International Criminal Justice
SALC’s International Criminal Justice programme has the following objectives:
- To raise regional awareness about the domestication of the ICC Convention and to promote accountability for crimes against humanity at domestic levels through strategic litigation.
- To improve understanding of the ICC and its mandate whilst supporting domestic and regional accountability mechanisms.
- To litigate at domestic levels to establish jurisprudence on universal jurisdiction.
- To litigate at domestic levels against corporate complicity in violations of international law and human rights.
On-going cases:
South Africa: Ahmed Timol case (Rodrigues v NDPP and Others)
South Africa: Facilitate the prosecution of persons accused of crimes committed during Apartheid (Simelane)
Joao Rodrigues v National Director of Public Prosecutions & Others (Timol Case)
Revocation of visa to a convicted Dutch War Criminal: Augustinus Maria Kouwenhoven
Precedent cases:
South Africa: The State vs Henri Emomitimi Okah
South Africa: Amicus curiae in Law Society of South Africa case challenging SA’s signing of new SADC Tribunal protocol
South Africa/Zimbabwe: Case challenging NPA’s refusal to investigate cases of torture committed in Zimbabwe
South Africa/Rwanda: Judicial review of decision by South Africa to grant refugee status to former Rwanda general accused of war crimes
South Africa/Sudan: Case challenging the State’s failure to implement the ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese President Al Bashir
South Africa/Sudan: Amicus curiae in ICC cooperation hearing on South Africa’s failure to arrest Sudanese President Al Bashir
South Africa: Case challenging South Africa’s withdrawal from the ICC without parliamentary approval
South Africa/Jordan: Application as amicus curiae in respect of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s failure to cooperate with the ICC to arrest President Al Bashir
Good news as South Africa affirms its commitment to accountability for internati...
The Daily Maverick 26 June 2020 Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh On 11 June, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order to block the International Criminal Court (ICC) from action against US citizens. Trump’s order stated that the ICC actions were ‘illegitimate’…
Read MoreTorture in Zimbabwe...
The Mail and Guardian 23 May 2020 By Atilla Kisla Six years after the Torture Docket case – What is the current status of the investigation? Torture, one of the most horrendous violations of a person’s human rights, appears to…
Read More
SALC Board member pens open letter to Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa seeking acc...
Nehanda Radio 19 May 2020 By Beatrice Mtetwa Sir, I address you, not because you personally abducted, tortured and sexually abused JOANA MAMOMBE, CECILIA CHIMBIRI and NETSAI MAROVA. Neither do I address you because I know or am in other…
Read More
Statement: SALC condemns the torture and abduction of women leaders in Zimbabwe...
SALC condemns abduction and torture of three women leaders in Zimbabwe. Movement for Democratic Change member of parliament, Hon Joana Mamombe and Young Assembly leaders Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were allegedly abducted, detained and tortured over the last week.…
Read More
Universal Jurisdiction – a useful tool for prosecuting international crimes: C...
The Polity 07 May 2020 By Atilla Kisla Germany is prosecuting former Syrian state security members for crimes against humanity committed in Syria: What is the current status of the South African investigations into crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe?…
Read More ICC: Joint NGO Letter on State Party Support...
Rights Watch New York 28 April 2020 Your Excellency, We, the undersigned organizations, call on your State and all States Parties to the Rome Statute to show support for the Rome Statute system and the International Criminal Court (ICC), especially…
Read More SALC CONDEMNS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S THREATS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIM...
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) expresses its disappointment and condemns the remarks made by the United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo on 17 March 2020, concerning the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate crimes committed…
Read More
Why is South Africa providing a haven for an arms dealer convicted of war crimes...
Daily Maverick, 18 March 2020 Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh is executive director, Southern Africa Litigation Centre. Andrew Feinstein is a former ANC MP and executive director Shadow World Investigations. Dutch war criminal and arms trafficker Guus Kouwenhoven has found a haven in…
Read More
Media Release: SALC seeks the cancellation of the visa of Dutch arms dealer and ...
The High Court, Western Cape Division has set down the hearing of an application by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) in the case of Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) v Minister of Home Affairs and Another for argument on…
Read More
South Africa, Apartheid, Crimes against humanity and the Rule of Law: Quo Vadis?...
The Daily Maverick 21 February 2020 Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh South Africa is a young democracy, but the unfinished business of apartheid remains a pressing priority for the state. South Africa’s embarrassing and often unlawful stance on international crimes has received worldwide…
Read More REVOCATION OF VISA TO A CONVICTED DUTCH WAR CRIMINAL: AUGUSTINUS MARIA KOUWENHOV...
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre has filed an application requesting the Western Cape High Court to cancel the visa of convicted arms trafficker and war criminal Augustinus Maria Kouwenhoven. Kouwenhoven has been resident in South Africa since December 2016. He…
Read More SALC seeks cancellation of visa of convicted Dutch war criminal and fugitive fro...
SALC has filed an application to cancel the visa of convicted Dutch war criminal and fugitive from justice, Guus Kouvenhowen. The Southern Africa Litigation Centre has filed an application requesting the Western Cape High Court to cancel the visa of…
Read More