Civil Society at Work – Human rights organisations coordinate to maintain legal advice services

On Wednesday, 18 March a group of 10 organisations issued a public information poster providing details of the issues on which they can provide support; contact details; and hours when they are available.

The participating organisations are the Centre for Applied Legal Studies; the Centre for Child Law; the Centre for Environmental Rights; the Equal Education Law Centre; the Legal Resources Centre; Lawyers for Human Rights; Ndifuna Ukwazi; SECTION27; Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA; and the Women’s Legal Centre.



The advice the organisations are offering covers almost all rights that are protected by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, yet frequently violated, including access to housing, health, basic education, children’s rights, and services for women and others experiencing gender-based violence. 

Almost all the organisations, except for the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA (SERI) have suspended “walk-in” consultations because of the threat of Covid-19. However, some are still offering consultations by appointment only (the Centre for Child Law in Pretoria and Ndifuna Ukwazi in Cape Town), and all the others are offering telephonic consultation.

According to Nomzamo Zondo, the Director of SERI, herself and two attorneys continue to work from the office so as to be available to people in need. She says that the building where SERI is housed in Braamfontein has instituted adequate infection control and that some staff have chosen to remain on deck. 

This is necessary because there are some instances where “we can’t provide people assistance without being face-to-face”. She adds that SERI focuses on housing rights and evictions and that, at times like this, unscrupulous landlords may carry out evictions precisely because they think “people can't get help at this time”.

Reaching out to vulnerable communities

In a recent statement, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called for human rights to be “at front and centre in the response to Covid-19” pointing out that:

“Our efforts to combat this virus won’t work unless we approach it holistically, which means taking great care to protect the most vulnerable and neglected people in society, both medically and economically. Such people include those on low incomes, isolated rural populations, people with underlying health conditions, people with disabilities and older people living alone or in institutions.” 

“Need to ensure all relevant information reaches everyone without exception, including in readily understandable formats and languages, and adapted for people with specific needs, such as children, the visually- and hearing-impaired, and those with limited or no ability to read.”

“As you’re no doubt aware, Scalabrini Centre is concerned about the impact of the Covid-19 virus on South Africa’s refugee and asylum seeker community, as well as its impact on foreign national migrants. … We are aware that your various Departments and offices may have many other urgent tasks at present, so we are emailing to send you these information sheets on Covid-19 ...We are all in this together. We, at Scalabrini, are committed to doing our part.”