iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Last week, Obakeng Ramare represented CALS at the African Business and Human Rights Forum held in Dakar, Senegal #AfricanBHRForum Obakeng contributed to important conversations on corporate accountability, environmental justice, community power and access to information

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Congratulations, Nabeelah! This is well-deserved.

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Catch up on recent CALS highlights in the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter: payg.rocketseed.net/public/messa... Or sign up for future editions here: wits.ac.za/cals/cals-qu...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Reminder: The call for proposals for this year's Public Interest Law Gathering is open until Monday 28 September 💡 Find out more: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources... 🔗 Register to attend: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

wits.ac.za

2026 - Call for proposals for the Public Interest Law Gathering - Wits University

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

What has happened to the women of Ekurhuleni is not a headline we can look away from. It is appalling. It is heartbreaking. And it is, unfortunately, not unique. Gender-based violence and femicide is a systemic issue – and only an urgent, structural response will address this

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Special thanks to the other organisers at @lhr-sa.bsky.social, @right2protestafrka.bsky.social, the Centre for Environmental Rights and Amnesty International Southern Africa

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

“Solidarity means... recognising that our struggles are connected – and making sure that when power tries to isolate one of us, it finds all of us.” Thank you to all the activists and organisations that made this year's #ActivistSymposium possible!

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Lawyers for Human Rights @lhr-sa.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

📢 Activist Symposium 2026 | Solidarity across borders LHR joined human rights defenders, activists and partners in Maputo for this year’s Activist Symposium, centred on a critical question: What does solidarity look like in a time of increasing repression and shrinking civic space?

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

CALS mourns the women killed in Ekurhuleni. We also grieve for the thousands of others affected by gender-based violence and femicide every year. Our country has strong legal protections – what we lack is implementation. We need action on GBVF – now. www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

What does solidarity mean to you? Staff from CALS, @right2protestafrka.bsky.social and @lhr-sa.bsky.social share their thoughts in the lead up to this year's #ActivistSymposium

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Lawyers for Human Rights @lhr-sa.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

South South cooperation gives us an opportunity to learn from each other, share what works, build stronger movements and turn solidarity into practice. Solidarity means showing up, sharing what we have, learning from each other and building together.

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Lawyers for Human Rights @lhr-sa.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Activists benefit from knowing that we are not facing these struggles alone. Across borders, communities and movements are confronting many of the same challenges, from shrinking civic space and attacks on HRDs to environmental injustice, inequality and state repression.

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Lawyers for Human Rights @lhr-sa.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

@calsza.bsky.social, Lawyers for Human Rights, the Centre for Environmental Rights, the Right2Protest Project and Amnesty International South Africa are working to build stronger networks across Africa and the Global South to strengthen activism and collective action.

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Lawyers for Human Rights @lhr-sa.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

For activists across the Global South, solidarity is not only about standing with each other. It is about building relationships, sharing knowledge and resources, learning from one another and strengthening movements through collective action.

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Lawyers for Human Rights @lhr-sa.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

📢Today is United Nations Day for South South Cooperation. What does solidarity mean in practice? How can we share struggles, strategies and lessons across borders?

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

In case you missed it: Read about the human rights implications of automating decisions about who gets to access social grants.

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

READ: Our Blossom Matizirofa and Busisiwe Kamolane-Kgadima unpack our recent arguments in the Supreme Court of Appeal. “Automation by the state must still comply with the constitutional rights to just administration, equality and dignity.” www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026...

dailymaverick.co.za

Flawed Sassa grant algorithms deepen inequality and violate constitutional rights

Sassa’s automated, digital-only verification system for the Social Relief of Distress grant is erroneously excluding vulnerable South Africans as without human review it fails to capture the true cont...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

What does solidarity mean in practice? How can we share struggles and strategies across borders? CALS, @lhr-sa.bsky.social, @right2protestafrka.bsky.social, CER and Amnesty are working to build networks across Africa and the Global South to strengthen activism

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

How can lawyers support activists? What happens when the law itself becomes a tool of repression? CALS, @lhr-sa.bsky.social @right2protestafrka.bsky.social, CER and Amnesty use the law as a tool to advance social change and counter repression #DefendingDissent

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GroundUp News @groundup.org.za · 11/09/2026

About two-thirds of adults in South Africa don’t vote in local government elections. Read groundup.org.za/article/1-in... by The Outlier and GroundUp Staff

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Why do elections pose an increased risk to activists? How can we prepare for electoral repression? CALS, @lhr-sa.bsky.social, @right2protestafrka.bsky.social, CER and Amnesty support activists facing different kinds of repressive tactics around elections #DefendingDissent

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

What does digital repression look like? How can online attacks affect activists offline? Join CALS, @lhr-sa.bsky.social, @right2protestafrka.bsky.social, CER and Amnesty as we explore the ways digital spaces can support or repress dissent #DefendingDissent

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

What does it mean to defend dissent? What is digital repression? What is legal mobilisation? Over the next week, CALS and our partners at @lhr-sa.bsky.social, @right2protestafrka.bsky.social, Amnesty and CER will be sharing our thoughts on some key questions around activism #DefendingDissent

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

This year's Public Interest Law Gathering #PILG2026 takes place on 26 and 27 October Submit your proposal for a panel by 28 September Find out more: wits.ac.za/news/sources... Register to attend here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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GroundUp News @groundup.org.za · 26/08/2026

In the Supreme Court of Appeal on Tuesday, government defended the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant regulations, which the High Court in Pretoria had found to be unconstitutional. Read groundup.org.za/article/expa... by Marecia Damons

groundup.org.za

<div>Judges grill Treasury on SRD grant</div><div></div>

SCA judge questions whether “people without the means to even buy a cellphone” should have to apply online

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Our deputy director Busisiwe Kamolane-Kgadima walks us through the problems with allowing decisions about who gets access to social grants to be automated www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i6V...

youtube.com

Who decides who gets access to social grants?

YouTube video by CALS Wits

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Catch up on the live stream from today's hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal www.youtube.com/live/gbD1aXJ...

youtube.com

SRD Grant Court Case - Supreme Court of Appeals

YouTube video by Institute for Economic Justice

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Catch up on the live stream from today's hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal www.youtube.com/live/gbD1aXJ...

youtube.com

SRD Grant Court Case - Supreme Court of Appeals

YouTube video by Institute for Economic Justice

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

CALS is in the Supreme Court of Appeal today representing the Global Center on AI Governance. We hope to assist the Court by highlighting the possible human rights implications of automating decision-making about who qualifies for social grants

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Tomorrow, CALS will be in the Supreme Court of Appeal representing the Global Center on AI Governance in an important case for the right to social security Mark Gaffley from GCG explains the issues with automating decisions around social grants: www.globalcenter.ai/research/hyp...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Yesterday marked the 90th birthday of Prof John Dugard – one of South Africa’s most distinguished legal scholars and a giant in the fields of human rights and international law. Prof Dugard was the founding director at CALS and professor of the Wits School of Law until the 1990s.

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

MUST READ: Mark Gaffley from the Global Center for AI Governance unpacks the problems with allowing algorithms to make decisions about who should get a social grant. CALS represents GCG in litigation going to the Supreme Court of Appeal next week theconversation.com/governments-...

theconversation.com

Governments shouldn’t rely on AI to decide who gets a social grant: inside a South African court case

Automated systems need to be watched carefully to ensure they are in fact operating in the public interest.

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Please note that from this week CALS will be open for walk-in consultations on Mondays and Tuesdays between 9:00 and 17:00. On other days, please feel free to email info.cals[at]wits.ac.za to set up a consultation.

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

CALS will be in the Supreme Court of Appeal on 25 August representing GCG in a matter on the right to social security. We argue that there could be serious human rights issues with allowing decisions about social grants to be automated Find out more: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Huge congratulations to our deputy director Busisiwe Kamolane-Kgadima on being named one of this year's @mailandguardian.bsky.social 200 Young South Africans! Find out more: mg.co.za/2026-08-05-b...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

This is a huge victory, taking a step towards ensuring that the right to housing is realised and the legacy of spatial apartheid is addressed.

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Catch up on recent CALS highlights in the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter: payg.rocketseed.net/public/messa... Or sign up for future editions here: www.wits.ac.za/cals/cals-qu...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

It's Day 2 of the African Regional Indaba on the #BindingTreaty on Business and Human Rights with @lhr-sa.bsky.social and AIDC Today, civil society and communities are joined by representatives from states and human rights bodies to continue the conversation on corporate accountability

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

CALS is proud to co-host the 8th annual African Regional Indaba on the UN #BindingTreaty on Business and Human Rights along with AIDC and @lhr-sa.bsky.social Find out more about the #TreatyIndaba here: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

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Lawyers for Human Rights @lhr-sa.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

📢 Today and Tomorrow | 24 to 25 June 2026 📢 The 8th African Regional Indaba on the Binding Treaty for Business and Human Rights is taking place today and tomorrow. Join us virtually: 🔗 lnkd.in/dp6qZNdb #BindingTreaty #BusinessAndHumanRights #AfricanRegionalIndaba

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Our Blossom Matizirofa unpacks new research on gender and mining undertaken in partnership with @rosaluxglobal.bsky.social and labour unions SAFTU and NUMSA Read the full article: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

This week, we host the 8th annual African Regional Indaba on the #BindingTreaty on Business and Human Rights in partnership with the AIDC and @lhr-sa.bsky.social Find out more: bit.ly/4vof250

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Former CALS director @bonimeyersfeld.bsky.social is delivering her inaugural lecture as a full professor later this month. 📅 29 June 2026 🕔 17:00 – 18:00 📍 Senate Room, Solomon Mahlangu House RSVP: shorturl.at/tDsAP Please join us in celebrating this achievement! Attend online: shorturl.at/ox4BN

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Head of our Home, Land and Rural Democracy programme Thuto Gabaphethe is set to present at this dialogue hosted by the South African Human Rights Commission on contemporary forms of dispossession within democratic South Africa

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Happy Youth Day, South Africa 🇿🇦 Today, we mark 50 years since the Soweto Uprising. This serves as a reminder that the rights in our Constitution were hard-won. We remember that preamble calls on us all to build a society based on social justice.

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Centre for Applied Legal Studies @calsza.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

This week, CALS is in the Western Cape High Court acting as a friend of the court. We hope to assist the Court to draw the distinction between hate speech and political speech, and determine the limits of the right to protest Find out more: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

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