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On Wednesday, 19 April 2023, SERI appeared in the Cape Town High Court on behalf of occupiers of the Cape Town inner city to oppose their eviction by the Municipality. The occupiers approached SERI to oppose the imminent eviction from their homes, and to ensure that the eviction is just and equitable. The occupiers are homeless people occupying several locations in ­the Central Business District.

SERI filed the occupiers’ notice of intention to oppose as soon as the occupiers’ instructions were confirmed. Prior to SERI’s involvement the occupiers faced the prospect of being evicted from their homes without the court being presented with all the relevant circumstances by the occupiers. This is necessary to ensure that the occupiers receive a fair and just hearing in court and that the eviction is just and equitable. The occupiers have a Constitutional right to legal representation and SERI’s representation of the occupiers ensures that they are active participants in a matter that concerns their constitutional rights. The matter has now been removed from the Court’s roll of unopposed matters to allow the occupiers to file their answering affidavit as litigants in the matter.  

SERI remains concerned about the housing crisis in South Africa. The eviction of poor people from their places of residence without a process through which to meaningfully engage, and without the provision of suitable alternative accommodation, only serves to exacerbate the crisis. 

SERI has noted with concern the comments made by the City of Cape Town in its statement characterising our involvement in the matter as a delay. It is important to note that the timelines for the case were agreed with the City. Therefore, it is surprising that the City is now seeking to characterise our involvement as a delay. The Court has afforded the occupiers an opportunity to compile and file their answering affidavit, which is a normal procedure in litigation and is in fact, a necessary step in the legal process.
SERI remains committed to working towards a fair and just resolution for all parties and will continue to work with the affected communities to seek a long-term solution to the matter. 

Contact details:  

• Khululiwe Bhengu, SERI senior attorney, khululiwe[at]seri-sa.org 
• Khuselwa Dyantyi, SERI attorney, khuselwa[at]seri-sa.org
• Zolile Shude, SERI candidate attorney, zolile[at]seri-sa.org

Download the full statement here. 

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend, Mduduzi Radebe (14 June 1976 – 6 April 2023).  Mduduzi was a highly respected financial consultant and a valued member of our team for the last five years. He passed away unexpectedly last week Thursday, leaving us all in shock and mourning.

Mduduzi was known for his expertise, professionalism, and dedication to his work with decades of experience in the NGO sector. He possessed a wealth of knowledge that he generously shared with his colleagues, always willing to go above and beyond to help them achieve their goals. Throughout his career, Mduduzi demonstrated exceptional analytical skills, consistently guiding his clients towards success and financial stability. 

But beyond his professional accomplishments, Mduduzi was also a beloved friend and a father, known for his infectious smile, warm personality, and kind heart. 

Mduduzi's passing is a great loss to our team, and to the NGO sector at large. We are all deeply saddened by this news, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.

From 26 to 31 March, SERI hosted a week long Women’s Spaces Partnership Steering Committee (PSC) in Johannesburg. The steering committee forms part of the Women’s Spaces project which focuses on women’s rights to land and housing in sub-Saharan Africa. The PSC is an annual meeting between the project partners and Rooftops Canada, the lead organisation, to provide strategic direction and oversight. The steering committee includes Mazingira Institute based in Kenya, The Shelter and Settlement Alternatives: Uganda Human Settlements Network and Development Workshop Angola. Approximately 15 participants from all partner organizations attended the meeting, which was facilitated by Rooftops Canada. The main objective of the engagement was to share the experiences of women in partner countries in accessing their rights to land, property, and housing.

During the first two days, each partner organisation presented their progress, lessons learned, and challenges faced in implementing their respective parts of the project. On the third day, participants had a working exchange with the Slovo Park Community Development Forum (SPCDF), where experiences were shared between project partners and the Slovo Park community members. The fourth day included a seminar on community advice offices, legal aid, and public interest legal services in South Africa, facilitated by SERI, the Inner City Federation (ICF), and Inner City Resource Centre (ICRC). The day also featured a presentation from the communications subcommittee on creating a broader communication strategy for the project. The last day concluded with a presentation by Joseph Schechla from the Habitat International Coalition on environmental issues related to the Women's Spaces project.

In the next three years, project partners will continue working together to ensure women's equal access to land, housing, and livelihood in sub-Saharan Africa.