Two outstanding first year students from the Faculty of Law at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Chante Werner and Mihlali Ndonga, made history by winning the 2025 Kovsies First Year Moot Court Competition.
The annual competition was held at the Bloemfontein Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on the 5th to the 6th August 2025. Their victory is not only a significant achievement for the students but also a proud moment for the Faculty, reinforcing UJ Law’s commitment to academic and practical excellence from the very first year of study.
Co-ordinator of UJ Law’s Moot Court programme Louis Koen attributed the consistent success of this and the other UJ Law moot court teams to preparation and experience.
“The secret to UJ laws success is a group of highly dedicated and experienced senior mooters who help with training our new up and coming mooters. This involves hours of training, feedback on drafts etc. We prepare our students in such a way that almost no question will ever be unexpected,” Koen said.
This preparation was apparent at the competition that brought together 17 teams from universities across South Africa to argue a complex case on the unlawful relocation of a parent with children abroad, in alleged contravention of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Chante and Mihlali impressed the judges with their strong legal reasoning, persuasive advocacy and professional courtroom presence, ultimately defeating Nelson Mandela University (MNU) in the final round.
Guided by their dedicated coach, Ms Rebecca Byker (Moot Court Tutor), their participation provided a transformative learning experience, boosting their confidence, critical thinking and public speaking skills. The win not only elevates the students’ individual profiles but also inspires other first-year students to actively engage in mooting and other experiential learning platforms. It reflects the Faculty’s commitment to nurturing future-ready legal professionals and promoting excellence from the start of the academic journey.
Byker said while she knew UJ Law’s reputation of winning moot court challenges, with this one being no exception, she was a little concerned that the team wouldn’t be ready in time. It was the determination and consistency of the team that showed her that they would be able to live up to the legend.
“UJ has a long history of performing very well at the Kovsies First Year Moot, even so, I had my doubts that the team would be ready in time. However as soon as we arrived in Bloemfontein Chante and Mihlali were totally focused in on advancing in the competition and performing at their best. After their first round in the competition, I was sure that they’d make it to the semi-finals and hoped they’d be the victors overall. They held their cool when arguing in the Supreme Court of Appeal, they knew the law and the facts, and they gave incredible oral presentations. I’m so incredibly proud of them and I can gladly say they deserved the win,” she said.
For Chante, participating in the moot court competition was also the opportunity to refine some of her skills and her confidence. She described the experience as exhilarating and intense.
“What stood out most was the level of preparation and professionalism from all the participants; it created an environment that was both competitive and collaborative. I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of addressing unexpected questions from the judges, which pushed me to think critically and adapt on the spot. If there was one aspect, I found difficult, it was managing the nerves that came with speaking under such scrutiny, but that also became one of the most rewarding learning curves. This experience has strengthened my research skills, sharpened my ability to construct clear, persuasive arguments, and boosted my confidence, skills that will undoubtedly benefit me throughout the remainder of my studies at UJ and into my legal career,” she said.
Mihlali said he was particularly captivated by the rich history that runs through the walls of the SCA. This, and the exceptionally professional manner in which the Kovsies (University of the Free State) team carried the whole competition.
On winning, he said his naturally competitive personality was satisfied, and he felt he’s on the right track.
“Winning the competition was so satisfying, considering that we came to the competition wanting to go all the way. I am naturally a very competitive person, because the people I draw inspiration from, Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt, are all winners in their own respective fields. And I aspire to do the same in the field of law. This win felt like the first right step in my legal career and will probably be the most memorable, because of the team that I did it with. Winning alongside my teammate, Chante Werner, and our coach Rebecca Byker was an honour and privilege,” he said.
Koen concluded by reflecting on the importance of the participation of UJ Law students in these kinds of competitions: “They provide students with real life experience in a simulated environment which is well aligned with the UJ focus on work integrated learning,” he said.
This win, Koen said, is a continuation of UJ’s long standing success with first year students.
“It is also an essential component of our moot continuity programme as these younger mooters eventually become senior mooters coaching the next generation,” he said.
