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After being diagnosed with HIV at 33, retired Constitutional Court justice Edwin Cameron never thought he’d make it to 40. He’s now 73 and part of a generation that is growing older thanks to antiretrovirals and, he says, the activism that made sure it was available in South Africa. Photo: Stefan Els
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HIV made him expect to die at 40. At 73, Edwin Cameron asks: Who’s planning for our ageing survivors?

At 33, the retired Constitutional Court justice thought he had, maybe, seven years left. His story traces the arc from certain death because of Aids to a chronic, manageable…

Influence: Several political parties have voiced concern about overreach and lack of accountability in the judiciary. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G

Discriminatory rape law to be challenged in the Constitutional Court

By centring consent in the definition of rape, the law makes the survivor’s state of mind the battleground instead of focusing on the perpetrator’s actions, including their use…

The high court in Johannesburg has ruled against JDG Trading. Illustration: Lisa Nelson

Loan company exploited social grant beneficiaries, high court rules

The Johannesburg high court found the company’s product was at odds with the National Credit Act

A just energy transition cannot only be good for corporations. It must include workers, the unemployed and young people.

Battle for energy justice: Why we must win social ownership

Electricity must be treated as a public good and a fundamental human right

Cecil John Rhodes epitomised the consolidation and expansion of white supremacy, corporate interests and state power.

Put an end to four centuries of corporate plundering of Africa

Companies must be held accountable for their depredations before the next scramble for the continent under the guise of a green transition

In the wake of a rise in reported cases of sexual violence in schools, including the allegedly rape of a seven-year-old girl, civil society and government leaders are calling for urgent and systemic reform of how schools protect pupils. (Getty)

We need to rethink ‘intention’ in rape legislation

The inclusion of intention in the definition of rape reintroduces the requirement that there should be physical evidence that the victim was overpowered

“In 2000,  South Africa was in a honeymoon phase with its judicial branch … We had Mandela. We had Chaskalson. Nothing could go wrong.”

Preserving the rule of law in times of political crisis

This is an edited version of the Inaugural Arthur Chaskalson Memorial Lecture delivered at the Equal Education Law Centre

. (David Harrison)

Why new laws on violence against women are doomed to fail

More legislation will not protect women when the police cannot, researchers say, following the proclamation of amendments to gender-based violence laws

Steadfast: The Xolobeni residents have, for more than a decade and with deadly consequences for them, fought off an Australian company wanting to mine their land.  (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

High court gives Australian mining company a big SLAP(P)

The judge ruled that corporations should not be allowed to use the legal system against citizens and activists

Gatvol: Citizens march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria protesting against corruption in government. (Delwyn Verasamy)

Unethical businesses will face people’s protest

Companies must behave like model democratic citizens if they are to earn and retain society’s social licence to operate

A view of the targeted area for the Xolobeni Mineral Sands project on the Wild Coast.

Corporate bullying in fight over Xolobeni mining

Activists argue that the Australian company suing them is using the courts to silence criticism and so abusing the legal system. The law should change to stop these types of suits

Steadfast: The Xolobeni residents have, for more than a decade and with deadly consequences for them, fought off an Australian company wanting to mine their land.  (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Lawyers push for Slapp suit regulation in SA as Australian miner sues environmental activists

An Australian mining company is suing three attorneys and activists for defamation. But the defendant’s attorneys argue that this a strategic lawsuit against public participation

Rather than marching on the JSE to ask companies to contribute money to fighting gender-based violence, it would arguably be better to hold companies to account for how they fail to address these issues internally. (David Harrison/M&G)

Use the workplace to stop socially embedded violence

The judicial system alone and appealing to miscreants has not stopped attacks on women

Majorie Jobson, a commissioner, at Khulumani support group, holds case files for victims of Apartheid in their offices on April 13, 2010, in central Johannesburg, South Africa. Khulumani is involved among other things in a lawsuit  against Daimler AG, with complaints brought forward by victims of Apartheid. The plaintiffs argue that Daimler sold vehicles to the old South African government, and they were used by the police and security forces to keep up the Apartheid regime. (Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)

Apartheid criminals still at large

Corporations and banks that aided the apartheid regime have not been brought to book, so they continue to act with impunity

Embattled Limpopo municipality fails residents — again

The Sekhukhune district municipality does not have the money to provide water to all its residents

Call to action: Former judge Yvonne Mokgoro says society must prioritise women’s rights. (Muntu Vilakazi/City Press/Gallo Images)

SA’s women are fighting for social justice remarkable women

Female activists are at the forefront of claiming socioeconomic rights through the courts

CALS said it had released a statement because it wanted to “to deal openly with reports of sexual harassment and so begin to make our spaces more supportive and safer”. (Graphic: John McCann)

Another NGO deals with sexual harassment claim

CALS wants to "deal openly with reports of sexual harassment and so begin to make our spaces more supportive and safer"

South Africans used the tools of civil disobedience and mass action to fight their oppression.(UWC Robben Island Mayibuye Archives)

Attacking SA’s race laws bought time

There were small gains to be had by finding loopholes in the laws that bolstered apartheid

This will hurt workers and their families by taking money from their pockets and making basic food and other living expenses more expensive, Cosatu said.

Rape claim tarnishes legal profession

Men, usually bosses, prey on fresh young lawyers who need to do their articles to qualify

Jo’burg gets more time to evict residents

Residents who were about to be evicted from a private property in Berea have received more time to be relocated by the City of Johannesburg.