Nooshin Erfani

The Wits Justice Project has started 2012 with several new members and a plan that will see it become more active in advocacy, writes Tshepo Tshabalala.   With Iranian-born Nooshin Erfani  as newly appointed project coordinator, the team aims to do nothing less than improve the justice system in South Africa, with a particular focus on awaiting trial prisoners, more properly known as remand detainees.  The team recently planned their year, says Erfani. “Our focus is our journalism product and how we change people’s lives.  “We looked at how we are going to achieve that. The editorial team will be using journalism, law, education and advocacy to bring about the change and improvement we would like to see.”  Erfani says the project is still receiving numerous requests for help from people in detention. They are also doing research on conditions of people awaiting trail and bail, as well as the bail system and how it affects the system as a whole. With a BA degree in Journalism and honours in Economics from Rhodes University, Erfani has worked in corporate finance and consulting. She stumbled into the world of non-governmental organizations and has since nurtured her passion for humanitarian diplomacy.

 

Source:  Journalism.co.za