Annual National Schools Moot Court Competition

National Schools Moot Court Competition

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education and the South African Human Rights Commission, annually hosts, the National Schools Moot Court Competition.

The objective of Moot Court Competition is mainly to persuade school children to understand the Constitution and its values and to establish a continuous Human Rights learning programme through education and information. Thus, enhancing respect for the primacy of the Human Rights. The other objective of this competition is to build unity and harmony between the different and diverse sections of the South African Society through the promotion, protection and appreciation of constitutional values. The most key element of this Moot Court competition is to afford the learners in schools an understanding on how the constitution and the law work. Read more.

14th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2025
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD), hosted the final rounds of the 14th Annual South African National Schools Moot Court Programme on 09 and 10 October 2025 at the University of Pretoria, with the grand finale taking place on 12 October 2025 at the Constitution Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.The 2025 moot problem focuses on the constitutionality of schools’ language admission policies, particularly those prescribing a single language of instruction. Learners will debate whether it is constitutional for schools to admit only learners who speak a particular language as their home language or who are fluent in that language.

• Address by the Hon AC Nel, MP, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development at the final round of the National Schools Moot Court Competition, held at the Constitutional Court, Sunday 12 October 2025
• Submissions by the Hon AC Nel, MP, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to the National Schools Moot Court Competition held at the Constitutional Court on 12 October 2025
• Final Rounds of the 14th Annual South African National Schools Moot Court Programme, 08 Oct 2025

Archived Information Links

• 13th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2024
  Deputy Minister Mhaule officially opened the 2024 National Schools Moot Court Programme (NSMCP) at the University of Pretoria in the Gauteng Province on 26 September 2024. The initiative was established through a partnership between the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the University of Pretoria on 21 March 2011, to create greater awareness in schools and communities about the Constitution and the values that it embodies through active participation. Click here the read more.
  The South African Human Rights Commission, the Departments of Basic Education as well as Justice and Constitutional Development, will host the preliminary oral rounds of the 13th Annual South African National Schools Moot Court Programme at the University of Pretoria on 26 and 27 September 2024 Constitutional Court to host National Moot Court Programme finals once again, 25 September 2024
• 12th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2023
  The DBE, in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD) and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), hosted the 12th National Schools Moot Court Programme (NSMCP) for high schools from 5 – 8 October 2023. The 2023 hypothetical problem statement is about Flames Mine, the main employer for the community of Einfontein in the Mpumalanga Province, which offers bursaries and internships to children of the mine employees to enable them to study for degrees, diplomas, and tradecraft relevant to the mining sector. However, it was established that Einfontein water and soil revealed high contamination levels of lithium related waste from the mine. The Dyebo School Governing Body (SGB) and some concerned residents of Einfontein instituted proceedings against the mine before the Mpumalanga High Court. The SGB claimed that the mine activities are violating the right of learners and the community to a healthy environment, education and do not uphold the best interests of the child. The High Court ruled in favour of the mine. The Dyebo SGB appealed the matter before the Supreme Court of Appeal, which upheld the decision of the High Court but granted the SGB leave to appeal stating that the matter is constitutional in nature and must be heard by the Constitutional Court. The opposing teams will argue the fictional case as part of the NSMCP. Click here the read more. 
• 11th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2022
  Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, has officially opened the National Rounds of the 11th National Schools Moot Court Programme 2022, which commenced at the University of Pretoria on 6 October 2022. The Programme is a collaboration with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the South African Human Rights Commission, and many other partners. The 2022 Problem Statement has been focused on Learner Pregnancy.  During the Moot proceedings, more than 36 teams identified from across all nine provinces were taken through the preliminary round meant to identify the best two teams that will proceed to the finals, which was held at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on 9 October 2022. Click here the read more. 
• National Schools Moot Court Competition 2021
  The final leg of the competition commenced on the 4th September and ran until the 18th September 2021. The top performers from this round will now participate in the national finals which commence on Wednesday the 6th October 2021 and run until Sunday the 10th October 2021. This final stage of the national competition consists of each team arguing the human rights issue as applicant and respondent respectively. The grand finale was held on Sunday, 10th October 2021. Click here the read more.
• 10th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2020
  The South African Schools Moot is a joint initiative of the Department of Basic Education in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development under the guidance of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), and is supported by the University of Pretoria. The Moot was initiated by the University of Pretoria ten years ago. All high schools in the country are invited to enter a team of two learners, who argue both sides. This Competition provides a unique opportunity for learners to develop their research, writing and oral advocacy skills as they endeavour to come to grips with some of the constitutional issues that are presently facing our country. Participants will be allowed to argue their case in any of the 11 official languages in the oral rounds before judges in an actual court scenario.
  The Applicant argued that: 1. Section 4 of the School Code of Conduct is unconstitutional, and violates the learner’s rights to privacy and basic education in terms of sections 14 and 29 of the Constitution; and 2. The SGB’s decision is unconstitutional as it violates the learner’s right to peaceful assembly in terms of section 17 of the Constitution. The Respondent argued that: 1. Section 4 of the School Code of Conduct is not unconstitutional, and does not violate the learner’s rights to privacy and basic education in terms of sections 14 and 29 of the Constitution; and 2. The SGB’s decision is not unconstitutional and does not violate learner’s right to peaceful assembly in terms of section 17 of the Constitution. Click here the read more.
• 9th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2019
  The DBE, in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the South African Human Rights Commission collaboratively hosted the ninth National Schools Moot Court Competition Finals from 25 to 29 September 2019, at the University of Pretoria and the Constitutional Court. All provincial rounds will be hosted between 12 August and 07 September 2019 with the various provincial coordinators submitting the selected essays to the national coordinators on 27 July 2019. Click here the read more. 
  
  The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr John Jeffery will preside over the 9th National Finals of the Moot Court Competition at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on Sunday, 29 September 2019. The competition was initiated, among others, to empower and encourage learners in Grades 10 and 11 from all the provinces to understand and relate to human rights concepts, values and principles. The competition is hosted by the Department of Basic Education, University of Pretoria, and Foundation for Human Rights as well as the South African Human Rights Commission.
  
  

  Address by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Hon JH Jeffery, MP, at the National Finals of the National Schools Moot Court Competition, held at the Constitutional Court, 29 September 2019

  SAHRC Elated with Team South Africa’s Victory at the Fifth International School Moot Court Competition, 3 Feb 2020
  The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) congratulates the World Moot Court Champions - Team South Africa - on their phenomenal win at the fifth International School Moot Court Competition, which concluded in Gdynia in Poland, on Friday, 31st January 2020.

  At the beginning of 2019, the SAHRC became the lead institution in presenting the National Schools Moot Court Competition (NSMCC) with our main partners being the Department of Basic Education as well as the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, providing an opportunity to grade ten and eleven learners to participate in the NSMCC.

  The Commission sees the NSMCC as the perfect platform for raising human rights awareness among learners, their friends and relatives – with the NSMCC being the major focus of the Commission’s Constitutional promotional mandate of human rights for the 2019/2020 financial year. The NSMCC introduces these learners to the Constitution and human rights.

  The 2019/2020 NSMCC began at the beginning of 2019 with the learners writing an essay on a pre-determined human rights issue. Top performers reached a provincial round which consisted of argumentation around a human rights issue, in a simulated court setting. The top performers from this round then proceeded to participate in the National Finals which commenced on Thursday the 26th September 2019 at the University of Pretoria, and consisted of teams arguing the human rights issue against one another. The grand finale was held on Sunday, 29th September 2019, at the Constitutional Court, Constitutional Hill, Braamfontein. The finalists got the opportunity to argue before real Constitutional and High Court Judges where they demonstrated their thinking and oratory skills as well as their understanding of the Bill of Rights and human rights generally.

  It is this group of finalists who represented Team South Africa in Poland at the International leg of the School Moot Court Competition and won! The team consisted of Sureshka Naidoo and Caitlin Schwarer from Eden College, Nondumiso Ntshangase and Nosipho Dube from Mathubesizwe High School in Kwa-Zulu Natal, as well as Mihlali Precious Stotile and Ondele Bede from Holy Cross; Okhela Sigwela and Lizalise Dlomo from Hudson Park High School, from the Eastern Cape.

  The World Moot Court Champions participated in the the human rights-centred contest where they defeated Team USA from New York City in the final round after earlier wins against competitors from Bulgaria, Romania, Mongolia, St Maarten and Venezuela. The contest simulated litigation before an international tribunal under the moot fact: “Scene of Conflict over the past decade in Tabanath".

  The World Moot Court Champions returned to warm welcome by family, friends, officials and members of the SAHRC on Saturday night, the 1st February 2020.

  The Commission, along with the rest of the nation brims with pride and hope that South Africa’s Constitutional Democracy and respect for human rights remains secure in the hands of future generations, particularly with our youth representing South Africa so well internationally.
  
  Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission
  Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 gbrooks@sahrc.org.za

• 8th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2018
  The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development hosted the 8th Moot Court competition at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on 15 September 2018. The moot court competition is an initiative by the department with the auspices of Department of Basic Education, University of Pretoria, Foundation for Human Rights as well as the South African Human Rights Commission. The competition seeks to create platform for constitutional awareness engagements and encourage the protection and promotion of constitutional values amongst the participating students. Magistrates and Judges preside over this competition as judges.
  • Welcome Address by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Hon JH Jeffery, MP, at the Final Round of the National Schools Moot Court Competition, held at the Constitutional Court, 7 October 2018
  • Justice Department to host 8th Moot Court Competition, 14 September 2018
• 7th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2017 - Invitation, hypothetical case and resource pack, May 2017
  All secondary schools in South Africa are invited to enter a team of two learners.
  
  Teams are provided with the facts of a fictitious case which involves human rights issues under the South African Constitution. Teams are expected to write 2 short essays defending opposite sides of the case. The teams with the highest scores for their essays from each province will be invited to argue the case in an oral round before judges in a real court scenario.
  
  The Final Oral Round is hosted in the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg! The winners of the Final Oral Round will receive financial support toward their first year of study should they choose to study law at any South African university, to
  which they have been admitted. All lawyers - attorneys, advocate, law students, prosecutors, law lecturers, magistrates and judges - are also invited to join the growing number of lawyers who open their doors and assist learners and schools who wish to participate.
  
  

  Address by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Hon JH Jeffery, MP, at the Finals of the National Schools Moot Court Competition, Constitutional Court, 8 October 2017

• 6th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2016

• Deputy Minister Jeffery awards bursaries to Moot Court Competition Winners, 10 Oct 2016
• Address by Deputy Minister Jeffery at the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, 03 Oct 2016
• Deputy Minister Jeffery to deliver an address at the opening of the 6th National Schools Moot Court Competition, 04 Oct 2016
• Regional Office hosts Moot Court Winners, 22 Jan 2016
• SA Wins International Moot Court Competition, Jan 2016
• 5th National Schools Moot Court Competition 2015
  • Deputy Minister Jeffery awards moot court winners with bursaries [12 Oct]
• Fourth National Schools Moot Court Competition for all Secondary Schools in South Africa (grade 11 in 2014) April–October 2014
• Address by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Hon JH Jeffery, MP at the Final Round of the 3rd National Schools Moot Court Competition, held at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, on Sunday, 11 August 2013
• Address by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr A C Nel, on the occasion of the Second National Schools Moot Court Competition. Constitutional Court, 29 April 2012
• Moot Court competition 2012: Entrenching constitutional values and human rights (2012)