UCT, and of course the Faculty of Law in particular, continues to demonstrate its strength in cultivating academic excellence and leadership. This is reflected once again in the success of our students in the Southern African Rhodes Scholarship cohort, with our graduates securing places in one of the world’s most respected postgraduate scholarship programmes.

Daniel Erasmus (LLB Class of 2023) was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship for 2024, joining a global community of more than 4,500 Scholars who have passed through the programme since its founding. Daniel completed a BCom and LLB at UCT and has long been drawn to the philosophical and political dimensions of law, especially as they relate to contemporary South Africa. During their time at UCT, Daniel held several leadership roles, most notably serving as Secretary General of the Students’ Representative Council (2020/21).

Daniel also excelled in advocacy, participating in national and international moot court competitions, including winning the 2022 Kate O’Regan Inter-Varsity Moot Competition. Alongside this, they authored research papers on the right to further education and on abolitionist constitutionalism, demonstrating a commitment to rigorous, socially engaged legal scholarship.

Among the 2024 recipients selected for the 2025 Rhodes Scholarship is Phemelo Matie (LLB Class of 2024). Phemelo’s selection followed a demanding and highly competitive process. In October this year, Phemelo joined more than a hundred scholars from around the world at the University of Oxford, where she is undertaking fully funded postgraduate study as part of an international network focused on leadership, service, and thoughtful engagement with global challenges.

Phemelo writes from Oxford:
“Oxford is a wonderful place to study, and I have enjoyed exploring the city and its beautiful historic buildings. The BCL has been demanding in the best way, and I remain grateful for the strong foundation that the UCT Law Faculty provided during my undergraduate years ... I have loved meeting people from all over the world and becoming part of such a diverse community." Phemelo says that her matriculation experience will always be memorable "where new students formally join the University in full academic dress (known as sub fusc)."

Phemelo further comments:  

"I am grateful to be part of the Rhodes Scholarship community, which has provided exceptional support throughout this journey. This has been an enriching and meaningful chapter so far, and I look forward to carrying the experiences, friendships, and learning that I continue to gain at Oxford into the work I hope to do in the future.”

The Faculty celebrates Daniel and Phemelo’s achievements and looks forward to seeing the contributions they will make as they continue to grow as scholars and leaders.