Learn about our ongoing and finalised cases and submissions.

OUR WORK.

Ongoing cases.

Notable cases.
South Africa

Online harms: In the groundbreaking case of KS v AM, Power Law Africa assisted a survivor of various online harms, which included the creation of an imposter social media profile and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images (NCII), secure damages in the amount of ZAR3.5m for violations of the Plaintiff’s rights to privacy and dignity. The case was the first of its kind in South Africa law.

Public participation: In the precedent-setting Corruption Watch matter heard by South Africa’s Constitutional Court, Power Law Africa assisted with setting precedent on the requirement for South Africa’s Parliament to facilitate reasonable public involvement in its parliamentary processes.

Access to information: In the Health Justice Initiative case, Power Law Africa assisted with compelling the production of South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine contracts to ensure transparency in government procurement processes.

SLAPP suits: In the Greater Kyalami Conservancy case, Power Law Africa assisted environmental activists in ensuring that a ZAR197m damages claim brought by a property development company was withdrawn. We argued that the claim constituted a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit).
Reported judgments.
South Africa: Case involvements (reported / published judgments) (19)

Constitutional Court of South Africa (4)

Corruption Watch (RF) NPC v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others [2025] ZACC 15 – Constitutional & Administrative law (access our case page)

Blind SA v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others [2025] ZACC 9 – Constitutional & Administrative law, equality, Inclusion & Child Law, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2022] ZACC 33 – Constitutional law, Equality & Inclusion, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

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 – Constitutional law, State Surveillance, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa (2)

Magistrates Commission and Others v Lawrence [2021] ZASCA 165 – Constitutional law, Equality & Inclusion (access our case page)

Economic Freedom Fighters and Others v Manuel [2020] ZASCA 172 – Constitutional law, Information Rights & Media Law, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

High Court of South Africa (10)

Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia and Others v Operation Dudula and Others [2025] ZAGPJHC 1102 – Equality & Inclusion, Information Rights & Media Law, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

KS v AM and Another [2024] ZAGPJHC 1187 – Information Rights & Media Law, Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images (access our case page)

The Embrace Project and Others v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others [2024] ZAGPPHC 961 – Equality, Inclusion, & Child Law, Constitutional Challenge (access our case page)

RE Capital Holdings Limited and Another v Mail & Guardian Media Limited and Others [2024] ZAGPJHC 202 – Information Rights & Media Law, Urgent Application (access our case page)

Health Justice Initiative v Minister of Health and Another [2023] ZAGPPHC 689 – Information Rights & Media Law, Access to Information (Access our case page)

Jaijai v Financial Services Tribunal and Another [2023] ZAGPPHC 697 – Constitutional & Administrative Law

Mazetti Management Services (Pty) Ltd and Another v Amabhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC and Others [2023] ZAGPJHC 771 – Information Rights & Media Law, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

Seriti and Another v Judicial Service Commission and Others [2023] ZAGPJHC 332 – Constitutional Law, Judicial Accountability (access our case page)

Blind SA v Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2021] ZAGPPHC 871 – Constitutional Law, Equality & Inclusion, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

Vumacam (Pty) Ltd v Johannesburg Roads Agency and Others [2020] ZAGPJHC 186 – Constitutional Law, Right to Privacy, Amicus Curiae (access our case page)

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)
Policy submissions.
South Africa: Submissions to UN agencies and Treaty Body Mechanisms (19)

2026

Written submission to the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Older Persons on business and the human rights of older persons (2026) – international law, equality & inclusion

Written submission to the Office of the High Commissioner on the impact of mental health challenges on the enjoyment of human rights by young people (2026) – international law, mental health, young people

Written submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the protection of human rights defenders in the digital age (2026) – international law

Written submission to the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls on violence against older women (2026) – international law, equality & inclusion

2025

Written submission to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression on freedom of expression and elections in the digital age (2025) – international law, freedom of expression, elections

Written submission to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Right to Privacy in the Digital Age (May 2025) – international law, the right to privacy

Written submission to the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls on gender equality, the digital space, and the age of artificial intelligence (October 2025) – international law, AI, information rights & media law

2024

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

2023

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

2021-2017

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

South Africa: Domestic policy submissions (2)

Written submission to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on the Draft Regulations: Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act (2026) – freedom of expression, equality & inclusion

Written submission to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies on the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and Online Safety (2025) – information rights & media law
Advisory projects.
South Africa: Power Law Africa provided legal and governance advisory support to South Africa’s MzansiXChange, a national data exchange initiative seeking to create a secure, integrated data ecosystem that supports effective planning, policymaking, reporting, and service delivery. MzansiXchange forms part of South Africa’s broader shift toward Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Our legal and governance advisory support focused on ensuring that the initiative was rights-respecting by design.
South Africa: Power Law Africa advised the Association of Independent Publishers on the establishment of the ZAR114m Digital News Transformation Fund

South Africa: Power Law Africa advised and provided legal support to the Media20 (M20) Secretariat to enhance media viability and ensure that issues relating to healthy information ecosystems are reflected in the G20 policy agenda
Resources.
Safeguarding the Frontlines: A Digital Security Toolkit for Activists and Human Rights Defenders (20 October 2025)

Online Gender-Based Violence Toolkit (18 June 2021)

Online Sexual Harassment Toolkit (18 June 2021)

Children’s Online Safety Toolkit (18 June 2021)