Editorial note from the chairman of the newly launched Centre for Indigenous Law in the Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law

• Author: Dial Dayana Ndima
• DOI: 10.10520/EJC-7977fd21b
• Published date: 01 January 2014
• Date: 01 January 2014
• Record Number: sapr1_v29_n2_a1
• Pages: III-VII

Editorial note from the chairman of the

newly launched Centre for Indigenous

Law in the Department of Public,

Constitutional and International Law

The Centre for Indigenous Law in the Department of Public, Constitutional and

International Law, College of Law, was launched on the Muckleneuk Campus of

the University of South Africa (Unisa) as part of the Conference on African

Customary Law: Contemporary Issues held on 11 and 12 July 2013.

The dignitaries and guests were welcomed by the Dean of the College of

Law, Professor Rushiella Songca, who characterised the conference as an

important expression of Unisa’s research goal of contributing to South Af rica’s

economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing. She spoke passionately

of how the launch of the Centre for Indigenous Law could serve as a catalyst for

the achievement of the College of Law’s strategic objec tives within Unisa’s

broader strategic plan.

Unisa’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Mandla Makhanya,

delivered the opening address pointing out that, situated in the Department of

Public, Constitutional and International Law, the Centre for Indigenous Law was

uniquely positioned to inform and shape the understanding of how customary law

can contribute to socio-legal development in South Africa and Africa. In an

apparent reference to the controversy around the stillborn T raditional Courts Bill,

the Principal observed the passion with which issues of customary law continued

to be debated and contested. This he saw as an indication of customary law’s

typically South African character where seemingly intractable situations arising

from multiple her itages often contest for space in forging of a new, inclusive

heritage. Professor Makanya saw in the launch of the Centre, a vehicle for Unisa

to provide space for intellectual engagement and discourse in seeking answers

to questions of how g eneral legal deve lopment be supported by progres sive

elements of customary law. Professor Makhanya pointed out that the promotion

of indigenous knowledge – of which customary law forms a critical element

–occupies a central role in Unisa’s core business of teaching and learning;

research and innovation; and community engagement.