Wits School of Law

08/09/2026

03/09/2026

On 26 August, the School of Law hosted the official opening of the Ralph Zulman Moot Court Centre. The Centre offers a dedicated space for students to practice their advocacy skills and continue the tradition of mooting at Wits.

We were pleased to host the family of the late Judge Zulman, the Wits moot team who made it through to the quarter finals of this year's John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition, and former moot students to speak at the event.

03/09/2026

Last night, Prof Marius Van Staden delivered his inaugural lecture as a professor of the Wits School of Law.

His address entitled “The Ruse of Labour Law” highlighted difficult challenges in the field of labour law in South Africa and hopes for how they can be overcome. His emphasis on the need for labour law to have a theory of justice reminds us how important it is for legal protections to match lived experiences.

You can catch up on the full address here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKPqdpCq0pM

We send our thanks to the organisers at Wits and to all the attendees and special guests including Deputy Vice Chancellor Ian Jandrell, Dean of the Faculty Jason Cohen, Prof Lilian Chenwi on behalf of the Head of School, as well as Prof Elmarie Fourie from the University of Johannesburg who gave the vote of thanks.

03/09/2026

📢 CALL FOR PAPERS | JOINT SYMPOSIUM
Climate Transitions, Industrialisation & Development in the Global South
The Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand and Princeton University invite submissions for a joint symposium exploring how climate transitions are reshaping production, labour, industrial policy, value chains and development trajectories across the Global South.
🌍 Themes include:
• The Climate Factory
• Green Industrial Policy & State Capacity
• Labour, Skills & the Just Transition
• Critical Minerals, Batteries & Climate Capital
• Comparative Climate Projects
📄 Submit:
• Abstract of no more than 500 words
• Short biographical note (max. 150 words)

Click here to access the document: https://bit.ly/4wL8D3U

📩 Submit abstracts and queries: [email protected]

31/08/2026

Today is the final day to apply to run the delict and labour law units at the Wits Law Clinic.

Find the full requirements and guide to applications here: https://www.wits.ac.za/vacancies/

The School of Law is recruiting!

We are currently looking for two attorneys to lead the delict and labour law units at the Wits Law Clinic.

Find the full requirements and apply here: https://www.wits.ac.za/vacancies/

Applications close 31 August 2026

31/08/2026

The annual Public Interest Law Gathering brings together representatives from public interest organisations along with academics and students to discuss pressing issues in human rights in South Africa. Save the date for this year's edition on 26 and 27 October at Wits University.

SAVE THE DATE: Join public interest organisations, lawyers, and activists from across South Africa at Wits University in Johannesburg on 26 and 27 October 2026 for two days of reflection, debate, and collaboration on the issues shaping our democracy.

Expect bold conversations, challenging perspectives, and an exciting line-up of topics that interrogate the state of justice in South Africa and beyond.

31/08/2026

Prof Bonita Meyersfeld is appearing today in the Constitutional Court for a matter on extraterritoriality.

Prof Meyersfeld teaches, researches and practices in international law and business and human rights.

Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/DOPjMN7Sn3s?si=8yG9CQlizt0mVK1I

30/08/2026

💡 DID YOU KNOW?

Wits University is ranked the No. 1 university in Africa in the 2026 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). 💙🏛️

Read more: https://ow.ly/XFKT50Z60uC

30/08/2026

🎓 Wits University PhD & LLM Bursaries 2027 – Up to R200,000 for African Law Researchers

The SARChI Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice at the University of the Witwatersrand is inviting applications for PhD and LLM by Research bursaries beginning in 2027.

💰 Funding: Up to approximately R200,000 for PhD candidates and R190,000 for LLM candidates under the applicable NRF funding criteria.

📚 Research: Explore equality, women’s land rights, housing, economic and social rights, vulnerable groups or the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

🌍 Eligibility: Open to eligible South African candidates and applicants from other African countries.

🎓 Study: Full-time postgraduate research at Wits School of Law under the Chair or associated supervisors.

📅 Deadline: 30 September 2026.

🔗 Learn More: https://wp.me/p23f03-nzc

💡 Pro Tip: Use your one-to-two-page proposal to identify one very specific legal research problem and show exactly how it fits one of the Chair’s five priority research areas.

📌 Save this post | Share | Tag an African law researcher who should apply

28/08/2026

OPINION: Should governments rely on AI and automated systems to decide who qualifies for a social grant?

Wits Visiting Research Fellow Mark Richard Gaffley examines a South African court case that raises important questions about digital decision-making, constitutional rights and the risk of excluding vulnerable people from essential public services.

Read More: https://ow.ly/XOez50ZFXUF