These are important revision summary notes to be studied in conjunction with the other study materials. This will save you much needed time in your studies which you can allocate to other modules. These are the kind of revision materials that helps you finish your degree quicker. It worked for me a...
These are
comprehensive
summaries compiled
to get you that
distinction.
,CLA1501
1. The South African Legal System
Law is a social science.
South African Law is not codified: recorded in one comprehensive piece of legislation.
Origin:
• Indigenous legal systems applied at the southernmost tip of Africa before 1652.
• Jan van Riebeeck arrives in Cape Town in 1652 and the adoption of Roman-Dutch
law as a legal system to the Cape.
1.1 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LAW
• Unlike most European continental legal systems, SA law is not codified:
o It is drawn from various authoritative sources
o Such as statutes (legislation) and decided cases
o Occasionally also Roman and Roman-Dutch law.
Roman Law
• 735BC to AD658
• The Law of the Twelve Tables of 449BC were the cornerstone of the future
development of Roman Law
• Attempts to codify the law led to the Corpius Iuris Civilis (body or civil law) which is
still the primary authoritative source or Roman Law.
Roman-Dutch Law
• Roman Law was revised in the Netherlands during the 15 th and 16th centuries and
became mixed with the existing Dutch customary law.
• Some great Roman-Dutch Jurists:
o Hugo de Groot “Father of Roman-Dutch Law”
o Johannes Voet
o Dionysius Godefridus van der Keesel
o Johannes van der Linden
English Law
• After 1814, English Law began to seep into the existing Roman-Dutch system:
o A jury was introduced
o New legislation e.g. criminal often drew on English law
o A number of statutes in existence today are squarely based on English
legislation e.g. Bills of Exchange Act.
1.2 SOURCES OF LAW IN SOUTH AFRICA
• Some are authoritative: courts are bound by authoritative sources
• Others have merely persuasive authority: serves to convince a court to apply or
interpret a rule in a particular way.
Corpus Iuris Civilis: codification of Roman law that is a primary authoritative source on
which South African courts draw when reverting to Roman Law to solve a legal problem.
, Statute law or legislation
• The most important source of law
• Can be explained as the making of law by a competent authority
• To be found in: Statues, Proclamations, Regulations, By Laws.
• The most important piece of legislation:
o The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 or 1996.
The order in which SA law is consulted:
Customary law
• Does not consist of written rules but develops from the habits of the community
and is carried down from generation to generation
• A customary rule will be recognized as a legal rule when:
o It must be reasonable
o It must have existed for a long time
o It must be generally recognized and observed by the community
o It must be certain and clear
Judgments of the Courts
• An authoritative source of law known as case law
• Traditionally divided into superior and lower courts
• More important judgments are reported
The old authorities
• This body of law comprises the common law, i.e. the works of the old writers
referred to above.
Foreign Law
• A judge will to the law of other modern countries if nothing can be found in any of
the above sources
2|Page
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ivann. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R195,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
