The Faculty of Law (UP Law) at the University of Pretoria extends hearty congratulations to Dr Ilze Grobbelaar-du Plessis in its Department of Public Law on her appointment by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Minister Ronald Lamola, as an Advisory Committee Member for Project 148.  Simultaneously, UP Law extends hearty congratulations to Professor Charles Ngwena in its Centre for Human Rights who was appointed in the same position by Minister Lamola.

An excerpt from the letters of appointment reads: ‘I have pleasure in informing you that I have appointed you to serve on a committee in terms of section 7A(1)(b)(ii) of the South African Law Reform Commission Act 19 of 1973 (SAL-RC Act). The purpose of your appointment is to participate as an advisory committee member in an investigation being conducted by the South African Law Reform Commission (Commission), namely Project 148: Domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.’

Project 148, which is being led by the South African Law Reform Commission, seeks to domesticate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP), which South Africa signed and ratified in 2007.  The project 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.

Grobbelaar-du Plessis specialises in constitutional law, human rights and disability rights and has been involved in a number of disability rights events hosted by the Centre for Human Rights in UP Law.

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