CALS Quarterly Issue 17
- Lee-Anne Bruce
Read the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter and catch up on our recent highlights supporting others to raise their voices against injustice
Over the last few months, quite a number of our matters have come full circle. Former Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini was sentenced following her perjury conviction, the Western Cape High Court upheld an appeal against an order limiting a rape survivor’s right to freedom of expression, the Constitutional Court awarded damages against the police for their failures in investigating crimes of gender-based violence, the Pretoria High Court ruled BProc graduates may be admitted as attorneys – and just this week the Johannesburg High Court found charging fees for protests unconstitutional.
Many of these judgments have been years in the making and none of them would have been possible without the persistence of the survivors or their legal representatives, our clients and staff members. Every step of the way, they have demonstrated their resilience and commitment to a more socially just country. We are also aware that the work is not yet done. The struggle to hold those in power accountable for their actions and abuses must continue.
We have a number of new projects and partnerships that have only just begun, which use our tools of advocacy, research and strategic litigation. This week sees us co-host our first seminar on obstetric violence and a webinar on the UN binding treaty on business and human rights. Last month, CALS signed a historic memorandum of understanding with the South African Human Rights Commission to collaborate on a research project on the use of the Equality Courts. We also recently launched litigation on behalf of Open Secrets and the Unpaid Benefits Campaign in an effort to reinstate cancelled pension funds.
As we continue in our projects, both new and existing, we are always aware of the role we can play in growing the social justice sector. CALS is very proud to co-host the annual Public Interest Law Moot Court Competition in partnership with the Student Litigation Society, which this year introduced 200 entrants to public interest litigation. We are also pleased to be hosting three full-time interns – Anda Dungulu, Kgosi Thage and Tsireletso Mokoago – as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus programme.
Click the image below to read more about our recent highlights.
