UN to asses SA's Khoi-San

2005-07-28 14:13

Pretoria - A special rapporteur of the United Nations will visit South Africa from Thursday to assess the condition of the Khoi-San communities, the government's communication and information service (GCIS) said.

The GCIS said Rodolfo Stavenhagen would travel "the length and breadth" of the country and would also talk to cabinet ministers, academics, provincial governments and Khoi-San leaders.

Some of the areas Stavenhaven would focus on were the impact of development projects on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous communities, human rights issues for these people and old and new forms of discrimination against them.

The South African government had already taken a number of steps to reverse the systematic marginalisation of the Khoi-San communities, the GCIS said.

After extensive research and consultation with Khoi-San leaders, cabinet had directed several departments to attend to the group's issues.

"These issues include the traditional leadership role of the Khoi-San leaders; the ratification of relevant international instruments in relation to existing constitutional frameworks; the heritage and language of the Khoi-San communities; the historical land claims and restitution within the context of existing land policy; and the apparent disintegration of the Khoi-San people due to a host of social difficulties."

Stavenhagen was expected to visit the country until August 8.

- SAPA