Human Rights Commission signs Memorandum of Understanding with Ekurhuleni Municipality

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Ekurhuleni Municipality have signed a memorandum (MOU) of understanding that seeks to ensure that all administrative action taken by the Municipality is consistent with the Constitution and informed by human rights principles.  

The MOU was signed at a meeting between the SAHRC and the Mayor of Ekurhuleni Municipality, Mr Mzwandile Masina, on 31 January 2018. Ekurhuleni Municipality is the first municipality in Gauteng to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the SAHRC.

At the signing, Mayor Masina emphasised the importance of institutions that support constitutional democracy, such as the SAHRC, and the need for all levels of government to work with the Ekurhuleni Municipality and provide the necessary support.

The aim of the memorandum of understanding is to institutionalise a referral system for complaints; to streamline processes and to ensure that human rights, constitutional values and administrative justice are upheld throughout adjudication processes of the City of Ekurhuleni and other agencies.

In practice, the MOU is intended to ensure that all municipal by-laws, policies, billing disputes, tender adjudication committees, and all actions undertaken by the Municipality, are in line with the Constitution, and to embed a human rights approach in all processes, policies, and practices.

Further, the Commission has committed to assist the Ekurhuleni Municipality with appropriate advocacy initiatives, in order to cultivate human rights-oriented institutional culture in the municipality; to create an environment of awareness and foster active participation in human rights advocacy work in all spheres of the city.

Furthermore the overarching objective of this memorandum of understanding is to establish good working relationships between the municipality and the SAHRC through assistance, cooperation and empowerment of ward councillors, ward committees and constitutionally structured organisations that assist communities to develop context-specific activities in human rights education, advocacy and protection.

For further information contact the Gauteng Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission:
Buang Jones
Provincial Manager
Tel: 011 877 3752
Cell: 078 617 0476
E-mail: bjones@sahrc.org.za 

Philip Molekoa
Tel: 011 877 3754
Cell: 083 731 0662    
E-mail: pmolekoa@sahrc.org.za     

Share this page

Similar categories to explore