ADV. FREDDIE KHUNOU

Background and Previous Experience

Adv Khunou was law researcher at the North-West University (Mahikeng campus). He is currently a member and director of the Thabure group under the Polokwane Society of Advocates (“POLSA”). Prior to becoming a member of POLSA, Adv Khunou lectured at the North West University (Mafikeng Campus) where he subsequently became the Head of Department of Public Law and Legal Philosophy and Acting Director of the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research respectively.  Adv Khunou has several publications and book chapters to his credit in the areas of customary law, land and property law and constitutional law. He also published a book titled Mountains of Spirit: The Story of the Royal Bakwena ba Mogopa of the North West, South Africa.

In 2011, Adv Khunou was appointed as an associate professor in the school of law at the North-West University (Mafikeng campus). He has been involved in a number of research projects on traditional communities and leadership programmes, local government, constitutional issues, communal land rights and ownership disputes. He is currently an Extraordinary Associate Professor at the North West University.

In 2012, Adv Khunou, while on sabbatical leave from the University, successfully completed his pupilage and passed the National Bar Examination at the Pretoria Society of Advocates (PSA).

In 2018 and 2019, Adv Khunou served as a pupillage programme co-ordinator and ex officio member of the Polokwane Bar Council. Amongst others, his duties included the teaching and training of pupils, reporting the activities of the programme to the Bar Council and the overall administration of the pupillage.

Qualifications

Adv Khunou holds the following degrees: a B Juris (Unibo) LLB (UNW), LLM (UNW) obtained from the erstwhile University of Bophuthatswana and the University of North West respectively. He also holds a Teaching Diploma in Education (Moretele College of Education). Following his postgraduate studies in Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) later the North-West University (Potch campus), he was awarded degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) in 2007. Adv. Khunou also obtained a Certificate of Research Capacity and Initiative from the Institute of South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD).

Fields of expertise

Adv Khunou’s areas of expertise include:

• Traditional communities and leadership law,
• Customary law,
• Administrative and Constitutional law,
• Land and Property law,
• Local Government law and
• Labour law.