USAf Impact Case Studies Submission
Street Law – Challenging inequality and leveraging social justice for vulnerable.
The following case-studies demonstrate the particular nature of the impact or difference made within a particular sector of society, detailing how this benefited stakeholders. A testimonial letter from each of these partners, speaking to our partnership impact, is available through the link below.
Denic Hurley Centre (DHC)
The Denis Hurley Centre (DHC) works with people of all faith traditions to serve some of the poorest people in central Durban. In particular, the DHC assists homeless people, drug users, the urban unemployed and refugees through its clinic, feeding scheme, political and economic empowerment programmes, community support and pastoral outreach.
Since 2018, two teams of Street Law students per semester have conducted their outreach with the DHC. These students apply their 25 hours of outreach work, in the form of participatory, interactive workshops and lessons on a range of human rights and legal topics, of interest to homeless people who come into the DHC, as well as assist with practical needs such as applying for ID cards.
In addition, however, students have conducted sessions on taking detailed, quality statements in evidence of systemic patterns of discrimination and abuse at the hands of Metro officials, to buttress a challenge to the eThekwini Municipality and its discriminatory bylaws, to have these declared unconstitutional. We have brokered a relationship with ProBono.Org and a local chamber of Advocates to assign pro bono attorneys to take up this challenge, and our Street Law coordinator together with a team of final year Law students contribute to the legal research and strategy process underway. The statements taken by our Street Law students form the basis of our legal challenge.
Dr Raymond Perrier
Director of the Denis Hurley Centre
Abahlali baseMjondolo (Shack dwellers’ Movement)
ABM is a socialist shack dwellers’ movement in South Africa, working with informal settlement organisations across the country, campaigning for land, housing and dignity.
Since 2023 we have had a team of students each year conduct awareness workshops on rights and remedies for residents of informal settlements, in relation to access to housing, water and sanitation, and additional practical legal challenges experienced by these communities. We have brokered a relationship with ProBono.Org and are contributing legal research and strategy to a possible Equality Court challenge against the eThekwini Municipality for its discriminatory and unconstitutional treatment of informal settlement residents, by failing to deliver on their right to access water and sanitation services.
Mr S’bu Zikode
President of Abahlali baseMjondolo
South African Society for Labour Law (SASLAW)
SASLAW is a non-profit organisation seeking to promote the advancement of labour law as a legal and academic discipline, and encourage collaboration between lawyers and other experts within the field of labour law. It runs a pro bono office at the Durban Labour Court to assist complainants with labour law disputes.
Since 2021, we have had a team of students per semester, conducting awareness workshops on labour law, rights and remedies at SASLAW’s pro bono office at the Labour Court, taking statements and advising clients approaching this office for assistance with labour law matters. Students have worked with SASLAW attorneys to develop and translate plain language materials and brochures which SASLAW uses to inform clients of their rights and assist them prepare for trial.
Ms Diane Cochran
SASLAW, KZN.
Asiye eTafuleni (Let’s go to the table)
AeT is a public interest organisation based in the Warwick Market working to achieve spatial justice and equitable access to sustainable livelihoods for informal workers in urban public spaces.
Since 2021, we have had a team of students per semester conduct awareness workshops and develop plain language public information materials on issues pertaining to the informal trade regulatory framework, the rights of traders and remedies available on unlawful seizure or destruction of goods by Metro officials. Students’ outreach takes the form of street legal kiosks within informal markets around Durban, where traders are able to gain information on their rights and talk through their legal challenges with students, with the option to refer any cases to the UKZN Law Clinic, should there be a need.
Ms Sithulisile Moyo
Law Programme Officer at Asiye eTafuleni
Mpungose Traditional Authority
The MTA is a local traditional authority based in the rural communities adjacent to Eshowe, falling under the leadership of a traditional leader, Inkosi Thandisizwe Mpungose.
Since 2023, we have had a team of Street Law students conduct training and awareness workshops with MTA court officials on how to address community legal issues such as ukuthwala (abduction for marriage) using traditional court structures and processes. Our students train court officials and izinduna on substantive content of law pertaining to the chosen topic, and on court procedures, and prepare these stakeholders to run a mock trial on the topic. These interventions serve to demonstrate to officials and train them on the practical application of law, and to pilot the newly-developed software package designed to digitise traditional court proceedings, as these are brought into the formal legal system under the newly adopted Traditional Courts Act.
Inkosi Thandisizwe Mpungose
Mpungose Traditional Authority
Albert Luthuli Museum at Groutville, Stanger
In seeking to contribute towards a transformed society inspired by the values and ideals of Chief, Albert Luthuli, the Museum works to promote and sustain the legacy of Chief Albert Luthuli, through a range of educational and outreach offerings.
Since 2018, a team of Street Law students has worked each year with partner high schools of the Luthuli Museum, in the Groutville/Stanger area, to train and prepare teams of school learners to participate in the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) Annual Schools Moot competition. Our students run workshops with the learners on constitutional and statutory provisions relevant to the Moot topic, on court etiquette, and how to argue a matter. The School of Law hosts a semi-final and final Moot competition for the top learners, arranging for staff to serve as judges, and awarding the winning student a R15,000 bursary towards his or her studies, should he or she opt to study Law at UKZN.
In 2019, the Luthuli Museum team not only won the DoBE competition, but went on to represent South Africa in the international schools’ moot competition, and won! Two of our top-performing students from the Groutville area have gone on to take up the School bursary, and are currently studying for their LLB degree at UKZN.
