Dean's Message

A Lansink
Kand., Mr. (Groningen); LLM(Unisa)

The past academic year has been one of laying the foundation for a renewed commitment to excellence in teaching, research and community engagement. I took office as Dean of the School of Law on 1 January 2009 and have committed the School to expanding its research activities and publications, deepening the School’s community engagement and augmenting quality in teaching and learning through various strategies. The School of Law is set to spread its wings by networking nationally and internationally with scholars and institutions on a broad range of activities within a five year achievement time frame. In pursuit of academic excellence, we will tap into and build on the various strengths of the individual members of the School of Law and their dedication to quality teaching in order to meet the learning needs and aspirations of the student.

The School of Law strives to be at the centre of legal education, training and research, which promotes rural and regional development. Currently the School offers the following undergraduate programmes: a four year LLB and a BA in Criminal Justice, while the BA Law is being phased out.  The following postgraduate programmes are also offered: BA(honours) in Criminal Justice; Masters of Arts in Criminal Justice, and LLM in Human Rights Law.

 In line with the University’s mandate as a comprehensive University, the School has identified relevant career-focused diplomas and certificates as an addition to the existing programme offerings. The grand total number of students in the School of Law in 2009 was 1320. A total of eighty-four (84) modules were taught in the School of Law.

Despite its small staff component, in 2009 the School managed to produce twenty-three (23) publications in journals, books and proceedings, including a book authored by Adv HJ Choma on Socio Economic Rights in South Africa, and a series of books for the FET Colleges. The books were recommended by the Department of Education – a project under leadership of Prof Roelofse to which four other staff members in the School of Law contributed. I am pleased to say that, for the first time, half of the staff in the School of Law received the UNIVEN Merit Award for Active Researcher.

The School of law is actively engaged in community engagement through its Street Law programme, the Legal Aid Clinic and the work of the Ismail Mahomed Centre for Human and Peoples Rights.

Dean's Profile