LARC Participates in Human Rights Fest, JHB

From 26 to 29 March 2026, LARC researchers participated in the Human Rights Festival hosted at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg. This annual gathering takes place at one of the country’s most iconic historical sites, including spaces such as the Old Fort and the Women’s Jail.The festival serves as an important platform that brings together community-based organisations, social movements, and NGOs. Over the four days, the festival was dedicated to showcasing, connecting, and amplifying the work of hundreds of organisations, inspiring the next generation of young activists, and fostering dialogue on pressing human rights issues.

In addition to participating in the programme, LARC hosted an information stall throughout the festival, where researchers engaged with fellow activists, community members, and members of the public. The stall also served as a platform to showcase LARC’s publications and informational materials, creating an opportunity to share knowledge about the organisation’s work and strengthen networks with stakeholders working in the human rights space.

During the Festival, LARC also hosted a screening of an episode from the uMhlaba Talks podcast series titled “Resistance to Current Land Dispossession: Mining & The Case of Makhasaneni.” The session featured discussants Thuto Gabaphethe from the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) and Dineo Skosana from the Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP). The episode provided a powerful and grounded account of community resistance to contemporary forms of land dispossession, particularly in the context of mining expansion and the lived realities of rural communities.