In accordance with the SAHRC’s constitutional mandate to promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights, eradicating unequal treatment and discrimination based on race is a main area of focus.
On the 14 - 15 of March 2016, the SAHRC convened a multi-sectoral stakeholder’s conference on racism in Midrand, Johannesburg. The conference resulted in the Midrand Declaration Against Racism 2016, which sets out some aims for the public sector.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) has spearheaded the development of a draft National Action Plan 2016-2021 (NAP) to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in collaboration with various other role-players which include civil society. The draft will inform a plan which provides the basis for the development of a comprehensive public policy against racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It brings stakeholders together to discuss the challenge of combating all forms of intolerances. The SAHRC will play a monitoring and evaluating role in overseeing the implementation of the National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.