Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA (SERI). Research | Advocacy | Public Interest Litigation. securing a home -- making a living -- expanding political space
[PUBLICATION] today SERI is launching a new women's spaces publication offering a gendered analysis of family homes in South Africa. Access the full publication in the link below |
[PRESS STATEMENT] SERI condemns unlawful raids and war on the poor by
@CityofJoburgZA
Acting Mayor, Kenny Kunene. We call upon the City to rectify its course and refrain from unlawful conduct.
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[MARIKANA] We remember Mgcineni “Mambush” Noki (32) who was shot 14 times & killed by the police on this day, 6 years ago. Mr Noki was from Twalikhulu, Eastern Cape. He began working for Lonmin in 2009 & was a leader of the strike |
#NeverAgain
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#RememberMarikana
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#Marikana
[PRESS STATEMENT] City of Johannesburg’s wake up call: fire at Usindiso Shelter for Women and Children
SERI urges the City to take this unfortunate event as a wakeup call to proactively improve the conditions in the buildings it owns and manages...
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[PRESS STATEMENT] Constitutional Court confirms Mashaba’s inner city raids unconstitutional.
In its judgment,
@ConCourtSA
found that the raids of the residents’ homes were egregious & showed no consideration for their rights to privacy & dignity
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[BREAKING] Today
@ConCourtSA
handed out an order declaring the exclusion of
#DomesticWorkers
from
#COIDA
as unconstitutional. The declaration of invalidity applies retrospectively to provide relief to other domestic workers who were injured or died at work prior to this order.
[PRESS CONFERENCE] Today at 13:00, SERI will hold a press conference on the
@CityofJoburgZA
's incitement of violence against SERI & its staff following last week's High Court order involving the unlawful prohibition of informal trade.
Details here |
[JOB OPPORTUNITIES] SERI seeks to hire a researcher to join our team. Applications to be submitted by Monday 29 July 2024. See link below for details.
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Thobile Mpumza (26) was from Mount Ayliff, Eastern Cape. He began working for Lonmin in 2009 & was fired in May 2011 after participating in a strike. He was volunteering at Lonmin during the strike in 2012. He was shot 13 times by the police |
#MinersShotDown
|
#NeverAgain
8 years ago, the police shot and killed 37 striking mineworkers. On 16 August, 17 miners were killed in the initial shooting; 17 fleeing miners were pursued & killed; & 3 miners were killed prior to the 16th.
No one has been convicted for
#Marikana
.
#JusticeForMarikana
[1/3]
Our warmest congratulations go to Khuselwa Dyantyi on her admission as an attorney of the High Court.
@khuselwadyantyi
joined SERI in October 2012 as liaison to the 36 families of the deceased strikers in Marikana. She served her articles of clerkship with SERI
[LITIGATION UPDATE] The Western Cape High Court finds a series of demolitions & evictions in 2020 by
@CityofCT
, including that of Mr. Qolani in Khayelitsha, unlawful & unconstitutional. SERI represented
@abahlali_abm
acting as amicus.
Read more |
[PRESS STATEMENT] The Supreme Court of Appeal Finds in Yolanda Dyantyi’s favour
Today, the
@SCA_ZA
has upheld
@YoliShade
's appeal against the Grahamstown High Court's decision to dismiss her review application.
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#YolandaRhodesVictory
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#StandWithYolanda
[PRESS STATEMENT] Mashaba’s inner city Police Raids irrational and unconstitutional, Court Says
Yesterday, the full bench of the Jhb High Court delivered a judgment declaring section 13 (7) (c) of the
@SAPoliceService
constitutionally invalid.
Our warmest congratulations go to Tebogo Tshehlo on her admission as an attorney of the High Court. Tebogo served her articles of clerkship with SERI having previously joined us as a Research Intern from July 2020.
READ | Statement by
@DOJCD_ZA
condemning attacks on SERI. In the statement, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr John Jeffery, rightly characterises the attacks on human rights organisations as “an attack on democracy itself”
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[PRESS STATEMENT] SERI has written to members of the SA executive & legislature as well as commissioners of regional & international human rights bodies concerning attacks on
@abahlali_abm
. The letter is endorsed by over 140 CSOs & individuals.
Read more|
SERI extends a hearty congratulations to Dr Stuart Wilson for being recommended by the JSC for appointment as Judge of the Gauteng High Court. He's dedicated his career to bettering the lives of the poor using the Constitution.
Watch his interview here |
[JOB OPPORTUNITY] SERI is looking for two candidate attorneys to join our team in 2024. The closing date for applications is Friday, 28 April 2023.
Please see link for details.
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SERI is calling for domestic workers who have experienced a workplace injury or contracted a disease, & dependents of domestic workers who died due to a workplace injury/disease to contact us!
[STAFF NEWS] SERI is delighted to have recently welcomed Boitumelo Ngake & Mpho Nene to the Finance team, & Nthabiseng Ndhlovu as our first sign language interpreter. Nthabiseng will be working closely Qobo Ningiza, our first deaf Candidate Attorney. A big welcome to the team!
PRESS STATEMENT |
@CityofJoburgZA
's MMC Mbundu reinvents operation “clean sweep”, breaching
@ConCourtSA
order
"The City's conduct is an assault on the dignity of the traders and entrenches the culture of disregard for the livelihoods of persons trading in the informal economy.”
[STAFF NEWS] SERI is delighted to welcome
@JasonBrickhill1
,
@shude_zolile
& Muano Nemavhidi to the litigation team. We look forward to their contribution to our work in advancing socio-economic rights. See link to learn more about Jason, Zolile & Muano
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Our warmest congratulations go to Amanda Duma on her admission as an attorney of the High Court. Amanda served her articles of clerkship with SERI and later joined our team as a litigation fellow in August 2020.
SERI stands in solidarity with workers and supports tomorrow’s
#NationalShutdown
. Please note that the
#Right2Protest
hotline is available for legal assistance and protest support. Please call 0800 212 111 if you need advice or assistance.
[JOB OPPORTUNITY] SERI is looking for two candidate attorneys to join our team in 2022. The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 15 July 2021.
Please see link for details.
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[JOB OPPORTUNITY] SERI is looking for two candidate attorneys to join our team in 2025. The closing date for applications is Friday, 28 June 2024.
Please see link for details |
1/ [PRESS STATEMENT] Rhodes University continues its war against Yolanda Dyantyi. She took part in the
#RUReferenceList
anti-rape protests in 2016. In 2017, Rhodes permanently expelled Yolanda after a disciplinary inquiry.
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#StandWithYolanda
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#RhodesWar
[JOB OPPORTUNITY] SERI is looking for two candidate attorneys to join our team in 2023. The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 30 June 2022.
Please see link for details.
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[PRESS STATEMENT] Court orders Joburg municipality to house reclaimers where they will be able to continue to make a living
This is a welcome vindication of the reclaimers’ constitutional rights, which are indivisible.
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Judge Wilson has dedicated his career to bettering the lives of the poor using the Constitution. We wish him well in his new role as a member of the judiciary and extend our gratitude for his enormous contribution to the organisation and socio-economic rights more generally.
Stuart was sworn in as a Judge of the High Court yesterday. Everyone gets to see the interviews, but for some reason no one gets to hear the new judges taking the oath. But I'm ridiculously proud of him, so...
[MEDIA BRIEFING] Today, 24 May 2023, SERI & its clients are publicly launching their case to hold xenophobic and racist speech and conduct to account by way of a media briefing in Johannesburg. 1/n
[JOB OPPORTUNITY] SERI is looking to appoint a junior attorney to join our team. The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 31 January 2024. Please see link for details |
[PRESS STATEMENT] This year marks the 9th year since the
#MarikanaMassacre
. The families & surviving mineworkers have continued to bear the trauma & loss, compounded by the lack of justice and accountability.
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#JusticeForMarikana
| [1/2]
[SUBMISSION] On 31 January 2024, SERI made a submission on the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection: Towards a Complete Overhaul of the Migration System in South Africa (the White Paper).
Access the full submission here |
[STAFF NEWS] SERI is delighted to welcome
@Nomzamo_Zondo
as the new Executive Director in January 2020.
We are further pleased to welcome
@_Asenati
Tukela and Nerishka Singh as two new candidate attorneys to our litigation team
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The City of Johannesburg is about to create an eviction crisis in Johannesburg. Evicting families without a valid court order not only violates their rights but is also unlawful and undermines the principles of justice and fairness.
city of Johannesburg evicted the occupiers of ERF 246 and ERF 247, without a valid court order with the assistance of SAPS, JMPD and private security (Bhekani Abantu security) while the court order the city to find TEA for the occupiers.
[PRESS STATEMENT] SCA holds that municipalities cannot demolish without a court order.
The matter was brought by the
@SAHRCommission
(represented by
@LRCSouthAfrica
) against the
@CityofCT
following the demolitions at the Ethembeni informal settlement
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[STAFF NEWS] SERI is delighted to welcome Cheriese Dilrajh & Nolwazi Mahlangu to the Research & Advocacy team, and
@Matete084944459
&
@qobo_ningiza
to the litigation team. We look forward to the contributions they will make to SERI and its work of advancing socio-economic rights!
[LITIGATION] The hearing for the application for leave to appeal in the matter Dyantyi v Rhodes University resumes today. Yolanda approached the High Court in December 2019 to set aside the outcome of the disciplinary hearing in a review application.
#StandWithYolanda
[STAFF NEWS] SERI is delighted to welcome
@Thando_George
and
@ZaneleK13
who both join us as Candidate Attorneys.
We hope that their time at SERI will create a strong foundation for them as human rights lawyers |
[STAFF NEWS] SERI is delighted to welcome Dineo Phalane and Tebogo Tshehlo to our litigation team. We look forward to their contribution to our work in the advancement of social justice |
[PRESS STATEMENT] SERI mourns the death of eKhenana Commune Chairperson Lindokuhle Mnguni.
@abahlali_abm
reported that he was shot in the early hours of Saturday morning. Mnguni is the third leader to be killed in eKhenana this year alone.
Read here |
[LITIGATION UPDATE] Yesterday SERI appeared in the
@SCA_ZA
representing
@abahlali_abm
in the
@SAHRCommission
v
@CityofCT
matter challenging the City's use of the Anti-Land Invasion Unit
Learn more about the case in the link below
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[LITIGATION] Today, SERI will argue as amicus in the
#Khosa
matter brought by the family before the High Court. They are seeking remedies aiming to reign in security forces and prevent further abuses during the
#COVID19
#lockdown
.
Read more here |
6/ Since 2017, Rhodes has remained unrelentingly determined to prevent Yolanda from challenging the outcome of the disciplinary inquiry. Rhodes has opposed Yolanda's application for leave to appeal. It will be argued on 7 September 2020.
#StandWithYolanda
|
#RhodesWar
[NEWSLETTER] Leadership transition at SERI.
After 10yrs of overseeing SERI’s work, Stuart Wilson will be stepping down as executive director in December 2019. It gives us great pleasure to announce
@Nomzamo_Zondo
as the incoming executive director |
[ANNIVERSARY] Today, we celebrate 10 years since the launch SERI. We thank everyone who has been part of our 10-year journey and those whose messages of support in our 10-year special edition Annual Review report inspire and embolden our journey ahead.
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A reminder that SERI is looking for two candidate attorneys to join our team in 2023. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 30 June 2022.
Please see link for details.
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[1/2] SERI is proud to introduce the Women’s Spaces project in partnership with
@RooftopsCanada
, the Mazingira Institute,
@UHSNET
and
@DWAngola
, funded by Global Affairs Canada. The initiative focuses on women’s equality to land, housing and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa.
[PRESS STATEMENT] SERI condemns the victimisation of Informal Traders through Operation “Dudula”
SERI strongly condemns the political point scoring on migration which resulted in the violent breaches of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution
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[LITIGATION UPDATE] Today, SERI is appearing before the SCA in the matter Yolanda Dyantyi v Rhodes University and others. The hearing will now begin at 10:15.
A stream of the hearing will be available here | |
#StandWithYolanda
|
@YoliShade
[NEW PUBLICATION] On 4 October, in eKhenana, SERI will launch a new publication with
@abahlali_abm
on the movement documenting its history and use of its strategies & tactics. It also memorialises the 24 lives lost by Abahlali since 2009.
Read more |
[LITIGATION UPDATE] Today, we are in the Jhb High Court for a case challenging discriminatory land tenure laws. We're supporting the fight against sections of the Conversions Act and Upgrading Act that violate women's right to housing.
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[PRESS STATEMENT] SERI condemns the use of lethal force against the
#EswatiniProtests
& stands with all victims of state-sanctioned violence in eSwatini & around the world. We echo the demands for justice, accountability & political freedom.
Read here |
[PRESS STATEMENT] 11 years later, victims of the
#MarikanaMassacre
still await justice. We call on
@GovernmentZA
to apologise to the families & survivors, prosecute those responsible & expedite finalising all outstanding compensatory claims.
Access here |
[LITIGATION] Today, the High Court will hand down its judgment in Dyantyi v Rhodes University. Yolanda applied for leave to appeal a decision that dismissed her review application to set aside the outcome of the disciplinary inquiry that led to her expulsion.
#StandWithYolanda
[BREAKING] The High Court has declared the eviction of Dunkeld residents unlawful. The residents are now free to return to the property. SERI is onsite to ensure a peaceful restoration of residents to their homes.
[PRESS STATEMENT] Illegal eviction renders Dunkeld West residents homeless.
On Tuesday, the Red Ants, with the supervision of the Sheriff, illegally evicted dozens of residents from their homes on a property in Dunkeld West, leaving them homeless and destitute.
[1/6]
[ADVOCACY] SERI welcomes the permission of
#InformalWasteRecyclers
to operate under level 4
#Covid19SA
lockdown as announced by
@the_dti
.
On 23 April, SERI submitted a recommendation for their inclusion as essential services.
Read recommendation here |
[LITIGATION UPDATE]
@ConCourtSA
confirms part of section 13(7)(c) of the SAPS Act unconstitutional in so far as it authorises warrantless searches. Warrantless searches by police violate the rights to privacy & dignity.
Learn more about the case here |
[MARIKANA] "They are not asking for a complicated thing. They are simply asking for an apology." - Former SERI candidate attorney Lwazi Mtshiyo.
In this clip, Widows Nomisile Mdze & Ntombizolile Mosebetsane express their need for accountability for the
#MarikanaMassacre
.
[PRESS STATEMENT] On Monday, the SCA will hear the matter of Yolanda Dyantyi in which she will appeal the decision of the Grahamstown High Court to dismiss her review application.
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[MARIKANA] SERI in partnership with
@theforgejhb
&
@VisitConHill
will host a commemoration for the 10th anniversary of the
#MarikanaMassacre
on 10 Aug 2022. It will include a panel discussion & a performance by the incredible
@Msaki_ZA
.
Details here | 1/2
[LITIGATION] Today we are in
@ConCourtSA
representing the residents of the Winnie Mandela informal settlement in an application to seek constitutional damages for ongoing breach of their constitutional rights of access to adequate housing |
[1/n]
[PRESS STATEMENT] SERI condemns
@SAPoliceService
use of force against peaceful student protestors. We are deeply saddened that one person has been killed and for this, we extend our deepest condolences to their family and loved ones. [1/3]
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#witsprotest
"South Africa has just over 1% of a successful criminal conviction of a police officer. IPID is tasked to investigate the police, but also has to report to the
@SAPoliceService
at the same time"
|
#PoliceAccountability
|
#CarteBlanche
Thato Masiangoako from the Socioeconomic Rights Institute says, “IPID is tasked to investigate the police, but also has to report to the police at the same time”.
#CarteBlanche
[PRESS STATEMENT] Today marks a year since the police killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba. Police pursued students protestors into Braamfontein, firing rubber bullets indiscriminately. A year later, SERI remembers Mr Ntumba & remains outraged that his death was completely avoidable. 1/2
[READ] The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) finds
@JoburgMPD
acted disrespectfully and in a demeaning manner towards a group of homeless people when they simply destroyed their belongings. This is a huge victory for
#homeless
people |
@IOL
Yesterday, SERI & its clients publicly launched their case against Operation Dudula.
We brought this case to affirm the humanity of the migrants targeted by Operation Dudula and assert the ubuntu principle that holds that ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’.
#AfricaDay2023
|
#AfricaDay
[PRESS STATEMENT] Tomorrow,
@ConCourtSA
will hear 'Commando & Others v the City of Cape Town & Another' - a matter brought by residents of Bromwell Street represented by
@NdifunaUkwazi
about alternative accommodation in the inner city.
Read here |
Congratulations to both Dr. Nomfundo Ramalekana and Mpho Raboeane on their appointments. We are excited to collaborate with both leaders in their new roles to further the cause of social justice in South Africa.
📢Welcome Our New Leadership:
NU is thrilled to announce the appointment of two exceptional leaders to guide our organization into a new era of growth and innovation:
🤩Dr Nomfundo Ramalekana as the new Chairperson of the Board
🤩Mpho Raboeane as our new Executive Director.
[JOB OPPORTUNITY] SERI is looking an In-House Counsel to join our team in 2024. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 7 December 2023. Please see link for details.
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[LITIGATION] SERI will appear on behalf of
@abahlali_abm
in the Western Cape High Court in the ongoing 'SAHRC v City of Cape Town' matter. Our submissions relate to
@CityofCT
's misuse of counter-spoliation & use of the ALIU to effect unlawful evictions |
[ANNUAL REVIEW] SERI’s Annual Review of January to December 2021 is now available!
The review details SERI's research, litigation and advocacy work over the period in our thematic areas of Securing a Home, Making a Living, and Expanding Political Space |
[READ] Domestic workers are now covered under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Coida). This means they are entitled to compensation in the event they are injured or contract diseases while on duty.
[MARIKANA] Today, 11 years ago, mineworkers Pumzile Sokhanyile, Semi Jokanisi, Thembelakhe Mati & police officers Tsietsi Monene & Sello Lepaauku were killed in
#Marikana
in a clash for which six officers are currently standing trial. We remember them today. 1/2
[PUBLICATION] This
#WomensDay
, SERI and IZWI launch a new resource guide written for employers of
#DomesticWorkers
in SA. The user-friendly guide provides legal advice and guidelines on how to begin and manage the domestic employment relationship.
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[PRESS STATEMENT] High Court takes a stand against lockdown brutality in favour of the
#Khosa
family. SERI intervened as amicus, supporting the remedies sought on behalf of the family in an urgent application.
Read more here |
[1/3]
[LITIGATION UPDATE] Johannesburg High Court comes to the aid of indebted homeowners and rules that repossessed homes may no longer be sold at auction without reserve prices |
[NEW BOOK] Read this recently published book by former SERI executive director, Stuart Wilson. The book offers the most up-to-date critical account of recent developments in residential lease law, mortgage bond law and eviction law |
@Juta_ZA
|
[THREAD] Want to know more about what police & private security are legally allowed to do during student protests? Check out our guide for student protestors |
#FeesMustFall
|
#witsprotest
|
[READ] "The often xenophobic
#raids
of inner-city buildings in Johannesburg during the term of office of the city’s former mayor, Herman Mashaba, have been declared unconstitutional by the
@ConCourtSA
." -
@CabeMusa
Read here | |
#PoliceAccountability
[TRIBUTE] It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our esteemed colleague & friend, Mduduzi Radebe. Mduduzi was a highly respected financial consultant & a valued member of our team. He passed away unexpectedly last week Thursday |