Community engagement is to be understood as a beneficial service, which draws on legal academic skills and knowledge, provided to individuals, an organisation, a community, (local, regional/sub-state, national, global) or the broader public (e.g. through the media or public lectures) for which one is not remunerated.' (UWC Law Faculty 2020). 

The last part of this definition in terms of remuneration is key in understanding which acts can be defined as community engagement or not. I define it as sharing expertise with the community without financial reward. The reward for me is the sharing of knowledge and experience so that all may benefit. I am of the opinion that knowledge should shared so that all may benefit, and reap the rewards of knowledge this I think ties in the concept of Ubuntu. 

'Competence, achievement and/or excellence in respect of community engagement may be demonstrated, among others, with reference to the following:

• • • a record of activities which bring the benefits of academic research and teaching to the wider community, e.g. through engaged scholarship such as lectures, publications, advice, and roadshows demonstrating the civic responsibility towards the community.

    • fundraising for projects that involve legal research to the benefit of communities and policy development

    • engagement in community-based education

    • strategic research for the public benefit, which

      • • (a) is aimed at an enhanced understanding of a given phenomenon,

        • (b) combines knowledge with action to achieve social change, and

        • (c) improves and enhances the well-being of communities.

    • awards or other public recognition for community service.' (UWC Law Faculty 2020). 

Street Law Project - SL

Simply put, the main objective for Street Law, as a social justice initiative, is to empower those members of society, who because of their current position/circumstances in life, would have no knowledge of their rights. Examples of such categories of people include juveniles, indigent members of society and abused women and children. This empowerment is achieved by informing them of their rights.  Pre-Covid SL would cater to juvenile centres/schools and speak on topics such as statutory rape or whichever topic was relevant to the group we were addressing. SL has taken a more outreach-based approach for the past two years due to the ongoing pandemic and as such,  we’ve focused on community outreaches (pad/food drives). We’re in the process of going back to servicing the network we’ve had pre-pandemic while maintaining the outreach component to Street Law. 

My role in Street Law is to act as a supervisor inspecting the students' talks and slides and giving advice on to improve or to correct any mistakes. I am not a specialists in all, but where possible I try to assist where possible. Having worked for a legal firm in Elsies River, I am too familiar with what happens on the ground.

TALKING POINTS

• The discussions centered around the recent divorced amendments that was signed into force. 

• The limitations and consequences for the Muslim women in South Africa. 

• Discussing the interplay between marriage, divorvce, and the new amendments.

• In addition, are Muslim marriages now recognised, as there is much confusion within the Muslim community at that this moment in time.

• Lastly, what does hold for the future of the recognition of Muslim marriages, as well as, the consequences relating to divorce proceedings in the normal courts. 

• Lastly, what will be the role of the Muslim Judicial Council in all of this.