All Press Releases
12 May 2015
Over the last fortnight we have witnessed human rights violations and arbitrary detentions of primarily foreign nationals under the controversial Operation Fiela-Reclaim, culminating in mass-arrests and detentions in the early hours Friday, 8 May 2015.
Lawyers have been repeatedly denied access to consult with those arrested during the raids on 8 May 2015 and most detainees still have not had the...
8 May 2015
LHR continues to be extremely concerned by the ongoing raids in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town as part of Operation Fiela-Reclaim.
We have noted the worrying trend of state leaders turning to “clean up” operations to look for undocumented nationals. We feel that the priority should instead be focusing on a logical and coherent reintegration plan to prevent future violence. These...
6 May 2015
Swaziland is host to an increasingly repressive political regime and diminishing judicial independence. Oppression, arbitrary arrests, abject poverty and torture/beatings are all commonplace creating a fearful and paranoid environment.
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) hosted a special seminar examining the situation in light of the arrest of Mario...
29 April 2015
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre and Lawyers for Human Rights are hosting a seminar on the deterioration of the Rule of Law and Freedom of Expression in Swaziland.
Date: 30th April
Venue: Constitutional Court Auditorium
Time: to be seated at 9h45 for 10h00- 12h00
Programme
9h45 Arrival and seating
10h00 Welcome and introduction: Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, Executive...
22 April 2015
In the face of violence that has targeted foreign nationals across South Africa over the past few weeks, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) recognises the duty of authorities to adopt an effective national strategy aimed at aligning their immigration policy with regional and international human rights provisions in order to prevent and redress...
17 April 2015
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is disturbed and worried by the serious lack of strong and coherent leadership as xenophobic violence continues to spread across the country, reaching crisis point in Durban and displacing thousands of foreign nationals. This is eerily reminiscent of the 2008 attacks that resulted in the death of over 60 people.
We are pleased that President Jacob Zuma has...
15 April 2015
Lawyers for Human Rights continues to monitor and assist victims of xenophobic violence that has again erupted across South Africa.
These interventions have focused on short, medium and long term solutions.
Several people have been killed so far in the attacks and thousands more injured and displaced. The spike in the violence raised questions of whether these attacks simply flare up every few...
15 April 2015
Lawyers for Human Rights continues to monitor and assist victims of xenophobic violence that has again erupted across South Africa.
These interventions have focused on short, medium and long term solutions.
Several people have been killed so far in the attacks and thousands more injured and displaced. The spike in the violence raised questions of whether these attacks simply flare up every few...
9 April 2015
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) strongly condemns the ongoing intolerance and blatant disregard for the rights of foreign nationals living in South Africa – most recently in Durban.
Most concerning is the use of aggressive measures including rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons by police to disperse the roughly 300 foreign nationals who defied the revocation of their permission to...
25 March 2015
In a scathing judgment, the Supreme Court of Appeal has ordered the Department of Home Affairs to reopen the refugee reception office in Port Elizabeth and provide full services by 1 July 2015.
The SCA declared the decision to close the office unlawful and ordered that Home Affairs Director General Mkuseli Apleni deliver monthly reports on steps taken to ensure compliance. The court’s...