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The Gauteng school placements crisis (2026) – Why children are still waiting and what the law says
By Naledi Motsiri - Director and Nothando Nyoni - Associate As the 2026 school year begins, many parents in Gauteng are not celebrating. They are anxious, [...]
What Does the Domestic Violence Act Say About Gaslighting?
By Dakalo Singo (Director, Head of Pro Bono Practice) The short answer: nothing! But that is not the end of the enquiry. While gaslighting is not [...]
Understanding Domestic Violence – Why it is difficult to leave an abusive relationship
By Dakalo Singo (Director, Head of Pro Bono Practice) Introduction People in abusive relationships are often asked: "Why don't you just leave?". While this base question [...]
Blacklisting in South Africa – A Women’s Month Crash Course
By Naledi Motsiri (Director) and S'nenhlanhla Lushaba (Candidate Attorney) August, celebrated as Women’s Month in South Africa, is a time to reflect on the daily challenges [...]
Access to Justice – Standing with Women Beyond Women’s Month
By Naledi Motsiri (Director) and Nothando Nyoni (Associate) As Women's Month draws to an end, it is worth reflecting on the measures society has taken to [...]
Debt Review – A lifeline for over-indebted consumers
by Naledi Motsiri- Director and Nothando Nyoni - Candidate Attorney As a result of slow economic growth, high interest rates and the soaring cost of [...]
Claims for Non-payment in terms of Section 73A of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act – An overview of recent cases
by Dakalo Singo, Director and Head of Pro Bono In 2019, the jurisdiction of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration ("CCMA") was expanded by [...]
A step closer to establishing the National Council on gender-based violence and femicide
After the President assented to the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act No. 9 of 2024 ("Act") in May 2024, the operation of the [...]
Five tips to optimise your first consultation with an attorney
by Ngwalemorwa Matsapola, Candidate Attorney. Reviewed by Naledi Motsiri, Director. Consulting with an attorney for the first time can be a nerve-racking experience for most individuals [...]
An Overview of the Domestic Violence Act
Recognising that domestic violence in South Africa is a serious social evil, and that victims of domestic violence are amongst the most vulnerable in society, [...]
The role of the Sheriff in the South African legal system
In the current economic climate, with rising interest rates and soaring inflation, many consumers are struggling to meet their debt obligations. This may lead to creditors [...]
A South African perspective on the role of Pro Bono lawyers
This article was first published in TYL, a publication of the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division As a democracy, South Africa is somewhat of [...]
Pro Bono Articles
Five tips to optimise your first consultation with an attorney Coercive and Controlling Behaviour in the Domestic Violence Act An Overview of the Domestic Violence [...]
A new chapter in the fight against gender-based violence?
Domestic Violence Amendment Act 14 of 2021 is Now Operational Following a relatively expedited legislative process, the Domestic Violence Amendment Act 14 of 2021 (DVAA) came [...]
The Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill is a step closer to becoming law
by Dakalo Singo, Director and Head of Pro Bono Practice On 14 March 2023, the National Assembly passed the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and [...]
Recent pro bono highlights
Werksmans pro bono highlights - National Wills Week During the week of 13 to 17 September 2021, Werksmans participated in National Wills Week. This is an [...]
Constitutional Court to finally give clarity on hate speech
by Harold Jacobs, Director and Dakalo Singo, Director On 22 September 2020, the Constitutional Court heard arguments in the case of Jonathan Dubula Qwelane v South [...]
A brief retrospective on two cases about UIF and asylum seekers
By Dakalo Singo, Director Introduction The end of February 2020 marks the anniversary of an important court victory which confirmed the rights of asylum seekers to [...]
Probono@Werks
DIEPSLOOT PRO BONO LAW CLINIC – PROUDLY GROWING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The Diepsloot Law Clinic opened its doors in 2012. This law clinic is the [...]
Court victory enables asylum seekers to claim unemployment benefits
By: The Werksmans Pro Bono Team For many years, asylum seekers attempting to claim benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) have routinely been turned away by [...]
“What constitutes hate speech?” – the equality court answers
On 5 October 2018, Sutherland J handed down an important judgment in the discourse of what constitutes hate speech in terms of the Promotion of Equality [...]
“WHAT CONSTITUTES HATE SPEECH?” – THE EQUALITY COURT ANSWERS
What constitutes hate speech On 5 October 2018, Sutherland J handed down an important judgment in the discourse of what constitutes hate speech in terms of [...]
Probono@Werks
WILLS WEEK - 2018 ProBono.Org hosted a Wills Week from 23 to 27 July 2018. Lawyers from various firms in Johannesburg and Pretoria were invited to [...]
Ratepayers association tackles the Shebeen regulations
INTRODUCTION On 1 November 2017 the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg found in favour of the Yeoville Bellevue Ratepayers' Association ("the Association") by declaring the Gauteng [...]
Domestic violence: a sad South African reality
The plight of violence against women in our country has been given much media attention in recent times, especially during Women's month, in August. The media [...]
