The National Action Plan to combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances (NAP) and its Implementation Plan were approved by the Cabinet in February 2019, and in March 2019 were officially launched by the South African Government. The adoption of the NAP follows a years-long drafting process and broad and comprehensive consultations with all interested stakeholders, including civil society organizations, Chapter Nine institutions, business, and other relevant key players. 

“The Plan is based on the collective conviction of South Africans that, given that the ills of unfair discrimination and inequality are human-made; we have the means to completely eradicate these ills from our country.” 

The FHRs has been actively involved in the drafting process of the NAP, and its subsequent adoption, particularly through the following activities:

• The former Executive Director of the FHR, Ms Yasmin Sooka, was a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee mandated to draft the NAP. 

• When the draft NAP was published for public comments during December 2015, the FHR facilitated consultations with the civil society organizations and other stakeholders on the draft. The inputs and recommendations from these consultations, which were held in the form of workshops, were incorporated in the subsequent drafts of the NAP. 

• The FHR was also responsible for the collection, collation and analysis of written submissions received from various stakeholder during the public consultations on the NAP. A total of 159 submissions were received from 104 individuals, and 55 from organizations, various interest groups and Chapter Nine institutions. Inputs and recommendations from the written submissions, workshops and other consultations culminated in the development of the Diagnostic Report prepared by the FHR. 

• The FHR funded and facilitated the participation of civil society organizations in the official launch of the NAP in the City of Tshwane.

Following the official launch of the NAP, the FHR continues to work on its implementation and also supports other activities aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination and other intolerances. More information on the NAP and the implementation process led by the DOJ&CD can be found here: https://www.justice.gov.za/docs/other-docs/nap.html