Programme News
11 July 2014
(News)
In South Africa, Eugene de Kock, an apartheid-era police colonel known as "Prime Evil", has been refused parole.
De Kock was the head of a police death squad targeting anti-apartheid activists.
Justice Minister Michael Masutha says a key reason why De Kock cannot be paroled is because the families of the victims were not consulted.
That may be the case, says Laywers for Human Rights, a...
10 July 2014
(News)
OPINION: On a warm summer’s morning in June 1961, a penniless odd-jobber by the name of Gideon Clarence was discovered in a seedy bar in Panama City, a town in the state of Florida, the US.
When the police tracked him down, he was described as drinking on the morning shift, his trousers “hanging low, weighted by exactly $25.28 in coins”. Clarence, with a history of theft,...
8 July 2014
(News)
Lawyers for Human Rights, on behalf of the Mokopane Interested and Affected Communities Committee (MIACC), has lodged an appeal against the Department of Mineral Resources’s decision to grant a mining right to Platreef Resources for their proposed platinum mine in Mokopane, Limpopo.
It will arguably be once of the world’s largest platinum mines that could extract for up to 100 years....
8 July 2014
(News)
After a six-year legal battle, a girl born in South Africa to Cuban parents has a country she can call home.
Yesterday, the girl's mother said she was able to sleep again after the Pretoria High Court last week ruled that her daughter was a South African citizen, and that the Department of Home Affairs had acted unlawfully by not registering her as such.
The Cape Town family - with the help...
7 July 2014
(Press release)
Last week, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria set a precedent by declaring a six-year-old child a South African citizen
The child was born to Cuban parents who, due to Cuban law, were not able to pass their citizenship to their child. The court made the order in line with Section 2(2) of the South African Citizenship Act, 88 of 1995. This section guarantees citizenship to children...
7 July 2014
(News)
During phase two of the arms deal public hearings, who makes the allegations will prove to be just as important as the allegations themselves.
Intentionally or not, starting phase two of the Arms Procurement Commission’s inquiry on July 21 with evidence by the so-called “critics” of the arms deal will set them up as complainants in the matter.
Phase two will deal with...
7 July 2014
(News)
A recent court case highlights the necessity of aligning South Africa’s refugee policy and practice with education law to ensure the removal of obstacles to an education for asylum-seeking children in South Africa.
Lawyers for Human Rights and the Centre for Child Law recently brought an application to address the plight of eight minor children who fled the war-torn Democratic...
7 July 2014
(News)
Last week Frederick Ngubane’s application for citizenship was denied by the Department of Home Affairs. He remains in South Africa but lives as a stateless person. He told AAISHA DADI PATEL his story.
I like to practise playing the piano at St Albans Cathedral down the road. They know me there. There isn’t much else that I can do; it’s illegal to employ someone who is...
4 July 2014
(News)
Former President Thabo Mbeki will appear before the arms deal inquiry in two weeks.
Arms Procurement Commission spokesman William Baloyi said that Mbeki would give evidence on July 17.
“The president was not subpoenaed. The president offered to assist the commission,” said Baloyi.
The commission is holding public hearings in Pretoria on the controversial 1999 arms deal.
“...
3 July 2014
(News)
NEWS ANALYSIS
During phase two of the arms procurement commission’s (APC’s) public hearings, which will begin on July 21, who makes the allegations will prove to be just as important as the allegations themselves.
Intentionally or not, by starting phase two of the inquiry with evidence by the so-called “critics” of the arms deal, it sets them up as complainants in the...