HRC wants July 2021 unrest prosecutions

The SA Human Rights Commission (HRC) last week expressed concern that the state – in particular the Justice, Crime Prevention, & Security Cluster of Cabinet – has not been able to identify and prosecute the primary instigators or orchestrators of the 2021 July unrest. A Polity report notes the HRC released its final report on the national investigative hearing into the July 2021 unrest in January, where it presented recommendations that aim to address some of the systemic and contributory factors that contributed to or exacerbated the unrest. The recommendations identify the need for significant changes in the Intelligence, Policing, Security and Justice sectors. The HRC said it was disappointed by the lack of encouraging responses from government and other implicated entities six months later, saying it would write to the Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza for intervention. The implicated institutions were given 90 days to report to the HRC on measures they would take in responding to and implementing the recommendations. The HRC added that if current engagements did not yield the desired results, it would consider litigation as empowered by the Constitution. However, the Department of Justice has requested an extension to provide their implementation plans, while the HRC is awaiting responses from the Presidency, the State Security Agency and the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition,’ it said.