Human rights exhibition

FSCHR Human Rights Day Exhibition 2026

On 20 March 2026, the Free State Centre for Human Rights (FSCHR), in collaboration with the University of the Free State (UFS) Library, UFS Archives, the Free State Archives, and the Anglo-Boer War Museum, hosted a Human Rights Day exhibition. The event aimed to educate students about key human rights milestones within the institution and the broader Free State region.

The exhibition was presented as an immersive gallery experience, showcasing a carefully curated collection of photographs, documents, and archival materials. These elements collectively traced the region’s journey toward the protection and promotion of human rights. Students were encouraged to engage with the exhibition at their own pace, reading, listening, and reflecting on the narratives presented.

The initiative sought not only to enhance students’ historical awareness but also to cultivate an appreciation of the progress achieved over time. In doing so, it inspired ongoing reflection and a strengthened commitment to advancing human rights in the future.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the UFS Library, UFS Archives, the Free State Archives, the Anglo-Boer War Museum, and the human rights ambassadors for their valuable contributions as stakeholders in the success of this event.



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UFS SECURES URGENT COURT RELIEF FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

02 April 2026 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo OFM

The University of the Free State (UFS), through its Faculty of Law, has secured urgent High Court relief to protect vulnerable communities in the Free State. The UFS Law Clinic and the Free State Centre for Human Rights (FSCHR) successfully intervened in two separate matters involving eviction and access to water, reinforcing the university’s commitment to social justice and responsible societal futures.

In rulings by the Free State Division of the High Court, an eviction order affecting an unrepresented community in Dealesville, 67 km north-west of Bloemfontein, was halted, while water services to residents of the Brandwag Flats social housing complex in Bloemfontein were ordered to be restored following unlawful disconnections by the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.

Click here for the full article.

 




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‘LITIGATING MUNICIPAL FAILURE?' UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

03 March 2026 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Tshepo Tsotetsi

As communities across South Africa increasingly turn to the courts to compel municipalities to fulfil their constitutional and statutory obligations, litigation has become a central feature of the country’s governance landscape. It was within this context that the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Free State Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law convened a conference titled ‘Litigating Municipal Failure in South Africa?’

The question mark in the title signalled a deliberate pause for reflection: is litigation a sustainable mechanism for addressing municipal dysfunction, or does it expose deeper structural weaknesses within the local sphere of government? 

The conference brought together academics, legal practitioners, municipal officials, civil society organisations, and policymakers, including Lawyers for Human Rights, the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, and the South African Human Rights Commission, to explore the practical, legal, and institutional challenges of addressing municipal dysfunction through litigation.

Click here for the full article.


FACULTY CONTACT

T: +27 51 401 2451
F: + 27 51 401 3043

E: law@ufs.ac.za

Equitas Building
UFS Bloemfontein Campus

Law photo for next to contact block

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