Institutional design in deeply divided societies: South Africa and Kosovo and lessons for constitution drafting in emerging democracies – coalition and self-government

by | Oct 26, 2019 | TSAR 2019 I3

Institutional design in deeply divided societies: South Africa and Kosovo and lessons for constitution drafting in emerging democracies – coalition and self-government

Authors Bertus de Villiers

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Visiting Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Johannesburg
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 3, 2019, p. 467 – 483

Abstract

INSTITUSIONELE ONTWERP IN VERDEELDE GEMEENSKAPPE: SUID-AFRIKA EN KOSOVO EN LESSE VIR GRONDWETLIKE ONTWIKKELING IN ONTLUIKENDE DEMOKRASIE\xc3\x8b — KOALISIE- EN SELFREGERING Die outeur fokus op koalisieregering en selfregering. In beide Kosovo en Suid-Afrika moes ‘n besluit geneem word of die etniese samestelling van die bevolking relevant is vir institusionele ontwerp en indien wel, wat daarmee gemaak moet word. In Suid-Afrika is daar ingevolge die interim grondwet slegs tydelik voorsiening gemaak vir ‘n verpligte koalisie in die regering van nasionale eenheid. Die model onder die 1996-grondwet is egter uitsluitlik op meerderheidsregering gebaseer. In Kosovo daarenteen, is etnisiteit ‘n bousteen van die grondwet met verpligte koalisieregering vir ‘n onbepaalde tyd. Albei die benaderings bevat risiko’s. Vir doeleindes van ‘n o\xc3\xabnskynlike waarborg van selfregering vir minderheidsgroeperings het Suid-Afrika etnisiteit indirek geakkommodeer by wyse van die afbakening van provinsies wat op ‘n streeksbasis breedweg erkenning aan verskillende taalgemeenskappe verleen hoewel meerderheidsbewind steeds geld. Daar is voorsiening in die grondwet vir moontlike kultuurrade vir gemeenskappe, maar geen wetgewing is ooit aanvaar om inhoud aan daardie beginsel te gee nie. In Kosovo het ‘n minderheidsgemeenskap soos die Serwi\xc3\xabrs uitgebreide magte in munisipale gebiede waar hulle ‘n meerderheid is. Daar is ook voorsiening gemaak dat in alle plaaslike regerings waar 10% of meer van die bevolking van ‘n minderheidsgroep is, dat daardie gemeenskap gewaarborgde verteenwoordiging verkry. Minderheidsgemeenskappe is in Kosovo ook geregtig om op plaaslike vlak hul eie plek en straatname te beskerm, asook op staatsonderrig in die skole in hul huistaal. In Suid-Afrika geld die beginsel van meerderheidsbewind op plaaslike vlak hoewel diversiteit indirek deur territoriale oorwegings geakkommodeer word. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak: (a) dat ‘n interim periode vir ‘n substantiewe tyd moet geld ten einde demokratiese tradisies en gebruike te help vestig; (b) dat belonings in die stelsel ingebou moet word ten einde kruissnydende lojaliteite te help ontwikkel; (c) dat koalisieregering belangrik is om te verseker dat minderhede nie permanent gemarginaliseer word nie; (d) dat territoriale en nie-territoriale selfregering essensieel is ten einde gemeenskappe in staat te stel om besluite te neem en selfbestuur toe te pas oor aangeleenthede wat vir hul identiteit belangrik is; en (e) dat daar geen formule is wat vooraf kan bepaal welke benadering van konsosiasie of integrasie suksesvol sal wees vir ‘n bepaalde staat nie, maar dat ‘n verpligte koalisie wel die basis kan bied vir latere ontwikkeling na ‘n integrasie-model.

Rechtspraak in Nederland en Zuid-Afrika: Een wederzijdse les?

by | Oct 26, 2019 | TSAR, TSAR 2019 I3

Rechtspraak in Nederland en Zuid-Afrika: Een wederzijdse les?

Authors Irene Broekhuijse, Marius van Staden

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Assistent-professor, Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Navorsingsgenoot Universiteit van Johannesburg; Seniordocent, Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid, Universiteit van Johannesburg
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 3, 2019, p. 450 – 466

Abstract

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE NETHERLANDS: A MUTUAL LESSON? This article addresses and compares the development of statutory interpretation in South Africa and the Netherlands from the seventeenth century to today. The aim of the article is to explore what insights both systems can gain from each other after such a long time has passed since the inception of Roman-Dutch law in South Africa and after the judiciary in both countries developed and sophisticated their respective interpretation techniques. The first part of the article discusses the historical influence of Roman-Dutch law in South Africa, and provides an insight on the subsequent developments of statutory interpretation by the South African judiciary. Specifically, this part traces the development of methods of interpretation from Dutch inception, through British colonisation and ultimately to the adoption of a teleological model of interpretation following the advent of constitutionalism in South Africa. The second part of the article highlights some key developments in statutory interpretation in the Netherlands. It illustrates that the judiciary, and more specifically the court of cassation, has developed from acting as the "bouche de la loi" (from at least the early eighteen hundreds, when legislation commanded the courts to abstain from judging the values of a statute) to more extensive interpretation of statutes. Among the most spectacular developments is the acknowledgment of international human rights norms in the national legal order, especially since the number of such norms has increased enormously after the Second World War. Judges are now tasked with balancing these rights, interpreting them correctly, and construing national legal norms in the light of these norms. Such a task has become more difficult in an increasingly multicultural context, in which people and their interests can be at odds. The article finds that, although statutory interpretation developed differently in the Netherlands than in South Africa, there is reason for both countries to study the experience of their counterparts. For the Netherlands, it is argued that much may be gained from the South African approach and experience in interpreting legislation within a human-rights context. South African scholars may also gain much insight from the Dutch experience in navigating the difficult area between judicial law making and the duty of judges to interpret legislation that may bring about more legal certainty within the South African legal system.

Fundamental Procedural Rights of Civil Litigants in Australia and South Africa: is There Cause For Concern? (Part 1)

by | Sep 22, 2019 | TSAR, TSAR 2019 I3

Fundamental Procedural Rights of Civil Litigants in Australia and South Africa: is There Cause For Concern? (Part 1)

Authors Wouter Le R de Vos, Theo Broodryk

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Associate Professor of Law, Curtin University, Western Australia; Visiting Professor, University of Johannesburg; Senior Lecturer and Manager: Legal Aid Clinic, University of Stellenbosch
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 3, 2019, p. 425 – 449

Abstract

None