It has its head office in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats.

Aids activist Zackie Achmat is the chairman of the organisation's board, and former Gauteng education MEC Professor Mary Metcalfe is one of its directors.

In 2010, the organisation started campaigning for norms and standards for school infrastructure. After repeated calls on Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, to adopt the norms and standards policy, they took legal action.

In March this year they filed papers against Motshekga, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and all nine MECs for education in Bisho's High Court.

Their class action consists of two parts. The first involves Mwezeni Senior Primary School and Mkanzini Junior Secondary School, which is in urgent need of assistance.

The schools suffered infrastructural damage caused by a storm and a fire.

In the second part the organisation has asked the court to compel Motshekga to implement the policy, arguing that, by not doing this, she is in breach of her duties.

Dwane said all parties, except for Motshekga and MECs for the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and North West province filed replying affidavits.

Gordhan and the MECs who filed papers indicated they would abide by the court's decision. Motshekga indicated she would oppose the action.