ANNUAL REPORT 2021

18 Equipping vulnerable youth and children with life skills

Ishishini Letu Workshop - CAOSA - Highlighting In support of communities - 08 Basic conditions of 16 the access to justice gap 17 Covid-19 pandemic employment in South initiatives Contents

CONTENTS 06

INTRODUCTION 04

Chairman’s Foreword 04

The Year in Review 05

Awards and Recognition 06

ProBono.Org Director’s Special Mention Award 06

Barcamp for Justice – Part of a Winning Solution 06

Lifetime Achievement Award for Fatima Laher 06

2020 Annual Celebration 07

FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD 08 10

Ishishini Lethu Workshops 08

Due Diligence for Yunus Social Business 08

Terms and Conditions for BlueAvo’s Digital Marketplace 08

Partnership Agreement for Bashia Investments 09

Financing Alliance for Health Established as a Non-Profit Entity 09

Advice on Accessing Government Support 09

Research for Integrate Health 09 Support for Business Unity 09 '

During the financial year ending on 28 February 2021, Bowmans invested 10 745 hours valued at ZAR 35 276 146 in pro bono work. 17 ' 02 Contents

In the Courts 10

Zanchieta Wild Cat Farm V Blood Lions Npc & Three Others 10

South African Human Rights Commission v John Qwelane 10

Freedom From Interest v South African Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development 10

Kassimo Musa v Frimax Food 11

The Emergence of our Cross-Border Pro Bono Practice 12

IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 13

Our Pro Bono Efforts 13

Our CSR Efforts 15

IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY 16

Access-to-Justice Causes 16 COVID-19 Pandemic Initiatives 17 16 Child Welfare Charities 18 16

18

03 Introduction

INTRODUCTION

CHAIRMAN'S Despite the biggest global business interruption FOREWORD in living memory, precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued with our pro bono work and CSR initiatives throughout 2020 – albeit through different delivery mechanisms.

s with the rest of our setting the scene for even greater Aoperations, it was technology collaboration in the future that came to the rescue when in- Combating gender-based violence person contact and events were out (GBV) was a key theme for 2020. of the question, enabling us to fulfil Our work in this area encompassed many of our mandates even in the training, litigation, research and midst of the pandemic. resource provision, among others. Robert Legh Chairman and Senior Partner Using technology, we held training I would like to extend thanks to workshops for small businesses, Fatima Laher, our Head of Pro Bono, provided legal services to various on behalf of the firm for the work national and international NPOs, and that she has done in ensuring our pro participated in major international bono and CSR efforts keep going research projects. from strength to strength.

These research studies are the Thank you also to all those who most geographically expansive pro contributed their time, resources bono projects we have worked on and skills despite the challenges to date, giving further impetus to presented by 2020. the emergence of our cross-border Pro Bono Practice. The progress we are making in pooling our expertise across our offices was one of the most important highlights of 2020,

Combating gender-based violence (GBV) was a key theme for 2020. Our work in this area encompassed training, litigation, research and resource provision, among others.

04 Introduction

THE YEAR Bowmans' golden heart of giving IN REVIEW he hallmark of 2020 was the Tdeadly coronavirus pandemic, On the CSR front, we had to find new which made our working conditions and innovative ways to commit our very challenging. I am pleased and funding because we were unable to very thankful that this negative undertake any community outreaches situation brought out the best in as a result of the pandemic. We us - our pro bono investment is the collaborated with non-profit strongest to date as is evident by the organisations bringing relief to hours and value of services we have impoverished communities adversely invested across all of our offices. impacted by the lockdown measures, supporting charities working with Our pro bono focus remained the distribution of food and water, access to justice and we worked bringing about access to justice, with Community Advice Offices caring for vulnerable children and South Africa (CAOSA) and the Black helping victims of GBV. Sash to conclude our collaborative projects with them. In addition, as None of our work would be possible Fatima Laher you will read in this report, many without the unconditional support of Head of Pro Bono of our long-running public interest management and staff across all of matters have come, or will soon be our offices, who have demonstrated coming, to fruition. This is gratifying what I call their ‘Bowmans’ golden as many of these matters will heart of giving’ in what has been a positively impact society, particularly devastating year for so many across vulnerable groups. our continent. I would also like to acknowledge our other stakeholders The most exciting development and the many pro bono clearing for us this year is the emergence houses that we work with, for their of our cross-border Pro Bono continued collaboration. Practice. We worked with a number of international clearing houses on I trust you will find our report many interesting matters. interesting and informative.

In South Africa, our work on GBV over the past eight years was recognised at ProBono.Org’s Annual Awards ceremony when we received the Director's Special Mention Award for our work in servicing the Domestic Violence Helpdesk in Randburg.

05 Introduction

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

PROBONO.ORG DIRECTOR’S We received the award for our work SPECIAL MENTION AWARD in servicing the Domestic Violence PRO BONO 2020 Helpdesk at the Randburg Magistrate’s ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY Bowmans received the Director’s Court. Our lawyers have provided Special Mention Award at ProBono. additional capacity to the Court Org’s annual awards ceremony for since the inception of the project, Certificate of Recognition 2019 on 29 October 2020. helping victims of domestic violence for Pro Bono Hours to successfully apply for protection

This certificate is awarded to: ProBono.Org awards recognise orders. Bowmans significant pro bono contributions made by lawyers and/or law firms In recognition and appreciation for the commitment and generous contribution of pro bono hours provided to during the year. ProBono.Org clients during 2019

Mohamed Randera Teresa Yates National Director Chair of the Board ProBono.Org

29 October 2020

BARCAMP FOR JUSTICE – PART Two of our lawyers, Deborah Sebola LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD OF A WINNING SOLUTION and Suhail Mohammed, were in the FOR FATIMA LAHER group named CASA, which was Two of our lawyers were part of identified as one of the two winners. Our Head of Pro Bono, Fatima Laher, a winning team identified at the received the 2020 South African ‘Barcamp for Justice’ Programme CASA identified the hostility and Professional Services (SAPS) Lifetime held by the Embassy of the administrative difficulty of the Achievement Award for Excellence in Netherlands and the Hague Institute criminal justice system as being Legal Pro Bono Management. for Innovation in Law (HiiL) from 5 to a barrier to holding perpetrators 9 October 2020. accountable. Their solution included According to the chair of the an electronic platform linking adjudication panel, Janette Minnaar, Many of our young lawyers GBV survivors with counsellors; SAPS awards are made ‘based on a host participated in the programme, which administrative support in initiating of attributes including demonstration of brought a variety of professionals proceedings and preserving leadership skills, changing of paradigms together to develop ideas to assist in evidence; and assisting survivors to and innovation within the bounds of the fight against GBV. obtain legal assistance by connecting available resources’. them with independent legal Participants diagnosed some of the representatives willing to act on a Lebo Monyatsi, head of Group Market issues underlying South Africa’s pro bono basis if required. Development and Stakeholder GBV crisis, and then collaboratively Relations at Sanlam, said that lifetime designed solutions to the issues. CASA will now look to establish itself achievement awards were given ‘to as a standalone entity to implement deserving recipients who had served Seven groups participated, two of its solution. their professions faithfully for many which were chosen as the winners. years’. Both groups received a grant of ZAR20 000 to assist in the Congratulations to Fatima for this well- development and implementation deserved recognition. of its solution.

06 Introduction

From left to right: Chairman and Senior Partner, Robert Legh, Head of Pro Bono, Fatima Laher, and Managing Partner, Alan Keep

2020 ANNUAL CELEBRATION

Our annual celebratory event, which was scheduled for 18 March 2020, was cancelled due to the Declaration of the State of Disaster in South Africa in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result we released our annual report for the 2019/20 financial year online.

07 For the Public Good

FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD

Our Ishishini Lethu project creates a support system for emerging businesses working to establish themselves. It also allows our commercial lawyers to contribute to the communities we operate in according to their areas of expertise.

ISHISHINI LETHU WORKSHOPS Our contribution entailed conducting facilitates interaction in the marketing We held a series of pro bono a high-level due diligence review space throughout Africa. Brands that workshops for small and medium of A&K and the transactions are registered on the BlueAvo website enterprises and exempt micro contemplated by the loan agreement can use it to market their briefs, and enterprises in South Africa. in terms of Kenyan law. This included creatives can pitch their ideas. undertaking the appropriate searches Our legal assistance to BlueAvo During the first workshop Keshni with the Registrar of Companies in entailed reviewing the platform’s Naicker and Yonela Sicam from our Kenya, reviewing relevant documents terms and conditions and drafting Employment and Benefits Practice and compiling our due diligence privacy and cookies policies. presented on the basic conditions of request list. employment, followed by Adam Smith BlueAvo’s co-founder and business and Negenthri Govender, managers in TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR developer, Indira Tsengiwe, had this our Talent Department, presenting on BLUEAVO’S DIGITAL MARKETPLACE to say about our work: ‘Words could recruitment. never express how thankful we are Launching a digital marketplace for all of the work that you have done. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, has numerous commercial law This is incredible. Thank you so much we presented the next two requirements. We assisted BlueAvo for your support and timely response. workshops via webinar: Pty Ltd (BlueAvo) with its digital You are amazing, and we are certain marketplace. that Bowmans is our legal team of • On 9 September 2020, Juliette choice.’ de Hutton and Daisy Fakude from As ‘Africa’s Creative Marketplace’, our Litigation Practice covered BlueAvo provides a platform that business rescue and liquidation. • On 13 November 2020 Lusanda Raphulu, Chloë Loubser, Lenja Dahms-Jansen, Nikita Reddy and Yeleni Bruinders from our Employment and Benefits Practice addressed employment law considerations under COVID-19.

DUE DILIGENCE FOR YUNUS SOCIAL BUSINESS

Yunus Social Business (YSB) Kenya provides financing and support to businesses that solve human problems. We provided legal advice to YSB in relation to a non- convertible loan facility of up to USD 70 000 to be made available to Alive & Kicking Ltd (A&K). Above: Ishishini Lethu workshop on the basic conditions of employment

08 For the Public Good

participated in a World Economic Forum (WEF) panel discussion on the topic of access to government support. The panel members explored the government support mechanisms available to social enterprises and gave general tips on how they could apply.

The event was held under the auspices of the WEF’s COVID Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs. Paras was one of three Lex Mundi lawyers who participated. The others were Mariana Arrieta Maza and Shahana Chatterji from Mexico and India respectively.

RESEARCH FOR INTEGRATE HEALTH

Above: Ishishini Lethu workshop on employment law considerations under COVID-19 In South Africa, we assisted Integrate Health, a non-profit organisation that provides access to high-quality healthcare FINANCING ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR in the world’s forgotten communities. BASHIA INVESTMENTS ESTABLISHED AS A NON-PROFIT ENTITY We assisted Bashia Investments, a We conducted research to identify newly formed small and medium- Our lawyers in Kenya advised legal frameworks to support sized enterprise (SME) that focuses Financing Alliance for Health (FAH) the formal and institutionalised on prospecting and hopes to expand on how to establish itself as a non- compensation of community health through funding partnerships. profit entity in that country. workers. The research will be used as a technical assistance tool to We reviewed the company documents Angela Gichaga, chief executive advocate for proper compensation needed to protect Bashier as a officer, said: for community health workers. minority shareholder in its first partnership. SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS UNITY FAH now knows which legal SOUTH AFRICA Karabo Molekwa, shareholder structure it will pursue in in Bashier Investments, sent the Kenya. I am truly impressed The COVID-19 pandemic has posed following message of appreciation: with how a ‘team of teams’ many legal challenges for employers. was rallied to answer all our questions: the dedication In South Africa, we are working with I would once again like to and proactiveness displayed Business For South Africa (B4SA) to thank and commend you to ensure that the FAH support public sector initiatives introduced on the quality of service got the requested answers to deal with these challenges. and attention you allowed has truly floored me. on this matter and trust Our chairman and senior partner, that our paths will cross Robert Legh, heads B4SA’s Labour again in the near future at ADVICE ON ACCESSING Market Work Stream which has a different service level. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT been helping to answer many of the Thanks… for realising the questions employers have about need to assist young and Access to government support during the issues such as continuing payment of small emerging businesses COVID-19 pandemic has been a subject of wages, the use of annual leave, relief to have a legal stand. enormous importance to individuals and from the Unemployment Insurance businesses across the world. Fund (UIF) and the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme At the request of the Lex Mundi (TERS), among others. Pro Bono Foundation, Paras Shah, a partner at our Kenya office, To date we have devoted 1 600 hours to this cause.

09 For the Public Good

SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS FREEDOM FROM INTEREST V IN THE COMMISSION V JOHN QWELANE SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND COURTS Since 2009 we have acted for RURAL DEVELOPMENT the South African Human Rights ZANCHIETA WILD CAT FARM Commission (SAHRC) in the matter of After 22 years of legislative limbo and V BLOOD LIONS NPC & THREE the SAHRC vs John Qwelane. three years of litigation, the prospect OTHERS of movement on a key piece of law The proceedings were brought on on the subdivision of agricultural land Blood Lions is an organisation calling the basis that a newspaper column seems imminent. attention to canned lion hunting and written by Qwelane and titled the lion bone trade in South Africa. ‘Call me names but gay is NOT ok’ On 20 August 2020, the matter Our lawyers (Peter Whelan and Alan amounted to hate speech and could between Freedom From Interest (FFI) Wright) represented Blood Lions be construed to demonstrate the and the Minister of Agriculture, Land and the makers of the Blood Lions intention to be hurtful, harmful and to Reform and Rural Development was documentary. propagate hatred. concluded in the South High Court. Zanchieta Wild Cat Farm (Zanchieta) The matter is significant in that it is a wild cat ‘rehabilitation centre’. involves an interpretation of section The parties agreed to a draft order Images of Zanchieta’s lions 10 of the Promotion of Equality and pertaining to the stalled legislation, and an interview with one of its Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act the Subdivision of Agricultural Land representatives were shown in a 2015 and creates a precedent in the law on Repeal Act, 64 of 1998, and the draft documentary created by Blood Lions. the limitation of the right to freedom was made an Order of Court. of expression where another’s right to Zanchieta alleged that the images equality is adversely affected. We believe this to be the closest step in and footage were defamatory and 22 years towards a date being assigned accused Blood Lions of being the The matter was heard in for the operation of the Repeal Act. reason why volunteer agencies the Constitutional Court in no longer refer volunteers to the September 2020. We are awaiting The long history of this matter began facility. It wanted Blood Lions to halt judgment. on 16 September 1998, when the screenings of the film and requested National Assembly passed the Repeal that an amended version of the We have to date contributed over Act, which the President signed into documentary, excluding Zanchieta, 2 600 hours valued at approximately law on the same day. The purpose be redistributed. ZAR 5.6 million. of the Repeal Act was to repeal the

Following a 2015 decision by the Court to dismiss Zanchieta’s application for urgent injunctive relief with costs, Zanchieta filed an application for leave to appeal in 2016. Four years later, on 4 September 2020, the KwaZulu- Natal Court (Pietermaritzburg) dismissed the appeal with costs.

A documentary feature film that blows the lid off claims made by the predator breeding and canned hunting industries.

10 For the Public Good

Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, If the State fails to do so, or PDAL KASSIMO MUSA V FRIMAX FOOD 70 of 1970 (SALA) in its entirety, is not enacted, the State will be including the prohibition against required to depose to an affidavit Mr Kassimu Msusa, an asylum seeker the subdivision of agricultural land within set timelines to assign a date from Malawi, was referred to us by without Ministerial consent. for the operation of the Repeal Act. the SASLAW Pro Bono Clinic. If PDAL is enacted, a date should be However, the President did not assign determined for the operation of the He had referred an unfair dismissal a date for the Repeal Act to come Repeal Act within 60 days. dispute to the South African into force and effect. Consequently, Commission for Conciliation, a lacuna has existed in South African Our client said: Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) law, whereby the Repeal Act exists after his employer, Frimax Food but without operation. SALA – with (a producer of potato and corn-based its prohibition against subdivision – snacks) terminated his employment. continues despite what should have A big thank you… for all been its repeal. the hard… work over the In terms of the arbitration award, last few years to get us Mr Msusa’s dismissal was found to be We were approached by FFI whose to the point of getting both substantively and procedurally extensive actuarial research had a successful settlement unfair, and the employer was shown that the prohibition artificially court order... I am very ordered to pay him compensation. inflates the price of agricultural land. pleased and happy that However, the company launched what we can start moving appeared to be a frivolous review Our team worked with Advocate towards having a free application in the Labour Court Kennedy Tsatsawane, SC, the current agricultural land market seeking to have the arbitration award chairman of the Bar in South Africa in the near reviewed and set aside. Council, to launch an application to future which will allow compel the Minister and the President more equitable access We successfully represented to take all of the steps necessary to to farmland and be a big Mr Msusa in defending the review bring the Repeal Act into force. boost for land reform application and enforcing the award. and poverty alleviation. A few days before the hearing, On 1 July 2020, after extensive the parties agreed that the State negotiations, the parties entered would progress the tabling of the into a settlement agreement. The Preservation and Development of company agreed to pay Mr Msusa a Agricultural Land Bill of 2018 (PDAL) sum of money equal to five months of before Cabinet and Parliament before his salary and to withdraw its review the end of 2021. application. The full amount agreed on was paid to him on 10 July 2020.

11 For the Public Good

THE EMERGENCE OF OUR CROSS-BORDER PRO BONO PRACTICE

Our ability to work as one firm firm in Ethiopia, are working online platform to raise funds for across jurisdictions is resulting in the on a legal research project micro loans. We advised on the emergence of a cross-border Pro that involves investigating general lending landscape and Bono Practice. Highlights of our intra- government responses to key the regulatory requirements to office collaboration include: topics relating to COVID-19 in help KIVA in the decision to make Africa. The Africa Regional Office micro-finance loans available to • Educate is a non-profit of the International Commission social enterprises in Mauritius. organisation that equips young of Jurists will use the findings • Nature Conservancy (Mauritius) people in East Africa with the to produce a regional report is a non-profit organisation skills to succeed in today’s on the impact of COVID-19 on working towards conserving and economy. Our practices in Kenya the rule of law. It will be used in restoring land for the benefit and Uganda provided employment advocacy work with government of people and wildlife and to law advice concerning its status institutions. The research is part combat the effects of climate and within the context of the of a wider study with respect to change. It wishes to set up an COVID-19 pandemic. Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, appropriate structure to receive • Clean Cooking Alliance is a Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, donations in Mauritius. We clean energy organisation. Our Uganda and Zimbabwe, which we advised on the set-up of such a practices in Kenya, Tanzania and are doing in collaboration with structure, including the preferred Uganda have been advising it on Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. types of vehicle, regulatory investment structures. and tax implications, ongoing • HelpAge international is a Other regional pro bono work compliance obligations and non-profit organisation that includes: governance issues. helps older people to challenge • Institute for Transformative discrimination and assert their • Keheala Employment (Kenya) Technologies (Mauritius) is rights so that they are able to live is a mobile health solutions a US organisation that aims with dignity. We are researching company whose software system to harness technology for age discriminatory laws in Kenya, monitors patient adherence sustainable development, Tanzania and Uganda. The results to TB treatment. We prepared focusing on practical business will be used to advocate for the a template employment models with the potential for prohibition of age discrimination contract, key employment large-scale impact. We advised in countries around the world. policies and a memorandum of them on using Mauritius as a • Cyrus R. Vance Center of advice on employer rights and base of operation to franchise International Justice and the responsibilities. We also reviewed medical oxygen equipment and Africa Regional Office of the their existing consultancy infrastructure for distribution in International Commission of agreement to check whether it under-served areas of Africa. Jurists Our Kenyan, Mauritian, complies with Kenyan law. South African and Ugandan • KIVA (Mauritius) is a non-profit practices, along with our alliance US organisation that operates an

12 In the Fight Against GBV

IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GBV

GBV has been described as a second pandemic with untold suffering laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years Bowmans has undertaken a variety of GBV-focused pro bono initiatives and supported various GBV-related charitable causes.

Since inception we have rendered Here are some of the OUR PRO BONO almost 3 000 hours of support, organisations we have helped: EFFORTS valued at ZAR 4.7 million, at these • Lawyers vs Abuse – 76 hours helpdesks. • Great Girls Trust – 158 hours • Femme International (Kenya) – Our pro bono work has involved: UNDERTAKING LITIGATION 32 hours • Tears Foundation – 78 hours SERVICING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE We have acted pro bono for: • One Campaign (Kenya) – HELPDESKS SINCE 2012 47 hours • the SAHRC in Women’s Legal • Ibis Reproductive Health – We service the Domestic Violence Centre Trust v The President of 72 hours Helpdesks at the Randburg and Cape the Republic of South Africa. The Town Magistrate’s Courts in South proceedings sought to provide CONDUCTING RESEARCH Africa. Our lawyers provide additional for the recognition of Muslim capacity to the courts, helping victims marriages in South African law. • In 2019, Vance Center of of domestic violence to successfully The matter is currently before the International Justice begun apply for protection orders. Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). a project to shed light on the We have contributed over 700 treatment of women in prisons This work had its origin in 2012 when, hours valued at ZAR 1.6 million. across the world. Our Nairobi as a corporate law firm, we looked office researched conditions for for innovative ways to assist victims • the Polokegelo Shelter for women in Kenyan prisons. of domestic violence. At the time, Abused Women in a matter GBV did not have the prominence in against the Department of Social • Our South African and Ugandan people’s minds that it does today. Development on funding due practices participated in a project to the shelter. To date we have researching laws for a non-profit We knew that magistrate’s courts contributed almost 250 hours. organisation whose key objective could be key locations for us to help was to assist women in countries people access justice and initiated PROVIDING ADVICE TO NON- with restrictive abortion laws. discussions with the Randburg PROFIT ORGANISATIONS Magistrate’s Court. Following our success at the Randburg Magistrate’s • By supporting organisations Court, we replicated the model at the that help victims of GBV, we can Magistrate’s Court. make a meaningful impact as a corporate law firm.

13 In the Fight Against GBV

MAKING OUR RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Over the years, we have made our resources available to help organisations working in the GBV field. Some highlights:

• In 2019, we collaborated with the SAHRC to host a panel discussion exploring the OBSERVING 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM FACILITATING TRAINING structural manifestations of FOR NO VIOLENCE AGAINST GBV and femicide, measures to WOMEN AND CHILDREN Sex workers are a vulnerable, address gaps in accountability, marginalised group. It is crucial and practical suggestions for We have been participating in the that organisations assisting these expanding support to GBV 16 Days of Activism for No Violence workers to assert their legal rights survivors. against Women and Children are well informed. We facilitated Sex Campaign since 2015. Worker Sensitisation Training at our • In 2015, we partnered with Johannesburg office in collaboration Amnesty International to host It has become customary for us to with ProBono.Org and the Sex an event on universal access make charitable donations at this Workers Education and Advocacy to sexual reproductive rights time (25 November to 10 December), Taskforce. alongside the African Union and for our employees to wear white Summit held in Johannesburg. ribbons and take the Bowmans Raising awareness of sexual pledge against GBV. harassment has been the focus of • In 2014, we partnered with the our team in Uganda. They assisted Thomson Reuters Foundation Organisations that have benefited the Rape Hurts Foundation to to host the Trust Women’s from our contributions include the develop a Sexual Harassment Policy, annual conference which brings Haven Shelter for Abused Women, which has been widely distributed together global corporations, End Acid Violence, Open Door Crisis in print and discussed on broadcast lawyers and pioneers in the field Centre, Philisa Abafazi Bethu and the media in Uganda. of women’s rights. Saartjie Baartman Centre. As a result, over 150 other In 2020, we observed the 16 Days by organisations have adopted the supporting the #itsnotok campaign, Sexual Harassment Policy. using our social media profiles to encourage people to take the pledge Hellen Lunkuse Waiswa Tanyniga, and spread the message about it. executive director of the Rape Hurts Foundation, said:

… the work you started among us (regarding) this policy has gone overboard reaching out to hundreds of thousands of different people, who are using it, to safe guard themselves from work place sexual harassment.

14 In the Fight Against GBV

OUR CSR VIRTUAL EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF EFFORTS GBV CHARITIES We participated in a number of virtual events highlighting gender equality and WOMEN’S MONTH IN showing support for victims of GBV: SOUTH AFRICA • On 24 September, approximately August is Women’s Month in South 60 employees took part in the Africa and 9 August is Women’s Day. FNB Heritage Day Run, covering distances of between 10km and According to James Aggrey, 'If 12km. you educate a man you educate an individual but if you educate a • We joined forces with woman you educate a whole nation'. SprintForHerSA in a gruelling nine-week running series to To mark this occasion, we collaborated complete a total of 99km with the Mama’s Alliance network between September and to support women empowerment November in support of projects in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal Section 9 of the Bill of Rights. and the Western Cape as follows In addition, Bowmans made a below. This was done in the hopes donation to the Saartjie Baartman of supporting not only the women Centre for Women and Children. themselves, but their families too. • Another sporting event was • In Etafeni, one of the most the Iloveboobies challenge, impoverished townships in Cape a virtual run of 5km, 10km or Town, we supported an income- more in the fight against breast generating project where 45 cancer. Breast cancer is one women do beadwork, sewing, of the most common cancers smocking and quilting. The crafts to affect women. According to that they produce are sold at the World Health Organization, outlets both in Cape Town as well there are 1.38 million new cases as internationally. diagnosed every year. As part of the initiative, Bowmans made a • In Gauteng, we teamed up donation towards clinical breast with Nosa, which runs various screenings for South Africans. programmes for orphans, vulnerable children and elderly • We conducted a series of quizzes people from Winterveldt outside to raise funds for various charities Pretoria. Our donation went to including the EPIC Foundation, the Gogo Sewing Programme which assists victims of rape and for elderly women who come abuse. In November we invited together to sew and offer one other law firms to pit their wits another support. against ours in a virtual general knowledge contest. Each team • In KwaZulu-Natal we made a pledged an amount for a charity donation to the Little Elephant of their choice working with GBV Training Centre for Early victims. Education (LETCEE). It was allocated to their income- In addition, Bowmans supported generating and sustainable three shelters caring for abandoned livelihoods project, which babies, namely Atlantic Hope in Cape facilitates small-scale lending for Town, The Baby House in Durban the caregivers of the vulnerable and the Light House Baby Shelter in children they support. Johannesburg.

15 In Support of the Community

IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY

ACCESS-TO-JUSTICE CAUSES

We work with a range of access-to-justice advocates to help vulnerable groups and communities to access the justice system.

THE BLACK SASH

We collaborated with the Black Sash in South Africa to prepare an information booklet titled The Protection of Personal Information of Social Grant Beneficiaries.

This was part of an ongoing Black Sash initiative to train paralegals working in rural areas to advise beneficiaries on their rights. The personal information of these vulnerable groups is often compromised.

COMMUNITY ADVICE OFFICES Justice Initiative, and Jonathan SOUTH AFRICA Klaaren of the University of the Witwatersrand. We hosted a panel discussion on access to justice and its return on In addition, for World Legal Services investment in conjunction with Day, we made a donation to CAOSA, CAOSA. assisting 54 of its community legal advice offices to meet their data Corporates were invited to attend connectivity and stationery needs. the event, which highlighted the access-to-justice gap in South Africa and how corporates can help to close the gap.

Tshenolo Masha, COASA executive director, facilitated the conversation.

The panellists were John Jeffery, Deputy Minister of Justice, Louise Jones of the Old Mutual Foundation, Bongiwe Mlangeni, CEO of the Social

16 In Support of the Community

COVID-19 PANDEMIC INITIATIVES

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy has resulted in increased financial hardship across the globe. We focused some of our CSR efforts on providing financial support to various worthy causes.

MANDELA DAY iThemba Educare, through which we supported the Swelihle Crèche This year we elected to observe and Preschool based in the Embo Mandela Day by assisting small Valley outside Hillcrest. The facility deserving charities with cash donations cares for about 100 children towards the purchase of food and/or and our donation went towards personal protective equipment for their personal protective equipment beneficiaries and staff: to allow the children and staff to return safely to the preschool. • In Cape Town, we supported • In Johannesburg, we supported James House, which serves the Persevere Until Something communities of Imizamu Tethu Happens (PUSH), an Eldorado and Hangberg. Our donation went Park community-based HIV towards the purchase of food. organisation. Our donation went • In Durban, our partner was towards purchasing food.

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY Our donation was allocated to the It was installed in 2007 and had maintenance of three PlayPumps developed a leaking column. We supported Global Handwashing situated in the rural parts of KwaZulu- • In the Northern Cape, our Day (on 15 October) because Natal, Limpopo and the Northern donation went towards handwashing with soap and water is Cape. It covered the spare parts, maintaining the Keatlhlela Primary one of the most effective ways to stop travel, labour and accommodation School PlayPump which was the spread of COVID-19. required to either repair or maintain installed in 2016. the PlayPumps. We collaborated with Roundabout Water Solutions, a non-profit • In KwaZulu-Natal our donation organisation that has an agreement went towards the maintenance with the Department of Water Affairs. of the PlayPump at Shayamoya It raises donor funds to supply clean Primary School. It was installed in water to rural communities by means 2004 and the tap needed to be of PlayPumps - a sustainable pumping replaced. system powered by children playing on • In Limpopo our donation went roundabouts. toward repairing the PlayPump at Leokaneng Primary School.

17 In Support of the Community

SASLAW IN SOUTH AFRICA COVID SOLIDARITY FUND IN MSIMBAZI CENTRE ELDERLY MAURITIUS VILLAGE IN TANZANIA Our annual donation to SASLAW went towards procuring personal protective During the lockdown period, our Employees in our Tanzanian practice equipment, screens and sanitiser for Mauritian practice contributed to visited the Msimbazi Centre Elderly the staff and volunteers who run its that country’s COVID Solidarity Village. They donated food items, helpdesks. Fund. Employees also collected and medicine, adult diapers and sanitizers, delivered food supplies to families among other things. with financial challenges.

CHILD WELFARE CHARITIES

As 2020 came to a close, we spread some festive cheer by supporting child welfare organisations in the locations within which we have offices:

Cape Town: Home of Hope – a Durban: Durban Child Welfare – an Johannesburg: Johannesburg Child place of safety providing care to organisation that protects and provides Welfare Agency – an establishment children with special needs and those care to children in need and children providing a range of direct services affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum living on the streets. to abandoned, abused and neglected Disorder. children.

Other work included:

• donating new stationery items to the Ububele Centre, which provides psychological and educational support to children in the Alexandra community near Johannesburg. • sponsoring starter packs for 50 children at Camp Sizanani Life Skills, which is part of Global Camps Africa and equips vulnerable youth and children with life skills to assist them in becoming productive, successful adults.

18 Gallery

GALLERY

Top row: Our child welfare charities included Camp Sizanani and the Ububele Centre. Second row: Our COVID-19 pandemic initiatives included iThemba Educare and supporting Global Handwashing Day. Third row: One of our charitable donations in the fight agains GBV was to the Saartjie Baartman Centre for repairs following a fire.Bottom row: One of our CSR initiatives was the ILoveBoobies challenge.

19 Cape Town, South Africa T: +27 21 480 7800 E: [email protected]

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania T: +255 76 898 8640 E: [email protected]

Durban, South Africa T: +27 31 109 1150 E: [email protected]

Johannesburg, South Africa T: +27 11 669 9000 E: [email protected]

Kampala, Uganda T: +256 41 425 4540 E: [email protected]

Lusaka, Zambia T: +26 096 227 5329 E: [email protected]

Moka, Mauritius T: +230 468 8411 E: [email protected]

Nairobi, Kenya T: +254 20 289 9000 E: [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter: @Bowmans_Law www.bowmanslaw.com

Alliance Firm:

Aman Assefa & Associates Law Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia T: +251 1470 2868 E: [email protected]

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Lagos, Nigeria T: +234 1 2774920-2, +234 1 2719811-3 E: [email protected]