Mr Ndabezinhle Masinga, a final-year LLB student represented the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) School of Law at two international conferences.
He first represented the University at the ‘Colloquium on Corruption and Human Rights’ hosted by the University of the Free State’s Centre for Human Rights on 18 and 19 September 2025. There, he presented a paper co-authored with Mr Siphesihle Mhlonishwa Mbatha, a lecturer at the UKZN School of Law. Masinga was the youngest delegate and presenter, delivering a paper titled: ‘The Impact of the Killing of Whistleblowers in South Africa’.
A few weeks later, Masinga had another opportunity to present at an international conference – ‘Albinism Beyond 2030: Legal and Healthcare Pathways to Inclusion’ – hosted by the University of the Free State’s Disability Unit from 23 to 24 October 2025. Once again, he was the youngest delegate and presenter. This time, he delivered his first solo paper, titled: ‘The Proper Approach to Advancing the Rights of Persons Living with Albinism: The Role and Interplay of Education, Employment, and Legal Instruments in Recognising Human Rights of Persons with Albinism’.
Masinga reflected: “I’m grateful for the opportunities I received, they mark the beginning of building my name as an emerging scholar. More importantly I’m grateful to have lecturers such as Mr Mbatha in our School, who encouraged, mentored me and co-authored with me. His support, motivated me, and I’m looking forward to furthering my academic career by continuing with my master’s degree next year. Lastly, I’m committed to further engaging and contributing to the research initiatives in our School of Law.”
Masinga has demonstrated his passion and commitment to research through his involvement in the School of Law’s student research initiatives. He participated in the revival of the UKZN Student Law Review Journal and is currently working on establishing the UKZN Law Student Research Interest Group.
Dr Janine Hicks – senior lecturer and Academic Leader: Community Engagement in the School of Law – remarked: “I have been impressed by Masinga’s legal research and analysis, his work ethic, and his commitment to the School of Law’s various community engagement initiatives. In addition, he has championed the revival of the School of Law’s Student Law Review Journal, is committed to establishing a student research interest group, and has recently presented research papers at two academic conferences, alongside established legal researchers. We encourage and appreciate such activism and engagement by our students.”
Words: NdabaOnline
Photograph: Supplied