Human rights commission investigates the City
JOBURG – Read about the Human Rights Commission's investigation into the City of Joburg.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is being cagey about confirming the announcement by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that the party was delighted by the commission’s decision to investigate the City of Johannesburg for rights abuses across the city.
This follows the DA’s complaint lodged in late March regarding living conditions in, among others, Zandspruit, Kwa Mai Mai in Marshalltown and hostels in Alexandra. DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg Herman Mashaba said the complaint was sought to hold Mayor Parks Tau and his administration, “… who have for too long ignored the plight of Joburg’s poorest and most vulnerable, to account.”
However, in his response SAHRC spokesperson Isaac Mangena said, “I can confirm that we have a complaint regarding the living conditions in a number of areas in the City of Johannesburg. I can also confirm that three of the matters the complainant refers to have been addressed by the SAHRC. These include the situation at Alex Women’s Hostel where we have completed an investigation into this and released a report.
“We are currently waiting for responses from the City on compliance with our recommendations.”
Mangena added that the other two matters referred to by the complainant are currently under investigation – the Kwa Mai Mai settlement will be inspected soon, and others are still under investigation by the commission.
The City was contacted but had not responded by the time of publication.
