SERI is involved in a number of cases as part of its litigation practice, and works together with firms of attorneys across the country.

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
• Ethekwini Municipality v Nokuthula Mabaso and Others ('Mabaso') eviction - interdict - Abahlali BaseMjondolo - City of eThekwini - Durban High Court - Anti-Land Invasion Unit
• 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
• Economic Freedom Fighters & Another v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development & Another Amicus curiae  - Trespass Act – Riotous Assemblies Act – Constitutional Court – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). 
• 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

• Economic Freedom Fighters & Another v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development & Another Amicus curiae  - Trespass Act – Riotous Assemblies Act – Constitutional Court – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
• Ndlela and Others v the State ('Colenso') peaceful protest - Public Violence - Estcourt Magistrate's Court - Pietermaritzburg High Court - Constitutional Court - Expanding Political Space
• 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

• Khosa & Others v The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and 10 Others (‘Khosa’) amicus curiae – South African National Defence Force – South African Police Service - COVID-19 - Defence Act - High Court - Pretoria
• 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