A day in the life at the University of Pretoria. 15 February 1927

15 February 1927: On this "Day in the life of the University of Pretoria" the first full-time, permanent law professor was appointed at the Transvaal University College.  

He also was the head of the Department of Roman-Dutch Law. Pont was awarded his Doctor of Law degree by the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands in 1921. In 1923, he emigrated to South Africa and enrolled as a student with the University of South Africa (Unisa), where he obtained his LLB degree. His interest in legal practice led him to join a firm of attorneys, Van Gorkom and Noonan, where he remained from 1924 until the end of 1926. Prof Pont was a fierce proponent of Roman Dutch Law and in 1937 founded the “Tydskrif vir Hedendaagse Romeins-Hollandse Reg”, of which he was the editor from 1937 until 1960. He was also, for many years, Chairperson of the Joint Committee for Professional Examinations. Throughout his career at UP, Prof Pont applied himself to the advancement of the study of law and under his guidance, the TUC Law Society was established as early as 1927. Prof Pont retired in 1960, but went on to assist the University College of Fort Hare to establish a faculty of law. Prof Pont was honored by UP in 1973 when he received an honorary doctorate (honoris causa). Prof Pont was the author or co-author of more than 50 articles that appeared in scientific and popular journals.

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