Head of Department
Academic Staff

Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws, Enugu State University (2002), Postgraduate Diploma, Nigerian Law School (2004), Diploma in French, Makerere University (2007), Master of Laws in Human Rights & Democratisation in Africa, University of Pretoria (2007), Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cape Town (2016)
Position: Associate Professor
Tel: 021 959 3316
Email: adiala@uwc.ac.za
Biography
Prof. Diala& is a socio-legal scholar and the founding director of the Centre for Legal Integration in Africa in the Faculty of Law at UWC. He specialises in legal pluralism, comparative law, and human rights. He has researched, lectured, and advocated in eighteen countries across four continents, notably in the International Criminal Court at the Hague, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Uganda, and the Justice and Peace Commission, Nigeria. He is a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies, the Social Science Research Council of New York, the German Academic Exchange Service, and the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies, Germany. He has held visiting fellowships and visiting positions in universities in Italy, Nigeria, Sweden, South Africa and Somaliland. Diala is rated as an ‘established researcher’ (C2) by the South African National Research Foundation. He is a member of the Research Quality Plus College of Reviewers of Canada’s International Development Research Centre, the College of Senior Mentors of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, and the Advisory Committee on Matrimonial Property of the South African Law Reform Commission. He sits on the editorial board of several law journals, notably the Journal of Comparative Law in Africa and Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis.Publications
Monograph and book chapters- 1. (2020) Rethinking customary law and women’s property rights in the context of legal pluralism in Nigeria [Lagos: Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies] pp. 1-57.
- 2. (2019) ‘Courts and transformative constitutionalism: Insights from South Africa’ in SM Sterett and L Walker (eds.) Research Handbook on Law and Courts (Edward Elgar Publishing) pp. 95-104 [DOI].
- 3. (2019) ‘Legal pluralism and social change: Insights from matrimonial property rights in Nigeria’ in C. Rautenbach (ed.) In the shade of an African Baobab: Tom Bennett's Legacy (JUTA & Co.) pp. 155-174.
- 4. (2013) ‘The dawn of constitutionalism in Nigeria;’ in Mbondenyi, M. K., and Ojienda T. (eds.) Constitutionalism and democratic governance in Africa: Contemporary perspectives from sub-Saharan Africa (Pretoria University Law Press) pp. 135-160.
- 5. (2021) with S. Cotton ‘Chained communities: A critique of South Africa’s approach to land restitution’ 20(3) African Studies Quarterly pp. 73-86 [Link].
- 6. (2021) ‘Legal pluralism and the future of indigenous family laws in Africa’ 35(1) International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family pp. 1-17 [Link].
- 7. (2020) with J.C. Diala ‘Normative intersectionality in married women’s property rights in southern Nigeria’ 24(1) Law, Democracy and Development pp. 86-108 [Link].
- 8. (2020) ‘Peacebuilding and the interface of state law and indigenous market laws in Southern Nigeria’ 64(1) Journal of African Law pp. 1-26 [DOI].
- 9. (2019) ‘Our laws are better than yours: The future of legal pluralism in South Africa’ 26 Revista General de Derecho Público Comparado pp. 1-23 [Link].
- 10. (2019) with S. Bagni ‘Introduction to special issue – The role of customary law in the shaping of new models of pluralistic states’ 26 Revista General de Derecho Público Comparado pp. 1-5 [Link].
- 11. (2019) ‘Curriculum decolonisation and revisionist pedagogy of African customary law’ 22 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal pp. 1-37 [DOI].
- 12. (2019) ‘A butterfly that thinks itself a bird: The identity of customary courts in Nigeria’ 51(3) Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis pp. 381-405 [DOI].
- 13. (2019) with B Kangwa ‘Rethinking the interface between customary law and constitutionalism in sub-Saharan Africa’ 52(2) De Jure pp. 189-206 [DOI].
- 14. (2018) with S Cotton ‘Silences in marriage laws in Commonwealth Africa: Women’s position in polygynous customary marriages’ 32(1) Speculum Juris pp. 18-32 [Link].
- 15. (2018) ‘The shadow of legal pluralism in matrimonial property division outside the courts in Southern Nigeria’ 18(2) African Human Rights Law Journal pp. 706-731 [DOI].
- 16. (2018) ‘A critique of the judicial attitude towards matrimonial property rights under customary law in Nigeria’s southern states’ 18(1) African Human Rights Law Journal pp. 100-122 [DOI].
- 17. (2018) ‘Editorial’ 5(1) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa pp. i-v.
- 18. (2017) with JC Diala ‘Child marriage, bride wealth, and legal pluralism in Africa’ 4(2) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa pp. 77-104 [Link].
- 19. (2017) ‘The protection of traditional cultural expressions in Africa: Book review’ 4(2) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa pp. 200-203 [Link].
- 20. (2017) ‘The concept of living customary law: A critique’ 49(2) Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis pp. 143-165 [WOS].
- 21. (2015) ‘Lessons from South Africa on reform of the customary law of inheritance in Nigeria’ 3 Diritto delle successioni e della famiglia pp. 891-914 [Link].
- 22. (2014) ‘Reform of the customary law of inheritance in Nigeria: Lessons from South Africa’ 14(2) African Human Rights Law Journal pp. 633-654 [IBSS].
- 23. (2014) with LJ Udofia ‘Legal feasibility of a lawsuit against the United Nations’ 3 Madonna University Law Journal pp. 158-171.
- 24. (2012) ‘The Arab uprising: Implications for self-determination and good governance in the African Union’ 1 Pan African Yearbook of Law pp. 19-30 [Link].
- 25. (2012) ‘Realising the right to adequate housing in Nigeria’ 2 Madonna University Law Journal pp. 155-173.
- 26. (2011) ‘Lessons from South Africa in judicial power and minority protection’ 1 Madonna University Law Journal pp. 164-187.
- 27. (2011) ‘Victims’ justice and re-characterising facts in the Lubanga trial at the ICC’ 7 (1) Eyes on the ICC pp. 59-84 [Link].
- 1. (2022) ‘What the Zulu kingship judgment tells us about the future of South African customary law’ The Conversation 9 March 2022 (Link).
- 2. (2021) ‘Reflections from a Next Gen facilitator on working with doctoral students in Africa’ Items: Insights from the Social Sciences, The Social Science Research Council of New York 14 December 2021 [Link].
- 3. (2021) ‘Why reform of matrimonial property laws is important’ Signals, University of the Western Cape Research Magazine Edition IV November 2021 pp. 34-35 [Link]
- 4. (2020) ‘Understanding the relevance of African customary law in modern times’ The Conversation 1 December 2020 (Link).
- 5. (2020) ‘Are Africans ready for integrated state and indigenous laws?’ AllAfrica 11 November 2020 (Link).
- 6. (2016) ‘Judicial recognition of living customary law in the context of matrimonial property rights in South-East Nigeria’ Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Cape Town.
- 7. (2013) ‘Successful marginalised group inclusion in customary governance structures and processes: Case study of the Osu people in Owerri South-East Nigeria’ in (J Hedström and J Smith eds.) Overcoming political exclusion: Strategies for marginalized groups to successfully engage in political decision-making (Stockholm, Sweden: International IDEA).
- 8. (2011) ‘Security of human rights defenders in Nigeria’ in Strategie de Securite des Defenseurs des Droits de L’Homme: Experiences du Nigeria et de la Gambie (February) Report for the West African Human Rights Defenders’ Network, Togo pp. 28-50.
- 9. (2011) ‘The strange child’ in J. Bassett (ed.) Oxford Bookworms Library: Stage 2: Songs from the soul: Stories from around the world (Oxford: Oxford University Press) pp. 46-52.
- 10. (2007) ‘Judicial activism in South Africa’s Constitutional Court: Minority protection or judicial illegitimacy?’ LL.M Dissertation, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
- 1. (2021) Television interview on 3 May 2021 with E.TV on inheritance and succession laws in South Africa.
- 2. (2021) Radio interview on 27 January with Power 98.7 on the status of South African customary laws.
- 3. (2020) Live radio interview on 14 December discussing the relevance of African customary laws in the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SAfm).
- 4. (2017) ‘Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa: A story of transformation’ Items: Insights from the Social Sciences, The Social Science Research Council of New York 7 September 2017 [Link].
- 5. (2017) ‘The last president’ unpublished radio play.
- 6. (2015) ‘A revisionist perspective of challenges to economic integration in Africa: The case of ECOWAS’ Guest lecture for the LLM in Law and Regional Integration in Africa class at the University of Cape Town on 30 April.
- 7. (2006) ‘Waiting to die?’ 76,000-word unpublished manuscript.
Networks:
- Member, International Research Group on Gender in Customary and Indigenous Law and Proceedings
- Member, African Humanities Program of the American Council of Learned Societies
- Member, Scientific Network on Eviction and Housing Rights, University of Groningen, Netherlands
- Member of the International Commission on Legal Pluralism
- Member of the African Studies Association
- Member of Juris Diversitas.

Position: Senior Lecturer
Tel: 021 959 3087
Email: cavanniekerk@uwc.ac.za
Qualifications:
LLB (UWC),
LLM (UP)
Biography:
Ms van Niekerk is a specialist in Law of Persons and Law of Delict.
Her key research interests include the interface between the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and various aspect of the law, on which she has published a number of articles. Other research interests include the recognition of wrongful life claims in the Law of Delict, teaching and learning and the future of legal education in South Africa. She is currently doing her PhD on the rights of prospective parents to engage in various forms of ART. Current research projects include the rights of prospective parents to decide on the quality of their future offspring and the rights of known sperm donors in respect of children born from their donations.
Her key research interests include the interface between the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and various aspect of the law, on which she has published a number of articles. Other research interests include the recognition of wrongful life claims in the Law of Delict, teaching and learning and the future of legal education in South Africa. She is currently doing her PhD on the rights of prospective parents to engage in various forms of ART. Current research projects include the rights of prospective parents to decide on the quality of their future offspring and the rights of known sperm donors in respect of children born from their donations.
Publications:
- Van Niekerk, C ‘Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the Right to Reproduce under South African Law’ 2017 (20) PER/PELJ 1-31.
- Van Niekerk, C 'When a relationship has reached its expiration date, does the same apply to the embryos under South African law? 2017 (38) 1 Obiter Law Journal 165-180.
- Van Niekerk, C ‘Strange (and incompatible) bedfellows: The relationship between the National Health Act and the regulations relating to artificial fertilisation of persons, and its impact on individuals engaged in assisted reproduction’ 2017 (10) 1 SAJBL 32-35.
- Van Niekerk, C ‘Section 294 of the Children’s Act: Do Roots Really Matter?’ 2015 (18) 2 PER/PELJ 396-427.
- Van Niekerk, C 'The Four-year Undergraduate LLB: Where to from Here?' 2013 (34) 3 Obiter 533-544.
- Van Niekerk, C ‘Wrongful life claims: A failure to develop the common law? 2012 (3) Stellenbosch Law Review 527-539.
- Van Niekerk, C and Mwambene, L ‘The Gumede Judgment: another lost opportunity to develop customary law and protect women’s rights?’ 2009(1) Speculum Juris 86-98.

Position: Senior Lecturer
Tel: 021 959 3085
Email: lmanie@uwc.ac.za
Qualifications:
LLB, LLM, LLD (UWC)
Biography:
Specialist in Law of Persons, Family Law and Trust Law

Position: Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning / Professor
Tel: 021 959 3284
Email: lmwambene@uwc.ac.za
Qualifications:
Dip N,
LLB Honours (Malawi),
LLM, LLD (UWC)
Biography:
Specialist in Comparative Law, Customary Law and Legal and Cultural Pluralism

Position: Lecturer
Tel: 021 959 3356
Email: nksibanda@uwc.ac.za
Qualifications:
LLB (Forthare),
LLM (SU),
LLD (UWC),
Biography:
Specialist in Property Law and Land Law

Qualifications: LLB (Fort Hare), LLM, LLD (UWC),
Position: Associate Professor
Tel: 021 959 2134
Email: ymupangavanhu@uwc.ac.za
Biography:
Specialist in Contract Law and Intellectual Property Law
I teach the Law of Contract, Advanced Law of Contract as well as Intellectual Property Law. My research interests cover the Law of Contract, Consumer Protection, Intellectual Property Law particularly Trade Mark Law, as well as regional integration.
Dr Mupangavanhu was profiled in UWC's Women in Academia & Leadership Magazine (Issue 2), CLICK HERE to read about her COVID-19 lockdown experience.
I teach the Law of Contract, Advanced Law of Contract as well as Intellectual Property Law. My research interests cover the Law of Contract, Consumer Protection, Intellectual Property Law particularly Trade Mark Law, as well as regional integration.
Dr Mupangavanhu was profiled in UWC's Women in Academia & Leadership Magazine (Issue 2), CLICK HERE to read about her COVID-19 lockdown experience.
Publications:
- Towards an extensive statutory protection of consumers in timeshare agreements: A comparative perspective (accepted African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 2019)
- ‘The protection of intellectual property rights within the Continental Free Trade Area in Africa: Is a balance between trade and innovation possible’ 15/4 International Journal of Business, Economics and Law 15/4 14-21. (with van Huyssteen) ‘The statutory regulation of timeshare agreements in light of the need for greater consumer protection’ (2017) 3 Stell LR 657-678.
- ‘The protection of scent, taste and sound marks in South Africa: threats and possibilities’ (2017) 5 SAIP LJ 16-33.
Book publication. Title The Regional Integration of African Trade Mark Law: Challenges and possibilities by Galda Verlag Glienicke, ISBN 978-3-941267-11-4. - ‘The relationship between restraints of trade and garden leave’ (2017) PER /PELJ 1-21.
- ‘Electronic signatures and non-variation clauses in the modern digital world. A case from South Africa’, (2016) 133/4 South African Law Journal 853-873.
- ‘African Union rising to the need for a continental IP protection? The establishment of Pan-African Intellectual Property Organisation' (2015) 59 Journal of African Law 1-24.
- ‘Fairness a slippery concept: The common law of contract and the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008’ (2015) 48 (1) De Jure 116-135.
- ‘Towards the harmonisation of trade mark laws in Africa: A comparative analysis of selected trade mark laws’, (2015) 2 (2) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa 98-126, peer-reviewed.
- ‘Exemption clauses and the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008: An assessment of Naidoo v Birchwood Hotel 2012 6 SA 170 (GSJ)’ (2014) 17/3 PER/PELJ 1167-1195.
- ‘The integration of trade mark laws in the European Union: Lessons for Africa?' South African Intellectual Property Law Journal (2014) 2 SALJ 109-130, peer-reviewed.
- ‘An analysis of the dispute settlement mechanism under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008’ (2012) 15 (5) PER/PELJ 320-346. (with Brighton Mupangavanhu) Gcaba ‘The Minister of Safety and Security 2009 ZACC. Concurrent Jurisdiction now settled law?’ (2012) 23 (1) Stellenbosch Law Review, 40-54. (with Brighton Mupangavanhu)
- ‘Alignment of student discipline administration and design with national law and constitutional imperatives in South Africa’ (2011) 12 (2) Potchefstroom Electronic Journal
Networks:
- I am affiliated to The South African Association of Intellectual Property Law and Information Technology Law Teachers and Researchers (AIPLITL).
Biography
Prof Sue-Mari Viljoen is a specialist in Property Law, and specifically Constitutional Property Law. She also specialises in housing law and land reform.She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Stellenbosch, after which she lectured at Unisa as a Senior Lecturer, and later Associate Professor, in the Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law. She has taught Administrative Law, Local Government Law, Contract Law, Property Law and Fundamental Human Rights.
She continues to do research on the linkages between property rights, land rights and housing rights; from both theoretical and comparative law perspectives.
Prof Viljoen was profiled in UWC's Women in Academia & Leadership Magazine (Issue 3), CLICK HERE to read about her COVID-19 lockdown experience.
Publications
Journal Articles- Maass S & Van der Walt AJ “The case in favour of substantive tenure reform in the landlord-tenant framework: The Occupiers, Shulana Court, 11 Hendon road, Yeoville, Johannesburg v Steele; City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality v Blue Moonlight” (2011) 128 SALJ 436-451
- Maass S “Rental housing as adequate housing” (2011) 22 Stell LR 759-774
- Maass S & Van der Walt AJ “The enforceability of tenants’ rights” 2012 TSAR 35-52 (Part 1)
- Maass S & Van der Walt AJ “The enforceability of tenants’ rights” 2012 TSAR 228-246 (Part 2)
- Maass S “Rent control: A comparative analysis” (2012) 15 PER 41-100
- Maass S “Conceptualising a unfair practice regime in landlord- tenant law: Maphango v Aengus Lifestyle Properties [2012] ZACC; 2012 5 BCLR 449 (CC)” (2012) 27 SAPL 653-671
- Maass S “The South African social housing sector: A critical comparative analysis” (2013) 29 SAJHR 571-590
- Viljoen S “The temporary expropriation of a use right as interim measure in the South African housing context Part 1” 2014 TSAR 359-376
- Viljoen S “The temporary expropriation of a use right as interim measure in the South African housing context Part 2” 2014 TSAR 520-535
- Viljoen S & Strydom J “Unlawful occupation of inner-city buildings: A constitutional analysis of the rights and obligations involved” (2014) 17 PER 1206-1261
- Viljoen S “The constitutional protection of tenants’ interests – a comparative analysis” (2014) 47 CILSA 460-489
- Viljoen S & Van der Walt AJ “The constitutional mandate for social welfare – systemic differences and links between property, land rights and housing rights” (2015) 18 PER 1034-1090
- Viljoen S “The systemic violation of section 26(1): An appeal for structural relief by the judiciary” (2015) 30 SAPL 42-70
- Viljoen S “Substantive adjudication of the decision to expropriate property” (2017) 28 Stell LR 444-465
- Viljoen S & Makama SP “Structural relief – a comparative analysis” (2018) 34 SAJHR 209-230
- Viljoen S “Property and ‘human flourishing’: A reassessment in the housing framework” (2019) 22 PER 1-27
- Viljoen S “Expropriation without compensation: Principled decision-making instead of arbitrariness in the land reform context Part 1” 2020 TSAR 35-48
- Viljoen S “Expropriation without compensation: Principled decision-making instead of arbitrariness in the land reform context Part 2” 2020 TSAR 259-270
- Viljoen S “A systemically correct approach in state evictions” (2020) Stell LR 201-225
- Viljoen S “The impact of the COVID-19 on rent obligations” (2020) De Jure
- Viljoen S The law of landlord and tenant (2016) Cape Town: Juta
- Viljoen S “Ownership under the new South African Constitution – addressing socio-economic injustices” in Van Kampen S & Milo M Recht en Armoede (2016) 31-60
- Viljoen S & Stydom J “Tenure security and the reform of servitude law” in Muller G et al Transformative property law (2018) 96-120
Networks
- South African Research Chair in Property Law alumnus
- Member of the Association for Law, Property and Society (ALPS)

Position: Lecturer
Tel: 021 959 3309
Email: amiggels@uwc.ac.za
Qualifications:
LL.B, LL.M, LLD (Candidate), PG Cert (LEAD)
Biography:
Alvizo joined the Department of Private Law permanently in 2021. He holds both a Bachelor – and Master of Laws degree from the University of the Western Cape. His interest in teaching and learning stems from his time as a Graduate Lecturing Assistant (GLA). He has since gone on to teach at various Higher Educational institutions including the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and Stellenbosch University.
Alvizo earned his Master of Laws degree by researching the anti-dilution provision contained in the Trade Marks Act, 1993. He plans to undertake doctoral studies in an area related to Intellectual Property Law as well. His research interests, however, are not limited to Intellectual Property law but includes the Law of Delict and Family Law.
Alvizo has experience in lecturing the following modules:
Alvizo earned his Master of Laws degree by researching the anti-dilution provision contained in the Trade Marks Act, 1993. He plans to undertake doctoral studies in an area related to Intellectual Property Law as well. His research interests, however, are not limited to Intellectual Property law but includes the Law of Delict and Family Law.
Alvizo has experience in lecturing the following modules:
- Law of Persons (2019, 2021 – current) (UWC)
- Law of Contract (2021 – current) (UWC)
- Family Law (2019) (UWC)
- Law of Criminal Procedure (2020). (SU)
- Business Law (dealing with aspects of the Law of Contract) (2020) (CPUT).
Administrative Staff
Qualification: BAdmin (UWC)
Position: Administrator
Tel: 021 959 3314
Fax: 021 959 2960
Email: mnelson@uwc.ac.za
Position: Administrator
Tel: 021 959 3314
Fax: 021 959 2960
Email: mnelson@uwc.ac.za