UFS Faculty of Law

01/10/2026

The UFS Faculty of Law is proud to share the annual Bram Fischer Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Free State Centre for Human Rights as part of its 10th anniversary celebration.

Join us on 13 October 2026 as Justice Mahube Molemela, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, reflects on Bram Fischer’s enduring legacy and its relevance to justice and the law today.

We look forward to welcoming members of our university and legal community.

The Free State Centre for Human Rights at the University of the Free State invites you to the annual Bram Fischer Memorial Lecture, taking place as part of the centre’s 10th anniversary celebration.

The lecture honours the legacy of Bram Fischer, a UFS alumnus and lawyer whose commitment to justice and opposition to apartheid remain an important part of South Africa’s legal history. This year’s topic, The Global Pulse of Justice: Bram Fischer’s Legacy Across Time and Space, will explore how Fischer’s legacy continues to speak to questions of justice and the law today.

Justice Mahube Molemela, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, will deliver the lecture, with Adv Anna-Marié de Vos SC, a constitutional litigator and former High Court judge, responding to the discussion.

Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time: 18:00–21:00
Venue: Centenary Complex, Bloemfontein Campus
RSVP: By 9 October 2026 via the RSVP link : https://ufsweb.co/4e3CtKg

23/09/2026

🚨 APPLICATION SYSTEM NOTICE

Planning to apply? Take note!

Our online application system will be temporarily unavailable for planned maintenance:
🗓️ 24 September 2026 at 16:30
➡️ Until 27 September 2026 at 23:59
The system will be back online from Monday, 28 September 2026

See more below

🚨 APPLICATION SYSTEM NOTICE

Planning to apply? Take note!

Our online application system will be temporarily unavailable for planned maintenance:
🗓️ 24 September 2026 at 16:30
➡️ Until 27 September 2026 at 23:59
The system will be back online from Monday, 28 September 2026.

⏰ DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE!
Applicants who still need to apply will have 28–30 September 2026 to complete and submit their applications.

🔴 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 IS THE FINAL DAY TO APPLY.
Make sure you complete and successfully submit your application by 30 September.

23/09/2026

⚖️ 🧠… 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘵 𝘜𝘍𝘚 𝘪𝘯 2027

Applications to study at the University of the Free State in 2027 close on 30 September 2026.

If you are considering studying law at UFS, make sure you submit your application before the deadline.

Apply online: https://apply.ufs.ac.za

17/09/2026

Incase you missed it | Winter School and Conference ⚖️✨

The UFS Faculty of Law is proud to reflect on the recent Winter School and Conference on Constitutionalism in Africa, which brought together scholars, academics and students to engage critically with Africa’s resource governance, development and constitutional future.

Read more here: https://ufsweb.co/4hv0axi

17/09/2026

Incase you missed it | FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR ⚖️✨

The UFS Faculty of Law is pleased to welcome Dr Kishani Udugampola, who joins us as a Fulbright US Scholar from August 2026 to January 2027.

Bringing more than two decades of experience across financial regulation, criminal justice, financial crime and governance, Dr Udugampola’s time at the Faculty creates valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, research collaboration, teaching and meaningful engagement with our students and academic community.

Her visit further strengthens the Faculty’s commitment to internationally connected, research-led and student-centred legal education. We look forward to the conversations, collaborations and opportunities that will emerge during her time with us.

Read full article here: https://ufsweb.co/3VsEOIe

The University of the Free State is hosting Dr Kishani Udugampola as a Fulbright US Scholar at the Faculty of Law from August 2026 until the end of January 2027. With more than two decades of experience in financial regulation, criminal justice, financial crime, and governance, Dr Udugampola brings international expertise to the University at a time when issues such as fraud, illicit financial flows, financial inclusion, regulatory compliance, and the use of artificial intelligence are increasingly interconnected.

Her visit will contribute to teaching, research, and student engagement through seminars, research collaboration, and opportunities to connect students with practitioners and institutions working in the field. At the same time, the exchange will give Dr Udugampola an opportunity to deepen her understanding of the South African legal and academic context, with the potential to develop longer-term research partnerships, student opportunities, and international collaboration beyond her Fulbright visit.

Read more: https://ufsweb.co/3VsEOIe

16/09/2026

Thank you to our outgoing Law Faculty Student Council ⚖️

The UFS Faculty of Law extends its sincere appreciation to the outgoing Law Faculty Student Council for their leadership, service and contribution to our student community.

Led by Mpho Stock – Chairperson, alongside Morongoa Tlhoaele – Deputy Chairperson, Bongiswa Mhlanga – Secretary,
Palesa Setai – Marketing and Liaison, and Gaogakwe Fandie – Treasurer

The Law FSC worked to strengthen the Law student experience through student advocacy, academic support, development and wellbeing.

Through initiatives such as the Career Talk, Women Activists in Law and Men in Law, the Council created valuable spaces for students to engage with legal professionals, develop as future leaders and participate in meaningful conversations around careers, advocacy, resilience, wellbeing and personal growth.

We thank the outgoing FSC for the time, energy and commitment they have invested in serving their fellow students and contributing to the life of the Faculty.

As they conclude their term, we wish them well for the journey ahead and every success in their continued academic, professional and personal growth.

Thank you for your service and contribution to the UFS Faculty of Law.

14/09/2026

A friendly reminder 🗣️

CALL FOR PAPERS | 𝗔𝗜 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 🌍

The University of the Free State Faculty of Law, in partnership with the Howard University Department of African Studies, invites scholars, students, policymakers, practitioners, activists, and community organisations to submit proposals for the 2027 conference.

Theme: AI Transformation in the Global South: Law, Governance, and Sustainable Futures in Africa
Date: 12 - 13 February 2027
Venue: Howard University, Washington, DC | Hybrid

Abstract deadline: 30 October 2026

The conference invites interdisciplinary contributions exploring how artificial intelligence is shaping law, governance, justice, education, human rights, African knowledge systems, digital rights, sustainability, and the future of work across Africa and the African diaspora.

Bridging Knowledge. Advancing Justice. Transforming Futures.

08/09/2026

CALL FOR PAPERS | 𝗧𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗟-𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗟𝗨𝗫 ⚖️🌎

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State invites abstract submissions for the workshop:

Lost in Translation: TWAIL-SWAIL Dialogues on Global Legal Order in Flux

📍 UFS Bloemfontein Campus
Date: 23 October 2026

The workshop will bring Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) and Second World Approaches to International Law (SWAIL) into critical dialogue, with particular attention to African and Central-Eastern European perspectives.

Contributions are invited on themes including contemporary conflicts and double standards, colonialism and historical injustice, reparations, mass atrocities, and the production of international legal knowledge.

Submission requirements:
• Abstract: 300-500 words
• Short biography: 200 words
• Submission deadline: 15 September 2026
• No participation fee

Submissions: [email protected] and [email protected]

We look forward to receiving contributions and to a rich inter-regional scholarly dialogue.

08/09/2026

Competition winners | 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄 ⚖️👏

The Faculty of Law congratulates 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗡𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗼 and 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼 𝗦𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗡𝗴𝘅𝗶𝘁𝗼, winners of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, an initiative of our 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄.

Under the theme 𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢, the competition challenged postgraduate students to move beyond traditional academic approaches and explore creative, practical responses to contemporary labour-law challenges.

Their work reflects the innovative and socially responsive legal scholarship we are proud to see emerging from our postgraduate community.

As part of their achievement, both winners will attend the 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘂𝗺, creating a further opportunity to engage, learn and contribute within the broader labour-law academic community.

Congratulations, Amanda and Sabelo! Additionally well done to the 𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄 for continuing to create spaces where legal scholarship, innovation and real-world challenges meet.

30/08/2026

FINAL FOOTAGE | ⚖️ 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰: 𝗔 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿

As we close the chapter on the 21st Annual Kovsie Moot Court Competition, we look back on a few memorable days of advocacy, learning and growth for first-year law students from across the country.

The competition concluded with its Gala Dinner, where President Mahube Molemela, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal; Prof Bulelwa Nguza-Mduba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Free State; Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law; and Prof Tameshnie Deane, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law, joined students, colleagues and guests in celebrating the people and moments that made this year’s Moot so memorable.

Led by the UFS Law Clinic, the competition continues to create an important platform for emerging legal minds to encounter advocacy beyond the classroom and test their skills alongside peers from universities across South Africa.

For the University of the Free State, there was much to be proud of. Thabiso Sibiya and Buhle Vuma finished among the top three teams overall, with Vuma also recognised among the competition’s Top Four Oralists. Fellow UFS students Hazel Maene and Shown Zumbani added to the Faculty’s strong showing, both finishing in the Top Five for Counsel’s Choice.

The overall title was shared by Nicholas Janse van Rensburg and Melo Choshane of Stellenbosch University, and Ntando Mabunda and Jessica Kelly of the University of Cape Town.

Until the next argument.