A team of third-year students from the Faculty of Law on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng is this year’s winner in the popular annual NWU Juta Mock Trial competition that took place in Potchefstroom on 20 August.
The scene: the mock court in the Sanlam Auditorium on the campus in Potchefstroom; the crime: alleged kidnapping of a baby. The standoff was between two teams of third-year law students, consisting of a combined NWU team from all three the campuses and a team from Mahikeng. The NWU team presented the state and the team from Mahikeng championed the defence.
The state argued that a baby, which was put in care of a nurse while the mother visited the bathroom, was indeed kidnapped. According to the defence the mother, who was alleged to be destitute, asked the nurse to take care of her baby because she couldn’t. The state said that the nurse took the baby without the mother’s consent and disappeared with it.
Although presiding judge, Leonie Windell, ruled in favour of the state it was the defense team consisting of Thulisile Khoza, Teboho Madibo, Nombuso Msomi and Katlego Kekana that impressed enough to win the competition.
Although they could not prove that the alleged kidnapping did not take place, their enthusiasm, law prowess and court etiquette gave them the edge over the opposing team.
The combined NWU team that argued for the State consisted of Tristan Judge, Dorka Ndhlovu, Thokozani Sithebe and Nyiko Sithole.
The winning teams shared prizes to the value of R60 000.
Judge and advocate preside
Judge Leonie Windell, an alumna of the university, is no stranger to the NWU Juta mock trials., as she presided over the finals in previous years.
It was also not Advocate Mark Adams’ first time presiding over the semi-finals.
As in previous years, this year’s mock trials were immensely popular, with teams from all NWU campuses participating. The event was also attended by various distinguished guests from the legal fraternity.
Advocate’s vision reaps rewards
The Juta Mock Trial competition is the product of the vision of Adv René Koraan, director for professional development and community engagement and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law on the campus in Potchefstroom. She started the competition in 2011, initially for this campus, but since 2014 it has grown into an inter campus competition. She saw it as an opportunity for second and third-year students to gain much-needed experience.
More than 250 students from all three NWU campuses voluntarily participated in the competition. “It is a clear indication of their eager and willingness to learn,” says René.
"It is evident that the students improve every year. This year, however, what really stood out, was the ability of the students to embrace diversity. The chemistry and interaction between the semi-finalists was the highlight for me. Students also put in the extra work, not just to win the competition, but to be better. We should never underestimate the impact that competitions and workshops such as these have on the development of young aspiring lawyers. "
This was the ninth year that the mock trials have taken place and it promises to be an historic event next year with its tenth anniversary.
This is the victorious team who walked away with the title of 2019 NWU-Juta Mock Trials winners. They are Nombuso Msomi, Katlego Kekana, Teboho Madibo and Thulisile Khoza. In front are Prof Robert Balfour, deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning and Judge Leonie Windell.
