An overview of public interest litigation initiated by social movements in South Africa

Abstract

A variety of South African social movements have been active in driving social change, both during the anti-apartheid struggle and during the past 25 years of our constitutional democracy. Some of this activism has resulted in public interest litigation that addresses historical disparities. A selection of cases is used to illustrate the role of social movements in initiating public interest litigation in the South African courts, as well as an emerging jurisprudence around class actions. However, the limitations of the law should be recognized and litigation should not be seen as the only means of lawful political and socio-economic struggle

Una diversidad de movimientos sociales sudafricanos ha estado activa impulsando el cambio social, tanto durante la lucha contra el apartheid como durante los últimos 25 años de nuestra democracia constitucional. Parte de este activismo ha resultado en litigios de interés público que abordan las disparidades históricas. Se utiliza una selección de casos para ilustrar el papel de los movimientos sociales en el inicio de litigios de interés público en los tribunales sudafricanos, así como una jurisprudencia emergente en torno a las acciones de clase. Sin embargo, las limitaciones de la ley deben reconocerse y los litigios no deben verse como el único medio de lucha política y socioeconómica legal.