South African Coalition for Transitional Justice is made up of both organisational and individual members.
Our current membership is as follows:
The Centre for Applied Legal Studies is a human rights organisation established in 1978. It is a centre based at the Wits University School of Law. Historically, CALS was established to encourage law reform and improve access to justice during Apartheid. CALS remains committed to its founding ideals as it works to promote human rights and challenging the systems of power in South Africa and the region.
CALS carries out its work through teaching, advocacy, strategic impact litigation and research. Our vision is a society where historical and social justice are achieved, state institutions are strengthened and powerful entities are held to account by marganalised actors.
CALS’s Civil and Political Justice Programme is committed to the provision of transitional justice in South Africa.
Founded in 1989, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) is a private, non-profit organisation based in South Africa. The foundation of the CSVR is built upon the intent to understand and prevent the multiple facets of violence on a local and global scale. In respect to this, their mission is to promote peace on several levels (local/national/international/etc.) by addressing violence and inequality in various aspects with regards to social justice. As such, this organisation explores the realms of advocacy work, research, education and training, mental health services, community intervention, and policy formation.
The Institute for Healing of Memories is a social healing NGO with a global footprint. We seek to contribute to lasting individual and collective healing that makes possible a more peaceful and just future. Our work has grown out of South Africa’s unique history and our need to remain attentive to how our violent divided past and present impacts us both individually, as communities and as a nation. We believe that when personal stories are acknowledged and heard, individuals feel healed and empowered and dignity is restored; at the same time, bridges can be built across communities and a common path forged based on mutual understanding and shared values.
Khulumani is a membership-based organisation of victims and survivors of gross
human rights violations during apartheid, demanding reparation and accountability.
Khulumani began in 1995 as support groups for people giving testimony before South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). It was registered as Khulumani Support Group in 2000.
Three decades later, Khulumani has a database of over a hundred thousand members, and continues to mobilise and speak out for all those who suffered from apartheid crimes.
Today the Khulumani Galela Campaign organises at local, provincial, and national levels, calling on the South African government to roll-out redress and justice NOW.
Jemma Blacklaw is an MA candidate in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast. She previously worked at the Centre for the Study for Violence and Reconciliation researching the role of truth commissions in addressing conflict-related sexual violence in Africa.
Mary Burton has been a member of a number of human rights focused organisations, principally the Black Sash and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She continues to pursue the unfinished business of the TRC in the areas of justice and reparations.
Salim Essop is a retired politics lecturer/professor and former Fulbright Scholar, whose involvement in anti-apartheid politics led to his imprisonment in South Africa. He currently works as a freelance researcher, photographer and film/videomaker.
Christopher Gevers teaches international law, international criminal law and human rights at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and has advised litigants in matters involving international law in South African, foreign and international courts.
Lauren Grootboom is an MPhil candidate in Justice and Transformation. Her research applies an African Feminist analysis to understanding the effects of Apartheid reclassification on black women and its transgression in the current democratic context.
Haroon Gunn-Salie is an award-winning artist and activist who believes art has potential to effect change in societies. Gunn-Salie’s multidisciplinary practice draws focus to forms of collaboration based on socially-engaged dialogue and exchange.
Naefa Kahn is an advocate focusing on public interest law with a legal and academic interest in the prevention of torture and detention without trial.
Hugo van der Merwe works at the Global Survivors Fund (for and with conflict-related sexual violence). Before this, he worked for 25 years at CSVR on transitional justice issues in South Africa and across the continent.
Thozama Njobe
Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh is the Africa Programme Director at the International Commission of Jurists. She has significant experience working on international criminal justice and universal jurisdiction. She was involved in several cases dealing with universal jurisdiction in Africa over a number of years.
Maxine Rubin holds a DPhil in Political Studies. Her research interests include Africa’s international relations and transitional justice. Specifically, she is interested in the International Criminal Court, reparations, and post-conflict gender justice.
Jeremy Sarkin is a professor and practitioner of transitional justice. He has published 20 books, 350 articles and worked in more than 50 countries. He was chairperson of the UN working group on enforced disappearances, is an attorney and served as an acting judge.
Howard Varney is an advocate of the High Court of South Africa. He represents victims of apartheid era crimes who are pursuing justice and closure. He is also a part-time Senior Expert with the International Center for Transitional Justice.
