Posted on July 10, 2019
From 1 to 6 July 2019 the UP Moot Society team of the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria participated in the 28th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition (AHRMCC) held at the University of Botswana in Gabarone.
In reality, for the members and coaches of the UP Moot team the journey started several long months before crossing the border as it took hours to research the hypothetical case, compile their memorials and prepare their oral presentations to the court based on their findings.
UP’s prominent position in the mooting arena was re-affirmed as far as the results go — the team arguably outperformed that which participated in 2018. This is an indication of substantial peer skills transfer within the mooting tradition at UP and portends well for the future.
Both UP Mooters individually ranked amongst the top 5 speakers on the African Continent in the Anglophone category (Kirantaba Coetzee ranked second and Phenyo Sekati ranked fifth). Overall, the team ranked fourth and were runners-up in the finals, narrowly losing by a mere four points. Notably, UP ranked as the top South African University at the competition, and both UP speakers are positioned as the top speakers from South Africa, which is a phenomenal achievement. In addition, Faculty representative and coach Nicholas Herd was selected by fellow Judges to act as the Presiding Judge in the preliminary elimination rounds.
As mooting is a vital skill for law students, we encourage all UP law students to participate in the various moots throughout the academic year, which guarantees a steep increase in knowledge and advocacy skills, combined with writing and research skills, as well as high quality peer training and ensuring a platform for continued success for our future students.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, Prof Tawane Kupe, aptly mentioned in his address at the Opening Ceremony on 1 July that (paraphrased) ‘Mooting on a continental scale allows for the development, honing and implementation of many critical skills such as oratory, communication, writing and research skills. Therefore, moots provide unique opportunities to establish inter-university networks that directly and indirectly serve students and universities institutionally. It is indeed a worthwhile expenditure and investment of time, effort and energy.’
The UP AHRMCC team is proud to report that it made good use of the opportunities afforded to them and is very grateful to everyone who supported them on this learning-curve adventure. A special word of thanks to assistant coach Kyle Cloete for his contribution to get the team across the finishing line. Lastly, a vote of thanks to the Centre for Human Rights for the role it continues to play in providing a continental and global platform for discussions, education and cross-pollination of ideas and skills on the recognition and advancement of human rights, towards the collective benefit of our shared humanity.
The Judges of the Competition were Commissioner Mrs Jamesina Essie King (African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights); Lady Justice Maria Mapani-Kawimbe (Judge of the High Court of Zambia and member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child); Prof Laurence Burgorgue-Larsen (Judge of the Constitutional Court of Andorra); Ms Farida Mamad (Deputy Director of the Judiciary School of Mozambique); Mr Alexander McLean (Founder and Director of the African Prisons Project); Justice Terence Rannowane (Chief Justice of Botswana); and Dr David Padilla (former Assistant Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights).
The UP Moot Society extends congratulations to the winning teams of the 2019 AHRMCC.
The AHRMCC is the largest gathering of students, academics and judges around the theme of human rights in Africa. This annual event brings together all law faculties in Africa, whose top students argue a hypothetical human rights case as if they were before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It continuously prepares new generations of lawyers to argue cases of alleged human rights violations before the ‘African Court’.
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The Faculty of Law congratulates the UP mooters on their achievement. Once again you have made us very proud! - Ed.
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