelateddiscriminationandotherrelatedintolerances.TheCommissionisintheprocessofdevelopingacomprehensivestrategytoaddressracismandxenophobiathroughallof itsregularactivities.ItwillendeavourtoincludetheactivitieshighlightedinSouthAfrica’sDraftNationalActionPlantoCombatRacism,RacialDiscrimination,XenophobiaandRelatedIntolerances(NAP)withinthisstrategy.Moreover,knowledgegainedthroughdialogueandresearchactivitiesmaysignificantlyenhancetheworkoftheCommissioninseekingtoensurethatNAPrelatedactivitiesarerelevant andeffective.As an institutionwith a presence in all nine provinces, theCommission alsoservesasausefulandneutralplatformforthepromotionoftheNAPandasanaccessibleroutethroughwhichallSouthAfricanswillbeabletofamiliarisethemselveswiththeinstrument.TheCommissionisthereforewellpositionedtoeducatepeopleinSouthAfricaabouttheNAPanditsrelevance.However,theCommissionmay require additional funding and staffing in order to properly pursue this addedresponsibilityandwouldhavetoplanstrategicallytomakeoptimaluseoflimitedcapacityandresourcestoachievethis.

Byandlarge,overthefourfinancialyearsunderreview,theCommissionachievedthetargetssetoutinthe2014–2017StrategicPlanoftheCommission.TheseincludethattheCommissionexceedthe85%targettofinaliseallcomplaintslodgedwiththeCommission.TheCommissionhasalsotrackedrights’violationsthatformthesubjectofthemajorityofcomplaintsthatarelodgedwithit.ThishasenabledtheCommissiontoidentifywaystoimprovetheefficiencyofhandlingpersistentviolationsofcertainrights,andtoadoptappropriatemeasurestoaddressthese.


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TheCommissionhasalsocontinuedtouselitigationasatooltoprotectandpromotehumanrightsofthepoorandmarginalised.Ithasassistedcommunitiesandindividualstohaveaccesstojusticethroughthefreelegalrepresentationitprovidedtothem.

TheCommissionremainsconcernedattherateofhumanrightsviolationsinthecountry.Itnoteswithconcern,inter alia,(a)thepoorinfrastructureandlackofessentialmedicationandshortageofstaffatsomepublichospitalsandclinics,(b)thelackofaccesstosufficientwaterandbasicsanitationparticularlytotheresidentsofinformalsettlementsandruralareas,(c)thelackofaccesstoadequatehousing,(d)theadministrationofcorporalpunishmentatschoolsdespitesuchpunishmenthavingbeenoutlawedmanyyearsago,andmanyotherviolationsofrightthatunderminethetransformationalimperativesoftheConstitution.Mostofall,theCommissionisdeeplyconcernedatthescourgeofracismthatvexesourcountryandcontinuestounderminedignity.SouthAfrica’shistoryhasbeenshapedbysegregation,oppression and institutionaliseddiscrimination.However,SouthAfrica denounced thediscriminatorylawsandpracticesofapartheidwhenitbecameaconstitutionaldemocracyin1994.

Itisbelievedthattheindicatorsinthisannualtrends’analysisreportwillinformtheworkofprovincialofficesandotherbusinessunitsoftheCommissiontoimplementmeasures,programmesandstrategiestoaddresshumanrightsviolationsinthecountry.It isalsohopedthattheCommission’sAdvoCommUnitadoptsstrategiestogetthemessageacrosstomembersofthepublicthatracismhasnoplaceinourconstitutionaldemocracyandthatitisinimicaltotheconstitutionalvaluesofequality,humandignityandnon-racialism.

TheCommissionwillalsorequestrelevantorgansofstatetoprovideitwithinformationonthemeasuresthattheyhavetakentowardstherealisationoftherightsintheBillofRightsconcerninghousing,healthcare, food, water, social security, education and the environment in terms of section 184(3) of theConstitution.Giventhescourgeofracism,theCommissionwillliaisewiththerelevantorgansofstatetoimplementmeasuresaimedattheachievementofequalityintheareasofresponsibilitybyeliminatinganyformofunfairdiscriminationortheperpetuatingofinequalityinanylaw,policyorpractice.

Atamacrolevel,intermsofsection181(5)oftheConstitution,theCommissionisrequiredtoreporttotheParliamentofSouthAfricaonitsactivitiesandtheperformanceofitsfunctions.Accordingly,thisannualtrends’analysisreportwillbesubmittedtoParliamentwithotherreportsontheCommission’sactivities and the performance of its functions. It is hoped that the indicators in this annual trends’analysisreportwillprovidesomevalueinassistingParliamentintheexerciseofitspowerstoconsider,pass,amendorrejectanylegislationbeforetheHouseofAssemblyandtoensurethatthatallexecutiveorgansofstateinthenationalsphereofgovernmentaccounttoitonallthemeasurestheyhavetakentoensurethatthattherightsintheBillofRightsarerespected,protected,promotedandfulfilled.

It is the view of theCommission that the aspirations of ourConstitutionwill have a hollow ring aslongasviolationsofhumanrightsremainprevalentinoursociety.TheCommissionremindseveryonethat theprovisionsof theBillofRightsbindnaturalor juristicpersons intermsofsection8(2)of theConstitution.Against this backdrop, the Commission will continuously engage with all stakeholdersincludinggovernment,civilsocietyorganisation,individualsandcommunitiestodevelopawarenessoffundamentalrightsinordertopromoteunderstanding,mutualrespectandequality.

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1 Annexure 1

PHONE FAX WRITE E-MAIL VISIT ONLINE

COMPLAINTFORMCompletedbycomplainant,somoneonhis/herbehalf,staffmember

ADMINISTRATIVESECRETARYRegister(flowcentric),openfile,acknowledgereceipt,submittoPM

PROVINCIALMANAGER(PM)Screening,assessment,makefinding

Reject Refer Accept

Closefile InvestigationFurtherinformation,

allegationsletter

Direct Indirect

Finding Negotiation and conciliationNoreport Report

Close Closefile Notresolved

Finalreport Closefile Mediation

Closefile Resolved Notresolved

NOTE:• Legal proceedings [sec 7(1)(e) of theAct; sec

20(1)(f)ofPEPUDA] -any timeafter receiptofacomplaint

• Appeal(Chapter9oftheProcedures)-anytimeafterfindingofPM

• Judicial review - after appeal (sec 78 ofPAIA;sec6ofPAJA)

Closefile Hearing

Resolved Closefile

Closefile

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