South Africa Human Rights

Human Rights Concerns

Soccer World Cup

With the World Cup only a few months away, South Africa is preparing by constructing five new stadiums and updating several others, as well as taking steps to improve public transportation and ensure the security and safety of local and international visitors. With the recent violence surfacing in Angola in conjunction with the African Cup, security must be a top priority for South Africa. Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the World Cup organizing committee said South Africa is taking extensive precautions, but said “South Africa has no separatist movements like the Angolan group suspected in the attack on the Togolese team.” Back in September, the US Embassy in South Africa was closed twice due to what the State Department termed “credible” terrorist threats. Amnesty is hopeful no similar attacks will occur during either the African or World Cup.

Organizations such as Amnesty International around the world are taking steps to use the World Cup as leverage to address important human rights concerns such as violence against women, an issue which has plagued the country for years (see AI report “I am the Lowest End of All”). The Man Up campaign is one such organization bringing together 200 young men and women from 50 countries at the launch of a five-year campaign to stop violence against women and girls. Delegates to the Summit, scheduled to be held at the World Cup, will learn to plan and execute initiatives in their native countries and will be given guidance in addressing concerns within their community.

For more information, please visit the Man Up website.

Continued Violence Against Foreign Nationals in South Africa

A significant number of foreign nationals living in South Africa continue to report facing prejudice, discrimination and abuse on a daily basis. Both the International Organization on Migration and Human Rights Watch completed extensive research on the issue of migrants since xenophobic violence exploded in 2008. Many people were killed and more than 100,000 displace during the violence. Local South Africans complain foreign workers are taking away valuable jobs. Although unemployment numbers demonstrate a decline since 2001, the Labor Force Survey approximates 23% of South Africans are unemployed. The construction fueled by the 2010 World Cup is said to have increased the employment outlook over the next several months.

Failure to Conduct an Impartial Investigation into Kennedy Road Violence is Leading to Further Human Rights Abuses

Amnesty International deplores the continuing failure of the South African authorities to investigate impartially and fully human rights abuses which occurred during and after armed violence at the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement (Kennedy Road) in Durban last September. This despite repeated calls since October for an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into the surrounding circumstances and extent of the violence and its aftermath.

Amnesty International reiterates its call made to the authorities in October to ensure that the human rights of all residents of Kennedy Road, including those who have been displaced by the violence, are fully protected; that victims of human rights abuses have access to impartial and effective remedies and the perpetrators of those abuses are brought to justice.

Read Amnesty's complete statement.

"Talk for Us Please": Limited Options Facing Individuals Displaced by Xenophobic Violence

Since Amnesty International released its report addressing the more than 700 people forcibly removed by police, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Organization for Migration reported repeated levels of xenophobic violence, killing at least 62 people and displacing 100,000 others. Amnesty is concerned that trends have emerged in the government’s response to this crisis, which are threatening to or have violated the rights of affected individuals, including refugees and others in need of international protection.

Amnesty International is not advocating for the permanent establishment of camps for internally displaced persons and is not opposed to ‘consolidation’ of sites provided that it is conducted in a manner consistent with international human rights and humanitarian law.

Read Amnesty's complete press statement here.  Read the full report. 

Document: 'I am the Lowest End of All' Rural Women Living with HIV Face Human Rights Abuses in South Africa

In response to Amnesty International’s March 2008 report, "I am the lowest end of all": Rural Women Living with HIV Face Human Rights Abuses in South Africa," Amnesty has been meeting with national Consulates, requesting action to address the human rights of rural South Africans. In its report, the organization found rural women to be disproportionately affected by poverty and unemployment as well as discriminatory attitudes and practices – particularly from male partners. Rural South African women live in an environment rife with high levels of sexual and other gender-based violence.

AI's report calls on the South African government to urgently address the needs of women with HIV in rural areas. They must intensify efforts to prevent violence against women through increased policing and prosecution, and by addressing the economic inequalities that block HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care. In addition, the report urges the government to widen access to health services for women in rural areas, and help them with the consequences of HIV, including safety concerns, when disclosing their status to male partners.

Read the full report.

South African Police Negligence in Xenophobic Attack
On 4 January 2009, two people were killed and others injured when an armed crowd raided a building inhabited by refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Durban city centre, KwaZulu-Natal province. However, police did not intervene until after the attackers had left. Urge the Police Commissioner to conduct and impartial investigation and protect the rights of refugees and migrants » More actions

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