A South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigation into allegations that Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi ordered whites to be excluded from a youth camp has still not been released.
DA provincial chair and MPL Veliswa Mvenya lodged the complaint six months ago after it emerged Sihlwayi’s office had allegedly written to youth development head Masiza Mazizi, asking him to explain why whites attended despite a strict directive that only blacks be allowed.
Mvenya reported Sihlwayi to the SAHRC and provincial government ethics committee for alleged racism and human rights violations.
SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena declined to comment yesterday, saying the matter was being “finalised”.
“We don’t have a set time of when we should complete investigations, even though we strive to complete them as soon as possible,” he said.
Last month, he said submissions had finally been received from all parties and that a finding would be released “soon” – by mid-month.
Mazizi, who resigned earlier this year, said yesterday he was looking forward to seeing the findings of the SAHRC “soonest”.
“I am currently sitting at home weighing various options at my disposal. I, however, do not regret my decision to resign given the hostile situation in which I found myself in the department.”
He said he had made many sacrifices and contributed to the struggle for freedom from a young age. “I am committed to uphold the constitution of the Republic at all times and sometimes at all costs.”
Mazizi resigned earlier this year after a departmental investigation was launched to see if he had leaked the information that whites be excluded, to the media. The probe was dropped when he resigned, however.
A storm broke out in November following a Saturday Dispatch report that Sihlwayi’s office had written to Mazizi demanding he explain why a handful of whites attended the Port Alfred camp despite a strict directive only blacks be allowed.
Mvenya said if her complaint against Sihlwayi was upheld by the commission, it would mean Mazizi had “been abused” and should be re-instated.
Sihlwayi’s spokesman Mzukisi Solani declined to comment and referred the Dispatch to the SAHRC.
Jury still out on MEC’s alleged ‘no whites’ order
DA provincial chair and MPL Veliswa Mvenya lodged the complaint six months ago after it emerged Sihlwayi’s office had allegedly written to youth development head Masiza Mazizi, asking him to explain why whites attended despite a strict directive that only blacks be allowed.
Mvenya reported Sihlwayi to the SAHRC and provincial government ethics committee for alleged racism and human rights violations.
SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena declined to comment yesterday, saying the matter was being “finalised”.
“We don’t have a set time of when we should complete investigations, even though we strive to complete them as soon as possible,” he said.
Last month, he said submissions had finally been received from all parties and that a finding would be released “soon” – by mid-month.
Mazizi, who resigned earlier this year, said yesterday he was looking forward to seeing the findings of the SAHRC “soonest”.
“I am currently sitting at home weighing various options at my disposal. I, however, do not regret my decision to resign given the hostile situation in which I found myself in the department.”
He said he had made many sacrifices and contributed to the struggle for freedom from a young age. “I am committed to uphold the constitution of the Republic at all times and sometimes at all costs.”
Mazizi resigned earlier this year after a departmental investigation was launched to see if he had leaked the information that whites be excluded, to the media. The probe was dropped when he resigned, however.
A storm broke out in November following a Saturday Dispatch report that Sihlwayi’s office had written to Mazizi demanding he explain why a handful of whites attended the Port Alfred camp despite a strict directive only blacks be allowed.
Mvenya said if her complaint against Sihlwayi was upheld by the commission, it would mean Mazizi had “been abused” and should be re-instated.
Sihlwayi’s spokesman Mzukisi Solani declined to comment and referred the Dispatch to the SAHRC.
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