Public interest litigation in South Africa

Public Interest Litigation in South Africa offers grounded accounts - by leaders in the field - of the campaigns, cases, and causes that have defined key areas of public interest litigation in the country since the constitutional transition. The authors share their perspectives on the struggles led by people, communities, activists, and civil society organisations to realise the vision of the Constitution. The book shares the legal narratives of those particular struggles in the hope that this will contribute to the broader continuous struggle for social justice.

Part One of the book considers the history of public interest litigation, the public interest sector today, public interest litigation in the context of international law, the ethics and politics of public interest litigation, and procedure. Part Two addresses public interest litigation in key areas of law: property rights, gender, basic services, health care, LGBTI equality, children’s rights, basic education, freedom of expression, access to information, and prisoners’ rights.

Public Interest Litigation in South Africa seeks to share more of the stories of what has been achieved in the courts, beyond the well-trodden, landmark appellate decisions, as a contribution to informed and critical engagement.