Professor Yousuf Vawda is a Senior Research Associate in the School of Law. He holds the academic qualifications Bachelors in Arts (BA), Bachelors in Law (BProc), Masters in Law (LLM) and a Doctorate in Law (LLD) which he obtained at UKZN for his doctoral thesis entitled “Access to Life-saving Medication in South Africa: The Case for Legislative Reform”.
He is a qualified attorney admitted in the High Court, South Africa and practised as such from 1978 – 1994 when he took up the position as Director Law Clinic, UDW – a position he held from 1994-2003. In 2003 he took up an academic position in the UKZN School of Law where he has lectured since.
He has been actively involved in community activities for approximately 40 years, providing legal advice and guidance to various community organisations including civic (Durban Housing Action Committee & affiliates), political (Natal Indian Congress & African National Congress), professional bodies (Democratic Lawyers Association & NADEL) and civil society (Treatment Action Campaign & Children’s Rights Centre).
He has held positions on various boards such as: the Board of Directors – Legal Aid South Africa; Council Member of the Medicines Control Council, and Chairperson of its Legal Committee; and is a founding trustee of the Association of University Legal Aid Institutions (AULAI) Trust. He has also served as Member of the Board of the School for Legal Practice, Durban.
His research interests lie in Clinical law & Legal Aid Service delivery as well as Public Health issues, specifically Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines. He has taught modules in Clinical Law, Professional Training, HIV / AIDS Human Rights Law, Bioethics & Law, and Human Rights Intellectual Property & Access to Medicines.
He has acted as consultant and provided technical assistance in several initiatives to reform medicines regulatory systems as well as intellectual property legislation in South Africa, various African countries and the African Union.
