Law REVIEW September 2007 NEWS IN BRIEF SALRC: P J Schwikkard and A celebration of the Law Dennis Davis have been ap- OF THE honorary degrees which pointed to the SA Law Reform UCT has conferred in the last hun- Commission. There are only dred years, many have been awarded seven members of the SALRC to lawyers. Yet more LLDs (Honoris which plays an important role causa) have been conferred on those in revising and updating the who have played a valuable role in law. society, often through participation in politics of all kinds. In December 2006, UCT was proud to honour four distinguished Merit award: Jonathan Bur- chell has been given a Merito- lawyers, all of whom have used the rious Publication Award (the law both to emphasize its intimate runner-up to the UCT Book relationship with justice and its Award) for the third edition capacity to bring people together of his Principles of Criminal through critical engagement with Law. each other. ‘Two of the honorary graduands, Justice Albie Sachs & Judge Dennis Davis, are alumni of the Faculty Fellowship: Cathy Powell has been accepted to the SJD pro- and very much household names in gramme at the University of South Africa,’ comments Professor Toronto, and been awarded a Hugh Corder, Dean of Law. ‘Justice Fellowship for three years to Sachs suffered greatly from the ef- allow her to do this fulltime. fects of a car bomb placed by apart- heid operatives in Maputo in 1988, Distinguished lawyers (from l-r): Justice Sachs, Judge Davis, Sir Bob Hepple and Prof Dr Zimmermann gather with the but recovered sufficiently to play a Vice-Chancellor (centre) Professor Ndebele before the December graduation ceremony. leading role in the constitutional ne- Doctoral Students: Mpfa- riseni Budeli made history as gotiations which led to the birth of a always after hours and without ma- strong links with the faculty and the two great legal systems of the the first black South African democratic South Africa in the early terial reward. He is probably best his contributions have enriched the developed world, the civil law and woman PhD in the Faculty 1990s. He is renowned as a commit- known, however, to the general pub- study of labour law not only at UCT the common law. The Law of Obliga- of Law. She is pictured below ted, creative, courageous and outspo- lic for his pioneering use of televi- but more broadly in South Africa’. tions: Roman Foundations of the Civil- with her supervisor and men- ken man of the law and the arts, as sion to bring the critical issues of ‘The fourth honorary graduand ian Tradition, led to UCT conferring tor, commercial law professor, well as for being one of the first peo- law and justice into homes across is Reinhard Zimmermann who was on him the LLD for distinguished Evance Kalula. ‘A product of ple appointed to the Constitutional the country.’ appointed at the remarkably young published work.’ the University of Limpopo Court in 1994.’ ‘Sir Bob Hepple QC is the honor- age of 29 to succeed the legendary ‘It is entirely fitting that UCT where she did her LLB, her ‘Outstanding lecturer, researcher ary graduand with the least strong Professors Ben Beinart and JC de should have honoured these four LLM and was appointed as a and commentator (writing a regular connection to UCT: indeed, he is a Wet as the W P Schreiner Professor lawyers who have in common, not lecturer, Ms Budeli is one of column in the Cape Times, with Ger- graduate of Wits! Bob Hepple, like of Roman and Comparative law. He only their status at some time as an a growing number of doctoral ald Gordon QC, during the states of Albie Sachs, went to the Bar after left for Regensburg in 1988 but did Honorary Professor of the Faculty of students in the Faculty,’ said emergency of the late 1980s), Davis graduation, and took cases which not lose either his interest in South Law, but also distinguished careers Professor Kalula. A total of writes prolifically across a broad placed him firmly on the left of the African law or his contacts with its in the pursuit of justice through the 40 doctoral students, drawn spectrum of the law. As a judge he political spectrum. He went into ex- lawyers, however, and has played law,’ said Corder. from various countries in Af- has delivered a number of ground- ile in 1963, as a consequence of the host to successive generations of The oration at the ceremony was rica, Europe and North Amer- breaking judgments, while at the Rivonia Trial, and followed an aca- bright young graduates and estab- given by Emeritus Professor Francis ica is projected in 2008. same time continuing to teach at demic career in England. Since his lished legal academics in pursuit of Wilson and is reproduced in full on ‘It is also gratifying that an both LLB and LLM levels at UCT, unbanning in 1990, Hepple has had his passion, the harmonisation of page 6. increasing number are women and law teachers.’ said Kalula. UCT Law@Work Professional Development Project IN JUST the first half of 2007, the to UCT Law@Work, the Professional conjunction with the Compliance Professional Education Project has Development Project. Institute of South Africa for the 6th reached over 450 people, in compari- 2007 kicked off with a seminar on time; son with the total of 609 delegates The Legal Aspects of Banking Supervi- Sectional Titles Scheme Management for the entire 2006 year. There was sion by visiting German academic, in association with Paddocks learn- an excellent attendance at Companies Professor Christian Hafke; a 3-day ing; this is the 3rd course run since Bill - taking stock. A day of lectures on course on Telecommunications Law, January 2006 with another one cur- the New Companies Bill and there is al- offered for the second time by Hud- rently underway; Sports Law lecturer Rochelle le Roux ready great interest in the Workshop son Janisch, followed. The 1-day Securitisation – supported by the with participant Molly Roberts. on the Consumer Protection Bill sched- workshop on the National Credit South African Securitisation Forum, uled for the 28th of September. Act was such a success that a sec- for the 2nd time; ‘It is clear that the Project deliv- ond workshop was run and a third The Certificate in Legal Writing, an duced this year’, continued Wasserfall. ers a valuable service in keeping the is scheduled in September. A 3-day old favourite with the legal fraternity ‘The first is the Certificate Course in wider “legal” community informed course on Understanding Contracts and corporates, is scheduled to take International Tax law and the second of developments in the legislative for Effective Control ran for the third place in September. This certificate is a 3–day course in Entertainment field, said Manager, Irena Wasserfall. time in August. course is now in its 6th year and is Law, presented by Debbie Lazaus, a In the spirit of ongoing professional The following certificate courses presented by Professor Halton Chea- UCT graduate who recently returned development for the entire commu- were run from March through to dle and renowned legislative drafter, to South Africa after having worked nity in legal matters, it has been de- June: Sports Law – for the 8th time;- Canadian Phil Knight. at a top entertainment law firm in Los cided to change the Project’s name Compliance Management – run in ‘Two new courses are being intro- Angeles.’ Law REVIEW 1 News COMMENT FROM THE DEAN From the Chair of the Development Committee SOME YEARS ago, the Law Faculty, with a good measure would place a fairly heavy burden on even fairly affluent 2006 ENDED on such a wonderful of foresight, established a Development Committee and households and are beyond the capacity of many aspir- note; firstly there was the gala just over five years ago appointed a person to take charge ant law students from previously disadvantaged back- dinner for 200 in Baxter Hall, then of the Development and Marketing Portfolio. This ini- grounds. Much of the Development Committee’s activi- there was the Graduation High Tea tiative, which has been most ably driven by the Dean, has ties are accordingly devoted to raising funds for aspirant & Awards Ceremony in the Faculty, paid good dividends in several respects as I will outline law students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and finally the extraordinary and hereunder. Perhaps the most rewarding accolade is the and I am proud to say that we currently support 15 such emotion-laden grad ceremony in fact that the University as a whole has adopted the Law students within the Faculty. Jammie. Faculty’s model. One of the important objectives of the The Faculty itself has endeavoured to address this situ- The palpable sense of common Development Committee has been to re-establish contact ation through various means. One such initiative is the achievement and pride is something with our Law Faculty alumni. Professional Development Project which harnesses the that will always stay with me and In this respect, the initiative has proved a great suc- intellectual capital of our professional staff and outside immense thanks are due to students cess. All of us can, I believe, attest to a greater level of professionals to offer short courses on developments in and staff, alumni and friends, for “connectivity” with our alma mater. It has not just been the law. This brings in a modest surplus (in 2006, it their part in it all. I trust that those about the success of the reunion weekends; the Beinart ran to R375 000) which we can obviously use at our dis- of you not with us in December lectures; last year’s gala dinner and the numerous ad hoc cretion.