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Global Citizen Webinar: A conversation with Judge Albie Sachs

12 October 2022 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath

Constitutional Democracy, Corruption, and Leadership – Where to South Africa?

The University of the Free State (UFS) and the South African Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom (SACC UK) are pleased to present a discussion on the state of South Africa through the lens of its constitution, its educators, and its state of corruption. As part of the Global Citizen Webinar Series, world-renowned leading legal expert, Judge Albert ‘Albie’ Sachs, will join UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, and SACC UK Chairperson, Sharon Constancon, in a conversation on the notion of a constitutional democracy, and what role the law, and universities as educators of leaders play, and should play, in addressing corruption. The discussion will explore approaches to leverage the strengths and potential still inherent among South Africans and its international diaspora, to set the country on a promising trajectory and regain much-needed confidence.

Date: Tuesday 18 October 2022

Time: 12:00-13:00 BST / 13:00-14:00 SAST

RSVP: https://southafricanchamber.co.uk/event/events.php?eid=821

Biography of Justice Albie Sachs

Former Constitutional Court Judge, anti-apartheid activist and writer, Justice Albie Sachs worked tirelessly as an African National Congress activist to end apartheid, sustaining debilitating personal injury in the process. He was a key player in writing the Constitution of South Africa – one of the most progressive in the world, and one that met with high acclaim internationally when it took effect on 4 February 1997. Human rights and the separation between the judiciary and parliament were given high prominence, heralding the opportunity to create – through the checks and balances inherent in government by constitutional democracy – a robust and flourishing state. Justice Sachs is the author of several books, including The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs, Justice in South Africa, Sexism and the Law, The Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter, and The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law. His latest books are We, the People: Insights of an activist judge (2016) and Oliver Tambo’s Dream (2017). Justice Sachs is a board member of the Constitution Hill Trust, which promotes constitutionalism and the rule of law, and he continues to share the experiences of South Africa with a view to building divided societies. Justice Sachs is the recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Pursuit of Justice from the Clooney Foundation for Justice.

News Archive

Double achievement for Prof. Paul Grobler

2012-04-25

Prof. Paul Grobler
Photo: Supplied
25 April 2012

Early this year, two journal editions appearing almost simultaneously in Europe featured cover photographs based on papers by Prof. Paul Grobler of the Department of Genetics and his collaborators.

These papers stem from collaborations with Prof. Gunther Hartl at the University of Kiel (Germany) and Dr Frank Zachos from the Natural History Museum in Vienna (Austria). Both papers cover aspects of the genetics of southern African antelope species.

The first paper appeared in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research” (from the Wiley-Blackwell group). This was titled “Genetic structure of the common impala (Aepyceros melampus melampus) in South Africa: phylogeography and implications for conservation”.

In this paper, the team analysed impala from various localities in South Africa to determine the relationship between distribution and genetic structure. The results suggest a clear relationship between genetic characteristics and habitat features that regulate gene flow.

The second appeared in the journal Mammalian Biology (from the Elsevier group), with the title “Genetic analysis of southern African gemsbok (Oryx gazella), reveals high variability, distinct lineages and strong divergence from the East African Oryx beisa”.

Here, the researchers looked at various aspects of the genetics and classification of gemsbok. Among the notable findings is that gemsbok populations on the game farms studied are less inbred than previously predicted.

Proffs. Grobler and Hartl initiated these projects on gemsbok and impala, with sub-sections of the research later completed as M.Sc. projects by students from both South Africa and Germany.

Prof. Grobler has been involved with aspects of the population genetics of various mammal species since the early 1990s, and continued with this line of research after joining the UFS in 2006. Current projects in this field include work on wildebeest, vervet monkeys and white rhinoceroses.

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