Eduvos Hosts Inaugural Private Sector Moot Court Competition.

Post by Eduvos, October 01, 2026.

South Africa's future legal professionals stepped into the courtroom as Eduvos hosted its inaugural Private Sector Moot Court Competition.

The national competition brought together undergraduate law students from private higher education institutions, giving them the chance to put their legal knowledge, research, and advocacy skills to the test in a competitive legal environment.

The occasion marked an important milestone for the Eduvos Faculty of Law, made even more memorable as our students went on to win the competition.

What Is a Moot Court Competition?

Moot court competitions challenge students to approach a legal problem as aspiring legal professionals. Participants must research the law, develop written arguments and present their case before a panel of adjudicators while responding to questions and defending their reasoning under pressure.

This year's competition centred on a contemporary legal problem exploring fairness, legal oversight, and competing rights within changing financial relationships in legally recognised partnerships.

Practical learning within the Eduvos Faculty of Law gives students opportunities to develop their legal knowledge and advocacy skills while gaining valuable exposure to the demands of legal practice. The inaugural Private Sector Moot Court Competition extended that experience beyond Eduvos. It created a national platform for students from Eduvos, STADIO, Rosebank International, Boston City Campus, Emeris, and Regenesys Law School to learn from one another, test their abilities, and engage with legal professionals.

The Final Round.

Following the competition rounds, Eduvos and STADIO progressed to the final. Divan Pieters and Lehetia van Zyl represented Eduvos as the respondents, while Abbigail Shawe and Luthando Molapo represented STADIO as the applicants.

Team Eduvos argued for the constitutional recognition of living customary law as an independent source of South African law, rather than one subordinate to common law. Their case also explored how customary law can evolve alongside constitutional values while balancing individual rights with the cultural rights of communities.

The final round was adjudicated by Adv. Sikhululekile Luwaca, Mr Sekotoma Tau, and Adv. Andile Mcineka, bringing professional legal experience to the final stage of the competition. Eduvos was named the winner of the inaugural Private Sector Moot Court Competition, with STADIO finishing as runner-up and Boston City Campus taking the second runner-up position.

Lehetia was also named Best Oralist, while STADIO received the award for Best Heads of Argument. Reflecting on the experience, she says that presenting their case before the bench put their preparation and legal training to the test. "Standing before the bench to defend that principle under intense questioning was an incredible experience that truly brought our legal training to life."

For Divan, the experience also tested their ability to think on their feet and defend their argument under pressure. "Preparing the Respondent's argument meant learning to think on our feet, anticipate hard questions, and hold our ground on a constitutional challenge under real pressure."

Building Practice-Ready Graduates.

Experiences beyond the lecture hall are an important part of preparing students for what comes after their studies. By bringing students from private higher education institutions together, this Private Sector Moot Court Competition gave emerging legal talent the chance to test themselves, learn alongside their peers, and engage with legal professionals.

This kind of practical exposure complements Eduvos' focus on Work-Integrated Learning, helping students connect what they learn during their studies with the skills and expectations of the professional world.

Congratulations to every institution, student, adjudicator, and faculty member who contributed to the competition, and especially to our Vossies on this outstanding achievement.

Interested in a future in law? Explore the Eduvos Faculty of Law and discover how practical learning can help prepare you for a career in the legal profession. Applications are open. Apply today to start 15 February and become a Vossie in 2027.

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