Rule of Law
SALC’s Rule of Law work is integrated within its other programmatic areas and focuses on the following objectives:
- To challenge encroachments on judicial independence.
- To challenge practices where the executive seeks to encroach on the powers of parliament or the judiciary.
On-going cases:
Lesotho: Conduct advocacy and litigation to address unlawful arrests and military detention.
Precedent cases:
Lesotho: Support wife of late Brigadier Mahau to argue against the setting aside of the findings of the SADC Commission of Inquiry into Lesotho.
Botswana: Challenge interpretation of Constitution which allows President discretion to appoint High Court judges.
Swaziland: Challenging the constitutionality of the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act.
Swaziland: Challenging the constitutionality of the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
Swaziland: Challenging lawyer and editor’s arrest and detention for contempt of court.
Zambia Debates Proposed Constitutional Amendments...
A brief analysis of Zambia’s Constitutional Amendment Bill by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre The Zambian Constitutional Amendment Bill was released for public comment on 21 June 2019. Section 79 of the Constitution provides that a Bill which seeks to…
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SALC Research Report: Alignment of Eswatini’s Domestic Laws with Recommend...
It is more than seventy years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted yet the struggle to achieve full realisation of human rights remains a pressing reality. One of the challenges hampering the enjoyment of human rights…
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News Release: International Crimes being committed in Zimbabwe...
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is concerned with reports of serious human rights violations and commission of atrocities by the police forces, government armed forces and ZANU PF members in Zimbabwe since Monday 14 January. Following country wide protests…
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CSO recommendation to reconsider Egypt as host state for the 64th Ordinary Sessi...
A letter to the Chair of African Commission on Human and People's Rights on CSO's recommendation to reconsider Egypt as host state for the 64th Ordinary Session. Find the letter here.
Read More Statement: Launch of research report on “The alignment of Eswatini’s...
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre released a report on "The Alignment of Eswatini's Domestic law with recommendations of United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms" in Mbabane on the 13th of September 2018. The report was drafted with support from the European…
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SALC IN THE NEWS: TWO COURT DISPUTES TEST SA’s COMMITMENT TO RULE OF LAW...
The Daily Maverick President Cyril Ramaphosa faces great risks but also opportunities in how he handles ICC and SADC Tribunal cases. Are the planets aligning for South Africa to make a significant contribution to reforming the International Criminal Court (ICC)…
Read More Statement: Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network condemns the violent ...
The SAHRDN has today demanded that the Malawian Police and relevant government authorities urgently and openly investigate the violence, assault and threats against the staff of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and bring the perpetrators to justice.…
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SALC IN THE NEWS: South Africa’s role in the denial of justice in southern Afr...
Suzgo Lungu and MacKennan Graziano The Daily Maverick Why there is no functioning southern African regional court and how former president Jacob Zuma’s actions contributed to the termination of the SADC Tribunal. Former president Nelson Mandela once stated that “South…
Read More SALC IN THE NEWS: Don’t pull South Africa out of the ICC, judges urge Justice ...
The Daily Maverick South Africa could help counter the global vacuum of respect for international law by supporting the International Criminal Court, says former Justice Richard Goldstone, who with Judge Navi Pillay has urged Justice Minister Michael Masutha not to…
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Media Advisory: The Constitutional Court of South Africa to hear government’s ...
On 30th August 2018, the Constitutional Court of South Africa will hear an appeal brought by the state against the decision of the High Court in the case of Law Society of South Africa and others v The President of…
Read More STATEMENT: CSOs CONTINUE TO CALL FOR A REGIONAL COURT WITH A HUMAN RIGHTS MANDAT...
From the 17- 18 August 2018, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold its 38th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Namibia. The Summit is expected to address some of the critical challenges affecting the…
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NEWS RELEASE: Veritas v. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission & 2 Others...
On 27th June 2018, the High Court of Zimbabwe handed down judgment and dismissed the constitutional challenge brought in Veritas v. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission & 2 Others. The applicant, Veritas, challenged the constitutionality of several sections of the Electoral Act…
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