SAHRC expects ‘measures to address historical exclusion’ in Hartbeespoort

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) expects clear numerical targets for transformation in Hartbeespoort.

This follows its damning report that found the Department of Water and Sanitation had failed to address historical and ongoing gender and racial bias in the allocation of land leases along the dam.

SAHRC Commissioner Tshepo Madlingozi said the department has 180 days to revise its policy.

"The transformation plan must contain numerical transformation targets, measures to address historical exclusion, and the timelines to deal with outstanding lease applications."

Additional directives include the re-instatement of occupancy permits, otherwise known as PTOs, to black applicants, whose permits had been wrongly revoked.

"This must not be understood as saying there must be a re-instatement for eternity. They wish to revoke, they must do so, following due process."

ALSO READ: SAHRC finds DWS guilty of racial, gender bias over leasing land around Hartbeespoort Dam