An alumnus of UCT (BA 1991, LLB 1993), A/Prof Cathy Powell has been a valued member of the Faculty community since her student days, having served as a member of NUSAS (National Union of South African Students) and as a member of the Law Students Council. Cathy joined the Faculty in 1999 as a lecturer in public law, after completing her LLM at Humboldt University and teaching legal English at the Zaenker School in Berlin. Promoted to senior lecturer in 2004, and to associate professor in 2018, Cathy was Head of the Department of Public Law from January 2023 to 15 February 2025. In addition to holding degrees from UCT and Humbolt University, Cathy earned her SJD from the University of Toronto.

A/Prof Powell was a respected scholar, known for her teaching and research in constitutional law and international law. She was highly sought after for public commentary by the media on matters pertaining to both constitutional governance and the use of force in international law. Over her long career at UCT, A/Prof Powell has taught many students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Cathy also played a leading role in broader university policy structures including as chair of Senate’s Animal Ethics Committee. She is known and widely respected within the university for her fearlessness and for standing up for what she believed was right and just.

The Faculty will hold a memorial to remember and celebrate Cathy’s  life this coming Thursday 20 February at 12.30 – 14.00 in Kramer Lecture Theatre 3. We welcome members of the university community to attend.

The online link to join the Faculty memorial service via MS Teams is accessible HERE.

The family memorial service will be held on Saturday 8 March.