She is renowned for her legal acumen and dedication to her profession. She has a list of accolades and accomplishments as long as the horizon, but after 22 years of dedicated service, Prof Christa Rautenbach is stepping down from her current role as editor-in-chief of the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PELJ). It is known as the Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad (PER) in Afrikaans.

The PELJ was established in 1998, and is a pioneer in peer-reviewed, open-access online publications. Prof Christa, a former prosecutor, initially served as executive editor from 2002 to 2012, before transitioning to her current and last designation.

Prof Wian Erlank has been named as the incoming editor-in-chief.

“I want to express our deepest gratitude to Prof Christa Rautenbach for her tireless efforts, unwavering commitment and exceptional leadership during her tenure. Under her guidance, the PER/PELJ has thrived and upheld its reputation for excellence. Prof Christa’s contributions have been invaluable, and we are profoundly grateful for her dedication to advancing scholarly research and nurturing a supportive academic community,” said Prof Mitzi Wiese, research director of the Faculty of Law at the NWU. “With this transition, we warmly welcome Prof Wian Erlank as the incoming editor-in-chief of PER/PELJ. Prof Wian Erlank brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to advancing scholarly discourse. We are confident that under his leadership, PER/PELJ will continue to prosper and maintain its dedication to academic excellence. It is worth noting that Prof Christa Rautenbach will remain an integral part of the editorial team as an editor,” she continued.

In an announcement on the PER/PELJ website, Prof Rautenbach said: “After 22 years of serving as editor-in-chief, it is with mixed emotions that I announce my decision to pass on the baton to a new leader. It gives me great pleasure to introduce Prof Wian Erlank as the incoming editor-in-chief. Prof Erlank has been an integral part of our editorial team since 2014, and I have full confidence in his ability to steer the journal towards continued success. While we endeavour to make this transition as seamless as possible, we anticipate some delays and teething issues along the way. Your patience and understanding during this period are greatly appreciated. I will remain part of the editorial team for a period of time to ensure a smooth handover. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our journal.”

Prof Christa Rautenbach