Dr Curtly Stevens

Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr Curtly Stevens is a post-doctoral researcher at the Dullah Omar Institute in the SARChI Chair in Multilevel Government, Law and Development, at the University of the Western Cape. He holds both an LL.B degree, awarded (summa cum laude), and an LL.M degree, earned (cum laude), from the University of the Western Cape. His outstanding academic performance has earned him a place on the Dean’s Merit List for four consecutive years and recognition as one of the top three best-performing LL.B students for the class of 2017.

In 2024, Dr Stevens completed his doctoral thesis titled “Towards a Suitable Regulatory Framework for the Effective Performance of Municipalities in South Africa”. This groundbreaking work delves into the challenges posed by the overregulation of municipalities in South Africa. Through meticulous research and analysis, the thesis asserts that South African municipalities face significant hurdles due to excessive legislative regulation. To address this issue, Dr Stevens developed a constitutional-based regulatory scrutiny model aimed at assessing whether legislation affecting municipalities is appropriately designed to achieve its intended purpose.

The thesis makes a considerable contribution to the scholarship on supervision and regulation, particularly in the domain of better regulatory practices. Furthermore, it aims to inform and enhance the South African Law Reform Commission Project 146, underscoring Dr Stevens’s commitment to driving impactful legal reforms.

Beyond his research endeavours, Dr Stevens is actively involved in shaping the minds of the next generation of legal scholars and practitioners. He teaches and supervises postgraduate students, focusing on critical areas such as local government, multilevel governance, administrative law, and constitutional law.

Dr Stevens has contributed to both national and international conferences, where he has presented his research findings on regulatory environments and local governments. His presentations often explore the regulatory frameworks within South Africa and extend to comparative analyses with other jurisdictions, broadening the scope and impact of his work.

In addition to his conference engagements, Dr Stevens has participated in numerous funded and applied research projects. These projects have addressed diverse topics, including corruption, public procurement, and transparent governance, reflecting his versatility and dedication to addressing pressing societal and institutional challenges.