Stellenbosch University Faculty of Law

📸 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝟕𝒕𝒉 𝑩𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏-𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒚 On 6 and 7 February 2025, The University of the Western Cape (UWC Faculty of Law) and Stellenbosch University (SU) hosted the 7th Biannual German-South African Dialogue on Democracy, bringing together leading legal scholars, policymakers, and researchers to examine the complex relationship between democracy, the social state, and the economy. The event featured a keynote address by Justice Steven Majiedt of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, who explored the evolving role of socio-economic rights in fostering a more inclusive democracy. Discussions over the two days highlighted how economic inequality, globalization, and shifting governance structures are shaping democratic institutions in South Africa, Germany, and beyond. The dialogue was attended by UWC’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert John Balfour, as well as H.E. Mr. Andreas Peschke, the German Ambassador to South Africa, underscoring the international significance of the discussions. Legal experts such as Prof. Sandra Liebenberg (Stellenbosch), Prof. Michael Rodi (Germany), Dr. Sanele Sibanda (Pretoria), and Prof. Johanna Wolff (Osnabrück) led thought-provoking sessions on: ✔️ The constitutional foundations of democracy and economic justice. ✔️ The erosion of democratic citizenship due to economic marginalization. ✔️ Strategies for increasing democratic accountability in economic decision-making. The event concluded with a renewed commitment to addressing these urgent challenges through legal scholarship, policy reform, and international collaboration. 📸 View snapshots from the conference in the images below. #IamUWC #UWCLaw #Democracy #SocialState #Economy #UWC #SU #GermanEmbassy #LegalDialogue

#colleagues #collaboration

In less than a month, I’ll be riding the Cape Town Cycle Tour (formerly known as the Argus). This year, I’m riding with the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Law and we are raising funds as part of the University’s #Move4Maties fundraising campaign. #Move4Maties supports the “missing middle” students at Stellenbosch University—those who are unable to access state financial aid (NSFAS), and still struggle to afford their education. This campaign is close to my heart because, during my time at Stellenbosch, I was also #CaughtInTheMiddle, and I probably wouldn't have made it without generous donors and sponsors. The Faculty aims to raise R100k with this initiative. To donate, click on the link below: https://lnkd.in/g9dvedwY

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲! Hosted by Prof Thuli Madonsela, Director of the Centre for Social Justice at Stellenbosch University, and Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Vice-Chancellor, this year’s lecture will be delivered by Lord Dr Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE. Theme: “SACRIFICE & INTEGRITY – The Indivisible Inevitability for Social Justice” 📅 Date: Thursday, 20 February 2025 ⏰ Time: 17:30 for 18:00 📍 Venue: Adam Small Theatre, Stellenbosch University Secure your spot by 17 February 2025: RSVP here https://shorturl.at/zfAG3 #SocialJustice #Leadership #StellenboschUniversity

#colleagues

Closing date for applications to participate in the 2025 IGLP, Harvard - Stellenbosch Law Global Scholars Academy is 24 February. We trust that your application is already in, if not, you need to finalise it soonest...

A wonderful first public lecture engagement for 2025.

Our LLM General programme offers 15 modules in this first semester of 2025. A new addition to our offering is the module Advanced Human Rights Law. Prof Sandra Liebenberg, NRF A1-rated researcher and HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law, will be the course leader and presenter. This module will focus on how human rights law responds to key contemporary challenges such as: • How to hold powerful private actors accountable to human rights norms? • Can human rights law make a meaningful difference to people living in poverty? • What can be done to combat various forms of inequality – race, gender, nationality and many others? • How do we reconcile the right to freedom of expression with growing trends of hate speech? • How should expressions of religious and cultural diversity be accommodated in our public institutions such as schools? • What is the influence of private funding on citizen’s political rights and what initiatives are available to limit this influence? These themes will be examined through the lens of the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights, but the module takes a wide angle by incorporating perspectives from other constitutional law systems as well as regional and international human rights law. South Africa has many similarities with other countries that have sought to design constitutional systems, including fundamental rights, to be responsive to the legacies of past conflicts and injustices. The module will be interactive and focused also on developing students’ capabilities in legal research, writing and presentation skills. The Faculty is excited that students will be able to add this important module to their general LLM programme design. #LLM #postgraduate

Thank you for visiting and for engaging with our new first year students, Webber Wentzel.

Delighted that the text of Justice Jody Kollapen's lecture entitled, "Realising Socio-Economic Rights in an Unequal Society" has just been published in the Stellenbosch Law Review Justice Kollapen of the South African Constitutional Court delivered the 18th Annual Human Rights Lecture of my Chair on 19 March 2024 at the Stellenbosch Law Faculty. https://lnkd.in/gRUpWCDF