Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law

Dr Mantwa Madiba is a lecturer and legal scholar in commercial and tax law and serves as Interim Head of the Department of Mercantile and Private Law. A Fulbright Scholar, she holds an SJD from Wake Forest University, an LLM in Tax Law from UKZN and an LLB from the University of Pretoria. Her teaching and research focus on tax law, commercial law, equity and legal reform. She is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa and contributes to teaching, postgraduate supervision, curriculum development, external examination, faculty governance, research development and community engagement.

Advocate Gideon Joubert holds BA Law, LLB and LLM degrees from Stellenbosch University. His expertise includes the Law of Persons, Family Law and Legal Research Skills. He has authored teaching material and scholarly work, presented research on family and criminal justice topics, and received University of Venda teaching excellence awards in 2012 and 2015.

Dr Thivhusiwi Sikhitha teaches the Law of Succession and Sale and Lease in the LLB programme and supervises LLM students in private law, administrative law, human rights and labour law. She has qualifications in law, social work and alternative dispute resolution. Her professional experience includes social work and legal advisory roles in the public sector.

Dr Carlos Joel Tchawouo Mbiada is a graduate of North-West University. His research includes labour law and alternative dispute resolution, with interests in international law, international trade law, elections and human rights law. He is a trained arbitrator and mediator.

Ms Livhuwani Sosanah Lavhengwa is a lecturer in the Department of Mercantile and Private Law. She holds LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Venda and is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa. She specialises in Administration of Estates and Intellectual Property Law and contributes to teaching, student mentoring, curriculum development and legal research.

Mr Muvhumbi Hasandi Maanda has lecturing experience in private and public higher education. He holds an LLB from the University of Venda, an LLM in Mercantile Law from the University of Pretoria and an LLM in Labour Law from the University of the Witwatersrand. Before becoming an academic, he worked in the financial sector, compliance and legal practice.

Ms Cynthia Mkhabele is a legal academic specialising in South African law. She holds an LLB and an LLM in Labour Law from the University of Limpopo and has professional experience in immigration and refugee law. She teaches Law of Delict, Law of Contract, Commercial Law, Customary Law and Law of Property. Her research interests include labour, property, immigration and refugee, and company law.

Mr Nkosinathi Mzolo is a lecturer, interdisciplinary Pan-African legal scholar and PhD candidate. His experience includes teaching at Varsity College and Rhodes University and serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UKZN. His expertise and research interests include customary law, legal pluralism, constitutional interpretation, social justice, critical legal studies, rationality and human rights.

Mr Ntumbuluko Livingstone Nyathela is a UNIVEN graduate and admitted attorney with more than nine years of experience in commercial, insurance and medical law. He holds an LLM in the Drafting and Interpretation of Contracts, teaches Commercial Law, and has academic interests in insurance, medical law and ethics. He is also a legal costs consultant and SAMLA-trained mediator.

Advocate Tshepo Cyril Phanyane lectures Law of Business Entities and Insolvency Law. He holds an LLB from the University of Fort Hare and an LLM from the University of Pretoria. An admitted advocate since 2017, he has experience in civil, criminal and commercial litigation as well as work involving the United Nations and African Union. His research interests include commercial law, business law and human rights.