SAHRC Calls for National Assembly's Help to Prosecute July 2021 Unrest Instigators

Three years after the upheaval of July 2021, which resulted in the tragic loss of over 350 lives across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is actively seeking the intervention of the National Assembly to ensure the prosecution of those who instigated the unrest.

In the aftermath of the disruption, the SAHRC conducted a thorough investigative hearing, culminating in the January release of its 'Final Report on the National Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 Unrest'. The report not only examines the events but also scrutinizes the lapses in intelligence, policing, security, and justice that allowed the unrest to escalate.

The comprehensive recommendations outlined in the report are designed to overhaul these sectors and prevent future occurrences of such violence. However, the SAHRC's follow-up on the implementation of the report's proposals has been met with what they characterize as disappointing responses.

Even after allowing a 90-day period for implicated institutions to outline their action plans, the Commission has only received satisfactory feedback from the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority.

In contrast, an outstanding response from the Department of Justice has been delayed with a request for an extension. Furthermore, there has been no word from the Presidency, the State Security Agency, or the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition.

This lack of progress has prompted the SAHRC to write to Thoko Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly, in hopes that parliamentary intervention will spur the necessary actions to identify and legally hold to account the individuals behind the unrest.

As the custodian of human rights in the country, the SAHRC acknowledges the ongoing risk to the public posed by the failure to prosecute those responsible. Remaining vigilant, the Commission warns that should their current efforts remain fruitless, they are prepared to exercise their constitutional authority by taking legal steps to ensure justice is served.

This unwavering commitment to justice by the SAHRC underscores the critical importance of safeguarding citizens' rights and holding accountable those who seek to destabilize society through orchestrated chaos.