UFS Faculty of Law celebrates 80 Years: Honouring alumna Jana Jordaan’s contribution to Justice
By Godfrey Mabasa
The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) is celebrating a significant milestone — 80 years of excellence in legal education and its lasting impact on society. Since its inception, the faculty has been an integral part of South Africa's legal landscape, producing generations of legal professionals committed to justice, equality, and the rule of law.
As part of this celebration, the faculty is recognising distinguished alumni who have made meaningful contributions to the legal profession and their communities. Among them is the remarkable alumna, Jana Jordaan, a litigation attorney based in Bloemfontein.
After completing her LLB degree at UFS in 2019, Jordaan was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2020. She has remained on the roll of practising attorneys ever since, proudly representing her alma mater with dedication and professionalism.
Currently with Stander and Associates, Jordaan specialises in civil litigation, family law, and constitutional matters. Her practice reflects her commitment to accessible and effective legal services, guided by the belief that justice should be a right for all, not a privilege for a few.
Her expertise was further strengthened through the L.E.A.D. Practical Legal Training Programme, where she refined her skills in High Court and Magistrates’ Court practice, legal drafting, and ethical legal conduct.
A defining moment in her career came in 2025, when she served as the First Applicant in the landmark case of Jordaan and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Another (CCT 296/24 [2025] ZACC 19). Handed down by the Constitutional Court on 11 September 2025, the judgment scrutinised the constitutionality of provisions in the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992. The ruling raised vital questions about identity, equality, and dignity, leaving a significant imprint on South African constitutional law.
As the UFS Law Faculty reflects on eight decades of shaping the legal profession, Jordaan’s achievements underscore its enduring legacy: empowering legal minds to lead with integrity, advance justice, and contribute to building a more equitable society — in South Africa and beyond.