Class notes
First semester Constitutional Law notes (Week one to thirteen)
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This is a comprehensive document containing a summary of lectures one to thirteen. It includes textbook notes on over 15 different cases.
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ContentsTHE BIRTH OF THE 1996 CONSTITUTION.......................................................................................3
Characteristics that are unique to the 1996 Constitution (Klare):.................................................3
CONSTITUTIONALISM AND THE DECOLONIAL CRITIQUE (MODIRI)................................................3
THE CONSTITUTION AS A DESCRIPTIVE PROJECT...........................................................................4
THE CONSTITUTION AS A PRESCRIPTIVE PROJECT.........................................................................4
What is the separation of powers doctrine?..................................................................................4
What is the rule of law as per Dicey and S 1(3) of the constitution?.............................................4
THE LEGISLATURE..........................................................................................................................4
THE EXECUTIVE..............................................................................................................................4
THE JUDICIARY...............................................................................................................................5
UDM v Speaker of the National Assembly.....................................................................................5
EFF vs Speaker of the National Assembly:.....................................................................................6
EFF v Speaker of the NA:................................................................................................................6
DOCTORS FOR LIFE.........................................................................................................................7
What is the required scope of public involvement?......................................................................7
What is the structure of parliament?.............................................................................................7
Rules regarding the operation of parliament:................................................................................8
The Democratic Alliances Case:.....................................................................................................9
How does the NA make decisions?................................................................................................9
What happens after a Bill is passed?...........................................................................................10
THE EXECUTIVE............................................................................................................................10
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT............................................................................11
PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC VS HUGO..............................................................................................11
PRESIDENT OF RSA v OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR...........................................................11
END OF TERMS AND REMOVAL OF PRESIDENT............................................................................11
Checks, balances, and the separation of powers.........................................................................11
Judicial review:.............................................................................................................................11
SAFRU CASE.................................................................................................................................12
JUSTICE ALLIANCE OF SA v THE PRESIDENT OF RSA AND OTHERS...............................................12
CORRUPTION WATCH..................................................................................................................12
ALBUTT v CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE AND RECONCILLIATION AND OTHERS............13
DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE v PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA AND OTHERS (Simelane):...................13
THE JUDICIARY.............................................................................................................................13
1
,Nkandla:.......................................................................................................................................14
S v DODO.....................................................................................................................................14
The democratic illegitimacy argument:........................................................................................14
The polycentric argument:...........................................................................................................14
COMPONENTS OF JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE...............................................................................14
The appointment of judge’s vs magistrates:................................................................................15
The Van Rooyen case:..................................................................................................................15
How to determine whether a court requires more or less independence:..................................15
The test for structural independence:.........................................................................................15
The appointment of judges:.........................................................................................................15
JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION AND ANOTHER v CAPE BAR COUNCIL AND ANOTHER:............16
HELEN SUZMAN...........................................................................................................................16
The JSC and electing candidates:.................................................................................................16
CRITERIA FOR APOINTING JUDGES BY JSC:..................................................................................16
CHPATER 9 INSTITUTIONS............................................................................................................17
Constitutional provisions securing the independence of Ch 9 Institutions:.................................17
Securing independence through the appointment process:........................................................17
Securing independence through removal process:......................................................................17
SA as a quasi-federalist state:......................................................................................................18
Models of federalism:..................................................................................................................18
Cooperation in progress:.............................................................................................................18
What are the competences of the spheres?................................................................................18
S 104 PROVINCIAL LEGISLATIVE COMPETENCE............................................................................18
S 44 NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMPETENCE.................................................................................18
S 156 THE LOCAL SPHERE.............................................................................................................19
The Pith and Substance Test........................................................................................................19
Finding legislative competence: the liquor Bill case.....................................................................19
2
, WEEK ONE
THE BIRTH OF THE 1996 CONSTITUTION
To gain international support, the ANC adopted constitutional guidelines, including the Bill of
Rights. The ANC, PAC, and SACP were unbanned. The declaration of intent was signed. 1
CODESA was formed and replaced by the MPNF. These served to perpetuate negotiations for
peace. It resulted in Joe Slovo’s two-stage transitioning process. This process was one of power
sharing and allowed the NP to remain part of government for 5 years, after which a
constitutional assembly would create a constitution to be adopted by elected representatives
(had to comply with 34 principles – made up of NA and NCOP – required 2/3 majority vote or
referendum of 60% vote).
Characteristics that are unique to the 1996 Constitution (Klare):
- Social rights and a substantive concept of equality
- Affirmative state duties (The constitution employs a positive obligation on the
government to combat poverty and promote social welfare, as well as other
constitutional rights.
- Horizontality (state ⇅ citizens- state must not interfere, citizens are bound to obey and
respect rights of others).
- Participatory governance
- Multiculturalism
- Historical self-consciousness
BASIC CONCEPTS
Constitutionalism: This refers to the written supreme constitution to which a government must
adhere. It includes basic values such as the separation of powers, rule of law, democratic self-
governance, protection of human rights, and the existence of an independent judiciary.
South African constitutionalism: This refers to the system of constitutional supremacy
which s 2 of the constitution demands compliance with. It replaced the Westminster system and is
founded on the following values: human dignity, equality, advancement of HR and freedoms, non-
racialism, non-sexism, supremacy, rule of law, suffrage national common voters roll, regular multi
party democratic gov, accountability, responsiveness, openness.
CONSTITUTIONALISM AND THE DECOLONIAL CRITIQUE (MODIRI)
The decolonial critique argues that the concepts on which the constitution is based is
transplanted from north American, hegemonic worldviews and that a new model ought to be
envisioned.
- Modiri argues that the current approach starts the south African story at the point at which
the settlers arrived, effectively erasing black history which preceded that. This is arguably a
mere continuation of colonialism.
- He also criticises the fact that the constitution subordinates’ customary law.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTITUTION IS BOTH DESCRIPTIVE AND PRESCRIPTIVE:
1
Where all parties agreed to one united SA with a supreme constitution
3
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