Logo FL trans smallfacebook icontwitter iconyoutube icon

These are Articles that have been archived.

Please select a category below to view all the articles.

[ADVOCACY] SERI hosts a two-day local governance convening (12 April 2023).

On the 15th and 16th March 2023, SERI hosted a two-day Local Governance Convening entitled "A Civil Society Agenda for Change Dialogue". The event was organised by four organisations: Afesis-Corplan, Planact, Isandla Institute, and SERI, who joined forces to explore engagements that could lead to a realistic agenda for change in the local governance sphere.Local Government convening

The convening was attended by 25 individuals selected from community-based and civil society organisations. Dr. Jessie Turton facilitated the event. The objectives of the convening were to create a meaningful space for reflection and dialogue on the state of local governance in South Africa, develop a joint diagnosis of the systemic drivers of the crisis in local government, develop a civil society agenda for change in local government, and discuss possible modalities for collective action, including resourcing.

On the first day, participants deliberated and grappled with the definition of "system change," identified the root causes of the local government crisis, and areas of intervention. Dr. David Sutcliffe and Sue Bannister presented on the state of local government municipalities over the past decades. On the second day, participants identified three key areas of intervention. Finally, the convening concluded with interim structures that will lead the initiative and collective broad-stroke action plans. The action plans aim to ensure that this convening goes beyond dialogue but systematically transforms the local governance sphere. The convening envisions further networking and collaboration with other individuals, community-based organisations, and civil society organisations to form part of this agenda for change.

[LITIGATION UPDATE] High Court declares Mashaba’s inner city Police Raids Irrational and Unconstitutional (1 July 2020).

On Monday, 29 June 2020, the full bench of the High Court in Johannesburg delivered a judgment declaring section 13 (7) (c) of the South African Police Services Act 68 of 1995 (the SAPS Act) constitutionally invalid.  

Between June 30 2017 and May 3 2018, 11 inner-city buildings in Johannesburg’s central business district were raided at the behest of the then-minister of police, Fikile Mbalula, and the then-mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba. Collectively, the buildings were raided more than 20 times, with some being raided as many as five times in 10 months. For all but two of the 20 raids, the police obtained written authorisation to conduct raids in terms of section 13(7) of the SAPS Act.

During the raids, which were jointly conducted by the SAPS,  the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the Department of Home Affairs and the City of Johannesburg, officials forced the residents out of the buildings and onto the streets. The officials demanded that the residents produce identification documentation and, while outside their homes, they were fingerprinted and body-searched. If residents failed to produce documentation, they were arrested. Inside the buildings, the police left the residents’ homes in disarray. They broke down doors and partitions, damaged furniture and even stole valuable items and small amounts of cash.

The full bench held that the decisions to issue the authorisations fall to be set aside, in terms of sections 6(2)(e)(i) and (ii) of PAJA respectively, as they were issued for a reason not authorised by section 13(7) of the SAPS Act and for an ulterior purpose or motive which is to intimidate the applicants into vacating the so-called ‘hijacked buildings’.

In its judgment, the court ordered the legislature to cure the constitutional defect within 24 months and pending the correction the section is to be read as excluding any private home and/or any person inside such private home.

  • Read more about the case and find all the papers here.

[WEBSITE] The Public Interest Legal Services (PILS) website has been updated (4 April 2019).

The Public Interest Legal Services (PILS) website has been updated and is available to the public at www.pils.org.za.

The PILS website is a user-friendly resource for all members of the public interested in learning more about the issues, methods, and types of organisations that contribute to expanding access to justice in South Africa.

Originally built in 2015 to house the results of a study on public interest legal services in South Africa, the site includes an interactive map on which identifies and locates the full range of PILS organisations in South Africa. The map provides information about social justice organisations and community advice offices around the country. The website also features: a calendar on which PILS organisations can share information about upcoming events relevant to the sector and news.

Access the website here.

 

Pilsfrontpage

Interactive mapPilsareas of intervention

[OP-ED] SERI researcher writes op-ed on employers' obligations towards their domestic workers (2 May 2018).

On 2 May 2018, an op-ed by SERI researcher, Kelebogile Khunou, on employers' legal obligations towards their domestic workers was published in a variety of suburban community newspapers accross South Africa, with a total reach of over 15 million readers. Some of the newspapers in which the op-ed appeared included the Northcliff Melville Times, the Alberton Rekord and the Pretoria East Rekord.

There are more than a million domestic workers in South Africa who perform essential work like cooking, cleaning, caring for children and the elderly, and gardening. Domestic work makes all other work possible – it allows people to leave their households and go out into the world to make a living. Despite the implementation of labour laws and the collective efforts of domestic workers to assert their rights, domestic workers remain one of the most vulnerable occupational groups. Many domestic workers have to face exploitative working conditions, disrespectful treatment, low wages, long hours and few employment benefits. The op-ed therefore explains what rights domestic workers have and what obligations employers have towards their domestic workers. 

  • Read the full op-ed here.

Subcategories