We use legal tools, strategies, and systems to promote just and equitable communities and drive social progress.

Legal Services.

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The services we offer.

Strategic & Test Case Litigation.

Strategic and test case litigation refers to cases which seek to effect changes in laws and policies, and administrative systems, which are beneficial to the public. It is an access to justice tool through which people are empowered, human rights are promoted and fulfilled, and sustainable and resilient development is fostered.

Power & Associates offers a full range of strategic and test case litigation services, which include constitutional and human rights-related cases in all South African courts, representation before specialised courts and tribunals, such as the equality and children’s courts, amicus curiae interventions in ongoing cases, and litigation before international and regional courts and tribunals.
Law Reform & Policy Development.

Law reform and policy development empowers people to engage with the development of laws and policies that impact them and their communities and ensure a just and equitable future.

Power & Associates assists clients in developing laws and policies in line with the Constitution, international law, and best practices. This includes assisting clients with presenting written and oral submissions to parliamentary bodies on proposed legislation, preparing policy documents, and drafting submissions to state departments, Chapter 9 Institutions, human rights treaty-body mechanisms, and special rapporteurs.
Legal Research & Drafting.

Legal research is central to developing and implementing laws that empower people and better understanding the full ambit of a particular legal question by looking at domestic laws and jurisprudence, and comparative foreign and international law.

Power & Associates assists clients with comprehensive legal research and drafting services, which include research and opinions on prospects of success in litigation, the constitutionality of a policy or law, or compliance with a particular legislative framework. Power & Associates also assists with drafting legislative white papers, bills, and model laws.
Regulatory Compliance.

Laws and regulations which focus of promoting human rights and fostering sustainable and resilient development are an increasingly important tool to ensure corporate accountability and transparency.

Power & Associates provides regulatory compliance in the areas of registration and establishment of social enterprises and civil society organisations (CSOs), data protection, and environmental and sustainability law, which includes compliance with organisational registration requirements, compliance with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, and drafting policies, codes of conduct, and notices.
Dispute Resolution & Accountability Mechanisms.

Dispute resolution refers to using the law to resolve disputes between parties through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Accountability mechanisms refer to independent expert bodies, including ombud schemes and commissions, Chapter 9 Institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission and Public Protector, and independent tribunals.

Power & Associates provides a full range of dispute resolutions services, including representing clients in applications, actions, and appeals in all South African courts and various regulatory bodies, including the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, the Complaints and Compliance Committee of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, and the Press Council of South Africa.
Legal Advisory & Training.

Our practices

Recent Cases & Engagements.
Case involvements (reported judgments) (10)

The Embrace Project and Others v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others [2024] ZAGPPHC 961 – High Court of South Africa, equality, inclusion, & child law, constitutional challenge

RE Capital Holdings Limited and Another v Mail & Guardian Media Limited and Others [2024] ZAGPJHC 202 – High Court of South Africa, information rights & media law, urgent application

Health Justice Initiative v Minister of Health and Another [2023] ZAGPPHC 689 – High Court of South Africa, information rights & media law, access to information

Mazetti Management Services (Pty) Ltd and Another v Amabhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC and Others [2023] ZAGPJHC 771 – High Court of South Africa, information rights & media law, amicus curiae

Seriti and Another v Judicial Service Commission and Others [2023] ZAGPJHC 332 – High Court of South Africa, constitutional law, judicial accountability

Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2022] ZACC 33 – Consitutional Court of South Africa, constitutional law, equality & inclusion, amicus curiae

Magistrates Commission and Others v Lawrence [2021] ZASCA 165 – Supreme Court of Appeal, constitutional law, equality & inclusion

Blind SA v Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2021] ZAGPPHC 871 – High Court of South Africa, constitutional law, equality & inclusion, amicus curiae

AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC and Another v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others; Minister of Police v AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC and Others [2021] ZACC 3; 2021 (4) BCLR 349 (CC); 2021 (3) SA 246 (CC) – Constitutional Court of South Africa, constitutional law, state surveillance, amicus curiae

Vumacam (Pty) Ltd v Johannesburg Roads Agency and Others [2020] ZAGPJHC 186 – High Court of South Africa, constitutional law, right to privacy, amicus curiae

Press Council of South Africa appearances (3)

John Steenhuisen & Others vs Mail & Guardian (13 February 2023)

Spotlight Publications v Sadmon Projects and Consulting CC (Appeal Ruling) (13 March 2020)

Sonke Gender Justice v City Press, News24 (10 December 2018)

Submissions to UN agencies and Treaty Body Mechanisms (12)

Written submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Climate Change, on their report on access to information on climate change and human rights (2024) – international law, access to information, environmental rights, children’s rights

Written submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Human Rights Council Resolution 51/10, Cyberbullying Against Persons with Disabilities (2024) – international law, equality, children’s rights, access to information, freedom of expression

Written submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, on their report on prostitution and violence against women and girls (2024) – international law, equality, dignity, freedom of expression, privacy

Written submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion, for their report on freedom of expression and the gender dimensions of disinformation (2023) – international law, equality, access to information, freedom of expression

Written submission to the United Nations Department of Global Communications, for the United Nations Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms (2023) – international law, equality, access to information

Written submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, for their report on the procedural elements of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (2023) – international law, access to information, freedom of expression, children’s rights, environmental rights

Written submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, for the Draft General Comment on Children’s Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change (2023)– international law, children’s rights, access to information

Written submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression regarding gender justice and the right to freedom of opinion and expression (2021) international law, access to information, equality and inclusion

Written submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression for the annual thematic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council at its 47th session in June 2021 with a focus on relevance and impact of disinformation (2021) – international law, access to information

Written submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on the Draft General Comment on Children’s Rights in Relation to the Digital Environment (2020) – international law, children’s rights, access to information

Written and oral submissions to the United Nations Human Rights Committee during the General Discussion on the preparation of a General Comment on Article 21 (Right of Peaceful Assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (2019) – international law, freedom of assembly

Written and oral submissions to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights on South Africa’s Initial Report (2017-18) – international law

12 April 2024

Media Monitoring Africa and Others v Film and Publication Board and Others

Cases (Finalised), Constitutional & Administrative Law, Dispute Resolution & Accountability Mechanisms, Information Rights & Media Law, Strategic & Test Case Litigation

1 March 2024

RE Capital Holdings and Another v Mail & Guardian Media Limited and Others

Cases (Finalised), Constitutional & Administrative Law, Dispute Resolution & Accountability Mechanisms, Information Rights & Media Law

Constitutional & Administrative Law.

Defending human rights and holding public and private actors accountable for their actions and decision-making.

Environmental & Sustainability Law.

Implementing climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience strategies, and securing safe air and water quality.

Equality, Inclusion & Child Law.

Promoting equality, inclusion, and the rights of children, and challenging discrimination, inequality, and children’s rights violations.

AI, Information Rights & Media Law.

Protecting the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information, and safeguarding press freedom.

Public International & Regional Law.

Developing international and regional law through organs of the African Union and the United Nations.

Social Enterprise & CSO Law.

Supporting social enterprises and CSOs to ensure their resilience and sustainability, and to enhance their impact.

Our guiding principles.

Constitutional Supremacy.

We work tirelessly to protect and promote the fundamental rights and freedoms of our clients, and to defend the Constitution and the rule of law.

Access to Justice.

We provide legal services to underrepresented people and causes to assist in ensuring that the law is accessible to all who need it.

Professional Ethics.

We maintain the highest standards of honesty, impartiality, integrity, and confidentiality in representing and assisting our clients.

Amplifying voices for change.

Fee structures.

In order to facilitate access to justice, Power & Associates provides a variety of flexible fee structures and payment options which are discussed with clients during the initial consultation.

Consultation Fees.

We do not generally charge clients an initial consultation fee.
Hourly Rates.
Ordinarily, we charge hourly rates for our services:

Professional services such as attendance at court and consultations, the preparation of legal documents, case management, and advisory and research are billed at the full hourly rate.

Administrative support services and disbursements are billed at a reduced hourly rate and/or the actual costs incurred.

In certain circumstances, we may request the payment of an upfront deposit or retainer fee.
Flat Fees.
Retained Services.
Sliding Scale Fees.
Crowd Funding and Legal Defence Funds.
Pro Bono Assistance.