The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Law (UP Law), along with its dedicated supporters and contributors, marked the academic accomplishments of law students from the previous year on the evening of 12 May 2023. The highly esteemed occasion recognised the exceptional academic performances of BCom Law, BA Law, and LLB in the previous year. 

This was the first in-person function since the advent of the pandemic and inculcated the University and Faculty’s commitment to recognising the efforts of deserving students, inspiring them to maintain their high academic standards so that they may make meaningful contributions to the field of law and the academic community in the future.

In the welcoming address, Prof Charles Maimela welcomed all guests to the number one Faculty in South Africa and the continent. He extended hearty congratulations to the awardees for their exceptional academic performances in the previous year, highlighting that this was a celebratory week for the Faculty as, per the norm, the ROAs are held before the Faculty graduations, where the best of the crop for the 2022 academic year are celebrated. ‘We are honoured to have you in our Faculty tonight. Most importantly, we are honoured to have you, the members of the Faculty, the staff, and the donors with us tonight. As a collective, the Faculty staff, management committee, the Dean’s Office staff, and, most importantly, law house officials and our students. We hope they will be able to take a leap of faith, be inspired, and, most importantly, be able to envision themselves in the position they are in today. Therefore, it should serve as motivation today.’

Professor Elsabe Schoeman, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, warmly welcomed all guests, made a special mention of the donors and congratulated students for their outstanding achievements. ‘I believe that it is beneficial for you to observe whom you are awarding  as maybe someday they'll find themselves working for one of your law firms.’

She also introduced the Vice-Principal of the University of Pretoria and said, ‘We are fortunate and very privileged and honoured to have him with us here tonight.’ Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, Prof Tawana Kupe and keynote speaker for the ceremony, also congratulated the students on their outstanding achievements. He said, ‘Well done; we commend you for your resilience, determination and perseverance, and tonight we celebrate your success!’

Noting that this is the first in-person meeting since the advent of the pandemic, Prof Kupe emphasised the importance of not dwelling on the past but looking forward to the future because the pandemic presented unique opportunities that have allowed the University of Pretoria to ‘reimagine UP as a University of and for the future’. He told the audience that UP launched a few initiatives and ventures following the lessons learned and opportunities presented by the pandemic. These include establishing the Centre for the Future of Work, which focuses on the continuously changing environment we find ourselves in and the need to create an inclusive, diverse, human-centred society.

The law internship programme at UP, where law interns work in faculties and departments across the University, deals with various legal issues in a university context. Prof Kupe also noted that the University of Pretoria intensified its focus on inter- and transdisciplinary research and international research collaborations through platforms such as Future Africa, The Javett-UP Art Centre, Engineering 4.0, which focuses on artificial intelligence and smart technology applications in transport, and Innovation Africa @UP. In his discussion on the reimagined role of the University since the pandemic, Prof Kupe emphasised the importance of investing in a renewed pedagogy that considers the impact of technology and fosters a sense of community and diversity. He additionally highlighted the need to prioritise inter- and transdisciplinary teaching to equip students with the skills to address and solve wicked problems that the contemporary world presents. In particular, the speaker noted that UP is training students for jobs that do not yet exist, making it crucial to focus on skills that will be relevant in the future.

Prof Kupe concluded his address by stating, ‘Finally, as you continue your journey, wherever you may go, heed the advice of the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”’ 

He acknowledged and appreciated the Dean, Deputy Dean and academic and support staff working tirelessly around the clock during the pandemic to support students. He further thanked donors for their unwavering support, ‘Your commitment and support has made a significant impact. You are true friends of the Faculty and, by extension, the University, working alongside us on a journey to even greater heights. Tonight, we sincerely thank you for your financial contributions as well as your professional support and investment in our Faculty and our students.’

Following the keynote address, Dr Yvonne Jooste, a lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence, announced the awardees’ and donors’ names. She presented awards to over 70 awardees, including specific module donor prizes and students who would be awarded degrees cum laude at the commencement ceremony on 15 May.

One such exceptional student is Jacobus Hudson, who received the Vice Chancellor and Principal Award, awarded to a candidate with an outstanding undergraduate academic achievement during the undergraduate years of study for any first bachelor’s degree in a faculty. He also received the Adams and Adams Prize for being the student with the highest weighted average in the prescribed modules during all four years of the LLB Degree programme, the Grotius Medal for the final-year student with the highest weighted average on the final LLB module and the Harold Galasko Prize. 

The Faculty of Law wishes our top achievers well in their future endeavours.