Democratising Big Tech

In this episode of the Legal Resources Radio's series on sexual corruption, Claire Rankin and Muyenga Mugerwa-Sekawabe sit down with Professor Sope Williams, a professor at Stellenbosch University and Deputy Director of the African Procurement Law Unit. Prof Williams is a leading anti-corruption expert and has produced extensive research focused on sexual corruption. Claire, Muyenga and Prof Williams delve deep into the legal landscape surrounding sexual corruption; and explore the gaps in the current legislative framework - which see perpetrators go unpunished and place victims themselves at significant risk of criminalisation.

In this episode, Zakhona Mvelase of African Women Against Corruption Network (AWACN) talks to Claire Rankin about Sexual Corruption. They unpack what sexual corruption is, how it manifests in state officials' abuse of public power for sexual gratification, and the important work AWACN is doing to combat it in communities across South Africa. Subscribe for more conversations to come on the intersection of the law and sexual corruption, and how to ensure our anti-corruption frameworks account for the devastating impact of sexual corruption. Subscribe for more conversations to come on the intersection of the law and sexual corruption, and how to ensure our anti-corruption frameworks account for the devastating impact of sexual corruption. #LegalResourcesRadio #SexualCorruption #GBV

In our latest episode of Legal Resources Radio, we explore how we can prevent disinformation, hate speech, and prejudice before they take hold.In this episode, Murray Hunter of ALT Advisory, Phenyo Sekati of Power Law Africa, and Katie Drew of UNHCR discuss Mzansi Life, a new board game designed to help young people recognise harmful narratives, understand how social and political conditions fuel inequality, and see that identity is never the cause.This audio episode does not include gameplay, but it does unpack the thinking behind the game, what it is trying to achieve, and why playful learning can be a powerful tool for building resilience and social cohesion.

In our latest Legal Resources Radio podcast episode, Claire Rankin speaks with Attorney Cameron McConnachie from our Makhanda office and Petros Majola, Director of the Khula Community Development Project, about the scholar transport crisis in the Eastern Cape that has left tens of thousands of learners without reliable transport to and from school. The conversation unpacks the judgment against the Department of Education & Department of Transport handed down in Khula’s favour at the end of December 2024, and the practical challenges that have emerged in giving effect to the court order over the past year.

Public procurement sits at the heart of how services reach people in South Africa and accounts for roughly 12 percent of annual GDP. When procurement rules are weak or poorly enforced, the cost is felt in everyday life, through wasted public funds, delayed delivery, and communities left without the services they rely on.In this first episode of our public procurement series, Rashaad Dadoo speaks with Sam Sole from amaBhungane and LRC candidate attorney Claire Rankin, who is closely involved in our procurement work. Together, they unpack what public procurement is, why transparency matters, and what the new Public Procurement Act could mean for accountability and service delivery.amaBhungane has spent years investigating procurement related corruption, and has also advocated for stronger, mandatory transparency during the public participation process around the Act. This conversation looks at what is at stake when procurement fails, and why getting it right matters for constitutional promises to become lived realities.#PublicProcurement #SouthAfrica #Accountability #Transparency #ServiceDelivery #Governance

This podcast episode unpacks our Late Birth Registration Backlog case. Host Claire Rakin speaks with LRC attorney Cecile about why birth registration matters, what counts as late registration, and how delays at Home Affairs are shutting children out of school, health care and social services.We represent the Children’s Institute together with eight individual applicants. The case asks the Court to address systemic delays, set fair and workable time frames, and ensure a process that recognises the realities many families face, including rural births, cultural practices, and parents who do not yet have documents. The Constitution protects every child’s right to a name and a nationality. Paperwork should not stand in the way of a child’s future.This conversation explains the law in plain language, shares lived experiences from our clients, and sets out the relief we are seeking.#LateBirthRegistration #ChildRights #SouthAfrica #HomeAffairs #BirthCertificate #LegalResourcesCentre #Podcast #PublicInterestLaw

Tech abuse is here, and it is hitting the most marginalised first. In this episode of Legal Resources Radio, digital-rights advocate Jaimee Kokonya from Access Now in Nairobi helps us unpack the many faces of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). We discuss how doxxing, deep-fake pornography, location-tracking spyware and coordinated harassment campaigns are being deployed against women, LGBTQIA+ people and migrants across East and Southern Africa.Drawing on Access Now’s “Rainbow Burning” report, Jaimee explains why online attacks on queer and migrant communities have surged and how queer-phobia and xenophobia reinforce one another. We examine cases where Ugandan authorities have used social-media platforms and dating apps to entrap LGBTQIA+ people, and we trace the global networks fuelling anti-rights movements online. The conversation then turns to survival: device-hardening basics, smarter privacy settings, threat-mapping and the free digital-security helpline run by Access Now.Finally, we explore the legal and policy gaps that let TFGBV flourish, the responsibilities of social-media companies, and the kinds of court action and regulation that could hold both perpetrators and platforms to account. Whether you are an activist, a developer or simply concerned about your own digital footprint, this episode offers clear analysis and practical tools to help protect yourself and your community.Watch, share and stay safe.Access Now Digital-Security Helpline: https://www.accessnow.org/helpline/Rainbow Burning report: https://www.accessnow.org/rainbow-burning/ This work was carried out in the context of the Africa Digital Rights Fund with support from the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA).

In January 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act into law. This Act is an effort to align expropriation legislation with section 25 of the Constitution and to replace the outdated 1975 Expropriation Act, which was promulgated long before South Africa’s constitutional democracy. While the power to expropriate land for a public purpose — such as building a dam or a road — is a function held by most governments around the world, the signing of the Expropriation Act has ignited both national and international responses. The controversy surrounding the Act appears to be driven by the inclusion of “public interest” as a valid reason for expropriation, as well as the possibility that nil compensation may be paid in limited circumstances. Some have described the Act as a race-based law aimed at expropriating farmland held by white owners, or as a mechanism for arbitrary land seizures. This rhetoric has even prompted international reactions, including an executive order by US President Donald Trump to halt all funding to South Africa. But what is fact, and what is fiction? In this episode, the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) looks at what the Expropriation Act actually says and attempts to dispel some of the myths surrounding it. The podcast seeks to provide a balanced and accurate analysis of the powers granted to the state under the Act, aiming to combat the misinformation that has shaped much of the public response. Join us as LRC’s Cecile van Schalkwyk breaks down the facts, clarifies misconceptions, and brings expert insight into one of the most hotly debated legislative developments in South Africa.

Transgender Rights and Corporate Accountability: Brent’s Fight for Justice | Legal Resources Radio 🎙️ In this episode of Legal Resources Radio, we bring you the powerful story of Brent Janse van Vuuren—a transgender man who was excluded from the 2025 CrossFit Open, not because of his performance, but because of who he is. After participating in the 2024 Open with no issue, Brent was suddenly barred from competing as a recreational athlete. CrossFit, a global fitness brand, had quietly changed its policy to exclude all trans athletes from participation. This episode explores what it means when multinational companies bring discriminatory rules into countries like South Africa, where equality, dignity, and the right to identity are protected by our Constitution. We speak to Brent about his journey, his passion for CrossFit, and how it feels to be told he doesn’t belong—simply for being himself. We also unpack the broader legal and human rights implications of policies like these and how we can hold corporations accountable. 🎧 Tune in, learn, and stand with us in the fight for justice. 🗣️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support our work. #LegalResourcesRadio #TransRightsAreHumanRights #BrentSpeaks #JusticeForAll #CorporateAccountability #CrossFitInclusion

In this episode of Legal Resources Radio, we continue our deep dive into South Africa’s surveillance landscape, shifting our focus to one of the most controversial surveillance tools today—facial recognition technology (FRT). Our host is joined by Murray Hunter, a public interest advisory expert from ALT Advisory, a Bertha Fellow, and a Ruth First Fellow, whose work focuses on communication surveillance, data protection, and digital rights. Together, they unpack what facial recognition technology really is, debunking the Hollywood myths of flawless crime-solving systems and revealing the harsh realities of its implementation in South Africa. While this technology is often introduced under the guise of crime prevention, Murray explains why its effectiveness is highly questionable—especially given its well-documented biases against people of color, its inaccuracies, and the risks it poses to fundamental rights and freedoms. We also explore the growing role of private companies in driving facial recognition adoption, how global tech firms are exporting this technology to South Africa, and why our government’s attempts to build its own biometric database remain a cause for concern. Beyond the technical and legal challenges, we discuss the historical and political implications of mass surveillance in a country with a legacy of apartheid-era state control. With crime being a major concern for many South Africans, there’s an increasing push for security-first solutions like facial recognition. But does it actually reduce crime, or does it merely shift it elsewhere? And at what cost to our civil liberties? Join us for this thought-provoking discussion as we critically assess whether South Africa is truly becoming a surveillance state—or simply a state being surveilled.

In Part 1 of South Africa: A Surveilled State, Prof Jane Duncan delves into the complexities of surveillance intelligence in South Africa, shedding light on the lack of comprehensive legal protections for citizens' privacy. This episode explores the risks posed by unchecked surveillance practices and the urgent need for stronger laws to safeguard our rights in an increasingly monitored society. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of technology, security, and human rights in South Africa.

Welcome to Legal Resources Radio! In this episode, we dive into the intriguing and sometimes alarming world of political microtargeting—the use of data-driven advertising to influence voter behavior. Joining host Kimal Harvey, a Candidate Attorney at the Legal Resources Centre, are two remarkable guests: Dr. Charlene Kreuser, Attorney at the Legal Resources Centre, and Joseph Theuri Gitonga, Lead Data Scientist from Strathmore University. Together, they unpack the complexities of ad tech, explore its role in online political campaigning, and reveal findings from their groundbreaking report. Key questions explored in this episode include: -What is political microtargeting, and how does it work? -How are South African political parties leveraging ad tech to shape campaigns? -What data is being collected, and are our privacy rights being violated? -How does South African legislation, such as POPIA, compare to international standards in regulating microtargeting? -What can be done to protect voters and ensure accountability in this evolving digital landscape? Joseph shares fascinating insights from his computational analysis of Facebook’s ad data, revealing how ads are categorized, the topics they address, and who they target. Meanwhile, Charlene discusses the legal implications, gaps in current laws, and the urgent need for legislative reform and enhanced digital literacy. Whether you’re a legal professional, a data enthusiast, or simply curious about how technology shapes politics, this episode offers an enlightening and thought-provoking conversation. Tune in now, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and follow us on social media @LegalResourcesSA for more insights from the world of social justice and advocacy!

🎙️ In our debut episode of Legal Resources Radio, we explore two of the most urgent challenges of the digital age: online harassment and disinformation. These pervasive issues threaten democracy, media freedom, and human rights, creating a chilling effect on those who dare to speak out. How do we combat these threats while safeguarding free expression and ensuring accountability in the digital landscape? Joining us to unpack these critical topics is Karyn Maughan, one of South Africa’s most respected legal journalists. With over two decades of experience covering the nation’s most high-profile legal cases and a reputation for fearless reporting, Karyn brings invaluable insights into the personal and societal impacts of these issues. As someone who has faced online harassment firsthand, she sheds light on the broader implications for journalism, democracy, and the fight for human rights.