On 26 and 27 January 2023, SERI took part in the first Social Justice Assembly (SJA) hosted at Think Africa at the University of Pretoria. The Assembly sought to bring together "250 delegates from community-based organisations, social movements, non-governmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations, academics and donors into one space to discuss challenges facing the country and the world, the state of the sector currently and how best civil society can coordinate its efforts to bring about lasting and consequential change."
The impetus behind the Assembly was the Social Justice Sector Review Report, published in November 2020. The report, supported by the Raith Foundation, provides a historical record of the developments in South Africa's social justice sector since 1994. The report reflects on the sector's progress, its shortcomings and informs its strategies going forward. The report's findings formed the foundation of the deliberations of the SJA.
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SERI's Nomzamo Zondo gave the introduction and welcoming address alongside PARI's Mbongiseni Buthelezi. Both Nomzamo and Mbongiseni form part of the SJA coordinating committee. Equal Education's Noncedo Madubedube and Ayabonga Cawe delivered the keynote addresses for days one and two of the Assembly, respectively.
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The Assembly also comprised of various break-away engagement sessions on a range of thematic areas including sectoral collaboration, engaging the state, and funding the sector, which SERI's Jason Brickhill gave a presentation and SERI's Nomzamo Zondo facilitated. Other engagement sessions were held on the energy transition and the intersection between climate change and social justice, GBV, migrant rights in South Africa and mental wellness. Portions of the SJA were live-streamed and can be accessed below.
- Access day one of the Social Justice Assembly here.
- Access day two of the Social Justice Assembly here.