Parliament, Friday, 21 March 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development will next week embark on a week-long oversight visit programme in KwaZulu-Natal where it will visit courts and the provincial office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
Committee Chairperson, Mr Xola Nqola, said the committee received numerous complaints about the SAHRC in the province. The committee held a meeting where the Commissioner responded to the complaints that included allegations of toxicity of the environment at the SAHRC office in the province.
The committee resolved to have a meeting with the staff of the Commission so that it could get a better understanding of the complaints. In its meeting held on 26 November 2024, the committee resolved to undertake an oversight visit to the SAHRC offices. The committee has already visited the Western Cape and Gauteng SAHRC provincial offices.
Mr Nqola said: “This oversight visit to this institution, which is meant to promote human rights in the country, coincides with a very important period in our country – Human Rights Month and Human Rights Day. We need to ensure that everyone’s rights are respected and protected, even if it is staff or management at the Commission.”
According to him the committee will also visit various courts and entities under its portfolio to assess service delivery and the state of infrastructure. The courts include the Durban High Court, Durban Magistrates Court, Point Family Court and the Umlazi Magistrates Court. Furthermore, the committee will visit the KwaZulu-Natal Public Protector Office, the Durban Master’s Office and the Durban State Attorney Office.
“Oversight visits of entities form part of the committee’s Constitutional responsibilities. To visit these entities will assist us to have a better understanding of the conditions on the ground as we should not rely on presentations from the departmental officials,” said Mr Nqola.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MR XOLA NQOLA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Rajaa Azzakani (Ms)
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 081 703 9542
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour