ILITHA LABANTU
LAW CLINIC 

Building on decades of advancing women's rights and access to justice, Ilitha Labantu's longstanding Policy and Advocacy Department has evolved into the Ilitha Labantu Law Clinic, following its formal approval and registration with the Legal Practice Council (LPC). This transition marks a significant strengthening of our work: while policy advocacy, legal empowerment, public education and engagement with institutions remain central to our mandate, the Law Clinic expands our capacity to provide direct legal advice, representation and litigation for women, children and other vulnerable persons. While the Law Clinic Personnel will remain Amicus Curiae (friends of the Court) in Criminal Matters, they will litigate on behalf of survivors of Gender Based Violence in all legal aspects required.

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Learn more about the Law Clinic's Mandate

Rooted within Ilitha Labantu's integrated, survivor-centred model, the Law Clinic recognises that a legal matter seldom exists in isolation. Survivors may simultaneously require psychosocial support, safety planning, social assistance, shelter, economic empowerment or other forms of intervention. Our legal services are therefore connected to the organisation's broader support ecosystem, ensuring that clients are not treated simply as cases, but are supported throughout their journey towards safety, justice and recovery.

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Find out more about accessing the Law Clinic services

Through direct legal services, strategic advocacy, community legal education and engagement with justice-sector institutions, the Ilitha Labantu Law Clinic works to bridge the gap between rights recognised in law and justice experienced in practice. The transition from Policy and Advocacy to the Law Clinic is therefore not a departure from our history it is an evolution of it, strengthening our ability to move from advocating for women's rights to helping women exercise, protect and enforce those rights.

Ilitha Labantu mobilises communities to advocate for accountability and stronger responses to gender-based violence. During 2025–2026, the organisation led and participated in 16 picketing actions at magistrate courts, opposing bail in GBV cases and standing in solidarity with survivors and affected families.

Access to Justice roadshows are also held where communities engage directly with service providers and gain practical information on reporting mechanisms, legal remedies, protection orders, maintenance matters, referral pathways, and available support services for survivors of gender-based violence and other forms of abuse.

Ilitha Labantu works with institutions and community stakeholders to strengthen responses to gender-based violence from both psychosocial and legal perspectives. Training for SAPS personnel covers GBV legislation, gender sensitivity, child trauma, trauma-informed responses, basic counselling and the ethical handling of protection orders, helping build more responsive and accountable institutions.