The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) adds its voice to those of our President, other Parliamentary leaders, ordinary South Africans, NGOs, business, our constituent members and the SADC Lawyers Association in condemning the violence arising out of xenophobic, Afrophobic and opportunistic criminality which has engulfed our country this past week.

Twenty-two years ago this month South Africa was held up as a shining example of how different cultures could strive together to live in a peaceful, democratic and prosperous country. This week local and international media has shown a very different picture, one that we are all ashamed of and distressed by.

‘The LSSA has engaged with the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society and the Law Society of the Northern Provinces which have jurisdiction over attorneys in the affected areas and both have agreed that attorneys will be available to provide pro bono legal assistance on an exceptional basis to xenophobia victims – both foreign and local – should their services be required,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Busani Mabunda and Richard Scott.

‘We need to take our country back to a peaceful place. Next year we will celebrate 20 years of our Constitution. In order to do so proudly and meaningfully, we need to guarantee the rights enshrined in the Constitution for all people who live in our country,’ say Mr Mabunda and Mr Scott.

View the statement by the SADC Lawyers Association
View the statement by the National Association of Democratic Lawyers
View the statement by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society

Issued by Law Society