Centre for Child Law

[UPDATE] ‼️ The Centre for Child Law, in collaboration with Down Syndrome South Africa, has developed "Your Guide to School Support" booklet to help parents, caregivers & educators understand how the SIAS Policy should work in practice. As you navigate through the booklet, these are the key issues it highlights: 🔶 Every child’s constitutional right to basic & inclusive education 🔶Schools’ legal duty to provide reasonable accommodation & support 🔶The SIAS process: screening, assessment & progressive support 🔶The role of SBSTs, DBSTs & Individual Support Plans (ISPs) 🔶Parents & caregivers as equal partners in decision-making 🔶Accountability & appeal mechanisms when support is delayed or denied This booklet aims to empower families, strengthen collaboration with schools, and advance inclusive and equal access to education for all learners in South Africa. Access the full copy on our website on this link: centreforchildlaw.co.za/cfcl-sias-book…

📢 🔴 Has your SA ID been blocked? The DHA has called on individuals whose identity documents have been blocked to submit representations before 10 July 2026. Deadline: 10 July 2026 More information here: dha.gov.za/index.php/civi…

[Conference Recap] From 24–26 June 2026, the Centre for Child Law participated in the 4th Annual African National Preventive Mechanisms Network (ANPMN) Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. This year's conference, held under the theme "Women and Children in Detention: Gender-responsive and Child-sensitive NPM Approaches," brought together experts and stakeholders from across the continent and the UN to advance the protection of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty. The Centre was represented by Mrs Hansungule-Nefale, Adv. Courtenay, and Mr Mongwai. Mrs. Hansungule-Nefale and Mr. Mongwai served as panelists during Session 3: "Children in Detention: A Child-sensitive Preventive Monitoring," where they presented on "A Model for Independent Oversight of Secure Care Centers." Their presentation highlighted the importance of independent oversight mechanisms in ensuring that secure care centres uphold the rights, dignity, and best interests of children. It also underscored the importance of meaningful child participation in understanding what justice means from children's own perspectives and what they envision justice should look like, particularly for children in conflict with the law. By centring children's voices and lived experiences, the discussion reinforced the need for child-sensitive monitoring and justice systems that are responsive to the realities and aspirations of the children they serve. We are grateful to the organisers and fellow participants for the insightful discussions and collaborative exchanges as we continue working towards strengthening the protection of the rights of children in detention across Africa. We further extend our gratitude to the South African Human Rights Commission - National Preventive Mechanism for their continuous collaboration and support. The reports are available here: 1. centreforchildlaw.co.za/wordpress21/wp… 2. centreforchildlaw.co.za/wordpress21/wp…

📢 🚨NO ONE SHOULD FACE VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY COME FROM🚨 If you or someone you know has been affected by violence, threats, detention, or needs humanitarian, legal assistance, support is available through the Hotline. 📞 Toll Free 0800 079 614 📱 WhatsApp 081 716 8791

CoRMSA REJECTS THE 30 JUNE SHUTDOWN! We call for: ✔ The President and the Government to publicly reject the planned 30 June 2026 shutdown ✔ Increased and visible policing across the country to protect all communities. @PresidencyZA @SAPoliceService @p

CoRMSA REJECTS THE 30 JUNE SHUTDOWN! As a democratic country, let's embrace the diversity of all who live within our borders! 🇿🇦

[PRESS STATEMENT] Today, the Centre for Child Law, appears before the Pietermaritzburg High Court on behalf of Equality Collective NPC as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in a significant case concerning the systemic failure of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to pay Early Childhood Development (ECD) subsidies. Read the full statement below:

[REMINDER] We wish to remind all the universities who have not yet registered to kindly do so on or before 30 June 2026. More information to follow! Thank you.

@UPLawFaculty @WitsUniversity @UctLaw @UCT_news @go2uj @UFSweb @StellenboschUni @Univenofficial @UWCLawFaculty @UWConline @ULvarsity

[REMINDER] Tomorrow, 19 June 2026, our Director, Ms Ozah, will be presenting at a webinar hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Her presentation will focus on the judgment in Centre for Child Law v Media 24 Ltd and Others and its implications for the protection of children's rights and privacy in media reporting. We encourage all colleagues and stakeholders who are able to attend to join this important discussion. Link to webinar: teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/la…

The UNESCO Chair together with @UPChildLaw applied to be admitted as amicus by the African Court on Human and People’s Rights in the matter of the, “Request by the Pan African Lawyers Union for an Advisory Opinion on the obligations of States with respect to the Climate Change”.

@UPTuks @UPLawFaculty @WitsUniversity @Univenofficial @ULvarsity @StellenboschUni @forthare_Uni @theNWU @unisa @edu_vos @UctLaw @UCT_news @Rhodes_Uni @UWCLawFaculty @UWConline @UKZN @UFSweb @UniMpumalanga @Emeris_ZA

Clarification on the registration form:

The University of Pretoria Faculty of Law recently hosted the Dikgang Moseneke Excellence Bursary launch, welcoming a new cohort of bursary recipients while celebrating former recipients who have successfully completed their studies under the bursary programme. Prof Steve Cornelius reflected on the importance of sustaining impactful initiatives within legal education, while Prof Joel Modiri highlighted the role such initiatives play in creating opportunities and advancing transformation within the legal profession. Former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke congratulated the incoming cohort and reflected on the importance of education, mentorship, and legacy projects in shaping future legal professionals.

Registration Link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

It’s that time of the year again! Calling all South African universities to participate in the 15th Annual Child Law Moot Court Competition hosted by the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria. 🧑‍⚖️📚⚖️

Read more about the case here:groundup.org.za/article/is-aba…

[PRESS STATEMENT]: Today, the Centre for Child Law (as amicus curiae) will appear before the High Court in Pretoria to argue that the Children’s Act is unconstitutional for not providing a safe, lawful pathway for relinquishing a child. Read the full statement below:

"Our work is grounded in strategic litigation, advocacy, and research. Through these, we contribute to the development of child-centred jurisprudence, influence law and policy, and ensure that our interventions are informed by both evidence and the lived realities of children."

Invitation: Join us for the Inaugural Address of Professor Babátúndé Fágbàyíbọ́ The University of Pretoria Faculty of Law invites you to this inaugural lecture, titled "Framing the Scope and Study of Objects of Internationality in Pre-colonial Africa." In this address, Professor Babátúndé Fágbàyíbọ́ engages with how international law is conceptualised within the African context, offering critical insights into its historical foundations and scope of study. 📅 9 April 2026 🕕 18:00 for 18:30 📍 Sanlam Auditorium, University of Pretoria 👉 RSVP here: shorturl.at/b04M8 For enquiries, please contact Ms Juanita Larkin at juanita.larkin@up.ac.za. We look forward to welcoming you. #UPLaw #InternationalLaw #AfricanScholarship