IOS2601/101/3//2023

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2023

Name of module
IOS2601

Semesters 1 and 2

Name of department
Public, Constitutional and International Law

This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ........................................................................................... 5
4 CONTACTING THE UNIVERSITY VIA EMAIL ............................................................................. 6
5 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 6
5.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 College of Law Information Centre ................................................................................................ 7
5.4 University ...................................................................................................................................... 7
6 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 8
6.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 8
6.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 8
6.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 8
7 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 9
7.1 Module-specific support initiatives................................................................................................. 9
7.2 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa (only compulsory for NQF level 5 and 6 modules) .... 9
7.3 Companies falsely advertising Unisa services............................................................................. 10
8 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 10
9 PRACTICAL WORK ................................................................................................................... 10
10 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 10
10.1 Assessment criteria..................................................................................................................... 10
10.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 10
10.3 Unique numbers ......................................................................................................................... 11
10.4 Assignment due dates ................................................................................................................ 11
10.5 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 11
10.6 Other assessment methods ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
10.7 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 11

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11 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ........................................................................................................ 11

11.1 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................... 11
11.2 Cheating ..................................................................................................................................... 12
11.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below ................................... 12
12 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES .............................................................................................. 12
13 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 12
14 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 12

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Dear Student

1 INTRODUCTION

Unisa is a comprehensive ODeL higher education institution. The comprehensiveness of our

curricula encapsulates a range of offerings, from strictly vocational to strictly academic
certificates, diplomas and degrees. Unisa's "openness" and its distance eLearning character
result in many students registering at Unisa who may not have had an opportunity to enrol in
higher education. Our ODeL character implies that our programmes are carefully planned and
structured to ensure success for students ranging from the under-prepared but with potential to
the sufficiently prepared.

Teaching and learning in an ODeL context involves multiple modes of delivery ranging from
blended learning to fully online. As a default position, all post graduate programmes are offered
fully online with no printed study materials, while undergraduate programmes are offered in a
blended mode of delivery where printed study materials are augmented with online teaching and
learning via the learner management system – myUnisa. In some instances, undergraduate
programmes are offered fully online as well.

Furthermore, our programmes are aligned with the vision, mission and values of the University.
Unisa's commitment to serve humanity and shape futures combined with a clear appreciation of
our location on the African continent, Unisa's graduates have distinctive graduate qualities which
include

• independent, resilient, responsible and caring citizens who are able to fulfil and serve in
multiple roles in their immediate and future local, national and global communities
• having a critical understanding of their location on the African continent with its histories,
challenges and potential in relation to globally diverse contexts
• the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the credibility and usefulness of information
and data from multiple sources in a globalised world with its ever-increasing information
and data flows and competing worldviews
• how to apply their discipline-specific knowledges competently, ethically and creatively to
solve real-life problems
• an awareness of their own learning and developmental needs and future potential

Whether a module is offered either as blended (meaning that we use a combination of printed
and online material to engage with you) or online (all information is available via the internet), we
use myUnisa as our virtual campus. This is an online system that is used to administer, document
and deliver educational material to you and support engagement with you. Look out for
information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa platforms to determine how to access the
virtual myUnisa module site. Information on the tools that will be available to engage with the
lecturer and fellow students to support your learning will also be communicated via various
platforms.

You are encouraged to log into the module site on myUnisa regularly (that is, at least twice per
week).

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2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose

Interpretation of Statutes is one of the most important legal subjects in the LLB degree. You will
use the skills that you acquire in this module in many other modules as well. In view of the
increasing volume of specialised legislation, a thorough knowledge of the interpretation of statutes
is very important. The aim of the module is to teach you how to interpret legislation. We also give
some attention to the interpretation of the Constitution. In this module you will study different
methods that are (or can be) used to interpret legislation. You must master these methods and
familiarise yourself with the many rules and principles that apply to each.

2.2 Outcomes

To master a new method of doing something is not the same as memorising the content of a new
set of rules. Many students make the mistake of thinking that this module (like most other legal
modules) merely involves the rote learning of new legal rules. However, much more is involved.
Just as a soccer player cannot learn how to play soccer by learning or memorising the rules of
the game, so a lawyer cannot learn how to interpret legislation by merely learning or memorising
a set of rules. Please do not be caught off guard by the unique nature of this course.

Naturally, this does not mean that there is no memory work involved; you still have to master the
basics, and this requires more than merely reading through the material to ensure that you
understand it. You have to be very familiar with it, not merely acquainted with it. (The assignments
will assist you to work through the study material in good time.) Essentially, then, this is a practical
module that is based on certain theoretical principles.

What we require of you is reading and comprehension skills, logical thought and accurate written
expression. All students should concentrate on improving their language skills; the better your
use of language, the more easily you will master the interpretation of legislation. Specific study
objectives are supplied in the study guide.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In
response to this charter, we have placed curriculum transformation high on the teaching and
learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred
scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars
and their principles will be integrated at both programme and module levels as a phased-in
approach. You will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented by
Unisa, together with how the content is conceptualised in your modules. We encourage you to
embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way within the framework
of transformation.

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4 CONTACTING THE UNIVERSITY VIA EMAIL
To assist Unisa to safeguard your personal information, please ensure that you only use your
myLife e-mail account when communicating with the university. We will not be responding to
any emails sent from private email addresses.
By using your myLife e-mail account, the university has a reasonable assurance that we are
communicating with you, as your e-mail address contains your student number and you use your
login credentials to access the account.
Unisa may only communicate with a student using a private e-mail address under the following
circumstances:

• New applicants who are enquiring about information for the purpose of applying for
admission.
• New applicants who do not yet have a myLife e-mail account, because they have been
admitted but not yet registered.
• Where a student requires assistance in resolving myLife e-mail account access
problems.

Please be aware that any personal information you publish on public platforms, such as social
media platforms and WhatsApp groups, is not covered by the provisions of Protection of Personal
Information Act 4 of 2013. Any personal information published in the public domain is not
considered private and can, therefore be accessed by external parties with access to such
platforms.

5 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

5.1 Lecturer(s)

Adv NC Motsumi - malatnc@unisa.ac.za, 012 429 2496

Mr R Lephoto - lephor1@unisa.ac.za, 012 429 8339

Adv ML Padi – epadiml@unisa.ac.za, 012 429 6454

Dr JR Ramages - ramagjr@unisa.ac.za, 012 429 2496

5.2 Department

You may contact the Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law directly on 012
429 2496. E-mail and telephone numbers for all lecturing staff are included above, but you might
also want to write to us at the following address:

The module leader (IOS2601)

Department of Public, Constitutional & International Law

PO Box 392

Unisa

0003
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5.3 College of Law Information Centre

For college-specific queries, please email lawdeanery@unisa.ac.za or

CLAWinquiries@unisa.ac.za. The college can also be contacted by phoning 012 429
4718/4860/6166/3253/4428.
Please send all emails from your mylife email account. If you send an e-mail directly to a
Unisa e-mail address, insert your student number in the subject line to effect the correct routing
to an advisor for processing.
5.4 University

To contact the university, please dial 080 000 1870. Remember to keep your student number at
hand when contacting the university. The Unisa Student Communication Service Centre will be
open weekdays from 08:00 – 16:00 (South African Standard Time).

Please send all emails from your mylife email account. If you send an e-mail directly to a
Unisa e-mail address, insert your student number in the subject line to effect the correct routing
to an advisor for processing. Please check the list carefully and send an enquiry to one e-
mail address only. This will ensure that there is no confusion as to who must respond, thereby
preventing unnecessary delays in the response or the email portrayed as spam. Students should
only forward enquiries to the Registrar and Deputy Registrar in instances where those enquiries
could not be resolved at other levels.

TYPE OF QUERY EMAIL ADDRESS TELEPHONE NUMBER

ICT
myUnisa myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za 012 429 3111 (Option 2)
myLife myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za 012 429 3111 (Option 2)
STUDENT ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATIONS
General applications and registration
study-info@unisa.ac.za
queries
College of Law jus@unisa.ac.za
International students international@unisa.ac.za
Exemptions adhoccredits@unisa.ac.za
Access and matriculation exemption ame@unisa.ac.za
Re-admissions study-info@unisa.ac.za
STUDENT ASSESSMENT ADMINISTRATION
General assignment enquiries assign@unisa.ac.za
General exam queries exams@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
Aegrotat exams aegrotats@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
Exam arrangements for students with examdisabled@unisa.ac.za
012 429 8641
disabilities

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 Exam admission examadmission@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
International students examinternational@unisa.ac.za + 27 12 429 2268
Remarks remark@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
Purchase of an exam script purchasescript@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
FINANCE
Student account enquiries finan@unisa.ac.za 012 429 2441/4299
STUDENT FUNDING
General student funding enquiries letsomp@unisa.ac.za 012 441 5600
STUDY MATERIAL
Despatch enquiries despatch@unisa.ac.za

6 RESOURCES
6.1 Prescribed book(s)

The prescribed textbook for this module is

Botha CJ 2012 Statutory interpretation an introduction for students: 5ed Juta 9780702198588

You may not use any previous editions of the textbook. Prescribed books can be obtained from
the university’s official booksellers. Please refer to the list of official booksellers and their
respective addresses in the Study @ Unisa brochure.

6.2 Recommended book(s)

There are no recommended books for this module.

6.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

There are no recommended books for this module

E-reserves can be downloaded from the Library catalogue. More information is available at:

https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request

6.4 Library services and resources information

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

• For more detailed Library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (eg Personal Librarians and literature search
services), go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support

The Library has created numerous Library guides: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

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Recommended guides:

• Request and find library material/download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability

Important contact information:

• Ask a Librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Technical problems accessing library online services: Lib-help@unisa.ac.za
• General library related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• For queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za

7 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

7.1 Module-specific support initiatives

All information relating to module-specific support initiatives will be made available to you via
myUnisa on the module site.
7.2 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa (only compulsory for NQF level 5 and 6
modules)

For many students, the transition from school education to tertiary education is beset with anxiety.
This is also true for first-time students to Unisa. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and e-learning
institution. Unlike face-to-face/contact institutions, Unisa is somewhat different. It is a mega
university, and all our programmes are offered through a blended learning mode or fully online
learning mode. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support so that you can seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning
journey with little difficulty and few barriers. In this regard we offer a specialised student support
programme to students entering Unisa for the first time. We refer to this programme as Unisa’s
First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme. The FYE is designed to provide you with prompt and
helpful information about services that the institution offers and how you can access information.
The following FYE programmes are currently offered:

• FYE website: All the guides and resources you need to navigate through your first year at
Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE

• FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.

• FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics related to
your first-year studies (eg videos on how to submit assignments online).

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• FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-mail to
fye@unisa.ac.za

7.3 Companies falsely advertising Unisa services

Some companies and social media pages have been falsely advertising Unisa online information
and various services to assist Unisa students. In the process, companies either solicit money
fraudulently from students or make money through online advertising with no benefit to students.
These companies are in no way associated or related to Unisa.
We request that students only use official Unisa sites and platforms as any other platforms will
provide you with incorrect information and/or act illegally which will be harmful to your studies.
Unisa will always use official communication channels (eg Unisa website, myUnisa, Unisa social
media platforms, myLife e-mail) to communicate with students.
Please use the following Unisa platforms for official Unisa information:

• www.unisa.ac.za
• https://my.unisa.ac.za
• https://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfSouthAfrica
• https://twitter.com/unisa
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/unisa

8 STUDY PLAN
Use your Study @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills.

9 PRACTICAL WORK
There are no practicals for this module.

10 ASSESSMENT
10.1 Assessment criteria

There are two compulsory assignments and one self-evaluation assignment for each semester.
There is one two hour examination at the end of each semester.

10.2 Assessment plan

Assignments are seen as part of the learning material for this module. As you do the assignment,
study the reading texts, consult other resources, discuss the work with fellow students or tutors
or do research, you are actively engaged in learning.
PLEASE NOTE: Enquiries about assignments (e.g. whether or not the University has
received your assignment or the date on which an assignment was returned to you) must
be addressed to the Assignments Section of the University and not to lecturers.
The compulsory assignments will count 20% towards your final mark for the module; 10% for the
first assignment (Assignment 1) and 10% for the second assignment (Assignment 2).

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Your final mark for the module will be a combination of your marks for the assignments and your
examination mark. However, before your assignment marks will be taken into account in
calculating your final mark, you have to obtain at least 40% in the examination. A student who
obtains 38% or 39% in the examination and has a combined assignment mark of 15, will therefore
not pass the module because his or her mark is below the 40% subminimum, and his or her
assignment marks will not be taken into account.

Both assignments count towards your final mark and must be submitted for evaluation. Students
who submit the compulsory assignments in time (that is, before or on the closing dates for
submission) will be admitted to the examination regardless of the marks they obtain for the
assignment. In other words, a student who submitted the compulsory assignments, but obtained
0%, will be allowed to sit for the examination. Such a student will, however, not have a year mark.
Students who do not submit the compulsory assignments before or on the closing dates will not
be admitted to write the examination. Please start and complete your assignments well in time.
Do not let unexpected illnesses or other personal traumas stand between you and admission to
the examination.

10.3 Unique numbers

Assignments are no longer given unique numbers.

10.4 Assignment due dates

• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the landing page of myUnisa for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.

• Please start working on your assignments as soon as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for the
submission of the assignments.

10.5 Submission of assignments

All information on when and where to submit your assignments will be made available to you via
the myUnisa site for your module.

10.6 The examination

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the University.

11 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
11.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft which involves several dishonest academic activities, such as the
following:
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 • Cutting and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including or using incorrect references.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.
11.2 Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying from another student

during an assessment or allowing a student to copy from you.
• Using social media (eg WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files.
• Buying completed answers from “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).
11.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

12 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Student with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with new and returning students with disabilities.
If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact the university by sending an email to
examdisabled@unisa.ac.za, so that you can be assisted. In your email include the name of the
module(s) that you are currently registered for.
For content-related queries, please send an email to ( malatnc@unisa.ac.za,
lephor1@unisa.ac.za, epadiml@unisa.ac.za, ramagjr@unisa.ac.za, )

13 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please refer to the Study @ Unisa brochure which contains an A-Z guide of the most

relevant study information.

14 IN CLOSING
Please contact us if you experience any problems with the module. We wish you success in

your studies and trust that you find this course stimulating and useful.

Your lecturers:

ADV. NC MOTSUMI,

MR. R LEPHOTO

ADV. ML PADI

DR. J RAMAGES

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