Teaching & Research Assistants
The Private Law Department's Teaching and Research Assistants provide additional tutoring, lecture and review support to Private Law students.
Mary Leinberger - Head TA in Private Law
I completed my BA with distinction (English Literature and Drama) at Rhodes University, and subsequently read for my LLB at UCT. I completed my pupillage at the Cape Bar and passed the NBEB bar exams. While I was a student I chaired two mountain clubs, taught yoga and meditation and headed up the student advice programme for SLSJ. Currently I am considering what Masters or PHD to undertake in the future. I love hiking, swimming in the sea, meditation and having fun with my family and friends.
Delan is a second-year Teaching Assistant in the Department of Private Law. He tutors Foundations of South African Law, the Law of Succession, and African Customary Law. He graduated with his LLB from the University of Cape Town in 2021, and is currently completing his LLM with a minor dissertation in intellectual property law at the University of Cape Town. He is an admitted attorney, and his areas of interest include intellectual property, particularly in respect of its interconnectivity with technology and artificial intelligence.
Oliver is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Private Law. He graduated with a BCom, specialising in Economics and Law, in 2021 and an LLB in 2023, both at UCT. He has a wide range of interests within and outside of law, with particular interests in Intellectual Property law. He tutors Private Law: Systems and Context, the Law of Property and Jurisprudence.
Isabella is a BA LLB graduate from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, with a specialisation in Commercial Law and Litigation. She is currently a teaching assistant in UCT’s Private Law Department while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Tax Law.
Amy is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Private Law. She tutors Foundations of South African Law, the Law of Persons and the Family, and the Law of Contract. Amy graduated from UCT with a Bachelor of Social Science in 2022 and a Bachelor of Laws (cum laude) in 2024. She is currently studying towards a Master of Laws by coursework and minor dissertation, and has a particular interest in civil justice reform.
Phemelo is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Private Law, tutoring Private Law: Systems and Context, Foundations of South African Law, the Law of Property, and the Law of Contract. She completed a BA (with distinction) in 2022 and an LLB (magna cum laude) in 2024, both at UCT. She is a Rhodes Scholar-Elect and will be pursuing her master's studies at the University of Oxford. Her research interests include corporate social responsibility and investment, business ethics, and the relationship between business activities and human rights, particularly in mining-affected communities.
Lara is a teaching assistant in the Department of Private Law. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science, specialising in Law and Politics & Governance (obtained with distinction) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Cape Town. She tutors courses in Foundations of South African Law, the Law of Persons & Family, the Law of Property and the Law of Succession. Lara is particularly interested in alternative dispute resolution and is currently pursuing a Master of Laws by coursework and minor dissertation.
Ayanda Krige holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences, specialising in law and psychology (2022) and a post graduate LLB (2024). She is currently studying towards a general LLM by coursework and dissertation. Her interests include civil justice reform and human rights. She tutors Law of Persons and Family; Foundations of South African Law; and Property Law.
Reuben is a teaching assistant in the Department of Private Law, tutoring Law of Persons and Family, Jurisprudence, and the Law of Contract. He graduated with an LLB (Cum Laude) from UCT in 2024 and is currently an LLM candidate specialising in Criminology, Law and Society. His research is currently targeted towards the intersection of public and private actors in the policing and public safety sectors.
Luyanda is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Private law, tutoring: Law of Persons and Family, African Customary Law and Private Law: Systems and Context. He is currently studying towards a Master of Laws . His research interests include the intersection between private law and public law under the Constitutional dispensation.
Nicola is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Private Law. She graduated with a BSocSci (with distinction in law and political science, and the degree with distinction) in 2023, and a LLB (magna cum laude) in 2025, both from UCT. Next year, she plans to complete an LLM by dissertation which will explore the impact of the mandate to develop the common law in accordance with constitutional rights and values on the law of unjustified enrichment. She is particularly interested in the developing relationship between the Constitution and the common law. Nicola currently tutors the Law of Succession and the Law of Property.
Mwaka L. Mukata is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Private Law. She holds a Bachelor of Laws with Distinction (cum laude) from the University of Cape Town. In 2026, she will study towards an MSc in Law and Finance at the University of Oxford. She is drawn to the intersection between law and finance, with research interests in financial sector regulation and sustainable development in African economies. She currently tutors the Law of Persons and Family and African Customary Law.