New team, new plans: The newly elected BLA Student Chapter executive council. (Five more members were not available to take the photo) Photo: Nqobile Dludla
The newly elected Black Lawyers Association (BLA) Wits Student Chapter executive council said it was ready to earn the confidence it needs from law students.
This comes just weeks after the rigorous LSC elections produced candidates aimed at accelerating student development and improving services in the Law school. The newly elected BLA executive council was announced last Thursday, March, 19.
Among other things Zareef Minty, chairperson, said the new executive council intends to prioritise innovative student development through mentorship programmes.
“The BLA allows students to develop the opportunity to get involved with meeting advocates, following and seeing how procedure is done practically before getting into fourth year of your degree,” said Minty.
Through a series of educational activities, the BLA intends to create a line of communication between students and the legal profession and promote integration between the two.
Citing the LSC’s Career Week in which big law firms entice potential recruits, Ritondeni Matamela, career liaison officer, said unlike the LSC, their aim is to expose law students to other small firms. “We as the BLA will focus on small firms which are in partnership with our mother body and try to bring them to the students. We want to say to students that you don’t only have to go to the top five law firms; there are many other alternative options available.”
Introducing the 2014 BLA executive council
Chairperson: Zareef Minty
Deputy Chair: Zuko Khoza
Secretary: Palesa Ntentesa
Deputy Secretary: Khwezi Zulu
Treasurer: Sandile Mncwabe
Entertainment: Takudza Muromba
Academic: Mapule Setlaleleng
Career liaison officer: Ritondeni Matamela
Media and publicity: Seadimo Tlale
Community outreach: Vuyo Ngubane
