Fourth Annual Report December 1998 - December 1999 South African Human Rights Commission 4th Annual Report December 1998 December 1999 Table of contents Page Preface ………………………………………………………………………………… v Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………… vii 1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………….. 1-8 Overview of 1999 ……………………………………………………… 1 The human rights environment ………………………………………. 2 Relations with government …………………………………………… 4 Relationship with Parliament ………………………………………..…. 5 International relations …………………………………………………... 5 Annual Planning Meeting ………………………………………………. 7 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………. 8 2. Major Projects of 1999 …………………………………………………… 9-16 Equality …………………………………………………………..……… 9 Racism and Racial Discrimination ……………………………….. 9 Inquiry into Racism in the Media …………………………………. 10 Other equality activities ……………………………………………. 11 Roll Back Xenophobia Campaign……….………………………. 12 Human rights in the criminal justice system ………………………….. 13 Interventions ………………………………………………….…… 14 HIV/AIDS Seminar ……………………………………….…………….… 15 The rights of older persons ………………………………………….…. 16 3. Finance ………………………………………………………………………..17-22 Balance Sheet March 1999 …………………………………….………. 18 Income Statement March 1999 ………………………………………… 19 Budget 1999/2000 ……………………………………………………….. 20 Report of the Auditor-General ………………………………………….. 21 4. Administration …..………………………………………….…….………… 23-27 Office Developments ………………………………………………….. 23 New provincial offices …………………………………………… 23 Staffing …………………………………………………………… . 23 Information technology advancements ………………………… 25 Management and quality procedures …………………………… 26 Fundraising ………………………………………………………………. 26 The South African Human Rights Commission Trust …………. 26 Donors ……………………………………………………………… 27 ii 5. Promoting Human Rights …………………………………………………. 28-38 Awareness and Information …………………………….……………. 28 International Human Rights Day 1998 …………………………… 28 Human Rights Week 1999 ………………………………………. 28 Stop Racism Now Competition ………………………………….. 29 Africa Human Rights Day ………………………………………... 29 10 December 1999 ……………………………………………….. 30 Media Activity ……………………………………………………... 30 Analysis of print media coverage …………………………… 31 Publications ………………………………………………………... 32 Education and Training ………………………………………………... 33 Formal Education ………………………………………………….… 33 SAHRC Addresses Racism in Schools …………………………. 34 Non-formal Education …………………………………………….… 35 Support to Government Departments ………………………….. 36 Human Rights Education and Training Centre ………………... 36 National and International Co-operation ……………………….. 38 6. Protecting Human Rights ……………………………………….………… 39-54 Major Inquiries …………………………………………………………. 39 Child Sexual Abuse Investigation ……………………………….. 39 Policing and Prison Matters …………………….. ………………… 40 Complaints Handling …………………………………………………... 41 Complaints Database …………………………………………….. 41 Complaints Statistics – Gauteng ………………………………... 41 Resumé of National Cases ………………………………………….… 42 Racial Discrimination – Tertiary Institutions ..……………... 42 Freedom and Security ………………………………………. 42 Medical Rights ……………………………………………….. 42 Access to Court ……………………………………………… 43 Right to Appeal ………………………………………………. 43 Intervention in Schools ……………………………………… 43 Child Rights …………………………………………………... 45 Racism in the Public Services ……………………………… 45 Just Administrative Action …………………………………. 46 Freedom of Movement ……………………………………… 46 Equality / Discrimination …………………………………….. 47 Race ……………………………………………………… 47 Disability ………………………………………………….. 47 HIV/AIDS …………………………………………………. 48 Freedom of Expression ……………………………………… 48 Access to Information …………………………………………. 48 Prison Cases ………………………………………………...… 49 Marital Status / Freedom of Religion ……………………….. 49 Sexual Orientation …………………………………………….. 50 Ethnic Origin ……………………………………………………. 50 Environment ……………………………………………………. 50 Freedom of Trade / Occupation ……………………………… 51 Rural Communities ……………………………………………. 52 Traditional Law vs Constitution ……………………………… 52 Socio-Economic Rights ………………………………………. 53 Internship Programme ………………………………………………….. 53 iii 7. Monitoring and Assessing Human Rights ……………………………..… 55-66 Socio-Economic Rights ………………………………………………… 55 Major Conferences and Research Projects 1999 …………………… 56 Food Security and Nutrition Conference ……………………….. 56 Macro-Economic Policies /Child Rights Conference ………….. 57 Indigenous Peoples Research Project …………………………. 58 Comment on TRC Report Recommendations …………………. 58 Human Rights Library and Documentation Centre …………………. 59 Dedication of the Library and Documentation Centre …………. 60 Legislation Monitoring ………….………………………………………. 60 Promotion of Equality and Prohibition of Unfair Discrimination Bill ………………………………………….. 61 Open Democracy and Administrative Justice Bills …………….. 62 Ongoing monitoring of other legislation …………………………….63 Submissions to Parliament ……………………………………….. 64 8. Section 5 Committees ………………………………………………… 67-73 Child Rights Committee …………………………………………… 68 Disability Committee ……………………………………………………. 69 Government & Parliamentary Liaison Committee …………………… 71 NGOs/CBOs Committee ……………………………………………….. 71 Policy & International Co-ordination Committee …………………….. 72 9. Provinces …………………………………………………………………… 74-89 Western Cape …………………………………………………..……… 74 Eastern Cape …………………………………………………………… 78 KwaZulu-Natal …………………………………………………………… 81 Northern Province ………………………………………………………. 83 North West Province …………………………………………………….. 86 Northern Cape …………………………………………………………… 87 Free State ………………………………………………………………... 88 10. National and International Liaison …………………………………………90-102 National Liaison …………………………………………………………. 90 International Liaison …………………………………………………….. 92 SAHRC affiliates to African Commission ………………………… 92 UN /SA Government Human Rights Project …………………….. 92 National Action Plan ……………………………………………. 93 African Co-ordinating Committee ………………………………... 94 First Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa ………. 94 Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration ………………………………. 95 South Africa’s 1st County Report to African Commission ……… 100 Other International Initiatives ……………………………………... 100 Some awards made to the SAHRC …………………………………… 102 Appendices A. Public Outreach Calendar ……………………………………………………. A1 B. Provincial Workshops ………………………………………………………… A10 C. Structure of Commission …………………………………………………….. A15 D. Profile of Commissioners & CEO …………………………………………… A16 E. SAHRC Publications …………………………………………………………. A21 F. Complaint Form ……………………………………………………………… A23 G. A selection of visitors to SAHRC ……………………………………………. A24 H. Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………….. A26 Contact details for all SAHRC offices iv Preface The fourth annual report of the South African Human Rights Commission comes as we pass the halfway mark in the life of the first national institution for the promotion and protection of human rights in South Africa. The services of the current members of the Commission come to an end in September 2002. At midpoint, therefore, it is important for the Commission to look back in order to march forward. In many ways, we view the year 1999 as the high point in the life of the Commission. We believe that, from now onwards, the Commission can only continue to improve. This report, therefore, reflects this celebratory tone of the Commission, brimful of confidence and excitement about the work with which we have been entrusted. And yet we believe that we have a long way to go. The task that we have been mandated by the Constitution to do is ambitious: the development of a culture of human rights. And so we can only proceed by taking small steps at a time. Confident and excited as we are, we place it on record that we have only been able to take a small step. That is cause for celebration. Besides, we have become very conscious of our historical responsibility. We know that if we fail as an institution, we shall have failed the hopes and aspirations of South Africans. We dare not be found wanting. Once again we offer this annual report. It is a report that first and foremost goes to parliament; that discharges our constitutional duty (S 181(5)). We hope that parliament will pause to consider this report in the exercise of its oversight function over our institution. We would welcome criticism and constructive dialogue on the matters we have raised here. We have been privileged to be invited by the Portfolio Committee on Justice to public hearings to present our report. For the past two years this has been a pleasing feature of our relationship with parliament. We are very grateful to Adv. Johnny de Lange, MP, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, who has been unfailing in his interest in the work of the Commission. We trust that, in keeping with the now established custom, the Portfolio Committee will afford us another opportunity to present our report to them in public hearings during Human Rights Week in March 1999. We hope to initiate a different process with the National Council of Provinces. Above all, however, the report must be considered by government. We hope to be able to present the report to the Presidency and to engage in dialogue about the state of human rights in our country and measures necessary to advance human rights in our country. We believe that government has an interest in the work and the views of the Commission: such a matter goes to the heart of our democratic order. We hope that government at that level will be willing to engage with us. Third, we are offering this report to the people of South Africa, the ones whose interest and well-being have been entrusted to us and which we hold dear. The report will form the basis of a public information