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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

Human Rights Desk takes up anti-xenophobia initiative
2015-05-06

In light of the recent violent attacks on foreigners in South Africa, the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Human Rights Desk hosted a symposium on the issue of xenophobia on Wednesday 29 April 2015 on the Bloemfontein Campus. In collaboration with volunteers from the Institute of Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ), students had the opportunity to discuss the underlying issues of the problem.

Joe Besigye, Numpumelelo Ngcobo, Phiwe Mathe, and Dr Christian Williams lead the symposium. The panel aimed at providing guidance, answers, and explanations to the different narratives offered in the wake of the conflict. The underlying reasons for the conflict were investigated, which included socio-economic factors as well as the afrocentric tone of the events. Possible aggravating factors – such as the misplacement of blame and a South African culture of entitlement – also came under scrutiny. In addition, the discussion looked at the need to take into account the perspectives of non-South Africans on African conflicts.

After the symposium, Kovsie students gathered at the Thakaneng Bridge where Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Jonathan Jansen, addressed the group. Carrying posters with ‘No to Xenophobia’ messages, the students then marched across the campus to show their support for anti-xenophobia.

The IRSJ – which the Human Rights Desk forms part of – has spearheaded the No-to-Racism/Yes-to-Equality Campaign launched in March 2015 across all three campuses. Under the guidance of the IRSJ, the Kovsie community has regularly been publicly showing their solidarity against all forms of discrimination.

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