SERI is involved in a number of cases as part of its litigation practice, and works together with firms of attorneys across the country. For further information please contact SERI's director of litigation, Nomzamo Zondo.

Below is a list of some of SERI's cases with guide words and links to background information, legal papers, judgments, press releases etc.

Securing a Home 

Inner city evictions and access to alternative accommodation

• Auto Cinema Investments v Occupiers of Stanhope Compound ('Stanhope Compound') eviction - Stanhope mining compound - Johannesburg - access to justice
• Blue Moonlight Properties 39 (Pty) Ltd v Occupiers of Saratoga Avenue and Another ('Blue Moonlight') private eviction - Berea - City of Johannesburg - alternative accommodation - Constitutional Court
• Changing Tides (Pty) Ltd v Unlawful Occupiers of Chung Hua Mansions and Others ('Changing Tides') unlawful eviction - inner city of Johannesburg - Johannesburg High Court
• City of Johannesburg v Changing Tides Properties and the Unlawful Occupiers of Tikwelo House ('Tikwelo House') amicus curiae - appeal against order to provide alternative accommodation - City of Johannesburg - Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA)
• City of Johannesburg in re: All pending eviction applications where the occupiers’ eviction may lead to homelessness ('City of Johannesburg ex parte stay application') stay application - evictions - City of Johannesburg - South Gauteng High Court
• City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality v Primrose Qelesile and Others ('MOTH') urgent application - eviction - Gauteng Local Division of the High Court
• Dladla and the Further Residents of Ekuthuleni Shelter v City of Johannesburg and MES ('Dladla') rights to dignity, privacy and adequate housing - shelter accommodation - inner city Johannesburg
• Goge v Metropolitan Evangelical Services (MES) and Another ('Goge') spoliation order - occupation of shelter - eviction - right to reoccupy after period of absence - Johannesburg High Court
• Hawerd Nleya and Others v Ingelosi House (Pty) Ltd ('Ingelosi House') application for leave to appeal - just and equitable eviction - Gauteng Local Division of the High Court - Supreme Court of Appeal
• Hlophe and Others v City of Johannesburg and Others ('Hlophe') Chung Hua - enforcement application – contempt
• Kgosidintsi Eric Mothlabane and others v Sherberg Investment CC and another ('Sherberg') recission application - Gauteng Local Division of the High Court
• Mthimkulu and Others v City of Johannesburg and Others ('Mthimkulu') emergency housing - City of Johannesburg - South Gauteng High Court
• Occupiers of Erven 87 & 88 Berea v De Wet and Another ('Kiribilly') eviction rescission - lack of consent - Johannesburg
• Occupiers of 10-18 Salisbury Street, Johannesburg v City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department illegal eviction - Johannesburg CBD - Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) - fire brigade
• Occupiers of Jeanwell Court v Khalil Ahmed Properties ('Jeanwell Court') inner city Johannesburg - rescission application - South Gauteng High Court
• Occupiers of 50, 53 and 54 Soper Road v Motala and Others (‘Soper Road’) urgent application – eviction – inner city Johannesburg – rescission
• Residents of Industry House and Others v Minister of Police and Others ('Raids case') police raids - constitutionality of section 13(7) of the SAPS Act - search without a warrant - South Gauteng High Court
• Schubart Park Residents Association and Others v City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and Others ('Schubart Park') amicus curiae - Schubart Park – difference between 'evacuation' and 'eviction' of occupiers - Constitutional Court

Bank repossessions / sales-in-execution

• ABSA v Mokebe; ABSA v Kobe; ABSA v Vokwana; Standard Bank v Colombrick and Another ('ABSA Amicus') foreclosure applications - amicus curiae - South Gauteng High Court
• ABSA Bank v Lekuku foreclosure applications - amicus curiae - South Gauteng High Court
• ABSA v Mkhize and Others ('Mkhize') amicus curiae - default judgment - National Credit Act - interpretation of Sebola judgment - SCA
• Gundwana v Steko Development CC and Others ('Gundwana') eviction - sale in execution - constitutionality of a Rule of Court - Constitutional Court
• Kubyana v Standard Bank Ltd ('Kubyana') amicus curiae - Sebola interpretation - Constitutional Court
• Mbatha v Nedbank and Others sale-in-execution - rescission application - South Gauteng High Court
• Nomsa Nkata v FRB and Others ('Nkata') amicus curiae - sale-in-execution - National Credit Act - Constitutional Court
• Sebola and Another v Standard Bank and Another ('Sebola') sale-in-execution - notice - National Credit Act - Constitutional Court
• Thabethe and Another v FNB and Others ('Thabethe')* sale-in-execution - eviction - rescission application - North Gauteng High Court
• Todd v First Rand Bank Ltd and Others ('Todd') invalid sale-in-execution - Uniform Rule 46(7)(e) of the Uniform Rules of Court - Supreme Court of Appeal
• State v Lehlongwa ('Lehlongwa') trespass - eviction - house sold in execution - Soweto - Trespass Act - Protea Magistrates' Court
• State and Another v Zwane ('Zwane') trespass - eviction - house sold in execution - Ennendale - Trespass Act - North Gauteng High Court

Informal settlements

• De Clerq and Others v Occupiers of Plot 38 Meringspark, Klerksdorp and Others ('Ratanang')eviction - Ratanang informal settlement - Klerksdorp - North Gauteng High Court
• Melani and the Further Residents of Slovo Park Informal Settlement v City of Johannesburg and Others ('Slovo Park') Slovo Park informal settlement - Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) - City of Johannesburg
• Dzai and Others v Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Others ('Makause') Makause informal settlement - Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality - application of Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) - Johannesburg High Court
• Fischer and City of Cape Town v Ramahlele and 46 Others ('Fischer interdict application') anti-land invasion unit - City of Cape Town - Supreme Court of Appeal
• Fischer v Unlawful Occupiers, Erf 150, Philippi ('Fischer eviction application') eviction application - state buyout of land - City of Cape Town - Western Cape High Court
• Lyton Props and Robert Ross v Occupiers of isiQalo and City of Cape Town ('isiQalo')isiQalo informal settlement - private owner - eviction application - Western Cape High Court
• Mjadu and Others in re Federation for a Sustainable Environment v National Nuclear Regulator and Others ('Tudor Shaft')application for leave to intervene - mine residue removal - lack of public participation - Tudor Shaft - South Gauteng High Court
• Mikani Holdings v Unlawful Occupiers of Taylor Road, Honeydew Manor and Another ('Mikani')alternative accommodation - informal settlement - Honeydew - City of Johannesburg
• Mtungwa and Others v Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality ('Mtungwa')access to water and sanitation - Langaville informal settlement - Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality
• Mzimela and Others v eThekwini Municipality and Others ('Mzimela') illegal eviction - urgent interdict - Cato Crest informal settlement - Durban High Court
• Pheko and Others v Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality ('Bapsfontein')illegal eviction - Bapsfontein informal settlement - Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality - amicus curiae - Constitutional Court
• Rand Leases Properties v Occupiers of Vogelstruisfontein and Others ('Rand Leases') emergency housing - access to basic services - Marie Louise informal settlement - City of Johannesburg
• Rula Tecno Park (Pty) Ltd v Moses Khuzwayo Mahlangu and Others ('Rula Tecno') eviction - Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) - Roodepoort Magistrate's Court
• uMngeni Municipality v Mafuludi Dlamini and Others ('Tumbleweed') eviction - Tumbleweed township - KwaZulu-Natal - Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act
• Nvobo and Others v City of Johannesburg and Others ('Kliptown') eviction - Kliptown informal settlement - City of Johannesburg - JMPD - South Gauteng High Court
• Thubakgale and Others v Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Others (‘Winnie Mandela’) housing allocation - PAJA - Winnie Mandela informal settlement - North Gauteng High Court
• Zulu and 389 Others v eThekwini Municipality and Others ('Zulu') constitutional validity of court order - amicus curiae - Constitutional Court

Landlord-tenant disputes

• Govender v Pillay eviction - lease termination - Pinetown - Abahlali baseMjondolo
• Maphango and Others v Aengus Lifestyle Properties ('Maphango') lease agreement - rental escalation - Braamfontein - right to housing - Constitutional Court
• Jele and Others v Young Min Shan ('Jele') electricity service charge - rental housing - Rental Housing Act - electricity by-laws
• Residents of Chiawelo Flats v Eskom and City of Johannesburg ('Chiawelo Flats') electricity disconnection - Soweto - Eskom - City of Johannesburg
  
• Tenants of Plettenberg Flats, 34 Bruce Street, Hillbrow v Lewray Investments and Another ('Plettenberg') eviction - tenants' right not to be evicted as a result of renovations - Rental Housing Tribunal - PIE Act - High Court - Constitutional Court

Eviction of unlawful occupiers

• All Building and Cleaning Services v Matlaila and Others ('Matlaila') eviction application - just and equitable - South Gauteng High Court
• Arendse v Arendse amicus curiae - eviction - Magistrate's Court - Cape Town
• K v M and Others eviction - customary law - adoption - South Gauteng High Court
• Chauke v Luvela; State v Luvela transfer of property - eviction - trespass - Soweto - Johannesburg Magistrate's Court
• City of Johannesburg v Muriel Botha ('Botha') eviction application - Johannesburg Magistrate's Court
• Governing Body of Juma Musjid Primary School and Others v Essay NO and Others ('Juma Musjid') right to education – horizontal application – eviction - amicus curiae - Constitutional Court
• Osman and Others v the Hon. Minister Of State for Provincial Administration & Internal Security and Others  eviction – lack of alternative land – amicus curiae - High Court of Kenya
• Mokebe v January eviction - consent - Boksburg District Magistrate's Court
• Mchunu and Others v Executive Mayor of eThekwini and Others ('Mchunu') eviction - implementation of court order - Siyanda - Durban High Court
• MEC for Education and Others v Occupiers of Coronationville and City of Johannesburg (‘Coronationville’) eviction - meaning of 'unlawful occupier' - PIE Act
• My Painted House Foundation v Makhubu and Others ('Makhubu') eviction application - just and equitable - Clocolan Magistrate Court
• Rural Institute for Education and Training (RIET) v Mutabesha Dieudone and the Unlawful Occupiers of 235 Main Reef Road, Randfontein (‘RIET') refugee and migrant rights - eviction - contract - South Gauteng High Court
• Sipho Berman Maseko and Others v Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd and Other ('Maseko') eviction - application for leave to appeal - Gauteng Provincial Division of the High Court
• Taaibos v Samuels and Others ('Taaibos') eviction application - wrongful transfer of property - City of Johannesburg - South Gauteng High Court

Making a Living

• J.F. Rossouw Trading v CSAAWU & Others ('Rossouw') unfair dismissal - CCMA - Labour Appeal Court - Cape Town
• Mahlangu v the Minister of Labour ('Mahlangu') constitutional challenge to COIDA - denifition of "employee" excludes domestic workers - High Court - Pretoria
• Philander and 2 Others and CSAAWU v La Maison Farms ('La Maison') application for leave to appeal - costs order - Labour Court - Cape Town
• Robertson Abattoir v Commercial Stevedoring Agricultural & Allied Workers’ Union (‘CSAAWU’) unfair working conditions - Labour Court - Cape Town
• Sambo and 10 Others and CSAAWU v Steytler Boerdery ('Steytler') application for leave to appeal - costs order - Labour Court - Cape Town
• South African Informal Traders Forum (SAITF) and Others v City of Johannesburg and Others ('SAITF') informal trading by-laws - inner city Johannesburg - South Gauteng High Court
• Transnet Soc Ltd v Mushandana Humbulani Victoria & 34 Others ('Mushandana') informal trade - eviction - Mogwase

Expanding Political Space

Right to protest / freedom of expression

• Mke and Others v Minister of Safety and Security damages claims - Abahlali baseMjondolo - Minister of Safety and Security - Durban High Court
• Mlungwana and Others v The State and Others ('Mlungwana') Gatherings Act - United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly - amicus curiae - Western Cape High Court
• Moyo and Another v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others Intimidation Act 72 of 1982 - application for declaration of unconstitutionality and invalidity - freedom of expression
• Opinion Commissioned by Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution ('CSAC') legal opinion - student protest
• Rhodes University v Students Representative Council of Rhodes University and Others ('Rhodes') student protest - interim interdict - Grahamstown High Court
• Seadimo Tlale and the Students Listed in Annexure "A" v University of the Witwatersrand ('Tlale') student protest - Gauteng Local Division of the High Court
• State v Miya bail appeal - community protest - Thembelihle - South Gauteng High Court
• State v Mdlalose ('Mdlalose') public violence - Cato Crest informal settlement - Durban Magistrates Court
• State v Moyo, Swetsana and Sisulu ('Primrose') Makause - right to protest - alleged intimidation - Primrose police station - Germiston Magistrates Court
• State v Nkosi and 13 Others (‘Thembelihle’) criminal trial – Thembelihle – protests - Protea Regional Court
• State v Ntombela and 19 Others ('Ntombela') protest - criminal justice system - Thembelihle informal settlement - Lenasia Magistrates Court

Protection of political space

• Abahlali baseMjondolo and 52 Others v Minister of Police and Others ('Kennedy Road') damages claim - Kennedy Road informal settlement - police - eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
• Afrikanerbond and Others v Malema hate speech - South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)
• Mngomezulu v eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and Another ('Mngomezulu') damages claim - Cato Crest informal settlement - land invasion unit - eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality - Minister of Safety and Security
• Philander and 2 Others and CSAAWU v La Maison Farms ('La Maison') application for leave to appeal - costs order - Labour Court - Cape Town
  
• Robertson Abattoir v Commercial Stevedoring Agricultural & Allied Workers’ Union (‘CSAAWU’) unfair working conditions - Labour Court - Cape Town
• Sambo and 10 Others and CSAAWU v Steytler Boerdery ('Steytler') application for leave to appeal - costs order - Labour Court - Cape Town
• State v Limaphi and 11 Others ('Kennedy 12') criminal trial  - Abahlali baseMjondolo - Kennedy 12 - Durban Regional Court
• State v Webster ('Webster') bail application - community activism - Marikana - North West High Court

Marikana

• Marikana Commission of Inquiry Marikana massacre - families of the deceased - Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU)
• Magidiwana & Other Injured and Arrested Persons v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others ('Magidiwana') Marikana Commission - Commissions Act - Legal Aid SA - North Gauteng High Court

Access to Justice

• Betlane v Shelly Court CC ('Betlane') eviction - Johannesburg - lay litigant - direct access - Constitutional Court
• Millie and 29 Others v the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others criminal appeal - Wits Justice Project - Johannesburg - access to justice - South Gauteng High Court
• F v Minister of Safety and Security amicus curiae - Institute for Security Studies - vicarious liability - Constitutional Court