On the evening of 10 May 2018 the University of Pretoria (UP) paid tribute to its 2017 exceptional academic achievers at an annual gala event.

The Faculty of Law is proud to announce that Dr Reghard Brits in the Department of Mercantile Law received the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholary Book Award 2017 (page 16) at this event. 

The commemoration edition of the Academic Achievers Awards states that “Dr Brits is a remarkable young researcher who has written this every important book as a single author.  The book covers a critical area of the law, namely the law relating to real security, a central aspect of the law for financing and banking. As the only current scholarly work on the topic, this book fills a void in this important branch of the law. Dr Brits has succeeded in providing a thorough, critical discussion of the various forms of real security provided for by South African law, through a contemporary and constitutional lens. For the informed reader and scholar, the book also contains valuable comparative perspectives with reference to a number of important developments in other jurisdictions.

It is notable that this book has within a year of publication attracted the attention of the Constitutional Court in a recent and important judgment in a case dealing with the interpretation of section 118(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000. This provides a mechanism to enforce the payment of historical debts owed by property owners to municipalities. In settling this challenging legal issue, the Constitutional Court endorsed Dr Brits’ arguments in its judgment.

The book has the potential to become a key reference work in this important area of the law.”

At the beginning of December 2018 Reghard was promoted to associate professor with effect 1 January 2019.

Congratulations Reghard.  The Faculty is very proud of your continuous achievements!

Professors Christof Heyns (page 25) and Ann Skelton (page26) again received recognition as Exceptional Academic Achievers.