OP-ED | Court victory for corporal punishment victims — why this ruling on sanctions against teachers is significant

Rehabilitative sanctions imposed on two teachers goes some way to vindicating the applicants and their children, underscoring the importance of child participation in disciplinary processes and the need to ensure a holistic approach that prioritises the rights and best interests of the child.

JOINT STATEMENT | Why are South African classrooms and children becoming fast food billboards?

As civil society organisations committed to food justice, children’s health and education rights, we are alarmed by the recent handover of McDonald’s-branded ‘Mi Desk’ desks to two Cape Town schools, facilitated by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube.

S27 STORIES | A Six-Year old’s Struggle in Accessing Cancer Treatment in South Africa

Any parent would be left powerless at the sight of their child suffering from an unexplained illness. Hassan Tesfaye* and his wife, Aida*, Ethiopian asylum seekers who have been living in Pretoria, South Africa, for 16 years, were all too familiar with this sense of powerlessness.

OP-ED | Budget 2025: The true state of the nation

The state of the nation address (Sona) attempted to paint a hopeful vision for South Africa, but promises alone will not build our nation. The upcoming budget speech is the true test of the commitment of the government of national unity (GNU) to nation-building and human rights realisation, revealing whether its pledges will be backed by real investment or remain empty rhetoric.

FACTSHEET | Trump administration’s foreign assistance stop-work and stop-funding order and the State Department’s partial waiver for PEPFAR are life-threatening

The January 28 waiver of the Stop-Work Order introduced on 24 January 2025 should be understood as a clear directive for all U.S. Global Health Foreign Aid recipients to immediately resume essential, life-saving humanitarian efforts.

FACTSHEET | US court orders temporarily restrain the “stop-work” & “stop-payment” orders on US foreign assistance, also affecting PEPFAR: Explanation of Temporary Restraining Order (TROS)

In a case brought by several states, A Rhode Island Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order until a ruling on the states’ upcoming motion for a preliminary injunction. During this order, the defendants are prohibited from pausing, freezing, blocking, canceling, or terminating federal financial assistance obligations to the states.

OPEN LETTER | Urgent Action Needed: Coordinated Emergency Plan and increased healthcare budget to support hundreds of thousands of vulnerable South Africans

Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in South Africa are dependant on immediate action. We are a coalition of organisations committed to ensuring access to healthcare services and human rights for all patients and communities in South Africa.

OP-ED | How education and support can break the cycle and combat teenage pregnancy in South Africa by Zeenat Sujee

Child and teenage pregnancy has a ripple effect on young girls and their futures within society. Some of these girls are forced to drop out of school, which in turn increases the cycle of poverty as well as the stigmatisation that comes with it.

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.

REPORT | SECTION27 report shows how climate change affects children’s access to healthcare and basic education

SECTION27 released a new report titled, “Climate Change as a Human Rights Risk: A Resource for Health and Education Rights Activists in South Africa.” The report focuses on the impact of climate change on children’s access to healthcare and basic education.

PRESS STATEMENT | Civil society organisations condemn Gauteng health facilities’ defiance of laws and recent court order on free access to health care for pregnant women.

In April 2023, the Gauteng High Court upheld the right of all pregnant and lactating women, and children under 6, irrespective of nationality and documentation status, to access free health services at all public health establishments, including hospitals.

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

March 12, 2025

Basic education and health see gains, but austerity still prevails. The 2025 Budget maintains real investment in basic education and…
February 28, 2025

As civil society organisations committed to food justice, children’s health and education rights, we are alarmed by the recent handover…
February 21, 2025

As South Africa faces a cost of living crisis and a growing list of national priorities, we stand at a…

Publications

2024 Year in Review

Effective Remedies in Socio-Economic Rights Litigation

Contraceptive Supply Chain: Stockouts and their Causes

Climate Change As a Human Rights Risk

2023 Year in Review

The state of abortion services in the Eastern Cape

WDA

PANEL DISCUSSION | The Impact of the Withdrawal of U.S. Funds on Health Systems in South Africa

PRESS STATEMENT | A Budget That Gives With One Hand and Takes With the Other

ARTICLE | Africa’s defining moment: the time to lead the HIV response is now

OP-ED | Court victory for corporal punishment victims — why this ruling on sanctions against teachers is significant

JOINT STATEMENT | Why are South African classrooms and children becoming fast food billboards?

S27 STORIES | A Six-Year old’s Struggle in Accessing Cancer Treatment in South Africa

OP-ED | Budget 2025: The true state of the nation

PRESS STATEMENT | The African-led HIV Control Working Group response to abrupt cuts in HIV support

FACTSHEET | Trump administration’s foreign assistance stop-work and stop-funding order and the State Department’s partial waiver for PEPFAR are life-threatening

FACTSHEET | US court orders temporarily restrain the “stop-work” & “stop-payment” orders on US foreign assistance, also affecting PEPFAR: Explanation of Temporary Restraining Order (TROS)

OPEN LETTER | Urgent Action Needed: Coordinated Emergency Plan and increased healthcare budget to support hundreds of thousands of vulnerable South Africans

JOINT STATEMENT | Upholding womxn’s rights to access abortifacients: Clarifying pharmacists’ role in reproductive healthcare

OP-ED | How education and support can break the cycle and combat teenage pregnancy in South Africa by Zeenat Sujee

S27 STORIES | A Refugee’s Long Journey to Access Healthcare in South Africa

S27 STORIES | Suspended for asserting her right against Corporal Punishment

PUBLICATION | Basic Education Rights Handbook

PRESS STATEMENT | ConCourt interim order favours the blind and visually impaired in Copyright matter

LIFE ESIDIMENI | Ms Mahlangu and Dr Manamela “both created the circumstances in which the deaths were inevitable”

REPORT | SECTION27 report shows how climate change affects children’s access to healthcare and basic education

PRESS STATEMENT | Civil society organisations condemn Gauteng health facilities’ defiance of laws and recent court order on free access to health care for pregnant women.

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 health care services and the right to basic education.

Press Room

Publications

2024 Year in Review

Effective Remedies in Socio-Economic Rights Litigation

Contraceptive Supply Chain: Stockouts and their Causes

Climate Change As a Human Rights Risk

2023 Year in Review

The state of abortion services in the Eastern Cape

PANEL DISCUSSION | The Impact of the Withdrawal of U.S. Funds on Health Systems in South Africa

PRESS STATEMENT | A Budget That Gives With One Hand and Takes With the Other

ARTICLE | Africa’s defining moment: the time to lead the HIV response is now

OP-ED | Court victory for corporal punishment victims — why this ruling on sanctions against teachers is significant

JOINT STATEMENT | Why are South African classrooms and children becoming fast food billboards?

S27 STORIES | A Six-Year old’s Struggle in Accessing Cancer Treatment in South Africa

OP-ED | Budget 2025: The true state of the nation

PRESS STATEMENT | The African-led HIV Control Working Group response to abrupt cuts in HIV support

FACTSHEET | Trump administration’s foreign assistance stop-work and stop-funding order and the State Department’s partial waiver for PEPFAR are life-threatening

FACTSHEET | US court orders temporarily restrain the “stop-work” & “stop-payment” orders on US foreign assistance, also affecting PEPFAR: Explanation of Temporary Restraining Order (TROS)

OPEN LETTER | Urgent Action Needed: Coordinated Emergency Plan and increased healthcare budget to support hundreds of thousands of vulnerable South Africans

JOINT STATEMENT | Upholding womxn’s rights to access abortifacients: Clarifying pharmacists’ role in reproductive healthcare

OP-ED | How education and support can break the cycle and combat teenage pregnancy in South Africa by Zeenat Sujee

S27 STORIES | A Refugee’s Long Journey to Access Healthcare in South Africa

S27 STORIES | Suspended for asserting her right against Corporal Punishment

PUBLICATION | Basic Education Rights Handbook

PRESS STATEMENT | ConCourt interim order favours the blind and visually impaired in Copyright matter

LIFE ESIDIMENI | Ms Mahlangu and Dr Manamela “both created the circumstances in which the deaths were inevitable”

REPORT | SECTION27 report shows how climate change affects children’s access to healthcare and basic education

PRESS STATEMENT | Civil society organisations condemn Gauteng health facilities’ defiance of laws and recent court order on free access to health care for pregnant women.

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 health care services and the right to basic education.

Press Room

Publications

2024 Year in Review

Effective Remedies in Socio-Economic Rights Litigation

Contraceptive Supply Chain: Stockouts and their Causes

Climate Change As a Human Rights Risk

2023 Year in Review

The state of abortion services in the Eastern Cape

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