RESEARCH UNIT:

DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN

CONSTITUTIONAL STATE

All research in the Faculty is conducted under the auspices of the Research Unit.

VISION:

The vision of the Research Unit is to utilize juridical science and the law to solve developmental problems in South Africa as a constitutional state.

MISSION

The mission of the Research Unit is to

• Utilize juridical science for solving developmental problems in South Africa
• To provide theoretical and practical solutions for the realization of the rights and values in the Constitution in order to promote justice
• Participate in national and international conferences relating to research in the Research Unit
• Devote the Research Unit’s efforts to the production of focused research outputs of high quality relevant in both the local and international contexts
• Continually improve the research projects and outputs of the Research Unit
• Participate in discussions on the developmental problems in South Africa and to provide legal-based solutions
• To deliver master and doctoral students who are capable of lateral and critical thinking and who will be able to contribute to the solution of developmental problems in South Africa
• To be involved in developmental engagement, to be of service to the community and to provide expertise on a voluntary basis
• To be recognized nationally, regionally and internationally.

The Research Unit’s point of departure also relates to national strategic priorities and initiatives. Development is one of the main aims of the Government of the Republic of South Africa. Development, in the sense of societal, economical and juridical development, is one of the cornerstones on which the post 1994 South Africa was built. Despite nearly 12 years into the new democracy many legal problems still exist and the research focus is as relevant as it was at its establishment. It even became more important as the projects in the Research Unit are dynamic and continually adapt to new legal challenges.

The Research Unit conducts research in various projects.

The Management Structure of the Research Unit:

• Director of the Research Unit:  Willemien du Plessis
• Other members of management structure:
• Anita Stapelberg (Post graduate programme administrative coordinator)
• Linda Stewart (HL Swanepoel lecture series)
• Louis Kotzé (Post graduate programme and capacity building)
• Gerrit Pienaar (HL Swanepoel lecture series and capacity building)
• Christa Rautenbach (Publications and coordinator KAS project)
• Werner Scholtz (Member)
• Lorette Arendse (Member)
• Leonie Stander (Programme coordinator)
• Rieëtte Venter (Administrator) 

The post-graduate studies are conducted under auspices of the Research Unit Management Committee but a separate LLM committee advises the Research Unit Committee on technical issues:
Chair: Willemien du Plessis
LLM Public Law:                                               Francois Venter, Gerrit Ferreira, Rolien Roos, Linda Jansen van Rensburg, Werner Scholtz
LLM Labour Law:                                             Piet Myburgh
LLM Estate Planning:                                      Gerrit Pienaar, Henk Kloppers, Elmarie van der Schyff, Robbie Robinson, Christa Rautenbach, Willemien du Plessis
LLM Import and Export Law:                         Stephen de la Harpe, Leonie Stander, Gerrit Ferreira, Louis Kotzé, Werner Scholtz; Hannelie Crous, Rolien Roos, Andries van der Merwe, Anél du Plessis
LLM Environmental Law and Governance: Louis Kotzé, Werner Scholtz, Willemien du Plessis, Rolien Roos, Anél du Plessis, Piet Myburgh
LLM Comparative Child Law:                        Robbie Robinson,  W du Plessis, C Rautenbach,  I Booysen,  L Stewart,  D Horsten
Coordinators take responsibility for the academic content of the different degrees.