All Press Releases
[PRESS RELEASE] LHR Seeks to Challenge Discriminatory Policing in "Residents of Industry House" Case
13 March 2020
On 13 March 2020, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) will appear before the Johannesburg High Court seeking to be admitted as a friend of the court in the matter of Residents of Industry House & Others v Minister of Police & Others which concerns the contested constitutionality of section 13(7) of the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995 (“the SAPS Act”) Act. The Act...
2 March 2020
On 3 March 2020, the confirmation proceedings in the case of Sonke Gender Justice v President and Others will be heard in the Constitutional Court. The hearing follows the Western Cape High Court decision of Boqwana J of 5 September 2019, wherein certain sections of the Correctional Services Act 11 of 1998 were declared unconstitutional. It is now incumbent upon the Constitutional Court to...
16 January 2020
On 14 January 2020, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) represented dismissed workers of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in the Labour Court. The applicants in this case were employed twice, and unfairly dismissed twice, by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
The applicants, who are supported by the Casual Workers Advice Office, were semi-skilled workers who formed part of the Lungile...
12 December 2019
Lawyers for Human Rights welcomes the decision by the Makhanda High Court today confirming every child’s right to an education, regardless of immigration status or level of documentation.
Thirty-seven children and the Centre for Child Law, represented by the Legal Resources Centre, challenged the constitutionality of various provisions in the Admissions Policy for Ordinary Public Schools...
3 December 2019
Lawyers for Human Rights is representing a group of about 200 informal reclaimers in an eviction application that has been set down for hearing in the Pretoria High Court on 2 December 2019.
The informal reclaimers live in modest shelters made out of plastic sheets and cardboard on a small portion of land opposite the Super Sport Park cricket stadium in Lyttleton, Centurion on the banks of the...
26 November 2019
From 26 November to 28 November 2019, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) will appear in the Pretoria High Court in the matter of KN & Others v The Standing Committee For Refugee Affairs & Others case number 50342/16, which seeks to address systemic failures within the asylum seeker application system.
LHR will make submissions to a full bench highlighting that through their application for...
4 November 2019
Lawyers for Human Rights is making an urgent appeal for assistance after a recent judgement by the Johannesburg High Court, which allowed the Helen Joseph Hospital to terminate life-saving dialysis treatment for a Johannesburg woman, Alem Ereselo. Without access to dialysis, Ms Ereselo will almost certainly die in the coming weeks.
On 11 October 2019, the High Court handed down judgement in the...
31 October 2019
On 10 August 2014 five inmates at Leeuwkop Maximum Correctional Centre were beaten, assaulted and tortured by DCS officials. Llewellyn Smith, Xolani Zulu, Benson Qibi, Abel Phasha and Mthokozisi Sithole sustained severe physical and psychological injuries as a result.
The beatings were precipitated by Mr Zulu, the second plaintiff, jamming the cell door with a toothbrush, thus preventing it from...
16 October 2019
As part of the latest round of negotiations on the U.N. Binding Treaty on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights, African civil society organisations are calling for a Treaty that reflects African perspectives and effectively addresses African experiences.
Over the last few decades, the continent has witnessed an increase in foreign direct and local...
26 September 2019
On Monday 23 September 2019, the Equality Court in the Western Cape handed down judgment in the matter of September vs Subramoney N.O and Others. Ms. September is a transgender woman currently serving a prison sentence inside a male correctional facility. While incarcerated, prison officials denied her the right to express her gender through her hairstyle, dress, and use of small amounts of make-...