Student chapter of SADC Lawyer’s Association to be formed

Former President of SADC-LA. Gilberto Correia of Mozambique, and Unisa student Thato Sethe

The Southern African Development Community Lawyers Association (SADC-LA) unites and represents body of lawyers, law societies and bar associations in the 15-member SADC region. The SADC-LA will be working with Unisa LLB student Thato Sethe towards the establishment of a student chapter of the SADC-LA.

Among others, Sethe advocates for the establishment of a platform which will unite students in the region. He plans doing this by promoting the establishing of a student chapter of the SADC-LA, He argues that there is a need to create a space for law students in the SADC region to partake in different programmes beyond their respective country borders. “This is the basis for strengthening capacity in the SADC region and to meet specific goals of the SADC agenda,” said Sethe. “The student integration will help improve the standards of legal education and strengthen legal expertise. This in turn will develop legally inclined young people able to meet the challenges faced in the region, find solutions to common SADC issues such as disregard for the rule of law, human rights and values enshrined in different SADC constitutions”.

This structure  will be a governing body of law students’ councils in all universities of SADC states. The student chapter will fundamentally be committed to regional integration of law students. It will serve as intermediary between law students and cooperate or public institutions, coexist with other organisations with similar objectives or that of the mother body and must advocate for youth or children’s rights. Members of the Student chapter will come from Universities in the Southern African region which offer an LLB programme or equivalent.

Sethe was invited to attend the SADC-LA’s Annual Conference and General Meeting (ACGM), which was held from 17 to 19 August 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa. The 2016 ACGM was hosted in partnership with the Law Society of South Africa. The ACGM was held under the theme: “Promoting the harmonisation of trade and investment laws and legal practice standards for regional development and effective integration in SADC”.  In the event’s tribunal essay competition, Unisa final year law student Donald Kubayi was named first runner-up .The SADC-LA  congratulated the College of Law and the University of South Africa.

Donald Kubayi receiving his award from Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe

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