Law Academic Awarded Colenso Research Scholarship

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School of Law’s Associate Professor Max du Plessis is the recipient of the Colenso Research Scholarship to St John’s College, Cambridge University in England.

The Scholarship will enable du Plessis to be based at the College from January to March next year working on a book on immunity under international law.

Commenting on being awarded the Scholarship, du Plessis said: ‘I am honoured by the opportunity to spend time at Cambridge University to dedicate time to writing on my experience - particularly from an African perspective of international criminal justice in action. I also look forward to focusing on the promises and problems of doing such work on the continent and the lessons that might be drawn there from for other jurisdictions.’

For the past few years, Professor du Plessis’s primary research and writing focus has been based on international criminal justice and the work of the International Criminal Court in and about Africa. This is in relation to his work as an advocate in South Africa and associate tenant, Doughty Street Chambers, London.

Professor du Plessis has been advising on domestic cases dealing with arrest warrants for senior government officials implicated in international crimes - including President Bashir of Sudan and President Mugabe of Zimbabwe - and litigating them in South Africa. He has also been advising on similar cases in other jurisdictions, including in the United Kingdom.

His most recent case includes appearing as counsel on behalf of the Southern African Litigation Centre that is seeking to ensure that the South African government complies with its obligations to arrest President Bashir - a case which was argued in the Supreme Court of Appeal last year and in which Professor du Plessis argued against the government’s claim that Bashir has immunity from arrest under customary international law on account of him being head of state.

Thandiwe Jumo