Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Services
Our practice offers a range of free legal services to individuals, non-profit organisations and other entities engaged in human rights or public interest work. These services include:
- Advice and litigation services for vulnerable individuals.
- Public interest litigation.
- Education on the South African legal system.
- Constitutional law.
- Refugee law.
One of the ways CDH demonstrates our commitment to the transformation of our society is through our dedicated Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice. We provide pro bono representation of the highest standard to deserving individuals, communities, NGOs, and other organisations that promote human rights or the public interest.
This video highlights some of the cases and initiatives we have chosen to focus on in our newsletter which reflects some of the best of our year’s work. We hope you enjoy reflecting on our 2023 journey as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Click here to read more in our newsletter.
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Brochures
Pro Bono & Humans Rights Newsletter
Services
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Services
Our practice offers a range of free legal services to individuals, non-profit organisations and other entities engaged in human rights or public interest work. These services include:
- Advice and litigation services for vulnerable individuals.
- Public interest litigation.
- Education on the South African legal system.
- Constitutional law.
- Refugee law.
Video
One of the ways CDH demonstrates our commitment to the transformation of our society is through our dedicated Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice. We provide pro bono representation of the highest standard to deserving individuals, communities, NGOs, and other organisations that promote human rights or the public interest.
This video highlights some of the cases and initiatives we have chosen to focus on in our newsletter which reflects some of the best of our year’s work. We hope you enjoy reflecting on our 2023 journey as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Click here to read more in our newsletter.
Brochures
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Brochures
Guidelines
Newsletters
Pro Bono & Humans Rights Newsletter
Pro Bono & Human Rights Lawyers
Our team has specialist expertise in the fields of constitutional and public law, migrant rights, access to information and a growing specialty in women’s rights.
Our Pro Bono & Human Rights LawyersPRACTICE HEAD
Pro Bono & Human Rights News
More newsA fight for the right to basic education: A tale of enduring state failure
The right to basic education has recently occupied the spotlight in the Western Cape Division of the High Court. In E qual Education & Others v Head of Department: Western Cape Education Department Others (7271/2024) ZAWCHC 557 the court thoroughly unpacked the ambit of the right to basic education enshrined in section 29 of our Constitution, as well as the extent to which the Head of Department: Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and other state departments have fulfilled their obligations created by this right. The matter was heard by three judges, with Mantame J and Dolamo J delivering the majority judgment and Moosa AJ dissenting, demonstrating the rigor and care with which the court grappled with these important issues.
High Court condones Minister of Police’s six-year delay in delivering his plea
Tuesday 25 November 2025 marked the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children (16 Days), a period in which we are all annually called to stand firmly against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and which spotlights the executive, legislative and judicial branches of Government’s crucial role in this ongoing fight. On the heels of GBVF being classified a national disaster, three High Court, Western Cape Division, judges – Thulare J, Fortuin J, and Adams AJ – marked the beginning of the 16 Days period by delivering their judgment in favour of the Minister of Police (Minister), effectively allowing the Minister’s feeble explanations for an astonishing six-year delay in the delivery of his plea in a matter that relates to the sexual abuse and rape of a then 18-year-old transgender woman while in police custody to pass judicial scrutiny. A period meant to mark renewed vigour, solidarity, and commitment to the collective fight against GBVF instead began with judicial disappointment.
The Constitutional Court Hears a Landmark Case on South Africa's International Law obligations as they pertain to the Rights of Asylum Seekers
Yesterday, the Constitutional Court heard the matter of Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others CCT 126-25 dealing with the constitutionality of various provisions of the amended RefugeesAct.
Market recognition
- Chambers Global 2021–2024 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 3.
- In 2020 and 2021 the Practice won Best Large Firm Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards.
- In 2017, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice won the Refugee Law Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards. The Practice also received a certificate in recognition of its contribution to the production of a Judicial Review Guide for Refugees as part of ProBono.Org’s launch of its Practitioners Guides to Refugee Law Project.
- In 2017, CDH won a Law Society Award for its outstanding pro bono contribution.
- In 2015, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice was shortlisted for the award for the most impactful case at the 2015 ProBono.Org awards for its contribution to the SAHA/R2K National Key Points matter.
- In 2012, CDH was awarded the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Cheetah Award in recognition of its special contribution to achieving the vision of EWT.
Market recognition
- Chambers Global 2021–2024 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 3.
- In 2020 and 2021 the Practice won Best Large Firm Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards.
- In 2017, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice won the Refugee Law Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards. The Practice also received a certificate in recognition of its contribution to the production of a Judicial Review Guide for Refugees as part of ProBono.Org’s launch of its Practitioners Guides to Refugee Law Project.
- In 2017, CDH won a Law Society Award for its outstanding pro bono contribution.
- In 2015, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice was shortlisted for the award for the most impactful case at the 2015 ProBono.Org awards for its contribution to the SAHA/R2K National Key Points matter.
- In 2012, CDH was awarded the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Cheetah Award in recognition of its special contribution to achieving the vision of EWT.
Happy Clients
“They have the ability to manage all our matters and take care in providing the best legal assistance to tend to the complexity of the matters.”
Chambers Global 2025
"They have the ability to manage all our matters and take care in providing the best legal assistance to tend to the complexity of the matters.”
Chambers Global 2025
"Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr provides effective communication and prompt responses.”
Chambers Global 2025