Programme News
24 June 2015
(Press release)
The urgent high court application to interdict the government from continuing with Operation Fiela-Reclaim raids unless legislative provisions are adhered to has been removed from the urgent roll in the high court in Pretoria.
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) brought the challenge in light of grave concerns around the legality of Operation Fiela-Reclaim - a joint operation conducted by the police,...
24 June 2015
(News)
Beliefs that foreigners "steal" our jobs and drain services fuel xenophobia and inform government policy. LHR dissects three myths about SA migrants.
Laywers for Human Rights has seen an alarming number of police operations aimed at closing down migrant-owned businesses. (M&G, Paul Botes)
Stereotypes and myths have largely informed South Africans’ views on issues of migration...
22 June 2015
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has launched a high court challenge against the way in which Operation Fiela-Reclaim is being conducted across the country.
LHR is seeking an order declaring that the way in which this operation has been conducted in people’s homes is unlawful and unconstitutional to the extent that they were carried out without proper compliance with the need for...
19 June 2015
(Press release)
On this World Refugee Day, the People’s Coalition against Xenophobia commends the positive contributions that those who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, civil strife and persecution have made in their new adopted homes. Around the globe, communities will be celebrating the ingenuity and resilience of these groups.
Tragically, millions of people will mark this day in...
18 June 2015
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) welcomes the Constitutional Court’s scathing judgment lashing out at officials who willfully disregard its orders – this time in the case of the Bapsfontein community.
In August last year, the court called the Ekurhuleni Municipality and its attorney to answer why it had failed to enforce two previous orders on the evicted community.
In its judgment, the...
18 June 2015
(Press release)
The willful non-compliance by the South African government of a high court order preventing the departure of Sudan President Omar Al Bahir is cause for grave concern for the rule of law in the country. FIDH, ACJPS and LHR were alarmed that despite the court order preventing his exit, Al Bashir – who was attending the African Union summit in South Africa – was able to leave without...
15 June 2015
(Press release)
LHR, FIDH and ACJPS welcome the order issued yesterday by the High court in Pretoria to prevent the departure of the President of Sudan and wanted fugitive from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Omar Al Bashir. While unconfirmed information indicates that Bashir may have left South Africa after the Court rendered its decision, our organisations urge the Government to take all necessary...
13 June 2015
(News)
The Merafong municipality is to instruct Rand Water to reconnect the water supply to the embattled Blyvooruitzicht mine by no later than Monday, according to an interim settlement agreement that has been reached.
An application by Lawyers for Human Rights had sought to compel the municipality and Rand Water to reconnect the water supply to Blyvoor on the far West Rand. It was disconnected last...
12 June 2015
(Press release)
Less than 24 hours before an urgent high court application in the High Court in Pretoria on behalf of the Blyvooruitzicht Mining Village, parties have reached an interim settlement agreement.
The original application sought to compel the Merafong City Local Municipality and Rand Water to reconnect water supply to Blyvooruitzicht after it was disconnected last month.
In the agreement, the...
12 June 2015
(News)
The liquidators of Blyvooruitzicht gold mine in Carletonville scored a major victory against Merafong Local Municipality after being allowed to investigate why their water bill stood at R197 million.
The bill dates from 2006.
The mine’s troubles began in August 2013, when it was placed under liquidation and thousands of workers were left jobless.
During the intervening years, Merafong had...