Department of Private Law hosts Property Law Teachers’ colloquium
The 28th annual Property Law Teachers’ colloquium was hosted by the Department of Private Law. The colloquium consisted of 13 papers presented by some of the top academics in the field of property law, including among others, Profs Cornie van der Merwe, Jean Sonnekus, Juanita Pienaar, and Johan Scott. The topics ranged from the latest development in constitutional property law involving difficult questions on land reform, expropriation and evictions, to the more traditional topics of sectional titles, servitudes, and prescription.
Front (from the left):
Mrs Marda Horn (Department of Private Law, UFS – organiser of the event), Judge Carol Lewis (Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Private Law at the UFS and Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal), Prof Rita-Marié Jansen (Department of Private Law and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law, UFS), Dr Brand Claassen (Departmental chair of the Department of Private Law, UFS, co-organiser of the event).
Back (from the left):
Prof Jean Sonnekus (UJ), Prof Cornie van der Merwe (US and alumnus of the UFS), Judge Joos Hefer (Honorary Professor in the Department of Private Law, UFS, and retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal), Prof Johan van Schalkwyk (retired Head of the Department of Private Law, UFS), Judge Albert Kruger (Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Private Law, and acting Judge President of the Free State Provincial division of the High Court).
Among the distinguished guests were extraordinary professors in the Department of Private Law, Justices of Appeal Hefer and Brand, Judge Kruger of the High Court, and senior academics such as Profs Andrè van der Walt, Gerrit Pienaar, and Susan Scott. A number of young upcoming academics delivered papers and received valuable feedback on their research. A reflective paper on the teaching of property law at undergraduate level was also delivered by Prof Hanri Mostert of the University of Cape Town, which elicited heated debate.
The delegates listen attentively to the welcoming speech delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Johan Henning.
According to Marda Horn from our Department of Private Law, the quality of papers was exceptionally high and the ensuing debates were quite enlightening. The informal atmosphere was conducive to the ensuing debates being conducted in a collegial manner. At a gala dinner, Justice of Appeal Carol Lewis (another extraordinary professor in the Department of Private Law), addressed attendees on the relevance of common law principles in current property law litigation. This occasion contributed greatly to the advancement of academic discourse at the university. – Marda Horn.
Dr Wian Erlank (UCT), Ms Ebrezia Johnson (US), and Prof Andrè van der Walt (South African Research Chair in Property Law) enjoys the event.