Professor Jaap de Visser Appointed Non-Resident Fellow at Forum of Federations and Cited in Landmark Constitutional Court Judgment

We are proud to announce that Professor Jaap de Visser, a leading authority on multilevel government and constitutional law, has been appointed as a Non-Resident Fellow at the Forum of Federations.

In this role, he will provide strategic guidance on the organisation's research and programme agenda, contributing his extensive expertise to the advancement of federalism and decentralisation globally.

Professor de Visser's appointment reflects his significant contributions to the field, including his scholarly work on local government and intergovernmental relations. His insights have been instrumental in shaping policy and legal frameworks in South Africa and beyond.

Further underscoring his impact, Professor de Visser's research was extensively cited in a recent Constitutional Court judgment: South African Municipal Workers’ Union v Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Another [2025] ZACC 4. The Court referenced his work in its analysis of the constitutional validity of certain provisions in the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, highlighting the relevance and authority of his scholarship in contemporary legal discourse.

Professor de Visser currently holds the position of National Research Chair in Multilevel Government, Law and Development at the Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape. His ongoing research continues to influence the development of effective and equitable governance structures.

We extend our congratulations to Professor de Visser on these significant achievements, recognising his dedication to advancing democratic governance and the rule of law.