The Centre for Constitutional Rights (the CFCR) welcomes the commitment of the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, to “restoring the citizens’ faith and trust in our law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system” whilst recognising the need to enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
In the last parliamentary term, a series of laws with implications for property rights were either debated or passed, with some being signed into law.
The Centre for Constitutional Rights (the CFCR) welcomes a recent statement by Minister Susan Shabangu, Minister of Women in the Presidency, that the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill (the WEGE Bill) will be withdrawn for further consultation.
The Centre for Constitutional Rights (the CFCR), together with the Stellenbosch University’s School for Public Leadership (SPL) and Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, had the privilege of hosting Professor Russel Botman as keynote speaker at our recent Breakfast Discussion Series on the Constitution and Good Public Leadership on 19 June 2014.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (the Department) recently published a new policy document entitled “Strengthening the Relative Rights of People Working the Land” that proposes drastic changes to ownership structures on commercial farms. Its most salient feature is that of proposing a system of equity sharing on farms, of which the constitutionality is questionable.
Today marks the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The day is dedicated to the total eradication of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This day also seeks to promote the effective functioning of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Convention) which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1984 and entered into force on 26 June 1987.
On 16 June we celebrate Youth Day in memory of the young people who, on that day in 1976, stood up against injustice and inequality and paid the highest price for what they believed in. In line with the Preamble of the Constitution, this day is undoubtedly a tribute to the youth who fought and suffered for justice and freedom in our country. Youth Day though, is not only about the past, but very much about today and the future. It is a celebration of our Constitution and of the values, rights and freedoms that we enjoy today. It is a tribute to everyone who pursued – and those who are continuing to build – a just and democratic society. It is about a future for which the youth, as much as everybody else, are responsible today.
In a much publicised incident, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) – with the assistance of a private security company, the Sheriff of the Court and members of the South African Police Service – evicted hundreds of people from land owned by SANRAL leaving them homeless. It later transpired that SANRAL had obtained an interdict from the Western Cape High Court which served as the legal basis for the evictions.
On 26 May 2014, new immigration regulations providing for five-year general work and critical skills visas, four-year intra-company transfer work visas and three-year corporate work visas came into effect.
