KM_554e-20201120170503

This supporting affidavit, submitted by Palesa Rose Madi of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), seeks the admission of CALS as an amicus curiae in a legal matter involving the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Federation for a Sustainable Environment. The document argues that the Second Respondent's request for punitive costs and reports of unethical conduct against the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) constitutes a Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suit intended to chill public interest litigation and restrict access to justice for marginalised actors in South Africa.

• The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) is a law clinic based at the University of the Witwatersrand, established in 1978, that focuses on five specialised programmes: Home, Land & Rural Democracy; Business and Human Rights; Environmental Justice; Gender Justice; and Civil and Political Justice.
• CALS identifies as a public interest litigation organisation that facilitates access to justice for disenfranchised communities and those vulnerable to the abuse of power, arguing that such organisations are essential for transparency and accountability in a democracy.
• CALS defines a Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suit as a meritless case designed to discourage a party from vindicating their rights, often by wasting their resources and time until they abandon their opposition.
• The document asserts that the Second Respondent's actions in this case—specifically seeking a punitive costs order against the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) attorneys and threatening reports to the Legal Practice Council (LPC) for unethical conduct—constitute a SLAPP suit.
• CALS argues that the Second Respondent's claim that the close relationship between public interest law centres and social movements creates a conflict of interest is meritless and serves to silence marginalised actors.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). KM_554e-20201120170503. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Second-Applicant-Amicus-Curiae-Supporting-Confirmatory-Affidavit.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. KM_554e-20201120170503. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Second-Applicant-Amicus-Curiae-Supporting-Confirmatory-Affidavit.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=KM_554e-20201120170503 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Second-Applicant-Amicus-Curiae-Supporting-Confirmatory-Affidavit.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsndkm554e20201120170503, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{KM\_554e-20201120170503}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Second-Applicant-Amicus-Curiae-Supporting-Confirmatory-Affidavit.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }