Dr Vishal Surbun.
Image: Supplied
Law academic, Dr Vishal Surbun, represented South Africa at a high-level international dialogue on the Indian Ocean held in New Delhi, India, last week.
Surbun, who was born and raised in Asherville in Durban, was nominated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to participate as a South African expert on the law of the sea at the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue convened by the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Hosted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Council of World Affairs, the dialogue brought together diplomats, military officials, strategic experts and academics from across the Indian Ocean region to discuss maritime security, geopolitical instability and regional cooperation.
Surbun, a senior law lecturer at the UKZN School of Law, spent the past 17 years teaching maritime law and shaping the careers of many young South African lawyers in this unique and niche legal field.
He holds both a Master’s and a doctorate in maritime law and has spent nearly two decades researching ocean governance, maritime safety and security issues, particularly in Africa and the Indian Ocean region.
“I am mindful of the privilege and responsibility that comes with being asked to represent South Africa in discussions of this nature. As someone born, raised and living in Durban, a city intrinsically connected to the Indian Ocean, it was especially meaningful to contribute to discussions on maritime security and the legal frameworks governing one of the world’s most strategically important regions,” said Surbun.
He delivered remarks during a high-level session on maritime security and safety alongside international experts from India, Singapore and Australia.
His intervention focused on the international legal frameworks governing maritime security, freedom of navigation and regional cooperation amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz.
“For South Africa, as a maritime nation with a long coastline on the Indian Ocean, the stability of this region is directly tied to our trade, energy security and economic wellbeing. That is why strong legal frameworks, regional cooperation, and effective implementation of international law are essential to safeguarding maritime routes and maintaining peace and stability,” he said.
His presentation to the delegates and ministerial officials also incorporated detailed maritime charts to illustrate contemporary security and legal developments affecting the Indian Ocean.
Delegates attending the dialogue included IORA Secretary-General Ambassador Sanjiv Ranjan, senior policymakers, defence officials and academics from across member states.
Reflecting on the experience, Surbun said the opportunity highlighted the growing importance of South African scholarship and expertise in shaping conversations on international maritime governance and security in the Indian Ocean region.