PRESS STATEMENT | Eastern Cape school funding cuts threaten learners’ right to basic education

SECTION27 will intervene as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the case between Makhanda Circle of Unity and Others v Head of Department, Eastern Cape Department of Education and Others. The applicants, represented by the Legal Resources Centre, are challenging the Eastern Cape Department of Education’s decision to cut funding at public schools in the Eastern Cape.

S27 STORIES | Running Out of Time: A Mother’s Battle to Save Her and Her Child’s Life

Any person living with HIV understands the importance of daily medication. For Nyasha*, a 35-year-old woman from Zimbabwe and living in South Africa for over a decade, access to lifesaving antiretroviral medication was not just a matter of routine but also survival.

PRESS STATEMENT | New report finds critical health gap in 2026 Gender Budget Statement

SECTION27’s latest report, ‘A Civil Society Assessment of South Africa’s 2026 Gender Budget Statement in the Face of Climate Shocks’ builds on its recent analysis of the national health budget. The report examines whether South Africa’s latest 2026 Gender Budget Statement closes the gap between gender equality commitments and budget decisions.

PRESS STATEMENT | Departments’ failure to keep, maintain and implement the National Child Protection Register taken to Court

On Tuesday, 28 July, the Teddy Bear Foundation, represented by SECTION27, appeared in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to challenge the efficacy of the National Child Protection Register. The TBF approached the court to ensure that people found guilty of sexual misconduct, or otherwise found unsuitable to work with children, are reported without delay, entered onto the NCPR, and prevented from working in child-contact roles.

PRESS STATEMENT | No more delays – Minister Tau publish the patent law reform bill now!

The Fix the Patent Laws campaign calls on the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition to urgently release the Patent Bill for public comment. Despite repeated promises the long-awaited Bill – that could pave the way for a new era in access to medicines in South Africa – remains unpublished.

PRESS STATEMENT | New SECTION27 report finds health budget fails women and climate-vulnerable communities

South Africa's health budget is failing to respond to the realities facing women, particularly those living in poor and rural communities. The public health system, which serves 84% of the population, operates within at least three overlapping pressures: high unemployment and poverty, persistent gender inequality, and the increasing impacts of climate change.

OP-ED | Climate change neglect is driving a crisis in public health and education

Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue in South Africa – it is undermining constitutional rights by disrupting access to education, healthcare and other essential services. As floods become more frequent and severe, the government must urgently implement climate adaptation measures instead of relying on reactive disaster responses.

PRESS STATEMENT | The Constitutional Court confirms most of the Copyright Amendment Bill is constitutional

On Friday, 26 June 2026, the Constitutional Court handed down judgment in Ex parte President of the Republic of South Africa: In re Constitutionality of the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill. The case follows the President’s decision to refer the CAB and the PPAB to the Constitutional Court in terms of section 79 (4) of the Constitution, because he had reservations on the constitutionality of the Bill.

PUBLICATION | Protecting the Future Today: The Need For an Efficient National Child Protection Register to Curb Violence Against Children

As Child Protection Week draws to a close, SECTION27 has launched a new report, Protecting the Future Today: The Need for an Efficient National Child Protection Register to Curb Violence Against Children. The report reveals serious shortcomings in the implementation of the National Child Protection Register, undermining its ability to protect children from violence, particularly in schools.

PUBLICATION | Barriers to Abortion Services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo: 2026 Report

SECTION27 and the Treatment Action Campaign launched a new report exposing widespread failures in access to abortion services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. The report, Barriers to Abortion Services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo: 2026, documents how systemic failures in the public healthcare system are denying women and girls access to safe and lawful abortion services, particularly in poor and rural communities.

PUBLICATION | Basic Education rights handbook

The Basic Education Rights Handbook is a legal literacy tool that serves to empower communities, school governing bodies, principals, teachers and learners to understand education law and policy, to know when learners’ rights have been violated and what steps are required to protect learners’ rights.

SECTION27 uses the law through litigation, advocacy, legal literacy, research and community mobilisation to advance socio-economic rights, in particular the right to access healthcare services and the right to basic education.

SECTION27 will intervene as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the case between Makhanda Circle of Unity and Others…
READ MORE: PRESS STATEMENT | Eastern Cape school funding cuts threaten learners’ right to basic education
SECTION27 and the Teddy Bear Foundation (TBF) welcome the judgment handed down by the Gauteng Division of the High…
READ MORE: PRESS STATEMENT | Court judgment advances protection for children against predators
SECTION27’s latest report, ‘A Civil Society Assessment of South Africa’s 2026 Gender Budget Statement in the Face of…
READ MORE: PRESS STATEMENT | New report finds critical health gap in 2026 Gender Budget Statement

Publications

A Civil Society Assessment of South Africa’s 2026 Gender Budget Statement in the Face of Climate Shocks

South Africa’s Health Budget 2025/2026: Gender and Climate Responsivenes

Protecting the Future Today: The Need For an Efficient National Child Protection
Register to Curb Violence Against Children

Barriers to Abortion Services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo: 2026 Report

A Practitioner’s Guide to Constitutional Remedies

Uneven resilience: HIV and contraceptive services following US funding freeze

WDA

PRESS STATEMENT | Eastern Cape school funding cuts threaten learners’ right to basic education

PRESS STATEMENT | Court judgment advances protection for children against predators

S27 STORIES | Running Out of Time: A Mother’s Battle to Save Her and Her Child’s Life

PRESS STATEMENT | New report finds critical health gap in 2026 Gender Budget Statement

PRESS STATEMENT | Departments’ failure to keep, maintain and implement the National Child Protection Register taken to Court

PRESS STATEMENT | No more delays – Minister Tau publish the patent law reform bill now!

PRESS STATEMENT | New SECTION27 report finds health budget fails women and climate-vulnerable communities

PRESS STATEMENT | SECTION27 submissions to the ACHPR: Responding to climate change requires more than environmental policy

OP-ED | Climate change neglect is driving a crisis in public health and education

PRESS STATEMENT | The Constitutional Court confirms most of the Copyright Amendment Bill is constitutional

PUBLICATION | Protecting the Future Today: The Need For an Efficient National Child Protection Register to Curb Violence Against Children

PUBLICATION | Barriers to Abortion Services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo: 2026 Report

PRESS STATEMENT | SECTION27 and the Life Esidimeni Families welcome the NPA’s decision to prosecute in the deaths of 141 mental healthcare users

PUBLICATION | Know Your Constitution Handbook

PUBLICATION | Basic Education rights handbook

Focus Areas

SECTION27 uses the law through litigation, advocacy, legal literacy, research and community mobilisation to advance socio-economic rights, in particular the right to access healthcare services and the right to basic education.

Latest News

Publications

A Civil Society Assessment of South Africa’s 2026 Gender Budget Statement in the Face of Climate Shocks

South Africa’s Health Budget 2025/2026: Gender and Climate Responsivenes

Protecting the Future Today: The Need For an Efficient National Child Protection
Register to Curb Violence Against Children

Barriers to Abortion Services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo: 2026 Report

A Practitioner’s Guide to Constitutional Remedies

Uneven resilience: HIV and contraceptive services following US funding freeze

PRESS STATEMENT | Eastern Cape school funding cuts threaten learners’ right to basic education

PRESS STATEMENT | Court judgment advances protection for children against predators

S27 STORIES | Running Out of Time: A Mother’s Battle to Save Her and Her Child’s Life

PRESS STATEMENT | New report finds critical health gap in 2026 Gender Budget Statement

PRESS STATEMENT | Departments’ failure to keep, maintain and implement the National Child Protection Register taken to Court

PRESS STATEMENT | No more delays – Minister Tau publish the patent law reform bill now!

PRESS STATEMENT | New SECTION27 report finds health budget fails women and climate-vulnerable communities

PRESS STATEMENT | SECTION27 submissions to the ACHPR: Responding to climate change requires more than environmental policy

OP-ED | Climate change neglect is driving a crisis in public health and education

PRESS STATEMENT | The Constitutional Court confirms most of the Copyright Amendment Bill is constitutional

PUBLICATION | Protecting the Future Today: The Need For an Efficient National Child Protection Register to Curb Violence Against Children

PUBLICATION | Barriers to Abortion Services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo: 2026 Report

PRESS STATEMENT | SECTION27 and the Life Esidimeni Families welcome the NPA’s decision to prosecute in the deaths of 141 mental healthcare users

PUBLICATION | Know Your Constitution Handbook

PUBLICATION | Basic Education rights handbook

Focus Areas

SECTION27 uses the law through litigation, advocacy, legal literacy, research and community mobilisation to advance socio-economic rights, in particular the right to access healthcare services and the right to basic education.

Latest News

Publications

A Civil Society Assessment of South Africa’s 2026 Gender Budget Statement in the Face of Climate Shocks

South Africa’s Health Budget 2025/2026: Gender and Climate Responsivenes

Protecting the Future Today: The Need For an Efficient National Child ProtectionRegister to Curb Violence Against Children

Barriers to Abortion Services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo: 2026 Report

A Practitioner’s Guide to Constitutional Remedies

Uneven resilience: HIV and contraceptive services following US funding freeze

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Protecting the Future Today: The Need For an Efficient National Child Protection
Register to Curb Violence Against Children