Unisa online - College of Law hosts prominent academic

The Department of Mercantile Law’s lecture series hosted an acclaimed international academic on 22 May 2012. Prof Benjamin Geva was invited to chair a seminar on the theme “Innovation and Crisis Management Payment Systems, Payment Laws and Central Banking at the Cross-roads.” 

Prof Geva is based at the Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada. He specialises in commercial, financial and banking law, particularly in payment and credit instruments, electronic banking and the regulation of the payment system. He has served legislative committees and drafting working groups in the areas of personal property security, transfers letters of credits and independent guarantees and payment law in both Canada and the United States. Other notable achievements include his Osgoode faculty membership since 1997 and being the founding editor-in-chief of the Banking and Finance Law Review (BFLR).

Prof Geva’s lecture focused on Canada’s central bank while also making reference to South Africa’s reserve bank, which is tasked with achieving and maintaining price stability as well as sustainable economic growth. He drew attention to the fact that technology was now playing an increasing role in payments and that cellular phones are fast becoming mobile banks in their own way. Other issues he discussed included legislative framework changes, public oversight and regulatory bodies and how the global financial crisis had shaken public confidence in central banks. “The role of central banks is becoming more complicated and they are taking more risks. Politics now plays a greater role in economic stability,” he said.

Prof Geva has a reputation around the world as being an expert in his field.

There was a strong turnout for Prof Geva’s seminar.

Prof Jopie Pretorius (Banking Law) listening intently during the lecture.