Programme News
6 October 2014
(News)
Children of undocumented migrants in South Africa are being deprived of access to public schooling.
The country's constitution says all children have the right to an education, but a government policy says refugees must have the appropriate documents allowing them to stay in the country first.
There's no exact figure on how many undocumented migrants are in the country, as many fear...
2 October 2014
(Press release)
On August 13, 2014, Mr. Edwin Samotse, a Botswana national, was unlawfully deported from South Africa to Botswana, where he runs the risk of being sentenced to death and executed. While South Africa’s conduct has been declared unlawful, FIDH – a member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty – LHR and DITSHWANELO call upon the authorities of Botswana to guarantee...
2 October 2014
(News)
The Arms Procurement Commission says it will try to obtain transcripts of arms deal fixer Ajay Sooklal’s arbitration in which he gave details of President Jacob Zuma’s alleged involvement and will assess whether to call him in as a witness.
This follows weekend reports on how the Thales representative lavished fancy clothes on Zuma, and paid for legal fees and hotel stays in Europe....
2 October 2014
(News)
The Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the 1999 arms deal hit back at its detractors on Thursday, warning that insults against it were “criminal”.
Commission spokesman William Baloyi said in a statement: “The Commission wishes to caution members of the public and interested parties that it is a criminal offence to, inter alia, disparage or insult the Commission or its...
30 September 2014
(News)
There is no law to prevent refugees and asylum seekers from getting licences to operate spaza shops in SA, the Supreme Court of Appeal said on Friday.
The proliferation of immigrant-run spaza shops in townships across the country has led to tension with local traders, some of whom have argued that only South African citizens should be entitled to licences. While they appeared to have support from...
30 September 2014
(News)
More than 30 pressure groups want the Seriti Commission inquiring into the 1999 arms deal to be scrapped.
Instead the organisations want those accused of corruption to be investigated and prosecuted.
Right2Know spokesman Murray Hunter said: "The arms deal represents up to R70-billion that should have been spent on housing, education, health and South Africa's other pressing social needs...
29 September 2014
(News)
Former ANC parliamentarian turned arms activist Andrew Feinstein understands now why President Jacob Zuma kept encouraging him to investigate the arms deal during his time on Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) in 2000.
It was the oddest part of the situation for Feinstein, an idealistic MP at the time, who was put in a tough spot with the allegations. While senior ANC figures begged or...
29 September 2014
(Press release)
More than 30 local social justice organisations have issued the following joint call for real Arms Deal accountability:
The 1999 Arms Deal represents up to R70 billion that should have been spent on housing, education, health and South Africa’s other pressing social needs. The Arms Deal corrupted our politics, weakened state institutions, and undermined our democracy. And despite mounting...
26 September 2014
(Press release)
The Supreme Court of Appeal has today handed down judgment in the case of Somali Association of South Africa & 5 Others v LEDET, Minister of Police, Minister of Home Affairs and Others.
In a great victory, the SCA has upheld LHR’s appeal against the dismissal of the case that challenged the unlawful closure of refugee and asylum seeker traders’ informal businesses by police in...
25 September 2014
(Press release)
Judgment to be handed down by SCA in Somali Association of South Africa v LEDET, Minister of Police, Minister of Home Affairs and Others on 26th September. LHR welcomes the fact that the SCA has speedily considered the issues and is now in a position to hand down the judgment.
The case concerns the unlawful closure of refugee and asylum seeker traders' informal businesses by the police....