Quote of the week
Universal adult suffrage on a common voters roll is one of the foundational values of our entire constitutional order. The achievement of the franchise has historically been important both for the acquisition of the rights of full and effective citizenship by all South Africans regardless of race, and for the accomplishment of an all-embracing nationhood. The universality of the franchise is important not only for nationhood and democracy. The vote of each and every citizen is a badge of dignity and of personhood. Quite literally, it says that everybody counts. In a country of great disparities of wealth and power it declares that whoever we are, whether rich or poor, exalted or disgraced, we all belong to the same democratic South African nation; that our destinies are intertwined in a single interactive polity.
August and Another v Electoral Commission and Others (CCT8/99) [1999] ZACC 3
LLB and LLM Students: Ismail Mahomed law Reform Essay Competition
INVITATION TO ENTER THE ISMAIL MAHOMED LAW REFORM ESSAY COMPETITION FOR THE 2013 ACADEMIC YEAR
The South African Law Reform Commission, in partnership with Juta, invites law faculties and all LLB and LLM students to participate in the Ismail Mahomed Law Reform Essay Competition for the 2013 academic year. The purpose of the Competition, named in honour of the late Chief Justice and former Chairperson of the South African Law Reform Commission, is to encourage critical legal writing by students while generating ideas for law reform which are aligned toSouth Africa’s priorities as a developmental state.
The Competition is open to all LLB and LLM students registered at a South African university in the 2013 academic year.
The 2013 Ismail Mahomed Essay Competition marks ten years since its establishment in 1999. The competition was held in the years 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and now in 2013.
In commemorating the ten year anniversary of the Competition, Juta has graciously increased the prizes and also included some incentives for the participants. The total value of the prizes offered in the competition this year has been increased to R70 000. 00. Each of the winners in the LLB and the LLM categories will receive an Incredible Connection or book voucher to the value of R20 000.00; or a one year subscription to Juta’s South African Law Reports 1947-date on CD-ROM. The runners-up for both the LLB and LLM will each receive an Incredible Connection or book voucher to the value of R10 000.00 or one year subscription to Juta’s Statutes and Regulations of South Africa on CD-ROM. There are also credit vouchers to the value of R2 500.00 for each of the winners’ supervisors and law faculty. There will also be a prize draw for one winner who will be drawn from the names of participants who submit their essays before 31 July 2013. The winner of this prize will receive a mini iPad.
Essays can be on any topic relating to the modernisation, improvement, development, or reform of any aspect, area or branch of South African law. Entries should be in English and be between 4000 and 6000 words in length. Abbreviated versions of completed LLB and LLM dissertations will also be accepted. The essays will be judged by a panel of judges appointed by the South African Law Reform Commission.
The winners and the supervising lecturers, as well as the runners-up, will be hosted at a function sponsored by the South African Law Reform Commission at which occasion the prizes will be awarded.
Entries for the Competition should be submitted not later than 30 September 2013 to:
The Secretary
South African Law Reform Commission
Private Bag X668
Pretoria
0001
Tel: 012 622 6336
Email: jjoni@justice.gov.za
