A new means test and bank verification process has resulted in far fewer people getting the grant By Liezl Human The R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant should be increased to R413 in line with inflation, say the Institute for Economic Justice and the the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa. The organisations noted with concern that the only aspect...

The Socio-Economic Rights Institute says that Johannesburg’s Central Magistrate’s Court is often not applying the relevant laws By Masego Mafata The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) has analysed 47 of the 65 evictions granted by the Johannesburg Central Magistrate’s Court from 2013 to 2018. Most of the cases were over non-payment of a monthly rental. In the vast majority...

Workers have until November 2021 to submit retrospective claims of the last 27 years By Masego Mafata Since November last year, the Compensation Fund covers domestic workers. The inclusion was applied retrospectively, to 1994. Domestic workers were given a year to lodge these claims. There are currently no claims recorded with the Compensation Fund from domestic workers. Unions says the Labour...

The court has ruled that these employees can claim from the Compensation Fund if injured while on duty. The ground-breaking judgment also ensures domestic workers can apply retrospectively. By Musawenkosi Cabe “It’s unbelievable. We feel like flying, we are so happy. I nearly broke into song inside , breaking the law…” These were the words of 77-year-old Eunice Dhladhla,...

Workers’ Compensation Act to get first overhaul in 23 years By Justin Brown Proposed changes to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act to include domestic workers have been welcomed by unions. The Act was passed in 1993, before the Constitution, and has not been amended for years. The proposed amendments follow court rulings that the exclusion of domestic workers...

1982 law criminalised free speech By Zoë Postman In a unanimous judgment, read by Justice Leona Theron on Tuesday, the Constitutional Court declared Section 1(1)(b) of the Intimidation Act of 1982 unconstitutional and invalid because it unjustifiably limited the right to freedom of expression. The section of the Act states that persons will be guilty of an offence if they act in a...