This is according to the commissions’ Provincial manager, Buang Jones. Jones says in most cases people in rural areas are often not knowledgeable on how and where to report cases of violations.

“We noted that the level of public awareness and perceptions regarding the protection and enjoyment of human rights is still a huge challenge in the Free State. Public knowledge of the existence of the commission as a national human right institution and the work of the commission is severely limited”.

He says the government needs to be more responsive to cases of human rights violation and the partnership is to ensure that they play their role.

Jones says the commission has also collaborated with the University of the Free State to ensure that students are educated on advocacy interventions where human rights are violated. He adds that more still needs to be done to educate South Africans on the work done by equality courts, so that they can report cases of human rights violations.

Katleho Morapela/OFM News