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Prof Tameshnie Deane of UFS Law appointed Acting Judge of High Court

15 April 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Supplied

Prof Tameshnie Deane, Vice-Dean: Research, Postgraduate Studies and Internationalisation in the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been appointed as an Acting Judge of the Free State High Court. Her appointment, which runs from 14 April to 30 May 2025, marks a significant moment for the faculty, and for the university’s broader academic and judicial community.

This is not Prof Deane’s first judicial appointment. Since 2019, she has served as an Acting Judge in various High Court divisions across South Africa, an experience that has shaped her legal thinking and affirmed her position as a respected voice in both academia and the courtroom.

“This appointment is an extraordinary milestone, both personally and professionally,” she said. “These appointments signify the recognition of my expertise and contributions to the legal field and academia over the years. Serving as an Acting Judge is a profound honour that reflects the trust placed in my ability to uphold justice, engage critically with complex legal matters, and contribute meaningfully to society.”

Bridging theory and the bench

Prof Deane is deeply committed to the idea that legal education and legal practice are not separate paths, but two sides of the same coin. Her work as a judge, she believes, enhances her ability to shape future legal minds, while her academic background brings fresh perspective to the courtroom.

“Serving as an Acting Judge offers invaluable insights into the practical application of legal principles, enriching my research and enabling me to mentor postgraduate students with a stronger emphasis on the real-world implications of their studies,” she said.

“Additionally, this experience deepens my understanding of comparative legal systems, which aligns perfectly with my focus on fostering internationalisation. On a broader professional level, it strengthens my ability to drive impactful scholarship and innovation, while advancing the university’s mission of academic excellence and global engagement.”

She added: “My dual grounding in academia and the legal profession equips me with a multidimensional perspective. From academia, I bring a deep commitment to critical thinking, analytical rigour, and intellectual curiosity, which can enhance the depth and breadth of judicial reasoning. From the legal field, I offer pragmatic insights and an unwavering dedication to justice.”

Institutional pride in a milestone year

The timing of the appointment is also significant. As the UFS Faculty of Law celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, Prof Deane’s appointment offers a moment to reflect on the faculty’s role in producing legal professionals who not only understand the law but actively shape its application.

“This moment highlights the enduring legacy of excellence, leadership, and innovation that the faculty has cultivated over 80 years,” she said. “It sends a powerful message to students and young academics: that dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to both intellectual and ethical standards can pave the way to significant achievements.”

Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law, echoed this sentiment, saying of Prof Deane’s appointment: “It illustrates our faculty’s commitment to producing legal professionals who actively influence and strengthen judicial practices. It bridges academic scholarship with judicial application, demonstrating our faculty’s dedication to shaping South Africa’s legal landscape and enhancing its national and international reputation.”

A message to young legal minds

Prof Deane believes the appointment sends a powerful message, especially to students and early-career academics. “Preparation for such a role requires a meticulous approach – both professionally and personally,” she said. “Professionally, it involves staying current with legal developments, understanding procedural rules, and immersing oneself in the dynamics of the court and the types of cases that may arise.”

“Personally, it demands resilience, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to justice. However, sometimes opportunities like this are also shaped by a bit of luck – being in the right place at the right time, or meeting the right people who recognise your potential. Such moments serve as a reminder to remain open to possibilities and to always put one’s best foot forward, as you never know what doors may open.”

When asked about the types of cases she hopes to preside over, Prof Deane said her focus is on approaching every matter with diligence and fairness.

“As cases are assigned to us, my focus is not on selecting specific legal issues, but rather on approaching every matter with the utmost diligence and impartiality,” she said. “Each case, regardless of its nature, carries the potential to contribute to the development of law and have a significant impact on the lives of those involved. My aim is to engage deeply with every case, ensuring that decisions are both fair and informed, while appreciating the broader implications they may have for legal precedent and societal progress.”

News Archive

“My time at the UFS was the golden gem of my career”

2016-07-04

Description: Zig Gibson Tags: Zig Gibson

Prof Alan St Clair Gibson
Photo: Oteng Mpete

“My time at the University of the Free State (UFS) was the golden gem of my career. I have worked at medical schools or biomedical research centres in the United Kingdom, United States and at some of the top medical schools in South Africa, but working at the UFS was one of the highlights of my career,” says Prof Alan St Clair Gibson, Head of the UFS School of Medicine.

After spending just over two years at the UFS, Prof St Clair Gibson resigned from the institution in June 2016 and will take up the position of Dean: Health and Human Performance Sciences at the Waikato University in New Zealand in mid-July, where he will assist to establish a new faculty for all the health-science disciplines. “It was a privilege to work at the UFS. I come from a strong research background and wanted to grow research at the university, which I achieved. I came to the UFS because of the Academic and Human Projects and am proud of what has been achieved at the School of Medicine during the time I was here,” he said.

Prof St Clair Gibson highlighted some of these achievements, including the development of a management infrastructure across the disciplines of the school. “The establishment of an executive management committee for the school, as well as research champions in departments, highlighted the importance of proper governance and strategic management. By developing data dashboards, my management team and I could develop an understanding of research income and productivity, how the school works, what the role of teaching and learning is, and how the school could benefit in terms of third-stream income from the many contracts obtained by its academic staff. As a result, contracts and the financial management model of the school have also been reconfigured to the benefit of the university so that the institution and school can benefit from it,” he said.

His strong belief in an open-door policy has made staff feel part of the environment and it has created an atmosphere of equality and inclusivity. He believes in staff development and has, for instance, established leadership and management courses for heads of departments. Another factor to be proud of is the increase in the number of young researchers who recently joined the school, such as Prof Ross Tucker, who is one of the foremost sport scientists in the country. “It is a fact that staff retire or resign in all schools and departments of any university. It is also true that these departures offer opportunities to bring new academic and professional staff into the UFS. In fact, for the first time virtually every department in the School of Medicine now has a full-time Head of Department and 46 new staff were appointed since January 2015,” said Prof St Clair Gibson.

“I am especially proud of contributing, together with the senior leadership of the UFS, to stabilise the relationship with the Free State Department of Health (DoH). With the assistance of these parties, as well as my executive management team, we could find a better way of working together to the benefit of the school and the province.’’

Transforming the student profile to be representative of the country’s demographics is another milestone Prof St Clair Gibson will remember. “The intake of black and white students is of such a nature that we now have a much more balanced ratio of black and white undergraduate students than before.”

“I wanted to stay longer to see the effect of all the changes I made at the school, but the deanship is an offer I cannot refuse. I would have liked to see a steadier increase in the number of permanent clinical staff and have worked hard with both the UFS management and the DoH to try and achieve that; but more work needs to be done.”

I have worked with a number of fantastic staff members at the school, who are determined to do good in a challenging environment. I am amazed at the energy of the university leadership and how the Human and Academic Projects are executed. My wish for the university is to maintain and grow its standards and for the School of Medicine to maintain its reputation as one of the best schools in the country. I will always be a proud alumnus of the UFS,” he said.

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