Legal services in South Africa are very expensive and this often deprives indigent people of access to justice. Although Legal Aid South Africa is mandated to provide legal services to people within a specific income group, budget cuts in recent years have put a big strain on the availability of this service.
“The majority of South Africans cannot afford quality legal services. And if you cannot afford it, you can't access it," says Dr Theo Broodryk, Managing Attorney at the Stellenbosch Law Clinic at Stellenbosch University.
This Law Clinic provides legal assistance to more than 2 000 people annually – people who are not just clients, as the service they seek at the Law Clinic is often their last resort to keep a roof over their heads or to break free from an abusive partner.
The SU Law Clinic has already received a number accolades. Recently they received international recognition at the 10th Annual Global Law Experts Awards as the South African Specialist Law Firm of the Year and the South African Social Justice Law Firm of the Year.
Broodryk says that these awards testify of the Law Clinic's mission to make an impact on the lives of their clients and the broader community.
This is evident in the number of successful civil cases the team of attorneys managed as well as impact litigation to effect societal changes.
It is through the SU Law Clinic's involvement in significant legal impact matters such as potentially precedent-setting discrimination litigation and tampon tax proposals that it has become recognised as a leader in the various fields in which it operates.
Except for increasing accessibility to legal services in the Boland area and litigation, the Law Clinic also drives several training workshops to teach people about their rights on evictions, debt relief, and family violence. Ms. Monja Posthumus-Meyjes feels this service is as important as having legal representation.
“Many indigent South Africans do not trust the justice system," says Posthumus-Meyjes, attorney at the Law Clinic.
“Because they can't afford quality representation, they often have bad experiences at court. Distrust sets in with these bad experiences and these experiences are shared by word of mouth."
She says that except for bad experiences with the law, many people are not fully educated on their rights or legal processes. Through the workshops, they aim to create awareness about the justice system and rights.
“Working with our clients and listening to their stories opens one's eyes to bigger social ills in our society. It is never just a person seeking a divorce or a farm worker who did not receive a salary. The cases and stories we deal with are much more complex and often intertwined with many others. Fortunately, we have a good team here – each of who delivers impeccable services to make the SU Law Clinic a success."
The team at our the Stellenbosch Law clinic who helps broaden access to justice for indigent South Africans.
