All teams showed thorough preparedness.

“Our greatest competitor must have been the University of Cape Town since they have moot court experience from the first year. With us, it was only our first time but I’m happy we did well,” Rasetlola said.

The preliminary rounds of the competition were held at the University of Pretoria where four other universities, including the hosts were knocked out.

The finals were then moved to the Palace of Justice High Court where a panel of judges including lecturers and high court judges presided over the proceedings.

Mtshali said he learnt a lot from the experience and hoped that this would assist him in his studies and career. “I learned a lot of advocacy skills even though it was nerve-wrecking. I had to think on my feet but the experience was worth it,” he said.

NWU’s family law lecturer and team coach, Estie Gresse, was happy that her students managed to hold their own against the best.

“The two showed their capabilities during internal rounds we held in preparation of the competition. That’s how I unearthed them as the best to represent the campus,” she said.

Dean of the law faculty, Prof Melvin Mbao congratulated the students for their achievement.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to put the skills they learnt to practice and we’re hoping they will do better next time. We are very proud of them as this is the closest we have ever been to a win,” he said.

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