The African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights has withdrawn the observer status of the Coalition of African Lesbians, and although this can be seen as a patriarchal and misogynic backlash against activists by the continent's rulers, the issue is much bigger than this.

Commissioners belonging to the official body tasked with protecting and promoting human rights on the continent, the African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), have been in South Africa since Monday 3 September to promote its work.

They have, among other things, met with officials from the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, and on Saturday they will engage with civil society organisations, followed by a press conference.

Commissioners have so far been too busy to answer specific questions, but Solomon Dersso, the commissioner rapporteur for South Africa, went on the record about their mission.

"As per the rules, the current mission to South Africa is an official human rights promotion mission that focuses exclusively on the current state of human rights in South Africa. It explores...