This is SERI’s first newsletter for 2025, covering highlights from October 2024 to February 2025. During this period SERI launched a new working paper on electrification in informal settlements entitled, 'Electrification in Informal Settlements: Opportunities, Challenges and Lessons'. This working paper examines the opportunities, challenges, and lessons of efforts to electrify informal settlements.
Key litigation highlights include SERI appearing as amicus curiae in the Tafelberg case before the Constitutional Court. The Pretoria High Court ruled in favour of millions of excluded Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant applicants, while the Constitutional Court upheld Bromwell Street residents’ right to emergency housing. SERI also continued its participation in the Khampepe Commission providing key evidence on the challenge of housing availability in the Johannesburg inner city.
SERI’s advocacy efforts included hosting a multi-stakeholder farm dweller indaba; hosting a moot court on eviction litigation with members of the Inner City Federation and Abahlali baseMjondolo; participation in PILG 2024; and hosting a dialogue on the Mahlangu v Minister of Labour judgment together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. SERI also attended the World Urban Forum in Cairo and presented on food security at the 2024 International Social Justice Conference.
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