Elgene Roos
About Elgene
Elgene started her career as a Candidate Attorney at a public interest NGO, specialising in public interest litigation and constitutional law. She remained at the NGO as a junior attorney and in 2019 was appointed as the lead attorney of the Forced Migration Focus Area. At the end of 2019 she joined a law firm in Johannesburg and focused on class action litigation.
Elgene joined Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr as a Senior Associate in our Pro Bono & Human Rights practice.
Elgene has published pieces on subjects relating to:
- Refugee Law
- Constitutional Law
- Citizenship Rights
- International law
- Equality Rights
- Children's Rights
Areas of expertise
Experience
Litigation in the Hight Court, Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court in a wide range of matters, notable cases:
- The right to citizenship – challenging the interpretation of section 4(3) of the Citizenship Act
- Challenging the closure of the Cape Town Refugee Office and other arbitrary practices by the Department of Home Affairs
- Ensuring compliance with the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act 49 of 2003
- Access to free Health Care for migrant women and children under the age of six.
Researching and drafting legal submissions to the Standing Committee of Refugee Affairs, parliament, regional and international bodies relating to specific laws and human rights information for consideration in developing human rights standards.
Conducting litigation in the Magistrates Court and the Family Court relating to rescission of judgment applications, application and stay of execution of property, representations to the Senior Prosecutor in a criminal matters.
International, regional and national advocacy on the use and implementation of the Maputo Protocol for women in Africa, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and other human rights instruments in ensuring that women and children’s rights are made a reality at national level in South Africa.
Monitoring of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and implementation thereof in South Africa.
Recognition
- Identified as a young practitioner making a difference in the legal field by the Southern African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII): 2019
- Received a special mention award at Probono.org awards: 2022
Credentials
Education
- Registered with the Legal Practice Council
- BCom Law – University of the Western Cape
- LLB – University of the Western Cape
- Year of admission as an attorney - 2017
LANGUAGES
- English
