‭INTRODUCTION TO LAW – LAWS1011A‬ ‭A.

‬ ‭False‬
‭Revision tutorial for semester test 2‬ ‭B.‬ ‭True.‬
‭Block 2 – 2024‬
‭MEMO‬ ‭QUESTION THREE:‬

‭Choose the correct answer:‬

‭A.‬ ‭The‬ ‭common‬ ‭law‬ ‭principle‬‭of‬‭‘Res‬‭ipsa‬‭loquitur’‬‭is‬‭based‬‭on‬‭the‬‭idea‬‭that‬‭an‬

‭SECTION‬ ‭A:‬ ‭MULTIPLE‬ ‭CHOICE‬ ‭QUESTIONS‬ ‭–‬ ‭CHOOSE‬ ‭THE‬ ‭CORRECT‬ ‭expert‬ ‭witnesses‬ ‭will‬ ‭testify‬ ‭in‬ ‭court‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭evidence‬ ‭is‬ ‭beyond‬‭the‬‭common‬

‭ANSWER‬ ‭understanding of a person.‬

‭B.‬ ‭‘Res‬ ‭ipsa‬ ‭loquitur’‬ ‭means‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭matter‬ ‭speaks‬ ‭for‬ ‭itself‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭facts‬ ‭are‬

‭QUESTION ONE:‬ ‭based of the common human experience and not common sense.‬

‭Choose the incorrect answer pertaining to legal argument and logic:‬

‭C.‬ ‭The‬‭common‬‭law‬‭principle‬‭of‬‭‘Res‬‭ipsa‬‭loquitur’‬‭means‬‭that‬‭the‬‭facts‬‭are‬

‭A.‬ ‭Factual‬‭findings‬‭are‬‭made‬‭up‬‭of‬‭credibility‬‭of‬‭witnesses,‬‭the‬‭presumptions‬‭that‬ ‭based‬‭of‬‭common‬‭sense‬‭and‬‭human‬‭experience,‬‭thus,‬‭the‬‭matter‬‭speaks‬

‭assist‬ ‭in‬ ‭proving‬ ‭facts‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭well-known‬‭facts‬‭which‬‭the‬‭presiding‬‭officer‬ ‭for itself.‬

‭may take judicial notice of such facts.‬

‭B.‬ ‭Factual‬ ‭findings‬ ‭depend‬ ‭only‬ ‭on‬ ‭whether‬ ‭the‬ ‭presiding‬ ‭officer‬ ‭takes‬ ‭QUESTION 4‬

‭judicial‬ ‭notice‬ ‭of‬ ‭well-known‬ ‭facts,‬ ‭which‬ ‭renders‬ ‭the‬ ‭credibility‬ ‭of‬
‭witnesses and presumptions irrelevant.‬ ‭Johns‬ ‭drinking‬ ‭and‬ ‭driving‬ ‭led‬ ‭to‬ ‭his‬ ‭impaired‬ ‭ability‬ ‭to‬ ‭drive.‬ ‭As‬ ‭a‬ ‭result,‬ ‭John‬
‭crashed‬ ‭his‬ ‭vehicle‬ ‭into‬ ‭a‬ ‭nearby‬ ‭bookstore.‬ ‭Such‬ ‭negligence‬ ‭can‬ ‭be‬ ‭deduced‬ ‭as‬

‭C.‬ ‭Factual‬‭findings‬‭are‬‭made‬‭up‬‭of‬‭the‬‭credibility‬‭of‬‭witnesses,‬‭the‬‭presumptions‬ ‭follows:‬

‭created‬ ‭to‬ ‭prove‬ ‭or‬ ‭disprove‬ ‭facts‬ ‭and‬ ‭judicial‬ ‭notice‬ ‭taken‬ ‭by‬ ‭a‬ ‭presiding‬
‭judge.‬ ‭A.‬ ‭Res‬‭ipsa‬‭loquitur-‬‭it‬‭is‬‭common‬‭cause‬‭that‬‭John’s‬‭negligence‬‭of‬‭drinking‬
‭and driving caused him to crash into the bookstore.‬

‭QUESTION TWO:‬ ‭B.‬ ‭The‬‭cashier‬‭that‬‭sold‬‭the‬‭alcohol‬‭to‬‭John‬‭will‬‭be‬‭a‬‭credible‬‭witness‬‭in‬‭court‬‭as‬

‭the‬‭presiding‬‭officer‬‭will‬‭deduce‬‭from‬‭nothing‬‭but‬‭the‬‭fact‬‭that‬‭the‬‭cashier‬‭sold‬

‭Presumptions‬‭do‬‭not‬‭allow‬‭for‬‭a‬‭rebuttal‬‭through‬‭evidence‬‭by‬‭the‬‭opposing‬‭party‬‭and‬ ‭the alcohol to john.‬

‭therefore, presumptions created by one party are final.‬

‭C.‬ ‭Both A and B are correct.‬

‭1‬ ‭2‬

‭There‬ ‭is‬ ‭no‬‭difference‬‭between‬‭a‬‭‘premise’‬‭and‬‭a‬‭‘conclusion’‬‭as‬‭both‬‭concepts‬‭are‬

‭similar in application.‬
‭QUESTION 5‬
‭A.‬ ‭False‬
‭Justice‬ ‭Davis‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭of‬‭Appeal‬‭writes‬‭an‬‭article‬‭in‬‭the‬‭South‬‭African‬ ‭B.‬ ‭True.‬
‭Law‬ ‭Journal‬ ‭tiled‬ ‭“‭T
‬ he‬ ‭Appropriate‬ ‭Sentences‬ ‭for‬ ‭Child‬ ‭Offenders”‬‭.‬ ‭The‬ ‭journal‬
‭article has been endorsed by many judges in their judgements. Such an article is:‬
‭QUESTION 8‬
‭A.‬ ‭Secondary source of law.‬
‭B.‬ ‭Primary source of law.‬ ‭Choose the incorrect option:‬
‭C.‬ ‭Both a primary or secondary source of law.‬
‭A.‬ ‭Boundaryless‬ ‭arguments‬ ‭are‬ ‭those‬ ‭arguments‬ ‭that‬ ‭are‬ ‭indirect‬ ‭and‬ ‭avoid‬
‭confronting and discussing issues.‬
‭QUESTION 6‬
‭B.‬ ‭Although‬ ‭boundaryless‬ ‭arguments‬ ‭confront‬ ‭issues‬ ‭directly‬ ‭they‬ ‭seem‬
‭A‬ ‭significant‬ ‭difference‬ ‭between‬ ‭the‬ ‭cases‬ ‭of‬ ‭S‬ ‭v‬ ‭Makwanyane‬ ‭and‬ ‭Carmichele‬ ‭v‬ ‭to ignore the sequence of events leading up to a main legal issue.‬
‭Minster of Safety and Security‬‭is:‬
‭C.‬ ‭None of the above.‬
‭A.‬ ‭The‬‭SCA‬‭in‬‭S‬‭v‬‭Makwanyane‬‭adopted‬‭policy‬‭considerations‬‭unlike‬‭the‬‭court‬‭in‬
‭Carmichele.‬

‭B.‬ ‭Neither‬ ‭courts‬ ‭adopted‬ ‭policy‬ ‭considerations‬ ‭in‬ ‭their‬ ‭judgements‬ ‭as‬ ‭both‬ ‭QUESTION 9‬
‭courts‬ ‭found‬ ‭that‬ ‭policy‬ ‭considerations‬ ‭was‬ ‭not‬ ‭a‬ ‭fully‬ ‭developed‬‭concept‬‭in‬
‭South African law.‬ ‭Choose the incorrect option:‬

‭C.‬ ‭The‬ ‭court‬ ‭in‬ ‭Carmichele‬ ‭v‬ ‭Minster‬ ‭of‬ ‭Safety‬ ‭and‬ ‭Security‬ ‭viewed‬ ‭the‬ ‭use‬ ‭if‬
‭policy‬‭considerations‬‭inappropriate‬‭given‬‭that‬‭the‬‭facts‬‭differed‬‭to‬‭that‬‭of‬‭the‬‭S‬
‭v Makwanyan.‬
‭D.‬ ‭None of the above.‬
‭During‬ ‭the‬ ‭judicial‬ ‭commission‬ ‭services‬ ‭interview,‬ ‭the‬ ‭candidate‬ ‭Advocate‬ ‭being‬
‭interviewed‬‭for‬‭the‬‭position‬‭of‬‭a‬‭judge‬‭in‬‭the‬‭High‬‭Court‬‭diverted‬‭the‬‭question‬‭relating‬
‭to‬ ‭whether‬ ‭the‬ ‭death‬ ‭penalty‬ ‭should‬ ‭be‬ ‭reinstated‬ ‭in‬‭South‬‭Africa‬‭and‬‭the‬‭possible‬
‭consequences.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Advocate‬ ‭did‬ ‭not‬ ‭provide‬ ‭a‬ ‭definite‬ ‭answer‬ ‭and‬ ‭diverted‬ ‭the‬
‭question by asking questions in return to the commission. Such an argument is:‬

‭A.‬ ‭A boundaryless argument.‬

‭QUESTION 7‬ ‭B.‬ ‭A circular argument.‬
‭C.‬ ‭Neither A nor B.‬

‭3‬ ‭4‬

‭QUESTION 10‬
‭Siphe,‬ ‭a‬ ‭young‬ ‭social‬ ‭media‬ ‭influencer‬ ‭turns‬ ‭18‬ ‭years‬ ‭old.‬ ‭She‬ ‭has‬ ‭entered‬‭into‬‭a‬
‭contract‬‭with‬‭a‬‭billion-dollar‬‭company‬‭to‬‭take‬‭her‬‭beauty‬‭products‬‭to‬‭the‬‭mainstream‬
‭market.‬ ‭However,‬ ‭it‬ ‭turns‬ ‭out‬ ‭that‬ ‭she‬ ‭was‬ ‭influenced‬‭by‬‭the‬‭company’s‬‭lawyers‬‭to‬
‭sell‬‭her‬‭products‬‭to‬‭the‬‭company‬‭at‬‭a‬‭very‬‭low-cost‬‭price.‬‭This‬‭will‬‭prevent‬‭her‬‭from‬
‭making any profit of each product that is sold.‬
‭The legal position is as follows:‬
‭A.‬ ‭Siphe‬‭is‬‭18‬‭years‬‭old‬‭and‬‭therefore‬‭has‬‭the‬‭capacity‬‭to‬‭enter‬‭into‬‭a‬‭valid‬‭legal‬
‭contract. She is thus bound to the agreement.‬
‭B.‬ ‭Policy‬ ‭considerations‬ ‭entail‬ ‭that‬ ‭due‬‭to‬‭Siphe’s‬‭weak‬‭bargaining‬‭power‬
‭in‬ ‭comparison‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭company’s‬ ‭lawyers,‬ ‭the‬ ‭agreement‬ ‭is‬ ‭contrary‬ ‭to‬
‭public policy.‬
‭C.‬ ‭Policy‬ ‭considerations‬ ‭are‬ ‭not‬ ‭relevant‬ ‭to‬ ‭all‬ ‭legal‬ ‭disputes‬ ‭as‬ ‭they‬ ‭refer‬ ‭to‬
‭delictual and criminal matters.‬
‭TOTAL MARKS FOR SECTION A: 10 MARKS‬
‭5‬
‭4.‬ ‭Students must revert and make mention of the‬‭MEC v Pillay case‬‭. The extent‬
‭of applying this case depends on the argument but students must make‬
‭mention of:‬
‭a.‬ ‭The protection of rights to religion and culture by the law as recognised‬
‭in the constitution and as mentioned in Pillay.‬
‭b.‬ ‭The duty of the state and people not to directly or indirectly discriminate‬
‭on any of the grounds mentioned in section 9 (3) of the Constitution‬
‭which is symmetrical to section 6 in PEPUDA.‬
‭c.‬ ‭These grounds are culture, religion, conscience or belief – given that‬
‭the Company has banded religious and cultural attire.‬
‭5.‬ ‭The students must apply the principle to the facts and using the principles,‬
‭disprove Judge Nikolas’ view.‬
‭6.‬ ‭The students must provide a conclusion and show the relevant principles and‬
‭application thereof in their answer.‬
‭7.‬ ‭PLEASE ENSURE that your students understand and have applied the‬
‭above. The students MUST give a comprehensive answer.‬
‭SECTION C:‬
‭Find‬ ‭the‬ ‭case‬ ‭of‬‭Bato‬‭Star‬‭Fishing‬‭(Pty)‬‭Ltd‬‭v‬‭Minister‬‭of‬‭Environmental‬‭Affairs‬‭and‬
‭Tourism‬‭2004 (4) SA 490 (CC). Read paragraphs 72-3, 80 & 90.‬
‭7‬
‭SECTION B: LONG ANSWER QUESTION‬
‭Justice‬ ‭Nikolas‬ ‭delivers‬ ‭a‬ ‭judgement‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭case‬ ‭of‬ ‭“‬‭Brand‬ ‭Design‬ ‭v‬ ‭Cooper‬‭”.‬‭The‬
‭issue‬‭in‬‭this‬‭case‬‭was‬‭that‬‭the‬‭Company‬‭“Brand‬‭Design”‬‭prohibited‬‭employees‬‭from‬
‭wearing‬‭religious‬‭clothing‬‭in‬‭the‬‭workplace.‬‭The‬‭directors‬‭of‬‭the‬‭company‬‭have‬‭taken‬
‭this‬ ‭stance‬ ‭as‬ ‭they‬ ‭firmly‬ ‭believe‬ ‭in‬ ‭a‬ ‭liberal‬ ‭working‬ ‭environment‬ ‭free‬ ‭from‬ ‭any‬
‭religious or cultural connotations.‬
‭In delivering His judgement, Justice Nikolas writes:‬
‭[Para 50]: …..‬
‭“Law‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭concept‬‭free‬‭of‬‭any‬‭higher‬‭authority‬‭.‬‭Law‬‭is‬‭absent‬‭from‬‭notions‬‭of‬
‭justice‬‭and‬‭morality.‬‭The‬‭rule‬‭of‬‭law‬‭is‬‭not‬‭meant‬‭to‬‭give‬‭light‬‭to‬‭cultural‬‭and‬‭religious‬
‭practices,‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭law‬ ‭itself‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭protect‬ ‭such‬ ‭religious‬ ‭or‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭rights‬ ‭and‬
‭freedoms.‬‭Unfortunately,‬‭there‬‭is‬‭no‬‭alternative‬‭view‬‭of‬‭the‬‭system‬‭of‬‭law‬‭apart‬‭from‬
‭the view that I have taken”.‬
‭Discuss‬ ‭critically‬ ‭whether‬ ‭the‬ ‭position‬ ‭taken‬ ‭by‬ ‭Justice‬‭Nikolas‬‭is‬‭correct‬‭within‬‭the‬
‭South African jurisprudential context. Refer of case law where appropriate.‬
‭1.‬ ‭This question is aimed at testing the knowledge of the theories and the use of‬
‭the Pillay case under Module 4‬
‭2.‬ ‭The following information must be alerted to in the answer, but the order may‬
‭vary:‬
‭3.‬ ‭There are various systems/views regarding the law. These are :‬
‭●‬ ‭Natural theory of law‬
‭●‬ ‭Legal positivism‬
‭●‬ ‭Feminist theory of law‬
‭●‬ ‭Critical legal studies‬
‭●‬ ‭Critical race studies‬
‭6‬
‭QUESTION 1‬
‭Briefly discuss where judges should begin when interpreting legislation.‬ ‭[2]‬
‭Judges‬‭must‬‭begin‬‭with‬‭the‬‭rights‬‭and‬‭values‬‭enshrined‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Bill‬‭of‬‭Rights.‬‭Section‬
‭39(2)‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Constitution‬‭requires‬‭that‬‭the‬‭courts‬‭interpret‬‭legislation‬‭in‬‭a‬‭manner‬‭that‬
‭renders‬ ‭it‬ ‭compatible‬ ‭with‬ ‭and‬ ‭in‬ ‭advancement‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭of‬‭Rights;‬‭any‬‭legislation‬
‭incapable of such construction is unconstitutional and invalid.‬
‭As held in‬‭Bato Star Fishing‬‭:‬
‭[72]‬‭The‬‭Constitution‬‭is‬‭now‬‭the‬‭supreme‬‭law‬‭in‬‭our‬‭country.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭therefore‬‭the‬‭starting‬‭point‬‭in‬
‭interpreting‬‭any‬‭legislation.‬ ‭Indeed,‬‭every‬‭court‬‭“must‬‭promote‬‭the‬‭spirit,‬‭purport‬‭and‬‭objects‬
‭of‬‭the‬‭Bill‬‭of‬‭Rights”‬‭when‬‭interpreting‬‭any‬‭legislation.‬ ‭That‬‭is‬‭the‬‭command‬‭of‬‭section‬‭39(2).‬
‭Implicit‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭command‬ ‭are‬ ‭two‬ ‭propositions:‬ ‭first,‬ ‭the‬ ‭interpretation‬ ‭that‬ ‭is‬‭placed‬‭upon‬‭a‬
‭statute‬ ‭must,‬ ‭where‬ ‭possible,‬ ‭be‬ ‭one‬ ‭that‬ ‭would‬ ‭advance‬ ‭at‬ ‭least‬ ‭an‬ ‭identifiable‬ ‭value‬
‭enshrined‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬‭Bill‬‭of‬‭Rights;‬‭and‬‭second,‬‭the‬‭statute‬‭must‬‭be‬‭reasonably‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭such‬
‭interpretation.‬ ‭This‬ ‭flows‬ ‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭fact‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭of‬ ‭Rights‬ ‭“is‬ ‭a‬ ‭cornerstone‬ ‭of‬ ‭[our‬
‭constitutional]‬ ‭democracy.”‬ ‭It‬ ‭“affirms‬ ‭the‬ ‭democratic‬ ‭values‬ ‭of‬‭human‬‭dignity,‬‭equality‬‭and‬
‭freedom.”‬ ‭In‬ ‭interpreting‬ ‭section‬ ‭2(j),‬ ‭therefore,‬ ‭we‬ ‭must‬ ‭promote‬ ‭the‬ ‭values‬ ‭of‬ ‭our‬
‭constitutional democracy. But what are these values?‬
‭[73]‬‭South‬‭Africa‬‭is‬‭a‬‭country‬‭in‬‭transition.‬ ‭It‬‭is‬‭a‬‭transition‬‭from‬‭a‬‭society‬‭based‬‭on‬‭inequality‬
‭to‬ ‭one‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭equality.‬ ‭This‬ ‭transition‬ ‭was‬‭introduced‬‭by‬‭the‬‭interim‬‭Constitution,‬‭which‬
‭was‬ ‭designed‬ ‭“to‬ ‭create‬ ‭a‬ ‭new‬ ‭order‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭equality‬ ‭in‬ ‭which‬‭there‬‭is‬‭equality‬‭between‬
‭men‬ ‭and‬ ‭women‬ ‭and‬ ‭people‬ ‭of‬ ‭all‬ ‭races‬ ‭so‬ ‭that‬ ‭all‬ ‭citizens‬ ‭should‬ ‭be‬ ‭able‬ ‭to‬ ‭enjoy‬ ‭and‬
‭exercise‬ ‭their‬ ‭fundamental‬ ‭rights‬ ‭and‬ ‭freedoms.”‬ ‭This‬ ‭commitment‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭transformation‬‭of‬
‭our‬‭society‬‭was‬‭affirmed‬‭and‬‭reinforced‬‭in‬‭1997,‬‭when‬‭the‬‭Constitution‬‭came‬‭into‬‭force.‬ ‭The‬
‭Preamble‬‭to‬‭the‬‭Constitution‬‭“recognises‬‭the‬‭injustices‬‭of‬‭our‬‭past”‬‭and‬‭makes‬‭a‬‭commitment‬
‭to‬‭establishing‬‭“a‬‭society‬‭based‬‭on‬‭democratic‬‭values,‬‭social‬‭justice‬‭and‬‭fundamental‬‭rights”.‬
‭This‬‭society‬‭is‬‭to‬‭be‬‭built‬‭on‬‭the‬‭foundation‬‭of‬‭the‬‭values‬‭entrenched‬‭in‬‭the‬‭very‬‭first‬‭provision‬
‭of‬‭the‬‭Constitution.‬ ‭These‬‭values‬‭include‬‭human‬‭dignity,‬‭the‬‭achievement‬‭of‬‭equality‬‭and‬‭the‬
‭advancement of human rights and freedoms.‬
‭8‬
‭QUESTION 2‬
‭Explain‬‭the‬‭difference‬‭between‬‭international‬‭law‬‭and‬‭foreign‬‭law,‬‭and‬‭their‬‭respective‬
‭importance in interpreting the Bill of Rights.‬ ‭[3]‬
‭International‬ ‭law‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭law‬ ‭between‬ ‭states,‬ ‭formed‬ ‭through‬ ‭agreements‬ ‭made‬ ‭in‬
‭international‬ ‭treaties‬ ‭and‬ ‭conventions.‬ ‭International‬ ‭law‬ ‭ratified‬ ‭by‬ ‭Parliament‬ ‭is‬
‭binding‬ ‭on‬ ‭South‬ ‭Africa.‬ ‭Under‬ ‭s39(1)‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Constitution,‬‭the‬‭courts‬‭must‬‭consider‬
‭international law in interpreting the Bill of Rights.‬
‭Foreign‬ ‭law‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭law‬ ‭of‬ ‭another‬ ‭jurisdiction‬‭.‬ ‭Under‬ ‭s39(1)‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬‭Constitution,‬‭the‬
‭courts‬ ‭may‬ ‭consider‬ ‭international‬ ‭law‬ ‭in‬ ‭interpreting‬ ‭the‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭of‬ ‭Rights,‬ ‭but‬ ‭are‬ ‭not‬
‭obliged‬ ‭to‬ ‭do‬ ‭so.‬ ‭Often,‬ ‭foreign‬ ‭law‬ ‭is‬ ‭useful‬ ‭for‬ ‭contextualising‬ ‭law‬ ‭or‬ ‭for‬
‭understanding examples of similar provisions in other countries.‬
‭As‬ ‭such,‬ ‭both‬ ‭can‬ ‭be‬ ‭useful,‬ ‭but‬ ‭the‬ ‭Constitution‬ ‭places‬ ‭a‬ ‭clear‬ ‭emphasis‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬
‭importance of international law.‬
‭QUESTION 3‬
‭Compare‬ ‭and‬ ‭contrast‬ ‭the‬ ‭literal‬ ‭and‬ ‭purposive‬ ‭approaches‬ ‭to‬ ‭statutory‬
‭interpretation.‬ ‭Which‬ ‭approach‬ ‭better‬ ‭reflects‬ ‭the‬ ‭transformative‬ ‭nature‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭Constitution, 1996?‬ ‭[5]‬
‭The‬ ‭literal‬ ‭and‬ ‭purposive‬ ‭approaches‬ ‭are‬ ‭different‬ ‭ways‬ ‭of‬ ‭interpreting‬ ‭legislation.‬
‭Students‬ ‭should‬ ‭see‬ ‭Kleyn‬ ‭et‬ ‭al‬ ‭pages‬ ‭76-7‬ ‭for‬ ‭more‬ ‭information‬ ‭on‬ ‭these‬
‭approaches.‬
‭-‬ ‭The‬‭literal‬‭approach‬‭seeks‬‭to‬‭apply‬‭the‬‭law‬‭as‬‭it‬‭is‬‭written.‬‭Where‬‭the‬‭meaning‬
‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭provision‬ ‭is‬ ‭ambiguous,‬ ‭or‬ ‭could‬ ‭lead‬ ‭to‬ ‭absurd‬ ‭results,‬ ‭judges‬ ‭might‬
‭consult‬‭secondary‬‭aids‬‭(e.g.‬‭the‬‭dictionary)‬‭to‬‭understand‬‭the‬‭meaning‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭law.‬‭Overall,‬‭this‬‭approach‬‭is‬‭in‬‭line‬‭with‬‭a‬‭legal‬‭postivist‬‭philosophy,‬‭which‬‭is‬
‭no longer the dominant approach in South African jurisprudence.‬
‭9‬
‭QUESTION 1‬
‭In‬ ‭detail,‬ ‭advise‬ ‭Mr‬ ‭Xhosa‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭procedure‬ ‭that‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬ ‭followed‬ ‭for‬ ‭his‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬
‭enacted.‬ ‭[10]‬
‭[Note‬ ‭that‬ ‭some‬ ‭students‬ ‭might‬ ‭have‬ ‭used‬ ‭the‬ ‭detailed‬ ‭flow‬ ‭diagram‬ ‭on‬ ‭Ulwazi‬ ‭to‬
‭draft their answer; some answers might be more detailed as a result.]‬
‭Mr‬‭Xhosa‬‭is‬‭NOT‬‭a‬‭member‬‭of‬‭government‬‭(3/400‬‭seats),‬‭therefore‬‭this‬‭is‬‭a‬‭Private‬
‭Member’s‬ ‭Bill.‬ ‭Any‬ ‭member‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭National‬ ‭Assembly‬‭may‬‭initiate‬‭legislation‬‭under‬
‭s73(2) of the Constitution, 1996.‬
‭The‬‭Bill‬‭will‬‭be‬‭tagged‬‭by‬‭the‬‭JTM‬‭as‬‭a‬‭section‬‭76‬‭Bill‬‭since‬‭it‬‭does‬‭affect‬‭provinces.‬
‭Environment‬ ‭and‬ ‭pollution‬ ‭control‬ ‭are‬ ‭scheduled‬ ‭matters.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭could‬ ‭be‬
‭introduced‬‭by‬‭a‬‭delegate‬‭to‬‭the‬‭NCOP‬‭as‬‭well,‬‭as‬‭it‬‭is‬‭a‬‭s76‬‭Bill‬‭(but‬‭for‬‭purposes‬‭of‬
‭this question, it was introduced in the NA).‬
‭Main steps of the procedure:‬
‭➔‬ ‭Introduction of the Bill into Parliament‬
‭◆‬ ‭Bill submitted to Speaker of the National Assembly‬
‭◆‬ ‭Speaker tables the reading and discussion of the Bill on the agenda for‬
‭an upcoming sitting of Parliament‬
‭➔‬ ‭First NA reading‬
‭◆‬ ‭MPs read the Bill and debate its contents for the first time‬
‭➔‬ ‭First scrutiny of the Bill by the relevant Portfolio Committee‬
‭◆‬ ‭Within parliament, there are different committees for different legislative‬
‭portfolio areas – these generally correspond to the areas of different‬
‭government departments‬
‭◆‬ ‭The relevant committee will read, debate and amend the Bill‬
‭➔‬ ‭Second NA reading of the Bill. MPs read and debate the Bill for a second‬
‭time, now in its amended form‬
‭➔‬ ‭Second scrutiny of the Bill by the relevant Portfolio Committee‬
‭◆‬ ‭The committee will again read, debate and amend the Bill‬
‭11‬
‭-‬ ‭The‬ ‭purposive‬ ‭approach‬ ‭seeks‬ ‭to‬ ‭apply‬ ‭the‬ ‭legislation‬ ‭by‬ ‭giving‬ ‭effect‬ ‭to‬‭its‬
‭contextualised‬ ‭purpose‬ ‭instead‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭exact‬ ‭wording‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭provision.‬ ‭Judges‬
‭applying‬ ‭a‬ ‭purposive‬ ‭approach‬ ‭will‬ ‭not‬ ‭assume‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬‭plain‬‭wording‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭law‬ ‭necessarily‬ ‭reflects‬ ‭its‬ ‭precise‬ ‭intention.‬ ‭Judges‬ ‭might‬ ‭investigate‬ ‭the‬
‭intention‬ ‭of‬ ‭Parliament‬ ‭by‬ ‭using‬ ‭methods‬ ‭including‬ ‭the‬ ‭teleological‬ ‭and‬
‭historical techniques.‬
‭-‬ ‭In‬‭Bato‬‭Star‬‭Fishing‬‭,‬‭the‬‭CC‬‭held‬‭at‬‭para‬‭88‬‭that‬‭it‬‭is‬‭necessary‬‭for‬‭provisions‬
‭to‬‭be‬‭‘construed‬‭purposively‬‭to‬‭“promote‬‭the‬‭spirit,‬‭purport‬‭and‬‭objects‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭Bill‬‭of‬‭Rights”’‬‭(emphasis‬‭added).‬‭At‬‭para‬‭90‬‭it‬‭held‬‭that‬‭the‬‭‘emerging‬‭trend‬‭in‬
‭statutory‬ ‭construction‬ ‭is‬‭to‬‭have‬‭regard‬‭to‬‭the‬‭context‬‭in‬‭which‬‭the‬‭words‬
‭occur,‬‭even‬‭where‬‭the‬‭words‬‭to‬‭be‬‭construed‬‭are‬‭clear‬‭and‬‭unambiguous’‬
‭(emphasis‬ ‭added).‬ ‭As‬ ‭such,‬ ‭it‬ ‭is‬ ‭clear‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭purposive‬ ‭approach‬ ‭is‬ ‭more‬
‭appropriate‬‭in‬‭the‬‭current‬‭constitutional‬‭dispensation,‬‭and‬‭that‬‭it‬‭better‬‭reflects‬
‭the transformative nature of the Constitution, 1996.‬
‭-‬ ‭For‬‭this‬‭question,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭necessary‬‭to‬‭demonstrate‬‭an‬‭understanding‬‭of‬‭the‬‭two‬
‭approaches‬ ‭and‬ ‭their‬ ‭key‬ ‭differences‬ ‭(e.g.‬ ‭different‬ ‭levels‬ ‭of‬ ‭emphasis‬ ‭on‬
‭original‬ ‭wording),‬ ‭and‬ ‭to‬ ‭find‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭purposive‬ ‭approach‬ ‭is‬ ‭more‬
‭transformative.‬
‭TOTAL FOR SECTION C: 10 MARKS‬
‭SECTION D:‬
‭Mr‬‭Xhosa‬‭is‬‭a‬‭Member‬‭of‬‭Parliament‬‭for‬‭an‬‭opposition‬‭party‬‭that‬‭holds‬‭three‬‭seats‬‭in‬
‭the‬‭National‬‭Assembly‬‭(NA).‬‭Concerned‬‭about‬‭climate‬‭change,‬‭Mr‬‭Xhosa‬‭intends‬‭to‬
‭introduce‬ ‭the‬ ‭Limits‬ ‭on‬ ‭Emissions‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭to‬ ‭cap‬ ‭greenhouse‬ ‭gas‬ ‭emissions‬ ‭by‬
‭corporations in South Africa.‬
‭10‬
‭◆‬ ‭The Bill will be sent back to parliament‬
‭➔‬ ‭NA votes on the Bill; if passed, Bill advances to NCOP‬
‭◆‬ ‭NCOP undertakes a similar process as the NA‬
‭◆‬ ‭Provincial delegations vote‬‭en bloc‬‭on the mandate of their respective‬
‭provincial legislatures, all nine of which must consider the Bill in order‬
‭to instruct their delegates‬
‭◆‬ ‭Majority needed (5/9) for s76 Bill to pass NCOP‬
‭➔‬ ‭Presidential assent‬
‭◆‬ ‭The president must sign a Bill for it to become law:‬
‭●‬ ‭No absolute veto for political reasons‬
‭●‬ ‭Where the president has concerns about the constitutionality of‬
‭a Bill, it is returned to NA; if not satisfied, the Bill can be referred‬
‭to the Constitutional Court‬
‭○‬ ‭Where the Bill or one of its provisions are found‬
‭unconstitutional, it is returned to the NA‬
‭➔‬ ‭Publication in Government Gazette‬
‭◆‬ ‭The Bill becomes an Act of Parliament‬
‭◆‬ ‭The Act is published in the Government Gazette‬
‭QUESTION 2‬
‭Assume‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭passes‬ ‭both‬ ‭Houses‬ ‭of‬ ‭Parliament‬ ‭and‬ ‭is‬ ‭assented‬ ‭to‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬
‭President. It does not stipulate a commencement date. When will it take effect? [1]‬
‭Upon‬ ‭publication‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Government‬ ‭Gazette.‬ ‭[Note‬ ‭that‬ ‭some‬ ‭Bills‬ ‭may‬ ‭empower‬
‭the‬ ‭President‬ ‭to‬ ‭proclaim‬ ‭the‬ ‭date‬ ‭of‬‭commencement,‬‭but‬‭that‬‭was‬‭not‬‭indicated‬‭in‬
‭the facts above.]‬
‭QUESTION 3‬
‭Following the May elections, the Fossil Fuel Party holds 201 seats in the NA.‬
‭3.1.‬ ‭This party opposes the Limits on Emissions Act, which has already taken‬
‭effect. How could the Fossil Fuel Party stop the Act from being in force?‬ ‭[1]‬
‭12‬
 ‭Through‬ ‭a‬ ‭repeal‬ ‭Bill,‬ ‭which‬ ‭will‬ ‭have‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭enacted‬ ‭by‬ ‭Parliament‬ ‭and‬
‭assented to by the President.‬

‭3.2.‬ ‭The Fossil Fuel Party also believes that environmental rights are an obstacle‬
‭to‬ ‭economic‬‭growth.‬‭As‬‭a‬‭result,‬‭the‬‭party‬‭seeks‬‭to‬‭remove‬‭section‬‭24‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭Constitution,‬‭1996.‬‭Discuss‬‭whether‬‭it‬‭would‬‭be‬‭able‬‭to‬‭do‬‭so‬‭using‬‭the‬‭same‬
‭procedure used by Mr Xhosa to introduce the Limits on Emissions Bill.‬ ‭[3]‬

‭No,‬‭this‬‭new‬‭Bill‬‭could‬‭not‬‭be‬‭enacted‬‭using‬‭the‬‭same‬‭procedure‬‭used‬‭for‬‭Mr‬
‭Xhosa’s Bill.‬

‭-‬ ‭Mr‬ ‭Xhosa‬ ‭introduced‬ ‭the‬ ‭Limits‬ ‭on‬ ‭Emissions‬ ‭Act‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭private‬
‭member’s‬‭Bill.‬ ‭This‬‭Bill‬‭would‬‭presumably‬‭be‬‭introduced‬‭by‬‭a‬‭minister‬
‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭new‬ ‭government‬ ‭under‬ ‭the‬ ‭Fossil‬ ‭Fuel‬ ‭Party,‬ ‭and‬ ‭as‬ ‭such‬ ‭it‬
‭would not be a private member’s Bill.‬

‭-‬ ‭The‬‭JTM‬‭tagged‬‭Mr‬‭Xhosa’s‬‭Bill‬‭as‬‭a‬‭section‬‭76‬‭Bill‬‭because‬‭it‬‭affected‬
‭the‬ ‭provinces.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Fossil‬ ‭Fuel‬ ‭Party’s‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭would‬ ‭seek‬ ‭to‬ ‭amend‬ ‭the‬
‭Constitution,‬‭and‬‭therefore‬‭would‬‭be‬‭tagged‬‭as‬‭a‬‭section‬‭74‬‭Bill‬‭by‬‭the‬
‭JTM.‬

‭-‬ ‭To‬ ‭be‬ ‭enacted,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭would‬ ‭have‬ ‭to‬ ‭pass‬ ‭the‬ ‭NA‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭support‬
‭two-thirds‬ ‭of‬ ‭MPs,‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭NCOP‬ ‭with‬ ‭six‬ ‭of‬ ‭nine‬ ‭provinces.‬ ‭Mr‬
‭Xhosa’s Bill would have passed with a simple majority.‬

‭TOTAL FOR SECTION D: 15 MARKS‬

‭13‬