New Research Fellows
There are presently three research fellows at SAIFAC:
Jonathan Klaaren, a Professor of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand , joins SAIFAC at the beginning of July 2008 on sabbatical research for three months.
Kennedy Nyaundi completed his three-month research fellowship at SAIFAC in June 2008. During his time at SAIFAC Mr Nyaundi conducted research on his University of Cape Town doctoral dissertation on “Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights in East Africa”.
Lourens du Plessis, a Professor of Law at the University of Stellenbosch , finished his one month research sabbatical at SAIFAC at the beginning of April. Whilst at SAIFAC, Lourens presented a paper on “Constitutional Interpretation” on 12 March 2008. The paper forms the basis for his forthcoming chapter in Stu Woolman et al, Constitutional Law of South Africa , 2ed.
Latest Research Seminars
Solomon Dersso presented a paper on “The Case for Constitutional Accommodation of ethno-cultural diversity in Africa : The Legal and Normative Bases” on 11 June 2008. The paper was based on his ongoing doctoral research on the rights of minorities in Africa .
Kennedy Nyaundi presented a paper on “The Enduring Question of Definition of Terrorism” on 25 April 2008. The paper was based on his ongoing doctoral research at the University of Cape Town .
Project on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights
In March 2008 SAIFAC was awarded a grant by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa to run a Project on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights. The research results emanating from this project will be presented at a conference in November 2008.
For more on this project contact SAIFAC Research Associate Dr Mia Swart.
Other News
June 2008
Sebastian Seedorf makes a Presentation on “The jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court of South Africa - a functionalist approach” at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ( Durban )
June 2008
Redson Kapindu presents a Paper on “Immigration, Human Rights and Xenophobia: Global Challenges and the South Africa Dimension” at a Seminar organised by Constitution Hill on "Immigration and Human Rights: Challenges Facing South Africa" at the Old Fort, Constitution Hill.
June 2008
Sebastian Seedorf gives a talk on “Constitutional Implications of an Amalgamation of Chapter 9 Institutions” at conference on “Strengthening the Capacity of National Institutions in South Africa" organised by the Human Rights Institute of South Africa at Kempton Park .
June 2008
Redson Kapindu presents a paper on “Strengthening the Capacity of National Institutions: A Comparative analysis of the Constitutional Frameworks for Constitution Building Institutions in Malawi and South Africa” at conference on “Strengthening the Capacity of National Institutions in South Africa" organized by the Human Rights Institute of South Africa at Kempton Park. Download copy of the Paper here>>>
June 2008
David Bilchitz participates in a panel discussion at the University of the Western Cape titled “Rights, Legal Empowerment and Poverty Reduction: From Academic Discourse to Implementable Policy.” SAIFAC is working on a business and human rights conference planned for November 2008 to discuss law reform in this area within South Africa; and shortly thereafter, a headline report detailing SAIFAC'S recommendations in this regard will be produced.
June 2008
Theunis Roux presents paper on "Morality, Law and Society: The Constitutional Value System and Social Values in South Africa" at the 16 th Annual Conference on the Individual vs. the State, Central European University , Budapest . Download copy of presentation here >>>
May 2008
George Mukundi Wachira attends the 43rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Swaziland
May 2008
Redson Kapindu makes a joint presentation on an “Overview of International Human Rights Instruments” at Workshops organized by the Southern Africa Human Rights Trust (SAHRIT) on “Civil and Political Rights” and “Child Rights” at Arcadia Hotel in Pretoria. Download copy of PowerPoint Presentation here>>>
May 2008
Redson Kapindu makes a presentation on an “Overview of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment” at a Workshop on Civil and Political Rights organised by the Southern Africa Human Rights Trust (SAHRIT) at Arcadia Hotel in Pretoria . Download copy of PowerPoint Presentation here>>>
May 2008
Sebastian Seedorf makes presentation on “The jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court of South Africa - a functionalist approach” at Wits University .
May 2008
David Bilchitz participates in a panel discussion with R Douglas Elliott on “Gay Marriage in Canada and South Africa : Where are we and how did we get here?” at the University of Toronto .
May 2008
David Bilchitz presents a seminar to a Constitutional Roundtable at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto on “Towards a Theory of Content for Socio-Economic Rights'.
May 2008
David Bilchitz attends the Law and Society Conference in Montreal and presents a paper entitled “Dignity and Socio-Economic Rights: Two Questions”
May 2008
Theunis Roux delivers presentation on ‘The Interaction between Constitutional Law and International Law' at the IACL Roundtable Conference on International Law and National Constitutions in the Jurisprudence of Constitutional Courts in Andorra . Download copy of Powerpoint presentation here >>>
April 2008
George Mukundi Wachira is awarded a scholarship to attend the Legal Writing Institute in Indianapolis Indiana , USA which will be held from July 14 to 17, 2008 by Academics Promoting the Pedagogy of Effective Advocacy in Law
(APPEAL) http://indylaw.indiana.edu/LWIconference/
April 2008
SAIFAC Doctoral Fellow Godfrey Musila travels to the United States as coach of the University of the Witwatersrand 's team in the Jessup International Moot Court Competition.
April 2008
SAIFAC Junior Researcher Michael Bishop presents seminar at SAIFAC on ‘A Story Like the Wind: Identity, Storytelling and Human Rights Law'.
April 2008
>SAIFAC Senior Researcher Sebastian Seedorf presents seminar at SAIFAC on ‘Constitutional Jurisdiction: A Functionalist Approach'. This paper will be published in the next revision service of Stu Woolman et al Constitutional Law of South Africa 2ed.
April 2008
SAIFAC Doctoral Fellow Godfrey Musila travels to the United States as coach of the University of the Witwatersrand’s team in the Jessup International Moot Court Competition.
April 2008
SAIFAC Junior Researcher Michael Bishop presents seminar at SAIFAC on ‘A Story Like the Wind: Identity, Storytelling and Human Rights Law'.
April 2008
SAIFAC Senior Researcher Sebastian Seedorf presents seminar at SAIFAC on ‘Constitutional Jurisdiction: A Functionalist Approach’. This paper will be published in the next revision service of Stu Woolman et al Constitutional Law of South Africa 2ed.