UWC represents South Africa at 2026 Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) Faculty of Law is pleased to congratulate its Moot Court Society team on an outstanding achievement at the 2026 Philip C Jessup International Moot Court Competition. The team was named National Champions on Sunday, 1 March 2026. In addition to securing the national title, the team also received several individual and team awards, reflecting the dedication and collaborative effort that went into their preparation. By winning the National Championship, the team earned the right to officially represent South Africa at the international championship rounds in Washington DC, United States, from 28 March to 4 April 2026.

The Philip C Jessup International Moot Court Competition is organised annually by the International Law Students Association and is widely recognised as the world’s largest moot court competition, with participation from approximately 700 law schools in over 100 countries and jurisdictions.

The competition simulates a dispute between states before the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The 2026 problem, Case Concerning the Gordian Gorge, addressed complex issues including:

• the right of states to intervene in ICJ proceedings
• the rights of indigenous peoples in relation to natural resources
• the interpretation of general principles of law
• and the immunity of state-owned enterprises in foreign jurisdictions

The Jessup competition plays a vital role in training future legal practitioners and policymakers, particularly those who may contribute to international legal institutions or serve in government departments such as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. In an increasingly complex global landscape, the importance of international law and institutions such as the ICJ continues to grow.

The 2026 Jessup team consisted of two oralists, Kelebogile Mashiane and Reabetswe Matsimela, both previous participants in the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, and two researchers, Khanyisile Mnisi and Mpho Masike, who worked closely together over several months of preparation. While the oralists presented the team’s arguments before the judges during the rounds, the researchers played an equally important role in supporting the team through extensive legal research and assisting with the preparation of the written memorials. The team was guided and supported by several faculty members, including Dr Precious Ndlovu (Chairperson of the Moot Committee), Prof Usang Assim, Dr Linda Mushoriwa and Prof Wessel le Roux, who served as the team’s coaches. Their mentorship, together with the students’ commitment and teamwork, contributed significantly to the team’s performance in the competition.

Having won the national round of the 2026 Jessup International Law Competition, the two oralists departed for Washington DC on 26 March 2026. A total of 164 universities participated in the international rounds, which are widely regarded as the World Championship of mooting. During the preliminary rounds, each team argued the case before the International Court of Justice four times, twice as applicant and twice as respondent. Thereafter, the top 32 teams proceeded to several knockout rounds until the final was reached. The National University of Singapore won the final rounds and was crowned World Champions for 2026. The UWC team held their own against the best universities in the world. UWC argued against the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) in the first round, and also argued against the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), MGIMO University (Russia) and Tel Aviv University (Israel). Although the team did not progress to the knockout rounds, they demonstrated strong advocacy skills and resilience in competing against some of the best teams in the world. 

Beyond the formal rounds, the Jessup experience provided valuable opportunities for intellectual and cultural exchange. During the evening events hosted by the International Law Students Association, the team renewed friendships and connections they had formed during previous moot courts with fellow students from other African universities. They also met new students from every region of the world and engaged in discussions on the social challenges faced globally and the role that law and lawyers can play in addressing those issues to reduce global injustices.

The team also made use of the opportunity to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of the American Indian, which included a special exhibition on treaties between colonists and the first nations of the Americas. The team visited the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr stood on 28 August 1963 when he delivered his famous speech about a future in which his children would be judged “not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character”. The team also visited the Supreme Court building on 1 April 2026, the same day that President Trump became the first sitting President to attend a Court hearing, during which the constitutional validity of his executive order curtailing birthright citizenship was argued. As the competition took place over the Easter weekend, the team also attended a church service at the Washington National Cathedral, one of the largest neo-gothic cathedrals in the world.

The team returned to South Africa and UWC on 6 April 2026 with renewed insight into the importance of international law and institutions such as the International Court of Justice in the 21st century. The team also returned as stronger mooters, fully committed to helping the Moot Society achieve even greater success for UWC and South Africa in the 2027 Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

The Faculty of Law extends its sincere appreciation to all external and internal supporters whose contributions made it possible for the team to travel to Washington DC and participate in the international rounds of the competition.

External support was received from Bowmans, Hayes Inc and Webber Wentzel. Internal support was provided by the Rector’s Office, the Institutional Advancement Office, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Development and Support).

This support was instrumental not only in enabling participation in the competition, but also in contributing to the academic and professional development of the students. Participation in the Jessup competition requires sustained preparation, international travel and engagement at a high level of legal discourse. The support received ensured that the team was able to access this opportunity and benefit from the experience of competing on a global stage.

The exposure gained through the competition contributes to the development of advocacy skills, legal research capacity and a broader understanding of international law and global legal systems. It also strengthens the University’s ongoing participation in international moot court competitions and supports the continued growth of mooting within the Faculty.

The Faculty recognises and appreciates the role of its partners and supporters in enabling these opportunities and contributing to the development of future legal professionals.