Kovsies First Year Moot Court Competition
Kovsies Eerstejaar Skynhofkompetisie
2012

An international pan-African practice
with one of the largest legal footprints in South Africa 

Sponsor of the 2011 and 2012 Competitions / Borg van die 2011 en 2012 Kompetisies



 

Double gold for TuksLaw teams in the First Year Kovsies Moot Court Competition

by Jason Gouveia (BCom Law, LLB III)

On the morning of 4 October 2012 eight young legal minds, together with their four coaches, set off to Bloemfontein to participate in the 2012 First Year Kovsies Moot Court Competition.  Many hours, days, months (and tears) of preparation ensured that all four teams were adequately prepared to face the challenge, competitors and judges.  

The two TuksLaw teams involved in the English Division of this Competition were Mary-Ann Getliffe and Nyambeni Davhana and Tatenda Madzingira and Sanan Mirzoyev.  In the Afrikaans Division the first team consisted of Carike Jacobs and Daniel du Plessis, and the second Michelle van der Merwe and Andre van Wyk.  Jason Gouveia and Marlene Murphy coached the English teams, and Petronell Kruger and Rochelle van Staden coached the Afrikaans teams.

The competition is based on legal principles involving family law and is open to students in their first year of LLB, BA Law or BCom Law studies. 

After braving strong crosswinds on the N1 towards Bloemfontein, the participants arrived and settled in. The slight hint of nervousness in the air was quickly overshadowed by the excitement once everyone was in their formal attire ready for the 'Meet and Greet Dinner' with the other participants, judges and organisers. Five national Afrikaans teams, thirteen national English teams and an international team from Charlotte School of Law in the USA participated in this event.

After the meet, it was back to Accommodation HQ to run through the final phases of preparation for the preliminary rounds in the Free State High Court the next morning. The competition was structured to ensure that all teams argued on behalf of both the plaintiff and defendant.

The TuksLaw students performed spectacularly in the preliminary rounds, and all the coaches were proud to see the manifestation of all the blood, sweat, tears and hours of training.

After the preliminary rounds it was time for the 'customary' group photos on the steps of the Free State High Court, which was followed by the announcement of the teams proceeding to the final rounds. 

Each and every student present awaited the results with baited breath. The English Division of the competition had a four teams final round, and the Afrikaans Division had a classic two rounds final. The TuksLaw English team of Tatenda Madzingira and Sanan Mirzoyev made it to the final rounds, as well as the TuksRegte Afrikaans team of Carike Jacobs and Daniel du Plessis.

Back at HQ, after a brief respite, a final round of training ensured that our finalists were ready for the challenge the next day.

Final rounds were held in the Supreme Court of Appeal where all finalists in both the English and Afrikaans Divisions presented convincing arguments to a four member bench, which included inter alia Judge Malherbe.  Judgment in the final round was reserved until the gala function in the evening.

Once ready for the black tie gala function, our teams were hoping that their efforts of the past few months were sufficient to secure a victory.  The jubilant TuksLaw teams were announced winners in both the English and Afrikaans Divisions:

• Carike Jacobs and Daniel du Plessis won the Afrikaans division of the competition and Daniel du Plessis was announced the Best Oralist in the Afrikaans Division.
• Tatenda Madzingira and Sanan Mirzoyev won the English Division and Sanan Mirzoyev received the Best Oralist award in the English Division.
• The Afrikaans team of Carike Jacobs and Daniel du Plessis were the proud recipients of the Best Overall Team award.

The Faculty of Law and the TuksLaw teams and coaches would like to express their sincere gratitude towards Norton Rose Inc for sponsoring the TuksLaw participants.   The students obtained valuable skills, which will no doubt benefit their legal careers.

2012 TuksLaw teams/TuksRegte Spanne