All Press Releases
6 September 2016
This morning, the 6th of September 2016, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) was scheduled to hear the case of an 8 year old stateless child who was born in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs asked for leave to appeal a judgement of the Pretoria High Court declaring the child to be a South African citizen. After a two year wait for set down and at the last minute the Department decided to...
5 September 2016
Tomorrow, the 6th of September 2016 the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) will hear the case of an 8 year old stateless child who was born in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs is appealing a judgement of the Pretoria High Court in which a stateless child was declared to be a South African citizen in terms of section 2(2) of the South African Citizenship Act. This provision was entered...
23 August 2016
In the last two decades, platinum mining has exponentially expanded into communal land in the North West. This mineral rich area, which falls under various tribal authorities including the prominent Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela, hosts one of the world’s largest and oldest platinum producers – Anglo American Platinum’s Union Mine. Another lucrative platinum mine in the area, Pilanesburg...
19 August 2016
PRESS CONFERENCE
Monday 22 August 2016 at 5:30 PM
at Protea Hotel Parktonian, 120 De Korte St,
Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa.
African high-level experts join forces against sexual violence ahead of FIDH 39th Congress
To combat sexual violence in Africa, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights ACHPR, in collaboration with FIDH and LHR, is developing Guidelines addressed to...
18 August 2016
18 August 2016
Today, the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng division, Pretoria heard an application for a contempt order brought by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) on behalf of the students of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). The issue to be determined was whether TUT and three of its top officials unlawfully ignored the urgent court order intended to bring an immediate end to the...
27 July 2016
Yesterday, the 26th of July 2016 marked an important victory for the occupiers of the then informal settlement in Bapsfonteins and end a saga of 5 years in the Constitutional Court after the court found in their favour and referred the matter to the High Court. In 2011 the Bapsfontein Informal Settlement applied directly to the Constitutional Court for relief after the High Court dismissed their...
7 July 2016
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is disappointed by the performance of the South African delegation at the recent session of the United Nation Human Rights Council. South Africa abstained from a vote on the appointment of an independent UN watchdog for LGBTI Rights; voted against a resolution on internet freedom, privacy and freedom of expression; and voted against a resolution on protecting civil...
5 July 2016
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has been representing the residents of Blyvooruizicht community in Caltonville, in getting access to affordable prepaid electricity. Today, the Pretoria High Court issued a court order that guaranteed the community’s continued access to electricity.
Blyvooruitzicht community is but one of thousands communities near abandoned mines scattered across South Africa...
4 July 2016
On Sunday, we woke to the terrible news of 300 shacks been caught by fire in Plastic View, the fire left the residents homeless and in distress. It is unfortunate that, during this difficult time for our clients, we have to address malicious comments made by the City of Tshwane in the media. We would like to use this opportunity to also put to rest accusations by some media that have used the...
20 June 2016
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) commends the Commission for Gender Equality’s (CGE) for the release of the investigative report on the uThukela Municipality’s Maidens Bursary scheme, in which it recommends the removal of the scheme from the municipality’s bursary categories.
The controversial scheme, which provides study bursaries to girls on the...