FORT HARE SELECTED AMONG 24 UNIVERSITIES GLOBALLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 16TH NELSON MANDELA WORLD MOOT COURT COMPETITION

This Saturday, 13 July, two exceptional students from the University of Fort Hare's (UFH) Law Faculty, Mr Ntlantla Valtein from Mdantsane and Ms Lilly Kuhle Mbengo from Komani, will fly to Geneva, Switzerland to represent the University at the prestigious Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

Fort Hare is among 24 universities globally and the only South African institution whose teams have advanced to the final stage of this global competition—once again proving our Law school to be among the best.

Speaking ahead of their departure, the UFH duo expressed their excitement: “It is a great honour for us to represent the University on this global platform. What makes it more significant is that the competition is named after Nelson Mandela, an alumnus of this University and Faculty. We feel like we are literally walking in the footsteps of this giant.”

Now in its 16th year, the competition invites undergraduate and master’s students from universities around the world to form teams of two and submit heads of argument for a hypothetical human rights case.

The top 10 teams from each of the five UN regions are then invited to participate in the online preliminary rounds. The 50 teams with the highest memorial grades argue both sides of the hypothetical case before a panel of human rights experts and international tribunal judges.

Following their achievement as one of the top four teams in South Africa, alongside teams from the University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela University, and the University of Pretoria, the UFH team continued their success across Africa, securing an overall score of 81.17%, which secured their place among the top 24 in the world.

Valtein, who is currently in his final year of LLB studies, reflected on how his passion for advocacy shaped his journey: “I started participating in moot court competitions in my first year of study. I viewed it as an opportunity to engage and polish my advocacy skills.”

His dedication paid off when he and his team secured the Best Written Heads of Argument accolade in the Centre for Applied Legal Studies competition in 2023/2024, motivating him to aim for international recognition.

“Coming from Mdantsane, NU7, my selection for this global competition proves that our geographical location does not limit us in what we can achieve. This is an opportunity to network with high achievers and validates that indeed, we put our best foot forward,” said Valtein.

Mbengo from Ezibeleni Location in Komani, joined the UFH Moot Court Society during her second year and has excelled since then, winning internal competitions and earning the title of reigning champion at UFH's moot court.

“For me, the competition represents an opportunity to achieve great things, not just here in South Africa but on an international level. My selection is an affirmation that I am destined to achieve greatness in the field of law and join the rank of a legal eagle.”

The team expressed gratitude to their coaches, Prof Arthur van Coller and Dr Ntandokayise Ndhlovu, for their support and belief in them. “We made it this far because of their guidance and unwavering support.”

The coaches commended the duo’s outstanding performance during the preliminary rounds, where they showcased remarkable legal research, persuasive argumentation, and a deep understanding of complex international human rights and international law issues.

“Their professionalism and eloquence in presenting their cases were truly commendable, earning praise from several judges. We believe that this qualification to participate on the world stage not only reflects the exceptional talent and commitment of our law students but also underscores the high standard of legal education and training offered at our university.”

“In addition, the exceptional performance of our team aligns well with the strategic goals of the University, such as offering high-quality teaching and learning, improving student experiences, and enhancing the university’s impact and reputation nationally, regionally, and internationally,” added the coaches.

Valtein aspires to complete his master’s degree and pursue a career as an International Humanitarian Lawyer, while Mbengo aims to specialize in Constitutional and Administrative Law.

As the pair prepares to leave their mark on the international stage, the UFH community is eagerly anticipating their success and celebrating their contributions to the University's reputation for excellence.