The 2026 Public Law Conference takes place at UCT Law from 1 - 4 July, convened under the theme Public Law and the Future of Constitutional Democracy - marking a significant moment for public law scholarship locally and internationally.

The need to seek clarity about guiding principles for law reform, and to develop legal theory for its application, is what is needed to invigorate reform discussions of the international tax regime, said Professor Hattingh at his inaugural.

At just 19 years old, Jordan Klopper is already navigating a demanding dual path: pursuing a law degree at the University of Cape Town (UCT), while training relentlessly to represent South Africa in international canoe sprint competitions.

Cape Town will host a gathering of unusual urgency and significance, from 7 - 11 December. The 23rd Annual Colloquium of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Academy of Environmental Law (UCNAEL) takes place at UCT Law.

UCT Law Faculty was pleased to welcome Dr Mamadou Dian Balde on Thursday 12 March 2026 for a distinguished guest lecture hosted by the Faculty’s Refugee Rights Unit (RRU).

Some farewells close a chapter while reopening a book. A recent colloquium, co-organised by Professor Jaco Barnard-Naude (WP Schreiner Chair, UCT Law), was a clear example of such a form of farewell.

Professor Mohamed Paleker takes up office as the new Dean of Law at UCT. With a complete background in legal education at UCT Law, Paleker personifies the phrase “UCT Law through and through”.

For Dr Yakubu Nagu, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is not just a flagship continental project — it is a test of how law, policy, and development can work together to shape Africa’s economic future.

Regional integration in Africa is often discussed in broad terms, but for Dr Raisa Nyirongo, it is the everyday complexity of overlapping regional commitments and global partnerships that shapes the continent’s developmental trajectory.

Postdoctoral fellow Dr Thapelo Teele works in a space where law, language and democratic life intersect. Dr Teele is based in Rhetoric Studies in the Department of Private Law, supervised by Professor Jaco Barnard-Naudé.

Once again, the Faculty has cause to celebrate excellence amongst our Law students and graduates - reflected this time in their success as part of the Southern African Rhodes Scholarship cohort.

Financial stability isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when talking about legal research, but for Commercial Law postdoctoral fellow Dr Sebastian Krafzik, it’s exactly where law, governance and global development meet.