The School of Law held a successful research, writing and mentorship retreat at Magoebaskloof hotel in Tzaneen from 24 to 26 April 2019. The retreat, which was attended by about 25 academics drawn from all the six departments in the School, was facilitated by three external experts from Rhodes University, Fort Hare and North West University. The focus areas of the retreat were supervision generally, single and co-supervision, supervision styles and mentorship, choosing journals and editorial considerations. The highly interactive retreat was generously funded by the Directorate of Research and Innovation. Participants at the retreat were divided into mentorship groups and a number of draft papers and abstracts were shared and more than 20 papers are expected to be published through the mentorship programme.
The external facilitators who graced the retreat were Prof Iya from North West University, Prof Juma from Rhodes University and Prof Van Coller from the University of Fort Hare. The chairpersons for the sessions on the second and third day were Dr Lubaale and Mrs Mokoena from the departments of Jurisprudence and Public Law respectively. The rapporteur for the second day was advocate Joubert, the HOD for the Department of Jurisprudence while rapporteurs in the breakaway sessions were Mr Raphulu, Mr Musekene, Ms Letuka and Mrs Mokoena.
SALIENT ASPECTS OF THE RETREAT
The first day was dedicated to planning around the future in the context of the School having obtained full accreditation for the LLB programme. It was therefore resolved that the new focus should now be strengthening the postgraduate programme by introducing another LLM in Mercantile Law and a PhD/LLD in law. The second day was dedicated to research supervision and mentorship in supervision with specific reference to LLB supervision, masters and doctoral supervision. Roles and responsibilities were discussed as well as the institutional landscape obtaining at UNIVEN. All the three facilitators played very important roles in the supervision slot. Colleagues from the Directorate of Research and Innovation addressed members of the School on important issues. The last day was dedicated to research writing for publication and this happened in breakaway group sessions where ideas for papers, abstracts, draft papers and full papers were discussed. Mentors were also allocated to mentees as will be shown later in this report.
RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS IN PICTURES
The pictures below, accompanied by explanatory captions, aptly summarise what transpired at the retreat.
Some of the Retreat participants posing for a group photo with facilitators
Retreat participants showing their appreciation
Day two was preceded by expository presentations before robust interactions
Plenary Proceedings on day two
Some of the attendees paying attention on day three
One of the facilitators, Prof van Coller, on challenges of co-supervision
TANGIBLE OUTCOMES
The retreat was a success and the School managed to compile a list of draft and complete papers together with target journals in some instances. The list of mentors and mentees as well as the papers they are currently working on appears immediately below. The dean and vice-dean will aggressively follow up on the progress of the planned papers and update the School every three months.
List of Mentors and Mentees and their envisaged research outputs
Criminal & Procedural Law
Author
| Mentor | Title | Status | Proposed Journal |
Prof Jegede
| n/a | The role of human rights in implementing CDR geoengineering options in South Africa
| Abstract in response to a call by Climate Law Journal for a conference in China in 2020 | Climate Law Journal (accredited) |
Adv Malange & Mr Rangoato
| Prof vd Walt | The Decision to Charge and to Prosecute in Light of The Constitution: A South African Perspective | Draft paper | SA Journal of Criminal Justice or SA Crime Quarterly |
Prof Jegede & Prof vd Walt
| Prof Jegede | Constructing the law of criminal negligence as a climate change intervention in South Africa.
| Concept note | Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PELJ) |
Prof vd Walt & Ms Milne
| n/a | Section 60(11) vs Section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act: A critical analysis of the unreported Eastern Cape High Court review decision (Review No 170002).
| Draft Paper | Speculum Juris |
Ms Mawila
| Prof Jegede & Prof van der Walt | Detention of illegal immigrants – fair trial rights | Concept | |
Mr Lubisi
| Prof Jegede & Prof Iya | Civil Liability for Injuries and Fatalities Occurring in South African Initiation Schools: A Medical Jurisprudence Perspective
| Draft abstract | Proposed Journal: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems |
Mercantile and Private Law
Author | Mentor | Title | Status | Journal |
Prof Ndlovu & Ms. Madima | Prof Ndlovu | Exploring the prospects of integrating intellectual property across the LLB curriculum at the University of Venda, South Africa | Draft paper | Journal of Legal Education |
Ndlovu, Oira, Iyer, Sihanya | Prof Ndlovu | Broadcast Copyright Protection in Kenya and South Africa: A Comparative Analysis | Draft paper | P.E.R (IBSS) |
Ms Letuka & Prof Jegede | Prof Jegede | International human rights law and the access of children of asylum seekers to social assistance in SA | Draft paper | No Journal yet |
Adv. Joubert & Dr Mothibi | Dr Mothibi | Ignorantia juris non excusat: Police without Defence | Draft paper | Acta Criminologica |
Ms Mkhabele & Ms Simbo | Prof Ndlovu & Anyone interested in legal education | A legal analysis of outcomes based education | abstract | SA Journal of Education |
Mr Maloka | Mr Maloka | Evolving jurisprudence on termination of employment arising from judicial declaration of invalidity of appointment | Abstract | SA Public Law/ Stellenbosch Law Review |
Mr Maloka & Ms Letuka | Mr Maloka | Excessive Pricing in the context of the Sasol Decision | Abstract | Speculum Juris
|
Mr Maloka | Stalin Grad maneuvers, the derailing of the administration of justice and disciplinary process: new dimensions and questions on the outlook of contemporary South African Litigation Culture | abstract | No Journal yet | |
Adv. Shibambu | Mr. Maloka | A Legal analysis of Illegal Mining Ventures in SA: Socio Economic Rights Perspectives | Draft paper | No journal |
Adv. Shibambu | Prof Ndlovu | The interface between traditional indigenous inventorship and access to information in south African Rural communities | Abstract | Intellectual Property Law Journal |
Criminal Justice
Author
| Mentor | Title | Status | Proposed Journal |
Ms Madima, Mr Tshidada, Dr Mothibi, Mr Musekene Mr Sithuga | Dr Mothibi | Adverse effects affecting patients’ safety in selected public hospital in Polokwane Local Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa | Draft paper ready for submission | Acta Criminologica/ Journal of Social Sciences |
Mr Musekene & Dr Mothibi | Dr Mothibi | Implementation and coordination of Social crime prevention: A challenge for Municipalities in South Africa | Draft paper | Acta Criminologica |
Madima K and Mothibi | Dr Mothibi | Effectiveness of Public Order Policing (POP) strategies in curbing common acts of violence during service delivery protests | Under review | Acta Criminologica |
Sithuga, Mothibi and Van der Walt | Dr Mothibi | Community perspective on public Vigilantism: A case of Thulamela and Musina within Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province. | abstract | Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal |
Tshidada and Magadze | Dr Mothibi | Ex offenders’ perceptions towards their sexual Victimization during incarceration: A case study of Sinthumule area under Makhado Local Municipality, Limpopo Province | Draft paper | Acta Criminologica/ International Journal of Social Science
|
Madima and Sithuga | Dr Mothibi | Policing of unrests : A challenge for Public order policing Unit in Limpopo | Draft paper | Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal
|
Sithuga, Madima, Musekene, Tshidada and Mothibi | Dr Mothibi | Safety and security measures at the University of Venda, Limpopo Province | Abstract | Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal |
Jurisprudence & Public Law
Author
| Mentor | Title | Status | Proposed Journal |
Ms Mopai | To transfer or not to transfer the bride: The role of living customary law in the validation of customary marriages | Draft paper | ||
Ms Mokoena | Case note on Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and Another v Minister of Energy and Others 2017 (5) SA 227 (WCC), | Concept paper (idea) | ||
Mr Mhuru | Consolidating Democracy in Zimbabwe’ | Concept paper (idea) | ||
Dr Lubaale | Assessing the human rights implications of calls for regulations of religion, belief and thought | Abstract | ||
Ms Lansink | Legal and normative pluralism in South Africa and Ecuador’ | Draft paper | ||
Adv. Raphulu | Revisiting the law of sale rule on the passing of risk | Concept paper (idea) | ||
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Three main research events are planned for the future, namely further mentorship in supervision, with a specific bias towards the institutional policy landscape and requirements for supervision and co-supervision; writing grant proposals and hosting a writers’ retreat for those participants who will see through their research plans as recorded under ‘tangible outcomes’ above. The first workshop is scheduled for the second week of August 2019.
Prof L. Ndlovu
Dean: School of Law
22/05/2019
