VUT to Offer Free Legal Advice through its New Law Clinic in Sebokeng

The community in the greater Sebokeng area will soon have access to a variety of free legal services thanks to the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) which has just established a Law Clinic at its Southern Gauteng Science and Technology Park (VUT SGSTP).

Services available to indigent members of the Emfuleni community from October will include advice and counselling on matters such as domestic violence, maintenance, divorce and Children’s Court issues.

Social justice matters will be prioritised with an emphasis on evictions, while clinic personnel comprising final-year law students and academics will assist with Labour Law wrangles, especially unfair dismals.

A means test will be used to ascertain whether people seeking the free advice qualify for the assistance.

And the educational spin-off is that the clinic will provide work integrated learning opportunities for final year VUT Legal Assistance and Labour Law students.

VUT project coordinators decided on the Sebokeng area because the University has the facilities and infrastructure needed at the SGSTP which is close to service centres including the Magistrate’s Court, the Regional Hospital and the SA Police Services.

A lecturer in VUT’s Legal Sciences Department, Mr Frans Fouche, said the service centres were community hubs where the clinic could advertise its services and distribute information on relevant legal issues. “Our dream is to expand our offerings and establish a footprint in other areas of the Emfuleni Local Municipality where clients can make use of our free legal services without having to spend too much money on transport,” said Fouche.

“We are excited at the prospect of being able to give something back to the community and to make a real difference in the lives of those who need legal services but cannot afford it, especially women and children – the excitement is, however, tinged with a sprinkle of apprehension at the enormity and importance of the job ahead,” he said.

“To be really successful the clinic needs the support of all VUT staff.  In the end, the clinic is much more than one department and a few people, it is about the entire of VUT community living the spirit of Ubuntu and reaching out to those in need.”

Senior VUT management members and officials from the University’s Department of Resource Mobilisation were behind the drive to raise funds from the private sector for the establishment of the clinic.

Director: Resource Mobilisation Dr Narissa Ramdhani said the registration of the Clinic was now finalised and “we look forward to catapulting VUT forward and in so doing, building that much-needed bridge between us and surrounding communities. We are really very pleased to have played a role in making this unique and much needed community project a reality and are hopeful of raising more funding once the success of this project is realised,” she said. 

HOD: Legal Sciences at VUT Professor Linda Muswaka said the Law Clinic was not only about the Department of Legal Sciences or the Faculty of Human Sciences but about the whole of the University. “We are therefore, very excited that through the Law Clinic, VUT will be able to give something back to the community, to make a real difference to the lives of those who need legal services but cannot afford it while at the same time benefiting our students,” she said. 

Muswaka thanked senior management, various departments and faculties as well as the business sector for their support.  “Without this support, the Law Clinic would not have been established or able to fulfil its legal obligations to the poor and marginalised.

“In essence, with the establishment of the Clinic, the aim is to bridge the gap between poor and affluent communities which inevitably leads to social inequities and lack of access to resources, especially access to free, high quality legal services,” added Muswaka. 

Said Acting Executive Dean: Dr Lazarus Maleho: “The milestone is a collective effort which enjoyed support from different stakeholders. The Faculty of Human Sciences is proud to house the Law Clinic which was created in response to the University’s objective of increasing strategic engagement with the community.  It is also aligned to the Faculty vision of transforming the human condition generally and improving the quality of life of people in the Vaal region.

“Access to justice is a national problem for the poor and marginalised and the Law Clinic is the alternative for those who cannot afford to obtain legal representation,” said Maleho.

“It couldn’t have happened at a better time with our country suffering from the scourge of Gender- Based Violence against women and children. The Law Clinic will help the community of Sebokeng access legal aid in addressing GBV as well as other issues.”

Fouche added that the Clinic would ensure final year Legal Assistance and Labour Law students got an abundance of opportunities to experience work integrated learning. “The aim is not only to expose them to real life work experiences, but also to teach them the values of human dignity, equality and freedom as well as the privilege of giving back to the community.”

Supplied