Congratulations to Dr Ilze Grobbelaar-du Plessis of the Department of Public Law and Professor Charles Ngwena of the Centre for Human Rights on their prestigious appointment!

Two UP Law academics have been appointed to serve on the advisory committee of Project 148, which seeks to domesticate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP), which South Africa signed and ratified in 2007.

Dr Ilze Grobbelaar-du Plessis, of the Department of Public Law, and Professor Charles Ngwena, of the Centre for Human Rights, were appointed by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola.

Project 148, which is being led by the South African Law Reform Commission, is expected to guide the adoption, modification, abolishment and development of disability rights laws in South Africa to bring them into alignment with the provisions of the CRPD.

“These appointments are well deserved, and UP Law wishes Prof Ngwena and Dr Grobbelaar-du Plessis the very best with this new endeavour,” said Professor Elsabe Schoeman, Dean of the Faculty of Law. “We are convinced that they will make valuable contributions to the pioneering work of Project 148.”

Professor Ngwena is a renowned expert in the field of disability rights. He teaches disability rights, constitutional law and human rights law at UP’s Faculty of Law, and oversees the Disability Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights.

“The appointment is a great honour,” he said. “It is more than a personal accolade but is, instead, recognition of the work of the Centre for Human Rights in promoting the human rights of people with disabilities in the African region through teaching, research and community service. I work with an extremely dedicated team of colleagues in the Disability Rights Unit at the centre. The appointment is their honour and recognition as well.”

Professor Ngwena is also an author and editor, and is the convening editor of the African Disability Rights Yearbook, the first peer-reviewed journal to focus exclusively on disability and human rights in the African context. He has been an advisor on many boards and projects, including the advisory board of the Joint Centre for Political and Economic Studies, and the advisory task team to the South African National AIDS Council.

“I intend to use the appointment as an opportunity to partner with a state initiative that has set its sights on bringing the equality and human dignity-centred message of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities home to South Africa, the foot of the hill,” Prof Ngwena added. “Proclamations of human rights mean precious little until they translate into tangible benefits at a grassroots level.”

Dr Grobbelaar-du Plessis specialises in constitutional law, human rights and disability rights, and has been involved in several disability rights events hosted by the Centre for Human Rights.

“I am honoured and humbled to be appointed to serve on the advisory committee of Project 148, the objective of which is to review the law relating to disability in terms of the CRPD. This is a positive step towards realising the purpose of the CRPD to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities in South Africa."

Dr Grobbelaar-du Plessis added that she hopes her expertise will assist in creating an environment in South Africa that will promote and protect the rights of all persons with disabilities.

"I hope that my expertise will assist the South African Law Reform Commission in making recommendations for the development, improvement and reform of disability law in South Africa. I am convinced that domestication of the CRPD will promote and protect the rights and dignity of all persons with disabilities in South Africa, and will make a significant contribution to redressing the profound social disadvantage of persons living with disabilities.”