UFH future legal eagles keep soaring after lifting the runner-up trophy of the 13th Annual Child Law Moot Court Competition

University of Fort Hare (UFH) final-year law students Ntlantla Valtein and Lerato Mmakgabo-Nkadimeng are destined for greater heights, and there is simply no stopping them. The duo once again demonstrated their exceptional legal skills by placing second in the 13th Annual Child Law Moot Court Competition.

This achievement comes on the heels of Ntlantla and his co-counsel’s impressive 14th-place finish in the prestigious Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition held in Switzerland in July, as well as Lerato and her co-counsel’s outstanding performance in the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition.

Hosted by the Centre for Child Law, the competition challenges the sharpest minds in South African law schools to argue a child rights case before a panel of legal experts, putting their research, public speaking, and critical thinking skills to the test.

This year’s competition was held at the University of Pretoria from 20-21 September, focusing on children in conflict with the law and how the state needs to ensure that the best interests of the child are catered to, even under these circumstances. Over 36 law students from 14 universities participated.

Historically, the University of Fort Hare has participated in the Child Law Moot, but this year's performance marked a significant milestone. The team demonstrated remarkable skill and tenacity, successfully advancing to the semi-finals, where they faced Witwatersrand University. Their impressive arguments and legal analysis earned them a place in the finals, where they competed against the University of Cape Town (UCT), who ultimately won the competition.

Commenting on their well-deserved placement, Ntlantla said he was thrilled to have participated in the 13th Annual Child Law Moot Court Competition.

“The opportunity to participate in such a prestigious competition has deepened my commitment to entering the legal profession. I feel more motivated than ever to apply the guidance and knowledge I have received throughout the competition.

“Overall, I found the competition to be exceptionally well organized, providing participants with an authentic courtroom experience that was both educational and inspiring,” he said.

Lerato expressed that it was a great honour to represent UFH in the Child Law Moot Competition. “The competition was nothing short of a great experience, filled with learning opportunities, interacting with fellow LLB students from different institutions, and making it to the finals to argue before reputable legal professionals.”

“Moreover, being in second position out of 14 teams is an affirmation that I am truly destined for greatness, that I will be a great litigator, and I will make a significant impact in the legal profession.”

“We are grateful to our coaches, Ms Anel Odendaal and Dr Ntandokayise Ndlovu, for their amazing support, guidance, and mentorship throughout the competition. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Faculty of Law for this opportunity and to Prof van Coller, who has been driving and coordinating moot court competitions for students for years with great success,” they expressed.

The duo continues to exemplify the high standards of the University of Fort Hare’s law programme, and their recent accomplishments highlight the bright future ahead for these aspiring legal eagles.

Congratulations to Mr Valtein and Ms Mmakgapo-Nkadimeng for their outstanding performance and for bringing pride to UFH!