Anti-terror laws risk making life hard for civil society

Anti-money laundering Bill may fail the international test it was written to pass By Alison Tilley Parliament in Cape Town. Archive photo: Brent Meersman / GroundUp (CC BY-ND 4.0) In our scramble to meet international requirements preventing financing of terrorism, South Africa risks making life unnecessarily difficult for non-profit organisations (NPOs). The General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill currently...

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Asylum system reopens after ConCourt judgment

Most new applicants have been barred from accessing the system since at least 2020 By Joseph Chirume The Gqeberha Refugee Reception Office has reopened for new applicants, following a Home Affairs circular on 28 September. Photo: Joseph Chirume / GroundUp Laws that came into effect in 2020 allowed Home Affairs to bar asylum seekers from submitting an application if they had not...

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Save the date for PILG 2024

PILG - Public Interest Law Gathering 2024 The New Possibilities and Challenges Presented by a GNU World Save the Date - 03 to 04 December 2024 Download the call for proposals: PILG 2024 call for proposals  

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Can my father’s new wife inherit from my mother’s deceased estate?

The short answer It depends whether there is a clause in your mother's will that precludes inheritance being part of the beneficiary's joint estate. The whole question Dear Athalie My mother passed away two years ago, leaving my father and nephew alone in the house. Last year, my father met a woman who he has since married, even though she is from a...

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Supreme Court of Appeal reverses controversial ivermectin ruling

There was no evidence to justify Judge Cassim Sardiwalla’s order, says court By Tania Broughton The Supreme Court of Appeal has set aside an order by the Pretoria High Court on the use of ivermectin for Covid patients. The High Court had made an order compelling the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to report back to the court every...

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Seismic judgment: Court overturns exploration rights granted to Shell

The court has put a stop to the seismic survey along the Wild Coast By Tania Broughton The High Court has ruled that the exploration rights granted to Impact Africa and Shell along the Wild Coast were unlawful. The judges said there was “no meaningful consultation” with interested and affected parties prior to the award of the right. The Minister of...

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Basic Income Grant: what it’s all about

Research shows the grant can help end hunger and also contribute to economic growth By Carilee Osborne South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, with extremely high rates of poverty and unemployment. Large numbers of people are excluded from the economy without the means to ensure that their basic needs are met. Recently there has been a lot...

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Learners protest against “drastic and unacceptable” changes to school infrastructure law

Equal Education members demand Eastern Cape education MEC intervene By Johnnie Isaac Scores of learners and Equal Education members donned their school uniforms on Wednesday and marched to the Eastern Cape Department of Education in Zwelitsha. They are opposed to proposed amendments to minimum norms and standards for public school infrastructure. Under the new draft amendments, deadlines have been removed for when government must...

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My asylum permit expired and now I’m facing a fine even though all the refugee offices are closed.

The short answer You can approach one of the organisations that work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The whole question Dear Athalie My asylum seeker permit has a note saying that I must pay a fine because I was one week late in renewing it. Where can I go to resolve this? All the refugee reception offices are closed! The long...

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Victory for housing activists in landmark Tafelberg case

Court rescinds sale of land, orders City of Cape Town and Western Cape government to create new housing policy  By James Stent Judges Patrick Gamble and Monde Samela have ruled in favour of housing activists in the landmark Tafelberg case. In a judgment over 200 pages long, Gamble and Samela set aside the sale of the site of the former Tafelberg Remedial...

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