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*PRIMARY SOURCES: These are sources that have a binding authority and where the law
ORIGINATES.
*SECONDARY SOURCES: These sources have a little persuasive authority which assist people to
understand the law.
*The most vital source of the South African Law is the CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA, 1996.
3.1. CONSTITUTION
*This is known as the SEPERATION OF POWERS, which ensures that none of the branches of the
government abuses its power.
*The constitution contains Bill of Rights meaning the constitution provides general norm which
has a direct pr indirect influence on all sources of the law.
*It have a direct influence on legislation in the awareness that a legislation that is in conflict with
the constitution can be struck down by courts.
*The constitution has a less direct influence in other sources of the law.
*It incorporates the principles of international human rights law as a source of our law.
3.2. LEGISLATION
2.JUDICIAL REVIEW( TESTING RIGHTS OF THE COURTS): *A testing right is provided to court by the
INTERIM CONSTUTITION and FINAL
CONSTUTITION.
*Both constitution contain a bill of rights which have rights that implicit
the acknowledgement of the freedom, equality, and human dignity of all persons.
*The constitution refrain other statutes from violating the rights and seeks to
entrench them.
*The constitution elevates itself and the Bill of Rights to a general standard form against which all
legislation can be tested.
*The Constitution is the SUPREME LAW and any Act that is in conflict with it is invalid.
*The constitution also provides for the start of a Constitutional Court which is the HIGHEST COURT to
adhere to, and which has the final say in such matters.
* CONSTITUTIONALISM means the constitution is SOVEREIGN.
3.SUNSET CLAUSES: *The legislation can come to an end due to sunset clause.
*This happens when the constitution hold a clause specifying that the legislation
will stop
being in effect on a certain date.
(A).REFERENCE TO A STATUTE
*Every year the parliament passes many laws.
*It is often necessary to make reference to the statutes as follows:
C). IS IT A FORCE?
*A statute often come into force on publication if nothing is mentioned in it, but it often come into force
later.
*The later date is either specified or stated in that it will come into force when the president publicize a
date in the GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
*The date on which an Act came into force is given on the first page of the existing legislation.
(d). IS IT UPDATED?
*Laws are from time to time amended because of the omissions in existing legislation are identified and
also for the purpose of accounting for the developments in society.
*A majority of statutes are augmented by subsequent notices in which detailed implementations of
aspect of the law is spelled out.
(1). THE LITERAL APPROACH: *This approach believes that the golden rule of interpretation is to
discover the intention of the
legislature.
*This is mostly done if the words in the statute are clear and explicit .
*The literal meaning of words is followed if the ordinary meaning of the
words is used and the result
is not ridiculous.
*A person can turn to SECONDARY AIDS of interpretation only in cases
where the literal meaning is
unclear, ambiguous, or would lead to absurd outcomes.
*This approach to statutory interpretation is eventually informed by the
legal positivist concern that
orders from the legislature, and must be respected and sternly interpreted
by judges.
(2). THE PURPOSIVE APPROACH: *Characterized by a concern with putting the 'TEXT IN CONTENT'
*The purpose of the legislation is an analytic consideration in this
approach of interpreting.
*It does not suppose that an unambiguous, clear meaning of a text
necessarily reflects the
purpose of that text.
*In this model the purpose is inevitably crucial and relevant; not just in
cases of absurd outcomes
*Judges are not seen as robots that apply the law in a stern, nearly
mathematical manner.
*THE LAW OUGHT TO BE PURPOSIVELY INTERPRETED.
(B). PRESUMPTIONS
*A presumption is a ruling common sense applied consistently that has gained the status of presumed
truth.