Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Zola Valashiya’s journey of professional growth and impact

29 January 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Zola Valashiya graduated from the UFS almost ten years ago with an LLB. Since then, amid life’s twists and turns, he obtained an LLM from the University of Washington, secured a job with a successful law firm in the US, and married the love of his life. Currently, Zola is pursuing a second LLM in Technology and Innovation with the Seattle University School of Law.

Following the advice of a dear friend, Zola figured out what drives him and pursued it relentlessly. “This very simple piece of advice taught me the value of my time, and how much power you take back when you prioritise and protect it,” he remarks.

Advancing the greater good

Fast forward nine-plus years since UFS graduation day, Zola works as a strategic adviser at Coopersmith Law + Strategy, a boutique firm in Seattle specialising in health care, global health, gender/racial equality, and climate health.

“The legal work I do involves various tasks, from drafting legal contracts to conducting data analysis, and developing business strategies for deploying new technologies in health systems or addressing climate change. I value this environment because our efforts are focused on advancing the greater good. I have the opportunity to work on projects that I know will benefit individuals, communities, and the planet,” says Zola.

One of the highlights of his career occurred during the pandemic when he played a key role in preserving one of the largest US training programmes for physicians from diverse backgrounds who serve marginalised communities.

He explains, “The pandemic placed a strain on health-care systems worldwide, leading to cost-cutting measures in private hospitals, the termination of community health programmes, and the closure of small clinics in remote areas, in order to recover from the financial losses. However, these programmes and clinics are vital to the communities they serve because the nurses and doctors are often the only health-care providers for miles around. My contributions have helped to ensure the programme’s continuation, and the continued delivery of quality health care to underserved communities.”

Diversifying his skill set

For the future, Zola says he is working towards diversifying his skill set. “The modern-day lawyer needs to know more than just the law. I have learned coding skills, and I am currently focused on expanding my knowledge of artificial intelligence. In so doing, I am equipping myself with the necessary tools and expertise to thrive in this rapidly evolving field, thereby future-proofing my career.

News Archive

Democracy and traditional leadership in rural areas explored

2017-09-22

Prof Lungisile Ntsebeza, recipient of the NRF Hamilton
Naki Award
Photo: Supplied

The Free State Centre for Human Rights held a presentation by Prof Lungisile Ntsebeza on 7 September 2017 at the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus on the topic of democracy and traditional leadership in rural areas. Prof Ntsebeza is the holder of the AC Jordan Chair in African Studies at the University of Cape Town and the holder of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Chair in Land Reform and Democracy in South Africa.

Conflict between democracy and traditional rule
The topic of democracy and traditional leadership in the rural areas is an example of the tension between democracy and customary law governing the appointment of traditional leaders (headmen) that is currently at play in many parts of the country. Prof Ntsebeza made reference to a court case in the Eastern Cape, where a community successfully challenged the appointment of a headman by the royal family of the area. The contention was whether royal families could appoint headmen in rural communities or if those communities ought to democratically elect their own leaders. He argued that in this specific case, the democratic imperatives of the Constitution did not conflict with customary law because of the particular communal practice of electing leaders.

The Constitution and customary law
The Constitution of South Africa recognises customary law provisions which are not in conflict with its fundamental values. Difficult legitimacy problems may arise where customary practices are different from those governing this particular case. Ultimately the Constitutional Court would be called upon to resolve inherent tensions and develop customary law in line with the direction foreseen in the Constitution.

Student engagement as a vehicle for change
The event was attended by UFS staff and fourth-year LLB students in the Faculty of Law, and was funded by the Free State Centre for Human Rights at UFS. The programme is one of several that the centre seeks to utilise in engaging students with researchers and scholars in the field of law and human rights. Prof Ntsebeza has given academic presentations on various related and trending topics in the current academic climate, such as decolonising the curriculum, Cecil John Rhodes and others. He was recently awarded the Hamilton Naki Award at the 2017 National Research Foundation Awards.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept