Final rounds of the 2024 PIL Moot Court Competition
- Lee-Anne Bruce
On 20 and 21 April, CALS hosted the final rounds of the fourth Public Interest Law Moot Court Competition in partnership with the Student Litigation Society
CALS has been extremely proud to work with the Student Litigation Society on the fourth annual Public Interest Law Moot Court Competition, which saw over 600 students enter. After rounds of written submissions on the hypothetical case on whether political party manifestos are binding, the top sixteen teams participated in rounds of virtual oral argument. We send our grateful thanks to all those who assisted in these rounds.
The top four teams advanced to the semi-finals which took place on 20 April in the court chamber of the Constitutional Court, presided over by our guest judges:
- Adv Itumeleng Loabile-Rantao
- Ms Reneilwe Matlala
- Adv Ayabonga Nase
- Adv Sandile Khumalo SC
- Mr Tshidiso Kale
- Adv Sinako Lindazwe
- Adv Padi
After all the scores were tallied, the top two teams were announced: Farisai Jaka, Tadiwanashe Magadzire and Frances Lancaster from the University of Cape Town and Shruthya Sivakumar and Laila Hassam from Wits University.
For the grand finale the following day, we were pleased to welcome a new set of guest judges:
- Adv Ayesha Tiry
- Magistrate Lebogang Mokoena
- Adv Shadrack Tebeile
- Former Judge Chris Greenland
- Mr Louis Koen
- Dr Meghan Finn
- Prof Thulisile Madonsela
- Adv Jatheen Bhima
- Adv Tshidiso Ramogale
- Adv Luyanda Mgudlwa
After the fierce competition was over, it was time to announce the winners of the second annual PIL Moot Court Competition. Awards were handed out as follows:
- In first place was Farisai Jaka, Tadiwanashe Magadzire and Frances Lancaster from the University of Cape Town
- In second place overall was Shruthya Sivakumar and Laila Hassam from Wits University
- Best oralist went to Shruthya Sivakumar from Wits University
- Second best oralist went to Farisai Jaka from the University of Cape Town
- Best written submissions went to Ntlantla Valtein & Hazel Mukunyaidze from the University of Fort Hare
We are extremely proud of everyone who participated in this PIL Moot and send our deepest gratitude to everyone who made it possible, from organisers like Thuli Zulu at CALS and the team from the Student Litigation Society; to our hosts at Constitution Hill; and the many markers, clerks and judges from our partner organisations. We could not have done this without you. Finally, we would have had no competition at all without the participation of the many students who put themselves forward from the very first round. Thank you and please do come back again next year!