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A variety of South African social movements have been active in driving social change, both during the anti-apartheid struggle and during the past 25 years of our constitutional democracy. Some of this activism has resulted in public interest litigation that addresses historical disparities. A selection of cases is used to illustrate the role of social movements in initiating public interest litigation in the South African courts, as well as an emerging jurisprudence around class actions. However, the limitations of the law should be recognized and litigation should not be seen as the only means of lawful political and socio-economic struggle.
A variety of South African social movements have been active in driving socialchange, both during the anti-apartheid struggle and during the past 25 years ofour constitutional democracy. Some of this activism has resulted in public interest litigation that addresses historical disparities. A selection of cases is used to illustrate the role of social movements in initiating public interest litigation in the South African courts, as well as an emerging jurisprudence around class actions. However, the limitations of the law should be recognized and litigation should not be seen as the only means of lawful political and socio-economic struggle. Abahlali baseMjondolo (2006). A Short history of Abahlali baseMjondolo, the Durban Shack Dwellers’ Movement. Retrieved from http://abahlali.org/a-short-history-of-abahlali-basemjondolo-the-durban-shack-dwellersmovement/.Bohler-Muller, N. (2013). Reparations for apartheid-era human rights abuses: The ongoing struggle of Khulumani support group. Speculum Juris 1. 1(24). Retrieved from http://www.saflii.org/za/journals/SPECJU/2013/1.pdf.Brickhill, J. (2018a). Public interest litigation in South Africa. Advocate. 31(3). pp. 36-43. Retrieved from https://www.sabar.co.za/law-journals/2018/december/2018-december-vol031no3-pp36-43.pdf.Brickhill, J. (2018b). Public interest law and the struggle for social justice. Mail & Guardian Online. Retrieved from https://mg.co.za/article/2018-10-12-00-public-interest-law-and-the-struggle-for-social-justiceBudlender, S., Marcus, G. & Ferreira, N. (2014). Public interest litigation and social change in South Africa: Strategies, tactics and lessons. South Africa: The atlantic philanthropies publishing.Cote, D. & Van Garderen, J. (2011). Challenges to public interest litigation in South Africa: external and internal challenges to determining the public interest.South African Journal of Human Rights. 27(1). pp. 167-182. Retrieved fromhttps://doi.org/10.1080/19962126.2011.11865010.Davids, N. & Waghid, Y. (2016). #FeesMustFall: History of South African student protests reflects inequality’s grip. Mail & Guardian Online. Retrieved fromhttps://mg.co.za/article/2016-10-10-feesmustfall-history-of-south-africanstudent-protests-reflects-inequalitys-grip.Dugard, J. & Alcaro, A. (2013). Let’s work together: environmental and socioeconomic rights in the courts. South African Journal of Human Right. 29(1). pp. 14-31. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/19962126.2013.11865064.International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) (2011). Abahlali BaseMjondolo Movement SA and others v. Premier of the province of Kwazulu, and others, 2010 (2) BCLR 99 (CC). Retrieved from https://www.escr-et.org/caselaw/2011/abahlali-basemjondolo-movement-sa-andothers-v-premier-province-kwazulu-and-others-2010.Jaichand, Vinodh (2004). Public interest litigation strategies for advancing human rights in domestic systems of law. Sur. Revista Internacional de Direitos Humanos. 1(1). pp. 134-149. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-64452004000100006.Jephson, G. (2014). A false start in the development of class action law? Constitutional Court Review 6(1). pp. 286-299. Retrieved from https://constitutionalcourtreview.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CCR-VI.pdfNicholson, Z. (2013). Apartheid lawsuit dismissal a blow. Business Report Online. Retrieved from: https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/apartheidlawsuit-dismissal-a-blow-1567003.South African Law Commission (1998). The recognition of class actions and public interest actions in South Africa. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov.za/salrc/reports/r_prj88_classact_1998aug.pdf.Spies, A. (2015). Considering the impact of Amicus Curiae participation on feminist litigation strategy. South African Journal of Human Rights. 31(1). pp. 136-150. Retrieved fromhttps://doi.org/10.1080/19962126.2015.11865238.Stammers, N. (1999). Social Movements and the Social Construction of Human Rights. Human Rights Quarterly. 21(4). pp. 980-1008. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/762754.Strydom, T.J. & Mpemnyama, Z. (2016). South African court allows silicosis class action suit against gold frms. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.businesshumanrights.org/en/gold-miner-silicosis-litigation-re-so-africaSwanepoel, C. F. (2016). The public interest action in South Africa: the transformative injunction of the South African Constitution. Journalof juridical science. 41(2). pp. 29-46 Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.18820/24150517/JJS41.v2.3.Wango (2019). Worldwide NGO Directory. Retrieved from https://www.wango.org/resources.aspx?section=ngodir⊂=list&newsearch=1®ionID=1&col=BFB07D.Women + Men Against Child Abuse (2019). 2018: The year that set new standards for the way we look at child abuse. Retrieved from http://www.wmaca.org/2018-the-year-that-set-new-standards-for-the-way-we-look-at-child-abuse/.
