Recognise rights of Khoi, San
SAHRC calls for a commission of inquiry into ‘brutal history’
THE HUMAN Rights Commission (SAHRC) has released a report calling for the recognition of the rights of Khoi and San people. The commission released findings and recommendations following a series of hearings on the human rights of Khoi and San people. The hearings took place across the country between 2015 and last year.
According to the commission, the hearings were hosted against a backdrop of ongoing allegations of rights violations, including inadequate recognition of the Khoi and San peoples as a distinct group, as well as multiple forms of discrimination and marginalisation, lack of land redistribution, access to basic services, equitable employment opportunities, and inadequate measures to protect and promote language and cultural rights.
Commissioner Chris Nissen said the report was delayed as it wanted to make sure there was enough consultation in putting it together.
“We were able to have a broad consultation and this is a landmark in the sense that it’s on the way of recognising where the Khoi and San come from.”
He said it was important that their culture and heritage were respected and retained.
“They have gone through such a brutal history, having their land taken away and so on. This was a way of beginning the process of putting right what was made wrong in the past. From my side the recommendations go a long way to assist the communities in engaging with various government departments.”
Nissen said one of the engagements will result in a commission of inquiry being established.
Khoi chief Tania Kleinhans-Cedras said they felt the report was long overdue.
“There have been numerous complaints since 1994. I feel that the Human Rights Commission has taken observer status for too long and they have never really monitored or enforced obligations that are linked to the United Nations.”
Kleinhans-Cedras said it was a long time coming but they remain optimistic about what is to come.
“It is very late in our democracy, when you think about the human rights violations that have been going on for so long.”
The recommendations in report include the protection of biological knowledge and resources of indigenous peoples, access to land, the right to culture and language for indigenous peoples in South Africa and representation and participation in government and local affairs.
“All of the recommendations would require policy reform and I don’t think they were clear on that. How do they compel government to bring these to the fore?”