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The Centre for Law in Action (CLA, previously known as ISGAD) operates as an Institute under the auspices of the Faculty of Law in terms of general university policy relating to community engagement and entrepreneurship. The purpose is to allow academics, professionals and practitioners to pool their knowledge and skills within the context of a sound legal, financial and socially acceptable structure. This approach is also directed at ensuring the maximization of benefits to all involved, and the effective application of all resources placed at its disposal by donors, funders and clients. Further aims are to optimise accountability and responsibility, to serve the community, and to grow and develop skills and expertise.

The primary goal of the Institute is to improve the levels of service delivery by the different sheres of govenment through effective implementation of existing legislation and to increase access to justice for the less fortunate sections of society through:

  • The improvement of the skills and capacity of those who are involved in public affairs, and who can make a contribution towards improving good Governance.
  • Assisting public authorities to implement and enforce legislation to effectively manage public problems and issues.
  • Assisting communities to improve their quality of life through creating access to legal resources.
  • Improvement of Local Government, by increasing the effectiveness of councillors and officials.
  • Making the results of technical reports available for the benefit of communities and society at large and engaging appropriate government departments, NGO's and CBD's.

These objectives are primarily pursued through training, research, development of technology and advisory services provided to structures and communities identified by stakeholders, or through a process of directed targeting by sponsors or donor agencies.

Key considerations include the following:

 

  • The university is a public tertiary body with civic responsibility. It has an enormous interest in the effectiveness and performance of all governmental and other institutions that impact upon society.
  • The Institute is an integral part of an effective structure that ensures effective management and control. It is inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional.
  • The Institute is managed by an academic manager with sufficient status, experience and skills in order to ensure academic credibility and the achievement of objectives. His experience includes the writing of legal opinions (as an advocate) on government matters upon the receipt of instructions from attorneys, being a facilitator for the Hans Seidel Foundation, managing the Institute, the publication of academic articles, the writing of proclamations and the drafting of legislation. He is a rated researcher registered with the South African National Research Foundation.
  • The Director of ILA has managed a wide variety of projects ranging from the Office of the Premier of the Eastern Cape, DFID, IPSP, USAID, the Department of Local Government and Housing, NGO’s, Services SETA and a number of local authorities in the Eastern and Western Cape.
  • The team has an intimate knowledge of municipalities and their methods of operation.
  • The University has a wide pool of highly qualified personnel and staff from which expertise and assistance can be drawn. It has a well-developed procurement department that is a member of the Purchasing Consortium Southern Africa and possesses sound financial management and audit departments through which compliance with healthy financial practice is ensured.
  • The Institute forms alliances with other academic institutions and private concerns for the purpose of drawing upon intellectual expertise, to develop intellectual capacity and to prevent duplication.
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