At ProBono.Org we believe that access to social justice should be extended to all individuals, taking into account their socio-economic and personal circumstances. On 29 April 2025, our Johannesburg Labour Law Clinic consulted with an elderly client who had been employed as a bus driver by the City of Johannesburg. In 2016, the client was involved in a motor vehicle accident while on duty, resulting in a dislocated hip and a spinal injury, conditions that significantly impaired her ability to perform her job. Following the accident, she was reassigned to lighter duty due to her ongoing pain and limited mobility.
By 2024, her condition had deteriorated, and the pain became unbearable. After consulting a medical practitioner, it was determined that she required a hip replacement, a costly procedure. The doctor recommended that she submit a Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) application to the Department of Labour to seek financial assistance for the surgery. She submitted her application on 10 August 2024, along with all required supporting documentation, but the application was not processed. Despite her persistent follow-ups with the Department of Labour, her application remained unprocessed for several months.
During her consultation at our Johannesburg office, she met with one of our legal interns, Jonathan Malatji. The client expressed her desperation, noting that her surgery was imminent and that she was considering using her personal savings to cover the costs due to the severity of her pain.
Upon review, we noted that the client’s income exceeded our financial means test threshold of R7,500. Ordinarily, this would have resulted in the closure of her file, as our limited resources are reserved for those who cannot afford legal services. However, given the urgency of her medical needs and the Department of Labour’s inaction, our team felt morally compelled to intervene.
The Labour Clinic drafted and emailed a formal follow-up letter to the Department of Labour on 13 May 2025, requesting that the client’s COIDA application be processed. On 29 July 2025, we received a positive response confirming that the application would be processed, ensuring that the client would not have to pay for the surgery out of pocket.
As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
In line with the spirit of Ubuntu, “I am because we are”, ProBono.Org remains committed to advancing social justice, even when it means going beyond our formal criteria. This case serves as a reminder that compassion, persistence, and a willingness to go the extra mile can make a real difference in people’s lives.
