South African innovation for justice gains international recognition
- Dumisani Sigogo
- Nov 26
- 3 min read
The innovation enables legal practitioners to work more efficiently, hence enhancing the interaction between people and justice.
By Dumisani Sigogo
The South African-developed justice innovation, Digital Case Management, recently won global recognition at the Pro Bono Global Forum 2025 in Rome, Italy.
The DCM platform intends to put efficiency, transparency, and data-driven advocacy at the centre of public interest law.
Building on this goal, the platform is a collaboration between ProBono.org.za and the Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) to advance access to justice, with DCM launched a year ago.
This platform streamlines legal aid by allowing clients to submit cases and track progress online, while enabling lawyers to manage cases, documents, and deadlines more efficiently in a single system.
In line with this purpose, the goal is to make legal services more accessible, transparent, and efficient, especially for underserved communities.
Now, the collaborative effort is having an enormous impact. ProBono.org.za has increased the number of cases it handles from 5,037 to 12,176.
According to the two organisations, the DCM system enables legal practitioners to work more efficiently, hence enhancing the interaction between people and justice.
ProBono.org.za was represented at the Rome conference by its National Director, Adv. Mohamed Shafie Ameermia, and Legal Consultant, Daphne Makombe, while Ismail Sadek, Chairperson of EPF, represented the tech non-profit organisation.
The South African delegation participated in two sessions: Advancing People centered Justice Through Public Interest Law and Pro Bono Developments in Africa: Challenges, Impact, and Innovation.
“We are honoured to contribute to global conversations that shape the future of access to justice,” said ProBono.org.za
Likewise, EPF said: “Together we are proving that innovation and collaboration can make justice more accessible for all, turning promise into measurable progress.”
After successfully showcasing the DCM platform in Rome, ProBono.org.za and the EPF were unanimously approved to host the Pro Bono Global Forum 2026 in Cape Town.
The global ProBono conference brings together approximately 400 lawyers to develop strategies for using the law to protect civil society and the communities it serves.
In addition to the global recognition received, ProBono.org.za and EPF’s participation at the 2025 PILnet Global Forum -a global law foundation that works to strengthen public interest law.
The forum brings together lawyers, in-house counsel, bar associations, and civil society members from around the world to share best practices, build partnerships, and promote pro bono and public interest law, thereby advancing access to justice and fostering a more just society.
It serves as a platform for discussing how the law can be used to support civil society and address global challenges.
ProBono.org.za said: “Our sessions on Pro Bono Developments in Africa: Challenges, Impact, and Innovation provided attendees with deep insight into how legal innovation, coordinated regional frameworks, and people-centred justice transform lives.
“The discussions empowered delegates, many of whom are practitioners, academics, and policy shapers to rethink their regional pro bono structures and adopt technology-enabled solutions such as our Digital Case Management platform.
“Our contributions resonated strongly with PILnet leadership. We were especially honoured that our bid to host the 2026 PILnet Global Forum received unanimous approval from the PILnet Board, a historic moment that brings the global forum to African soil for the very first time.:
Looking ahead to the 2026 PILnet Global Forum in Cape Town, added: “We are inspired to build on this momentum and prepare a gathering that deepens collaboration across sectors, regions, and professions. South Africa’s rich constitutional heritage and commitment to human rights provide the perfect backdrop for a forum grounded in solidarity, innovation, and impact”
ProBono.org.za went on to say: “As hosts, we call on partners from East, West, and Southern Africa as well as global allies to work with us in shaping sessions, sharing expertise, and expanding pro bono networks that push access to justice forward.
“Together, we can transform the Cape Town forum into a catalyst for new partnerships, cross-border legal ecosystems, and sustainable pro bono infrastructure. As we prepare, we hold firm to the belief that: When justice is built collaboratively, its impact reaches further than any one institution can imagine.”