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On 26 and 27 January 2023, SERI took part in the first Social Justice Assembly (SJA) hosted at Think Africa at the University of Pretoria. The Assembly sought to bring together "250 delegates from community-based organisations, social movements, non-governmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations, academics and donors into one space to discuss challenges facing the country and the world, the state of the sector currently and how best civil society can coordinate its efforts to bring about lasting and consequential change."

The impetus behind the Assembly was the Social Justice Sector Review Report, published in November 2020. The report, supported by the Raith Foundation, provides a historical record of the developments in South Africa's social justice sector since 1994. The report reflects on the sector's progress, its shortcomings and informs its strategies going forward. The report's findings formed the foundation of the deliberations of the SJA.

SERI's Nomzamo Zondo gave the introduction and welcoming address alongside PARI's Mbongiseni Buthelezi. Both Nomzamo and Mbongiseni form part of the SJA coordinating committee. Equal Education's Noncedo Madubedube and Ayabonga Cawe delivered the keynote addresses for days one and two of the Assembly, respectively. 

The Assembly also comprised of various break-away engagement sessions on a range of thematic areas including sectoral collaboration, engaging the state, and funding the sector, which SERI's Jason Brickhill gave a presentation and SERI's Nomzamo Zondo facilitated. Other engagement sessions were held on the energy transition and the intersection between climate change and social justice, GBV, migrant rights in South Africa and mental wellness. Portions of the SJA were live-streamed and can be accessed below.

• Access day one of the Social Justice Assembly here.
• Access day two of the Social Justice Assembly here.

The Slovo Park Community Development Forum (SPCDF) and SERI mourn the passing of Lydia Lenyatsa (12 November 1983 - 11 January 2023), who was an active resident of the Slovo Park informal settlement for over 20 years.

Lydia was featured in a mini documentary entitled, 'The Struggle to be Ordinary' which looks at access to water and sanitation for people living with disabilities in informal settlements. Lydia suffered from scoliosis and had challenges with her lungs making her reliant on a regular oxygen supply from 2011. She was laid to rest on 21 January 2023 in Slovo Park and is survived by her three children, parents and her husband.

Lydia was a champion of disability rights particularly in the informal settlement context and advocated for the development of Slovo Park. Her passing is a great loss to her loved ones and the community of Slovo Park, as a whole.

Here is a link to our interview with Lydia for the documentary, 'The Struggle to be Ordinary'.

Photo: ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation)

The South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) and SERI mourn the passing of Myrtle Witbooi (31 August 1947- 16 January 2023), General Secretary of SADSAWU and Chair of the International Domestic Workers' Federation (IDWF). 

Myrtle's tireless efforts advocating for the rights of domestic workers span several decades, beginning in the 1960s when she herself was a domestic worker in Cape Town. Myrtle went on to co-found South African Domestic Workers Union in 1986, which called for fair labour standards for domestic workers such as living wages, unemployment insurance, workman's compensation, maternity benefits and sick pay.  

In recent years SADSAWU under Myrtle's leadership, successfully advocated for the inclusion of domestic workers in the Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001 in 2003, and in 2020 played a pivotal role in the inclusion of domestic workers in the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993, having taken on the role of second applicant in the Mahlangu v Minister of Labour matter. On the international stage, SADSAWU representatives participated in discussions on the International Labour Organization (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention (Convention 189) and subsequently engaged the South African government on its ratification. 

Myrtle's passing is a major loss to her family, friends, the South African trade union movement and the global movement of domestic workers. 

Late last year, on 30 November, SERI and the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) co-hosted, “Two Years after Mahlangu: Taking Stock of Domestic Work in South Africa”. The event was held at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, with approximately 94 people in attendance. 

The event began with opening remarks by NMF’s CEO, Sello Hatang, and SERI’s executive director, Nomzamo Zondo. Sello reminded those in attendance of the purpose of the event- to take stock of the situation of domestic workers two years since the Mahlangu judgment in November 2020 and a year since the first dialogue organised by SERI and NMF. He highlighted the precarious working conditions faced by domestic workers in the present, which are deeply rooted in South Africa’s colonial and apartheid past, and related the story of his own mother who after 40 years of working as a domestic worker retired with nothing. 

Nomzamo then provided context for the event, the background of the Mahlangu v Minister of Labour matter and brought those in attendance up to speed regarding the number of claims from domestic workers which have been processed by the Compensation Fund since the handing own of the judgment. In June 2022 only 7 claims had been received by the Fund and of the claims received only 5 had been accepted. The Fund also received 1677 registrations from employers of domestic workers, which translates to less than 1% of employers. Nomzamo concluded by thanking the Foundation for using its platform and the name of Nelson Mandela in the pursuit justice for domestic workers, whose issues are largely ignored by the media. 

Seeham Samaai, director of the Women’s Legal Centre, provided the keynote address, which focused on the impact of the casualisation and feminisation of labour on vulnerable workers. Seeham stated, 

“Black Women make up a large part of the poor and the working class. They are locked in cycles of poverty, they are bound to casual labour where they are paid the least, but work the longest hours. For women casualisation of labour impacts on the rights to organise, on the family life, as well as the vulnerability to sexual violence in the workplace. We recognise also that the impact of intersectionality on women's work experiences and acknowledge the struggles faced by all vulnerable workers, which includes farmworkers, migrant workers, domestic workers, sex workers, health workers, lesbian, bisexual, transgender women and women from both rural and urban areas”

The panel consisted of Pinky Mashiane (President, United Domestic Workers of South Africa), Chriscy Blouws (Attorney, Women’s Legal Centre), Nokuthula Sihlangu (Claim’s Director, Compensation Fund) and was facilitated by Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse (Black Womxn Caucus).The panellists made the following remarks:

• Although South Africa has progressive laws for domestic workers, these laws are not accessible. 
• The use of an intersectional lens will give effect to substantive equality. The lived realities and context of domestic workers need to be considered in the drafting and implementation of laws.
• Non-compliance from employers remains a significant hurdle in realising the rights of domestic workers. 
• Collaboration between the key stakeholders- government, employers and domestic worker organisations and other civil society actors, needs to be sustained.

• Watch the event here.
• Read more about the Mahlangu case here.
• Download the employers guide here.
• Read the press statement on the anniversary of the Mahlangu judgment here.