The Commission responds
17 January 2007
The South African Human Rights Commission notes with regret the leakage of
an internal staff document to the media and reports that staff members felt
gagged, according to the Citizen of 16 January 2007.
The Citizen's article is based on two memos that the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of the Commission, Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane, sent to staff, pertaining
to the Commission's findings on the tardy processing of the Inkatha Freedom
Party's (IFP's) applications for Presidential Pardons by the Minister of
Justice and Constitutional Development. The report alleges that as a result of
the findings against the Minister, the Commission was bowing down to political
pressure and that the CEO was gagging staff members.
It should be noted that the CEO - in his open internal discussion document
on complaints handling - was soliciting views from staff members on how the
Commission dealt with complaints into alleged human rights violations. The
second document was a directive on how he should get involved in the handling
of complaints by staff members in his capacity as the Accounting Officer.
The memos were in no way an attempt to gag staff members nor must they be
seen as bowing down to political pressure. The Commission views this as a
distortion of the truth by whoever was involved.
In addition to the above it should be noted that section 181(1) of the
Constitution states that the Commission, as a state institution established to
strengthen constitutional democracy, is independent, impartial and must
exercise its powers and perform its functions without fear, favour or
prejudice.
The Commission still stands by its findings against the Minister and will
continue to make similar findings against any person or official in this
country in fulfilment of its constitutional mandate.
For further information, please contact:
Lorraine Molepo
Media and Communications Unit, SAHRC
Tel: (011) 484 8300 ext 2092
Fax: (011) 643 6472
E-mail: lmolepo@sahrc.org.za
Issued by: South African Human Rights Commission
17 January 2007
