Like father, like son. In what could be a first for UCT, Neville Rubin is graduating with an LLD in statute law, the same variety of doctorate that his father, Leslie Rubin, obtained from UCT almost 50 years ago.

The degree is awarded for scholarly contributions, either for a thesis or for publications contributed during an entire career. Rubin junior will receive his for published work on African law and international labour law.

Rubin, 72, recalls with amusement how his father would vote for him in elections when he was president of the Student Representative Council from 1956 to 1958, as he was also president of the National Union of South African Students. At the time his father was a Senator, while also lecturing part-time to final year law students.

Rubin taught African law at UCT and at London University and his major three-volume work, The Code of International Labour Law, was inspired by his 20 years of service with the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, New York, Windhoek and New Delhi.

He is currently doing research on the history of his former student organisation, NUSAS.