A team of second-year students from the Faculty of Law on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng has broken the winning streak of third-year students by taking first place in the popular annual NWU Juta Mock Trial competition.
It was a mock trial filled with high drama, entertaining testimony and an expert verdict as the NWU’s third- and second-year students came head to head in the courtroom. The second-year defence team argued their way to victory in a common assault case during the finals of the trials, held in Potchefstroom on 15 August.
Ezekiel Dikio, Thato Maphangela, Leo Maphosa and Sibongiseni Nhlapo secured a win by casting doubt on the events as described by a witness who claimed she was assaulted when her husband grabbed her after throwing a plate of cold food at her.
The team representing the state tried to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt but were overshadowed by the defence’s cunning strategy. Third-year students Iminje Hartzenberg, Napo Labane, Jennifer Moabi and Faheemah Varachia argued for the state as part of an NWU team that consisted of students from all three of the NWU’s campuses.
Chief magistrate presides
Ms JJ Ikaneng, chief magistrate of the North West Province and alumna of the NWU, presided over the finals. She found that there was cause for reasonable doubt and that the team representing the State could not prove the events had occurred as the witness alleged.
Advocate Mark Adams, who also presided over the semi-finals last year, did so again this year. He selected the two teams going through to the final round.
As in previous years, the 2017 mock trials were immensely popular, with teams from all NWU campuses participating. Various distinguished guests from the legal fraternity also attended the event.
Advocate’s vision reaps rewards
The Juta Mock Trial competition is the brainchild of Adv René Koraan, 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 courtroom-style experience.
Prof Johannes Froneman, who spoke on behalf of Prof Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor of the NWU, said the NWU Juta Mock Trial competition underlined the fact that more and more experiential learning is taking place in all academic disciplines.
“Although this competition is the high point, the learning is not just a once-off event. It gives students the opportunity to emulate professionals and gain experience while still at university so that when they start working in their professions they can function from day one.”
Prof Stephen de la Harpe, acting executive dean of the Faculty of Law, said over 250 students across the campuses registered for the competition this year.“It is an opportunity to foster a passion for the law and it is an important event for the new unitary faculty, as it brings students from all campuses together. It is one of the highlights of the faculty calendar.”
The second-year team walked away with the title of 2017 NWU Juta Mock Trials winners. They are Ezekiel Dikio, Thato Maphangela, Leo Maphosa and Sibongiseni Nhlapo. With them is Ms JJ Ikaneng, chief magistrate of the North West Province.
The NWU third-year team was the runner-up in this year’s NWU Juta Mock Trial competition. The team consists of Iminje Hartzenberg, Faheemah Varachia, Jennifer Moabi and Napo Labane.
