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05 February 2018 Photo Johan Roux
Prof John Mubangizi appointed as UFS Dean of the Faculty of Law
Prof John Mubangizi.
The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the appointment of Prof John Mubangizi as Dean of the Faculty of Law during a meeting held on the Bloemfontein Campus on 22 January 2018. He assumed office on 1 February 2018.

“Prof Mubangizi’s extensive experience and scholarly contributions are most valuable to the university and the faculty, and I look forward to working with him,” says Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Prof Mubangizi's academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws (LLB, Makerere University, Uganda), a Master’s in Public Law (LLM, University of Cape Town), and a Doctor of Laws (LLD, University of Durban-Westville). Prof Mubangizi also has several professional qualifications, including a Diploma in Education from Makerere University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Law Development Centre). He has been awarded several certificates in his area of academic specialisation, including a Certificate in Human Rights from the Institute of Human Rights (Strasbourg, France), and a Certificate in International Humanitarian Law from the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.

He has been a full professor for more than twelve years. From January 2005 to April 2007, he served as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). From May 2007, he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Law and Management Studies at UKZN, with the responsibility of leading the academic and research strategy and realising the mandate of the college and the university.

One of the highlights of Prof Mubangizi’s research profile is the authorship of a book entitled The Protection of Human Rights in South Africa: A Legal and Practical Guide (2004 and 2013), which is widely used by scholars, practitioners, and students of human rights law in South Africa. He has published more than 60 publications, most of which are in SAPSE-accredited peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, he has presented more than 40 academic papers at international conferences across the globe. He is rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) as an established researcher.

Prof Mubangizi is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), and has served as member and advisor to the Council of ASSAf. He is currently the Chairperson of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of South Africa, and a member of the Council on Higher Education (CHE). In addition, he serves on various committees and in different ad hoc positions at institutional, national, and international level.

News Archive

Is Al-Qaeda operating in South Africa?
2014-09-29

 
Our Department of Political Studies and Governance recently hosted a seminar with investigative journalist De Wet Potgieter – author of the book, ‘Black Widow White Widow’.During the seminar, Potgieter reflected on the research he has conducted for the book, revealing the unsettling presence of Al-Qaeda in South Africa.

The ‘White Widow’ in the book’s title refers to Samantha Lewthwaite, a British woman who was found in South Africa with a fraudulent passport. She was later linked to the Westgate shopping mall attack which took place in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 September 2013. In this mass shooting at least 67 people died and over 175 people were wounded. The Islamist group al-Shabaab – which is also linked to Al-Qaeda – claimed responsibility for the incident.

In contrast, the ‘Black Widow’ is the disclosed identity of an Afrikaans-speaking self-styled spy, who after being widowed became a counter-terrorist operative.

Potgieter’s book divulges details of Al-Qaeda paramilitary and urban warfare training on a secluded farm in the Little Karoo and reveals details of the support they receive from various local extremist groups. Potgieter’s investigation spans across two years and suggests possible future attacks from, or on, South African soil.

“South Africa plays a role in the bigger picture for Al-Qaeda Islamic terrorism,” Potgieter said. “For instance, the Navy Seal team who killed Bin Laden found reports pointing to active Al-Qaeda/Islamist presence in South Africa. South Africans need to know we are under siege by a small, well-trained Al Qaeda terrorist cell. Yet, operations – of which I know, but cannot disclose much – are also underway to contain these matters,” Potgieter added.

Potgieter’s sources suggest that Al-Qaeda has been active in South Africa since the 2010 FIFA World Cup already. The South African government seems to turn a blind eye, though, despite CIA and MI6 requests and enquiries on the matter.


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