All Press Releases
17 October 2014
The Wits Justice Project was disturbed to hear the unfounded allegations made against it by Acting National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Zach Modise. These allegations were made during the course of Acting Commissioner Modise’s testimony in the sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius, on Thursday 16 October 2014.
The Wits Justice Project is an independent...
8 October 2014
In 2010, the Department of Home Affairs ran a special dispensation process for Zimbabweans, issuing them with DZP permits to work, study or operate businesses in South Africa.
All DZP applicants (both successful and unsuccessful) may now apply for the ZSP. Home Affairs will first confirm eligibility after which an online process will begin, concluding with in-person interviews. ZSP permits...
2 October 2014
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...
29 September 2014
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
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
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....
25 September 2014
Civil Society Organisations respond to the SAHRC Investigation into alleged human rights infringements and reduced access to health care at the Lindela Repatriation Centre and demand that the South African Government act on the recommendations to hold those responsible for implementation to account.
On 18 September 2014, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a report...
19 September 2014
Judgment in the matter of Samotse and another v Minister of Home Affairs and others was reserved today in the North Gauteng High Court. The Court said that judgment will be handed down on Tuesday 23 September 2014 at 10am.
Legal Aid South Africa and Lawyers for Human Rights are seeking an order declaring the deportation of Edwin Samotse to face the death penalty in...
18 September 2014
The matter of Samotse v Minister of Home Affairs and others, challenging the deportation of a Botswana national to face charges where the Government of Botswana refused to give assurances that the death penalty would not be imposed, has been stood down until Thursday 18 September 2014 at 10am on the urgent roll of the North Gauteng High Court.
Mr Samotse was deported from South Africa on 13...
17 September 2014
Somali Association of South Africa & 5 Others v Limpopo Department of Economic Development, the Environment and Tourism and 9 Others
Lawyers for Human Rights appeared in the Supreme Court of SA on 16th September to appeal the dismissal of the case that challenged the unlawful closure of refugee and asylum-seeker traders’ informal businesses by the police. The challenge comes in the...