The faculties at the North-West University (NWU) are doing exciting work on the research front.

Prof Moses Retselisitsoe Phooko is the director of Professional Development and Community Engagement in the Faculty of Law. His research is on the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He explains more about what his research entails.

It is easy to see how a lack of the proper application of the law, particularly in the South African context, may ultimately lead to anarchy because of those determined to sidestep it.

Fortunately, efforts such as those by the Research Unit for Law, Justice and Sustainability at the North-West University (NWU) are at the forefront of seeking innovative solutions to our country’s social and environmental challenges.

Social justice in labour law is not abstract and intangible, but measurable. Setting out to prove this, labour relations researcher Prof Paul Smit is investigating whether it is possible to develop a social justice scorecard, similar to an employment equity or broad-based black economic empowerment scorecard.

Maricélle Botes, a final-year PhD student at the North-West University`s (NWU’s) Research Unit for Law, Justice and Sustainability, has been honoured with the National Research Foundation’s (NRF’s) Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law category.

The award, presented at a glittering event, recognised her outstanding academic performance and demonstrated potential for contributing significantly to the national system of innovation.

Kealeboga Pule, a North-West University (NWU) alumnus and LLB graduate, has gracefully woven his creative brilliance into the fabric of the Miss South Africa pageant.

As managing director and co-founder of Nungu Diamonds, Kealeboga’s design excellence is responsible for crafting the dazzling new Miss South Africa crown that has captured the nation's imagination.

When Prof Louis Kotzé, research professor at the Faculty of Law of the North-West University (NWU) utters the words “planetary crisis”, it takes a moment to comprehend the magnitude of what he is talking about.

A full bench of North West High Court judges presided over the annual North-West University (NWU)-Juta Mock Trial finals held at the High Court in Mahikeng on 7 August 2023.

Leading the panel was Deputy Judge President Tebogo Djaje, accompanied by esteemed justices Francies Reid, André Petersen and Myron Dewrance.

North West Judge President Ronald Hendricks viewed the proceedings from the gallery.

By Menziwa Msibi

Prof Boitumelo Mmusinyane from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Law has been shortlisted as one of eight candidates for the position of public protector of South Africa.

The candidates were shortlisted on 26 July by the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee who is tasked with appointing a replacement for Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

Research professor Howard Chitimira and postdoctoral research fellow Dr Elfas Torerai, both from the North-West University's (NWU’s) Faculty of Law, presented papers at the 18th International Association of Consumer Law (IACL) Conference that took place from 19 to 21 July in Hamburg, Germany.

Their session focused on the African perspectives on financial consumer protection.

Prof Chitimira’s paper was titled “The role of financial education in the promotion of protection for poor consumers of digital financial services in Zimbabwe”.

It is again time for students to don their judicial robes for the popular annual NWU-Juta Mock Trials competition.

This year’s competition promises to be especially exciting, with the semi-finals and final taking place on 6 and 7 August respectively in the North West High Court in Mahikeng. The opening function will be hosted on 4 August.

“This will also be the first year that all four our semi-finals will take place simultaneously, bringing all the action to the courtrooms at the same time,” says Adv René Koraan, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law.