Unisa Mthatha Moot Court competition

The 2021 Unisa Eastern Cape Regional Moot Court Competition recently took place in Mthatha at the Mthatha Magistrates Court.

The Unisa team, consisting of Dr Vuyo Peach, Dr Anisha Jogi, Advocate Mbhazima Maluleke and Advocate Posche Makama, met beforehand at the chambers of the Chief Magistrates with the Deputy Chief Magistrate Tandiwe Mazitshana, the Court Manager Andrew Gqiba and Senior Magistrate, Siyabulela Ngubo for a briefing. Both parties expressed excitement and gratitude for the partnership in the empowerment of future jurists. In his keynote address Peach, the Acting Executive Director of Unisa’s Legal Services Department, emphasised that the College of Law and the Unisa Law Clinic are committed to empowering students and ensuring that future lawyers will excel in the field, especially those from  previously disadvantaged communities.

Standing from Left to right: Samukelisiwe Cwele, Senior Lecturer WSU, Tandiwe Mazitshana, Deputy Chief Magistrate Mthatha Magistrates Court, Dr Vuyo Peach, Acting Executive Director Legal Services Unisa, Siyabulela Ngubo, Senior Magistrates Mthatha Magistrates Court, Dr Anisha Jogi, Unisa Legal Services Office and Adv Posche Makama. Sitting from left to right: Adv Mbhazima Maluleke, Senior Legal Advisor Legal Services Unisa and Nontle Sodladla 2019 moot court candidate and currently Candidate Attorney.

The three successful candidates,  Nonqaba Rubusana, Khuselo Njilo and Asabonga Bodlana, will represent the Eastern Cape Region at the Unisa Inter-Regional Moot Court Competition scheduled for 6 to 10 December 2021  in Pretoria. Other students and families of the candidates attended the event and got inspiration from the skills portrayed by the candidates during arguments.

The full bench was constituted of a Senior Magistrate from the Mthatha Magistrates Court, Siyabulela Ngubo, Dr Anisha Jogi from Unisa Legal Services Office, Samukelisiwe Cwele a Senior Lecturer form Walter Sisulu University, and Sibusiso Nzima, Director of Nzima Attorneys and a Unisa alumni who also acted as the Chief Justice.

A word of gratitude goes to the Mthatha Regional Service Centre Manager, Dr  Sigaqa and the rest of the staff including Sibulele Koyayana who was the Programme Director. Furthermore, a word of gratitude goes to the Chief Magistrate Nozuko Mviko and the rest of the staff at the Magistrates Court for welcoming Unisa and the hospitality they provided during the Moot Court competition.