The SAHRC is the national institution and it is committed to promote respect for, observance of, and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.

The Commission has the powers, as regulated by the national legislation, necessary to perform its functions, including the power to investigate and report on the observance of human rights, take steps to secure appropriate redress where human rights have been violated, carry out research and educate. The SAHRC has dedicated itself to monitoring and assessing the observance of human rights, while educating and training on human rights and seeking redress for violations.

Article 25 (5) (a) of the PEPUDA prescribes the submission of equality plans to the SAHRC to be dealt with in the prescribed manner, in consultation with the Commission on Gender Equality and in accordance with Article 28 (2), the SAHRC must assist in lessening the extent to which unfair discrimination on the grounds of race, gender and disability persists in the country, the effects of such discrimination and recommendations on how to address the problems.

The SAHRC have ‘Equality’ as one of their main focus areas and in terms of public sector equality duties, the SAHRC plays an educational role in promoting public sector duties in relation to the inclusion of disabled persons, ensuring equality between genders and between people of different races.