Page 15 - Law Academic Newsletter 2015

University of Johannesburg Dignitas Awards
Feature
As a University, we are represented by the graduates we produce, our alumni. At the University of Johannesburg our alumni represent our Generations of Accomplishment, a dynamic legacy of excellence. UJ has over 200 000 alumni across the world. From the arts to the sciences and beyond, UJ’s alumni have proven themselves as leaders in their fields. Each year, their achievements are celebrated through the UJ Dignitas Awards.
At the end of 2014, Judge LO Bosielo was a nominee for the prestigious UJ Dignitas Award. Amongst stiff competition he was one of the awardees at this prestigious event. Of all UJ law graduates, it is Judge Bosielo who reached the highest judicial office in South Africa. Although ultimately not appointed, he was recommended by the JSC to the President of the Republic of South Africa for appointment to the Constitutional Court, and this remains a special accolade. Judge Bosielo completed his LLM at UJ in 1992 as well as the Diploma in Advanced Corporate Law in 1996. His professional history includes practising as an Attorney and Advocate, as well as serving as an Acting Judge and Judge of the High Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court.
“Growing in the apartheid era, I could never have dreamt to be elevated to the position of Judge. It is humbling that this country has given me the opportunity and privilege to serve in such an important position. I am proud to be associated with the University of Johannesburg. The institution gives every student, irrespective of colour, race and political affiliation, the opportunity to access quality education and prepare them for the life of tomorrow. I see receiving the Dignitas Award as a challenge as it calls on me to do some introspection and ask myself, having succeeded to be where I am today, what am I doing in my personal capacity to pay back to society? What drives me every day is the ongoing struggle we all engage in
to build a new society we all envisage, to deal with the vestiges of apartheid, to deal with the injustices that are still there, to help ordinary people turn the ‘promises’ of the Constitution to ‘real life’. This is indeed a challenge and drives me on a daily basis.”- Judge LO Bosielo.
Judge Bosielo is a brand ambassador to the core. He is also a UJ law alumnus to look up to, having made a significant difference in society and our legal system in general. With his son completing his final year of LLB studies at UJ this year, we are indeed looking forward to another generation of accomplishment.
Judge Bosielo
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