SAHRC to Determine Role of Government During July Unrest

By: Sanelisiwe Dlangamandla

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it’s confident that it will achieve its objectives with the investigation into the July civil unrest events.

The July unrest occurred in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng last year, which saw looting, damage to property and violence, that claimed the lives of more than 300 people in both provinces.

The commission has heard from several high-profile officials, including Police Minister Bheki Cele, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, as well as eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.

Cele in the hot seat with commisson cited that the reason he could not provide direction in the handling of the July unrest and looting was a result of not having received any information from crime intelligence.

CEO of the Commission, Tseliso Tshipanyane, says these events were life changing and of big magnitude and its important for the leaders to account.

The Commission has invited President Cyril Ramaphosa to answer a few questions and to account for government’s response to the unrest.

Tshipanyane says they want to determine the role government officials played  to combat the situation and prevent it from happening.