In the year under review the South African Commission on Human Rights dealt with more than 400 race-baed complaints.

It also handled more than 700 allegations of inequality.

The South African Human Rights Commission’s director Alexandra Fitzgerald says race-based discrimination presents the greatest challenge to the work of the body as evident by the volume and frequency of race related complaints received by the commission’s  head office in Gauteng – which is the busiest centre  – and provincial offices,  of which Cape Town carries the heaviest load.

This is the third year in which an increase in complaints has been recorded.

Fitzgerald says this does not necessarily reflect an increase in racism in South Africa.

Rather it shows  South Africans are becoming increasingly aware of their rights and that more and more people are being exposed to reports of unfairness, discrimination and racism on social media.

South Africa has a chequered  history with the declaration on human rights.

In 1948 the apartheid regime was one of eight governments  that refused to sign it.

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