Editorial

• Pages: 1-5
• Date: 01 July 2020
• Author: Ntombizozuko Dyani-Mhango,Owen Mtende Mhango
• DOI: 10.10520/ejc-sapr1-v35-n2-a1
• Published date: 01 July 2020

Guest Editorial

Southern African Public Law

https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-6800/9559

https://upjournals.co.za/index.php/SAPL

ISSN 2522-6800 (Online), ISSN 2219-6412 (Print)

Volume 35 | Number 2 | 2020 | #9559 | 5 pages

© Unisa Press 2021

Editorial

Ntombizozuko Dyani-Mhango

Guest Editor

University of Pretoria

Ntombizozuko.Dyani-Mhango@up.ac.za

Mtende Mhango

Guest Editor

National University of Lesotho

mo.mhango@nul.ls

Personal Reflections

In the last few years before the Covid-19 pandemic caused global shock it had become

our tradition to embark on an annual academic pilgrimage to Polokwane, where the

renowned academic and scholar, Professor Chuks Okpaluba resides after retirement. His

academic career began five decades ago and spans more than nine universities across

the globe, where he has trained and mentored students and academics.

During these visits we discussed many issues such as the conceptualisation of research

projects; contemporary legal questions decided by international courts in that year, as

well as African and global politics. We feasted on delicious West African food prepared

by Mrs Okpaluba, a lawyer in her own right. Besides getting away from Johannesburg

for a few days, this annual academic pilgrimage provided us with an opportunity to be

mentored and draw on Professor Okpaluba’s vast fountain of knowledge and

experience. As a father or an ‘old junk’ as he likes to call himself, he is generous in

sharing his knowledge, experience and advice about life in general. We have benefited

immensely from these gatherings, both professionally and personally, for which we are

eternally grateful.

Most importantly, several projects have been conceptualised and successfully

completed since our first visit six years ago. For example, in 2018, a special double

issue of the Southern African Public Law (SAPL) in honour of the former Chief Justice

Sandile Ngcobo, entitled: Twenty-first Century Constitutional Jurisprudence of South

Africa: The Contribution of Former Chief Justice S. Sandile Ngcobo Special Issue Vol

32 No 1&2 (2017), was published and solely edited by one of the contributing co-editors

of this Special Issue, Ntombizozuko Dyani-Mhango. In addition, a doctoral degree

entitled: Separation of Powers and the Political Question Doctrine in South Africa: A

Comparative Analysis by one of the contributing co-editors, Mtende Mhango, was

conceptualised at this gathering and successfully completed. In May 2019, it was

revised and published as a book under the title Justiciability of Political Questions in