Legal news and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar
The importance of access to information As South Africans, we live in a democratic society and we take access to information for granted. While we may sometimes experience frustration with government obfuscation, most people agree that we have the right to be informed and we have the means to access that information, such as our […]
What constitutes discrimination? One of the principal tenets of our Constitution is equality under the law. The Bill of Rights is the cornerstone of the Constitution, and Section 9 deals with equality. Discrimination is covered in subsections 3-5, which state: (3) The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or […]
Privacy and media law The right to privacy is a fundamental part of South African law, protected by the Constitution and other legislation. It allows individuals to control their personal information and keep certain details private, away from the eyes of the state or others. This can include information about home life, health and relationships. […]
Mental health is a universal human right Tuesday, 10 October, is World Mental Health Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set aside this day to ensure that mental health is valued, promoted, and protected. Urgent action needs to be taken to enable everyone to exercise their human rights and access the quality mental health […]
Civil society organisations’ lawsuit argues the country’s energy policy is incompatible with the constitution The recent upsurge in load shedding is proof – if proof were needed – of South Africa’s shortage of electricity generating capacity. One breakdown anywhere in the fragile system and the lights go off. So the need for additional power stations […]
SD Law takes pride in upholding our Constitution and defending our constitutional rights. We have written on numerous occasions about the different ways the values of our Constitution are applied to daily life in South Africa. We oppose any form of discrimination or human rights abuses and we welcome this announcement from Justice and Constitutional […]
We celebrate Freedom Day every year – but how much do you know about it? April is a wonderful month, packed with public holidays (especially if you count 1 May – Workers’ Day, although this year it falls on a Saturday so it doesn’t feel as much like a holiday). But how much do you […]
The power of social media is immense. So much more than a mere communication tool, it’s a cornerstone of citizen journalism and can be one of the most effective ways in which ordinary people can tell important stories as they happen. What’s more, content posted on social media can be the grounds for legal action […]
Whatever your views on the alcohol ban and curfew, this is the opinion on the potential constitutionality or otherwise of the latest lockdown regulations. It is unfortunate that the irresponsible actions of a minority have deprived the majority of South Africans, who have maturely observed the rules and patiently waited for each small concession, of […]
How might COVID19 impact or even restrict our human rights? This weekend was Human Rights Day, and we observe and reflect on human rights throughout the month of March. But March 2020 is like no other in recent history. As a nation and as a global community we face a threat that, like human rights, […]
How the stench from a neighbouring mushroom farm became a court case Case law is the bane of every law student’s existence. Unlike statutory law, which is straightforward legislation and generally unambiguous, case law involves the analysis of previous legal decisions to analyse a new case and resolve ambiguities. The study of case law is […]
