Statutory

Interpretation: An
Introduction for Students
(eBook)
Edition: 5th Edition
Publication date: 2012
Author/Editors:
eISBN: 9780702199530
Format: eBook
Number of Pages: 250 Pages
Retail price: R324.35 (incl. VAT)
Website Link: juta.co.za/pdf/23599/

About this Publication:

Interpretation of statutes is about understanding enacted law-texts, that is, making sense of the legislative scheme
applicable to the situation at hand. Statutory Interpretation: An Introduction for Students aims to teach students to
interpret and apply legislation within the total legal environment.

Part 1 (‘Statute law’) introduces students to the different types and categories of legislation, the structural components of
legislation, the sometimes confusing ‘codes’ used in legislative texts, and the challenges of applying old order legislation
together with new legislation. Part 2 (‘How legislation is interpreted’) comprises a chapter on the theoretical foundations
of interpretation and an overview of the basic approaches to statutory interpretation in South Africa, and a chapter
dealing with the practical application of the rules of interpretation. Part 3 (‘Judicial law-making during interpretation, and
peremptory and directory provisions’) deals with day-to-day applications, and Part 4 is a basic introduction to
constitutional interpretation. Students are also introduced to less well-known aspects of statutory interpretation, such as
deeming clauses, the suspension of legislation, sunset clauses, legalese, and the counter-majoritarian difficulty.

The fifth edition of Statutory Interpretation: An Introduction for Students is a user-friendly introduction to the basic
principles of statutory interpretation. It is aimed mainly at undergraduate students, but practitioners will also find it
useful. The rules and principles of statutory interpretation are explained using hypothetical situations and practical
examples from case law and legislation. A supplementary CD containing the full text of the Constitution of the Republic of
South Africa, 1996 and the Interpretation Act 33 of 1957 is included.

Contents Include:

Part 1: Statute law

General introduction
The term ‘legislation’
Is it in force? The commencement of legislation
Is it still in force? Changes to and the demise of legislation
Part 2: How legislation is interpreted
 Theoretical foundations
A practical, inclusive methodology: the five interrelated dimensions of interpretation
Part 3: Some practical issues and tricks of the trade: judicial law-making during interpretation, and peremptory and
directory provisions
Judicial law-making during concretisation
Peremptory and directory provisions
Part 4: Constitutional interpretation
Bibliography
Table of cases
Index

Of Interest and Benefit to:

Students
Academics
Parliamentary committees
Practitioners
A thorough and user-friendly introduction to the basic principles of statutory interpretation.