Dr Gaopalelwe Mathiba

Research Affiliates and Collaborators

Gaopalelwe Mathiba is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Private Law. He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Cape Town. Mathiba’s broad research interests include constitutional aspects of property law, eviction law, mining law, comparative law and related aspects. He teaches property law. In 2020, he was a research assistant to Prof Hanri Mostert - the DST/NRF SARChI Chair for Mineral Law in Africa (MLiA).

PEER REVIEWED CHAPTERS IN BOOKS 

  1. Mostert, H & Mathiba, GL “The Mine Community Displacement and Resettlement Conundrum in South Africa: Mapping the Conceptual, Infrastructural and Institutional Flaws” in N Graham, M Davies & L Godden (eds) Handbook of Property, Law & Society (2022) Routledge 61-74. Available at https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003139614-7/mine-community-displacement-resettlement-south-africa-hanri-mostert-gaopalelwe-mathiba.
  2. Mathiba GL & Magau PT “Combatting Financial Exclusion of Low-income Earners through Financial Education in South Africa” in HT Chitimira HT & TV Warikandwa (eds) Promoting and Prioritising Financial Inclusion in Southern Africa: A Contemporary Law and Economics Perspective Juta (2023) 129-145. Available at https://juta.co.za/catalogue-details/promoting-and-prioritising-financial-inclusion-in-southern-africa-a-contemporary-law-and-economics-perspective_29586.
  3. Mathiba, GL “The Constitutionality of the COVID-19 Moratorium on Evictions in South Africa” in Boggenpoel Z et al (eds) Property and Pandemics: Property Law Responses to COVID-19 (2021) Claremont: Juta 208-228. Available at https://juta.co.za/catalogue/property-and-pandemics-property-law-responses-to-covid-19_28723
  4. Mathiba, GL “Strengthening the Gambia’s Electoral Regime: A Quest for Inclusive and Participatory Democracy” in S Nabaneh, A Abebe & G Sowe (eds) The Gambia in Transition: Towards a New Constitutional Order (2022) Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) 153-180. Available at https://www.pulp.up.ac.za/edited-collections/the-gambia-in-transition-towards-a-new-constitutional-order.
  5. Mostert, H & Mathiba, GL “Mine Community Displacement and Resettlement in South Africa” in N Graham, M Davies & L Godden (eds) The Routledge Handbook of Property, Law and Society Routledge: Taylor & Francis (2022) 61-74. Available at https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Property-Law-and-Society/Graham-Davies-Godden/p/book/9780367688813 

TECHNICAL REPORTS AND POLICY 

  1. Mostert, H, Cramer, RH, Mathiba, GL, Davids, W, Olivier, NJJ, Sehlabo, ML, Moses, LT, Makonese, R, Molefe, D & Qumba, M “Written Submissions on the Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025. (GN 6210 of Government Gazette, No. 52704 of 20 May 2025). Prepared by: The South African Research Chair Initiative for Mineral Law in Africa Department of Private Law: Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town South Africa. Available at https://law.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/law_uct_ac_za/2283/uct-mlia-submission-on-mpr-bill-2025.pdf (13 August 2025).
  2. Mathiba, GL & Mostert, H “Commentary on the Draft Expropriation Bill, 2019” (2020) written submission made to the Department of Public Works on behalf of Mineral Law in Africa in response to call for input on 2019 Expropriation Bill. Available at https://webcms.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/357/MLiA_PDFs/MLiA%20submission%20-%20Draft%20Expropriation%20Bill%202019.pdf.
  3. Mathiba, GL, Chege, K & Mostert, H “Written Comments on The Draft Mine Community Resettlement Guidelines, 2019” (2020) Submission made to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on behalf of Mineral Law in Africa in response to call for input on the 2019 Draft Guidelines. Available at https://webcms.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/357/MLiA_PDFs/MLiA%20COMMENTS%20-%20DRG%20OF%20DMRE%20-%20SUBMITTED.pdf.
  4. Mathiba, GL, Cramer, RH & Mostert, H  “Commentary on the Draft Guideline for the Compilation of the Mandatory Code of Practice for the Mitigation and Management of COVID-19 Outbreak (GN 262 of GG 43304 of 11 May 2020)” Submission made to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on behalf of Mineral Law in Africa response to call for input on the 2020 Draft Guidelines. Available at / http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/commentary-draft-guideline-compilation-mandatory-code-practice-mitigation-and-management-covid (Accessed 21 January 2021). 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS 

  1. Mostert, H  “Effects of COVID-19 for Mines and Mining Communities” at the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in Consultation with the mining sector stakeholders (MS Teams Virtual Meeting) (17 March 2021) Research Contributors: Cramer, RH , Mudimu, GT, B, Jacobs, PJ, Medium, G, Chege, K, Lötter, A & Mathiba, GL.
  2. Mathiba, GL “Land-use Conflict Between Owners of Land & Mineral Right Holders in South Africa – Overview” Paper presented at MLIA Lunchtime Research Seminar Series III: Competing Rights on Land: Mineral Right Holders vs Owners or Lawful Occupiers of Land (Mine Communities), Univesity of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (7 June 2023). Edited Recording Available at https://youtu.be/JjEqNWKh5eY (26 July 2023).
  3. Lefenya, K & Mathiba, GL“Enhancing Accountability for Environmental Damage in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland: Towards Environmental Justice” paper presented at the Environmental Law Association (EIA) Annual Conference (15-18 September 2021).
  4. Mathiba, GL “Critical Assessment of the Whistle-blower Protection in the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption: South Africa in Context” Paper presented at the 5th Annual Conference of the Law and Development Network: Beyond the Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities for Law and Development (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa (24-26 November 2021).
  5. Mathiba, GL “The Potential of Asset Recovery in Deterring Corruption and Other Transnational Crimes: South African Perspectives and Insights Bobroff vs NDPP [2021]” Paper presented at the Free State Centre for Human Rights “The Fourth International Conference on the Right to Development on the thematic of ‘Right to Development and Illicit Financial Flows from Africa” Bloemfontein, South Africa (1-2 November 2021). Conference Programme Available at https://www.ufs.ac.za/docs/librariesprovider21/free-state-centre-for-human-rights-docs/conference-programme.pdf?sfvrsn=91617820_0. 

PEER REVIEWED MLIA OUTPUTS 

  1. Mathiba, GL “The Incorporation of the FPIC Principle in South African Policy on Mining-Induced Displacements: Bottlenecks and Opportunities” (2023) International Journal on Minority and Group Rights 1-23 Available at https://doi.org/10.1163/15718115-bja10124 (9 August 2023).
  2. Mathiba, GL & Lefenya, K “Rethinking the Regulation of Mining Activities in a Declared Protected Environment: MEJCON Case Analysis'' (2021) 34 (2) Speculum Juris 146-155. Available at http://www.saflii.org/za/journals/SPECJU/2020/11.pdf.
  3. Mathiba, GL “The Role of the Auditor-General in the Promotion of Efficient Financial Management in Municipalities: A Case Study of the North West Province” Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3814142#references-widget (29 March 2021).
  4. Mathiba, GL "Corruption, Public Sector Procurement and COVID-19 in South Africa: Negotiating the New Normal" (2020) 55(4) Journal of Public Administration 642-661.
  5. Cramer, RH “The Abandonment of Landownership in South African and Swiss law” (2020) 134(4) South African Law Journal 870-906. Available at https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/EJC-b505ca223.
  6. Mathiba, GL “Corruption in Land Administration and Governance: A Hurdle to Transitional Justice in Post-Apartheid South Africa?” (2021) 42 Obiter 561-579. Available at https://doi.org/10.17159/obiter.v42i3.12902. Also Available at https://obiter.mandela.ac.za/article/view/12902.
  7. Mathiba, GL “Book review: E Durojaye & G Mirugi-Mukundi (eds) Exploring the Link between Poverty and Human Rights in Africa” (2020) 20 African Human Rights Law Journal 346-353. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2020/v20n1a13.
  8. Mathiba, GL “Decentralisation and Constitutionalism in Africa” in CM Fombad & N Steytler (2020) 50(4) Publius: The Journal of Federalism e12-e12.
  9. Mathiba, GL “Book Review: Charles M Fombad and Nico Steytler, Corruption and Constitutionalism in Africa: Revisiting Control Measures and Strategies (Oxford University Press 2020)” (2020) 1 Africa Journal of Comparative Constitutional Law 111-119.
  10. Mathiba, GL & Lefenya, K “Revitalising the Role of the Auditor-General under the Auspices of The Public Audit Amendment Act 5 of 2018: A Quest for Public Financial Accountability” (2019) 54(4) Journal of Public Administration 532-545. 

MLiA EVENTS 

  1. Lötter, A in conversation with Mostert, H  (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa), Sayidini, B(Vice President: New Ventures UpstreamPetroSA), Kengni, B, Cramer, RH , R Pein, Chege, K, Mathiba, GL(SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa), Van den Berg, HM(University of Namibia), F Mandhu (Universit of Zambia), C Adomako-Kwakye, C, Kirunda, R, Mulenga, M, Lukusa, P, Ngwaku, R, Massyn, H (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa) & Anstey, D (ENS Africa) “The Impact of Covid-19 on the Mining Sector” (17 November 2021) hosted by the Minerals to Metals forum, Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2ncgcjM3-M (17 January 2022). 

MLiA WEBSITE ARTICLES 

  1. Mathiba, GL “The Jagersfontein Tragedy of 11 September 2022: Who Must be Held Accountable for Mine Tailings Dump Management Failure – The DMRE or De Beer or Superkolong?” Available at http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/jagersfontein-tragedy-11-september-2022-who-must-be-held-accountable-mine-tailings-dump (22 September 2022).
  2. Mathiba, GL “The Shell Seismic Survey Judgment: A Further Endorsement of Meaningful Consultation” Available athttp://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/shell-seismic-survey-judgment-further-endorsement-meaningful-consultation (12 September 2022).
  3. Mathiba, GL , Cramer, RH & Mostert, H “Commentary on the Draft Guideline for the Compilation of the Mandatory Code of Practice for the Mitigation and Management of COVID-19 Outbreak (GN 262 of GG 43304 of 11 May 2020)” Submission made to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on behalf of Mineral Law in Africa response to call for input on the 2020 Draft Guidelines. Available at / http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/commentary-draft-guideline-compilation-mandatory-code-practice-mitigation-and-management-covid (Accessed 21 January 2021).
  4. Mathiba, GL "Scrutiny of Mining Right Applications by Mining-affected Communities: a reflective Note on the Xolobeni Judgement" Available at http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/scrutiny-mining-right-applications-mining-affected-communities-reflective-note-xolobeni (25 September 2020).
  5. Mathiba, GL "Mining Companies should not Protect only Mineworkers against Covid-19, but Mining Communities as well: AMCU v DMRE & Others" Available at http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/mining-companies-should-not-protect-only-mineworkers-against-covid-19-mining-communities-well (4 May 2020)
  6. Mathiba, GL “The Looming Coronavirus-induced Mass Retrenchments: At the Crossroads of MPRDA & LRA” Available at http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/looming-coronavirus-induced-mass-retrenchments-crossroads-mprda-lra (29 April 2020).
  7. Mathiba, GL “The ‘Force Majeure’ Doctrine and Coronavirus: A Mining Industry Perspective” Available at http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/%E2%80%98force-majeure%E2%80%99-doctrine-and-coronavirus-mining-industry-perspective (26 March 2020).
  8. Mathiba, GL “The Constitutional Court Reinforces the ‘First Come – First Serve’ Approach in Granting Prospecting and Mining Rights” Available at http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/constitutional-court-reinforces-%E2%80%9Cfirst-come-%E2%80%93-first-serve%E2%80%9D-approach-granting-prospecting-and (23 March 2020).
  9. Mathiba, GL & Mostert, H "Commentary on the Draft Expropriation Bill, 2019" Available at http://www.mlia.uct.ac.za/news/commentary-draft-expropriation-bill-2019 (2 March 2020).
  10. Mathiba, GL , Chege, K & Mostert, H “Written Comments on The Draft Mine Community Resettlement Guidelines, 2019” (2020) Submission made to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on behalf of Mineral Law in Africa in response to call for input on the 2019 Draft Guidelines. Available at https://webcms.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/357/MLiA_PDFs/MLiA%20COMMENTS%20-%20DRG%20OF%20DMRE%20-%20SUBMITTED.pdf. 

MTM FORUMS 

  1. Lötter, A in conversation with Mostert, H  (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa), Sayidini, B(Vice President: New Ventures UpstreamPetroSA), Kengni, B, Cramer, RH , R Pein, Chege, K, Mathiba, GL (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa), Van den Berg, HM (University of Namibia), F Mandhu (Universit of Zambia), C Adomako-Kwakye, Kirunda, R, M Mulenga, P Lukusa, R Ngwaku, H Massyn (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa) & D Anstey (ENS Africa) “The Impact of Covid-19 on the Mining Sector” (17 November 2021) hosted by the Minerals to Metals forum (Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2ncgcjM3-M (17 January 2022).
  2. Mathiba, GL "The Impacts of COVID 19 on the Mining Sector" Presented a Guest Webinar and Participated in Round Table Discussion at the Minerals to Metal/Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Forum (8 April 2020) Available at https://youtu.be/fAHpE38zx5k?list=PLZSbSt_4i6_5OE_pw2LgvkQI5jBA70jUZ (11 May 2020).
  3. COVID-19 OUTPUT
  4. Mathiba, GL “Mining companies should not protect only mineworkers against COVID-19, but mining communities as well: AMCU v DMRE and Others (2020) 41 ILJ 1705 (LC)” in Cramer, RH & Kengni, B (eds) COVID-19 & Mining: Reflections on a Pandemic (2023) Juta 33-35. Available at https://law.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/law_uct_ac_za/2283/WebPDF%20MLiA%20Occassional%20Papers%20V%20-%209781485151074.pdf (3 October 2023). 

MLiA YOUTUBE CHANNEL 

  1. Lötter, A in conversation with Mostert, H (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa), Sayidini, B(Vice President: New Ventures UpstreamPetroSA), Kengni, B, Cramer, RH, R Pein, Chege, K, Mathiba, GL (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa), Van den Berg, HM (University of Namibia), F Mandhu (University of Zambia), C Adomako-Kwakye, Kirunda, R, M Mulenga, P Lukusa, R Ngwaku, H Massyn (SARChi: Mineral Law in Africa) & D Anstey (ENS Africa) “The Impact of Covid-19 on the Mining Sector” (17 November 2021) hosted by the Minerals to Metls forum (Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2ncgcjM3-M (17 January 2022). 

 

PhD DISSERTATIONS 

  1. Mathiba, GL Towards a Meaningful Engagement Approach to Mining-Induced Displacements in South Africa: A Legal Comparative Perspective (PhD-thesis, Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town, 2023). Available at http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39083 (Co-supervisor, CL van Schalkwyk, EBE). 

 

LLM MINI DISSERTATIONS COSUPERVISION 

  1. Mpiko, XG The Rationale for State Custodianship of Mineral Resources under the MPRDA: A Conceptual Analysis of Equitable Access to the Mining Industry and Black Economic Empowerment Available at http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42482 (LLM Mini-dissertation University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law, 2025). (Supervised with GL Mathiba with RH Cramer).
  2. Tsosane, L Dispute Resolution under Section 54 of the MPRDA: An Imbalance of Conflicting Interests of the Landowner and the Right Holder (LLM Mini-Dissertation ,Faculty of Law, Department of Commercial Law, 2024). (Co-supervised by G Mathiba and RH Cramer).