Issue 2, 2009 Journal for Juridical Science - Volume 34,
Volume 34 (2009) Volume 33 (2008) Volume 32 (2007) Volume 31 (2006) Volume 30 (2005) Volume 29 (2004) Volume 28 (2003) Volume 27 (2002) Volume 26 (2001) Volume 17 (1992) Volume 16 (1991) Volume 15 (1990) Volume 14 (1989) Volume 13 (1988) Volume 12 (1987) Volume 11 (1986) Volume 10 (1985) Volume 9 (1984) Volume 8 (1983) Volume 7 (1982) Volume 6 (1981) Volume 5 (1980) Volume 4 (1979) Volume 3 (1978) Volume 2 (1977) Volume 1 (1976) Volume 34,
An individualised, contextualised and child-centred determination of the child&apos;s best interests, and the implications of such an approach in the South African context
Journal for Juridical Science 34, pp 1 –18 (2009)
This contribution deals with the approach that should be adopted when applying the concept of "the best interests of the child" and evaluating the individual factors that are used in determining what is in the child&apos;s best interests. Section 28(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and Constitutional Court decisions are used as the main sources of guidance on the correct approach. The submission is made that an individualised, contextualised and child-centred determination of the child&apos;s best interests is required. In view of our constitutional values of tolerance of and respect for diversity and pluralism, it is further submitted that we must move away from a mainly Judaeo-Christian, Eurocentric interpretation of "the best interests of the child" to an approach that takes the cultural and religious circumstances, interests and needs of the individual child into account. It is concluded that all factors that are shown to be relevant because they have, or could have, a negative or positive impact on the individual child should be taken into account in a contextualised child-centred way without reducing other constitutionally-protected rights and interests to nothing.
&apos;n Geïndividualiseerde, gekontekstualiseerde en kinder-gesentreerde benadering tot die kind se beste belange en die implikasies van sodanige benadering in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks
Hierdie bydrae handel oor die benadering wat aangewend moet word wanneer die begrip "die beste belang van die kind" toegepas word en die individuele faktore wat gebruik word om te bepaal wat in die kind se beste belang is oorweeg word. Artikel 28(2) van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 1996 en uitsprake van die Konstitusionele Hof word gebruik as die hoofaanduidings van wat die korrekte benadering is. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat &apos;n benadering wat geïndividualiseer en gekontekstualiseer is en waarin die kind sentraal is, toegepas moet word wanneer die kind se beste belang bepaal word. In die lig van ons grondwetlike waardes van verdraagsaamheid ten opsigte van en respek vir diversiteit en pluralisme word daar verder aan die hand gedoen dat ons moet weg beweeg van &apos;n hoofsaaklik Judaeo-Christelike, Eurosentriese uitleg van "die beste belang van die kind" na &apos;n benadering wat die individuele kind se kulturele en godsdienstige omstandighede, belange en behoeftes in ag neem. Die slotsom is dat alle faktore wat relevant is omdat hulle &apos;n negatiewe of positiewe uitwerking op die individuele kind het of kan hê, in ag geneem moet word op &apos;n manier wat die kind sentraal plaas sonder om ander grondwetlik beskermde regte en belange tot niet te maak.
Ubuntu versus the core values of the South African Constitution
Journal for Juridical Science 34, pp 19 –58 (2009)
At the dawn of South Africa&apos;s new era of constitutionalism the Constitutional Court introduced "African law and legal thinking" and ubuntu to South African jurisprudence as part of the Constitution&apos;s source of democratic values. Whereas the Constitutional Court averred on the one hand that African law sustains firmly entrenched gender inequality, it was contended on the other hand that ubuntu is "in consonance with the values of the Constitution in general and the Bill of Rights in particular". This article deconstructs the concepts "African law and legal thinking" and ubuntu and contends that ubuntu, African law and African religion are not only inseparable but that ubuntu - the basis of African law - sustains the deep-seated patriarchal hierarchy and entrenched inequality in traditional African societies. This article concludes that ubuntu "is [not] in consonance with the values of the Constitution in general and the Bill of Rights in particular".
Ubuntu, die basis van Afrikareg, versus die waardes van dieSuid-Afrikaanse grondwet.
Tydens Suid Afrika se nuwe era van konstitusionalisme het die Grondwetlike Hof Afrikareg en regsdenke en ubuntu aan Suid Afrikaanse regsfilosofie bekendgestel as deel van die Grondwet se bron van demokratiese waardes. Terwyl die Grondwetlike Hof aan die een kant bevind het dat Afrikareg geslagsongelykheid verskans, was daar aan die anderkant beweer dat ubuntu in die algemeen voldoen aan die waardes van die Grondwet, en spesifiek aan die waardes van die Handves van Menseregte. Hierdie artikel dekonstrueer die begrippe "Afrikareg en regsdenke" en ubuntu en bevind dat ubuntu, Afrikareg en die Afrika geloof onskeidbaar is en dat ubuntu - die basis van Afrikareg - die diepgewortelde patriargale hiërargie en verskanste ongelykheid in tradisionele Afrika gemeenskappe volhou. Daar word bevind dat ubuntu nóg in die algemeen voldoen aan die waardes van die Grondwet nóg spesifiek aan die waardes van die Handves van Menseregte.
Die effek van die regulering van maksimum werkure op werknemers se grondwetlike reg op gelykheid
M.E. Marais and
Journal for Juridical Science 34, pp 59 –90 (2009)
The paper examines the effect of the provisons regulating maximum working hours, with reference to the principle of equality entrenched in section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Section 9(1) read with section 10(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75/1997 has the effect that, subject to certain exceptions, employees are not allowed to work for the same employer for more than 55 hours per week. This does not prevent employees from working longer hours in total for different employers, an option that entails clear disadvantages. As a result of the adverse effect of past discrimination, black people, women and people on low socio-economic levels are disproportionately more unfavourably positioned in respect of levels of income, occupational status, financial ability and, consequentially, opportunities for promotion and improvement. This disadvantage often creates a need to work longer hours, specifically for the same employer. An application of the test developed in Harksen v Lane NO leads to a conclusion that the provisions referred to constitute unfair discrimination in terms of section 9 of the Constitution. The provisions also fail the proportionality test of section 36 of the Constitution.
Die artikel ondersoek die effek van die maatreëls wat maksimum werkure reguleer aan die hand van die gelykheidsbeginsel wat in artikel 9 van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet, 1966 verskans is. Artikel 9(1) gelees met artikel 10(1) van die Wet op Basiese Diensvoorwaardes het tot gevolg dat werknemers, onderhewig aan sekere uitsonderings, nie langer as 55 uur per week vir dieselfde werkgewer mag werk nie. Dit verhoed werknemers nie om in totaal langer vir verskillende werkgewers te werk nie, &apos;n opsie wat duidelike nadele inhou. Weens die nadelige effek van diskriminasie van die verlede is disproporsioneel meer swartmense, vroue en mense op lae sosio-ekonomiese vlakke ongunstig geplaas met betrekking tot inkomstevlakke, beroepstatus en, daarmee gepaardgaande, geleenthede tot bevordering en vooruitgang. Hierdie agterstand skep dikwels &apos;n behoefte om langer ure te werk, spesifiek by dieselfde werkgewer. &apos;n Toepassing van die toets wat in Harksen v Lane NO and Others ontwikkel is, lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat die vermelde bepalings ingevolge artikel 9 van die Grondwet indirekte onbillike diskriminasie daarstel. Die bepalings slaag ook nie die proporsionaliteitstoets van artikel 36 van die Grondwet nie.
Journal for Juridical Science 34, pp 91 –117 (2009)
The assessment of students&apos; performance in the clinical legal education course presents a challenge for a variety of reasons. Factors to be considered are large student numbers, language barriers, a large and diverse client pool, students working in pairs, specialised units within the clinic, education and experience variances amongst students, different levels in students&apos; knowledge of substantive and procedural law, different levels of experience in clinical supervision and assessment, student expectations and prescribed exit-level outcomes for the course. The setting of parameters for assessment and mark allocation, as well as further methods of assessment, not currently used, are discussed.
Uitdaging rondom studentebeoordeling in regsklinieke
Die beoordeling van studente se prestasie in the kliniese regskursus bied om verskeie redes sekere uitdagings. Faktore wat in ag geneem moet word, is groot studentegetalle, taalhindernisse, &apos;n groot en diverse kliëntebasis, studente wat in pare werk, spesialis eenhede binne die kliniek, &apos;n variasie in opvoeding en ondervindingvlakke onder die studente, die verskillende vlakke van studente se kennis van die substantiewe reg en prosesreg, verskillende vlakke van ondervinding in kliniese toesighouding en beoordeling, studenteverwagtinge en voorgeskrewe uitkomste vir die kursus. Die daarstel van &apos;n raamwerk waarbinne die beoordeling en puntetoekenning moet geskied, sowel as verdere beoordelingsmetodes, wat tans nie gebruik word nie, word bespreek.
Celebrating the common law rights of man - a note on Blackstone&apos;s work on natural law and natural rights : chronicles
L. Nydam and
Journal for Juridical Science 34, pp 118 –132 (2009)
William Blackstone&apos;s (1723-1780) Commentaries, a four-volume work, the first edition of which appeared in 1765, was produced in an epoch of natural law theory which marked the transition from "justification" to the "exposition" of natural law precepts and the shift from the ground of obligation of natural law to the formulation of detailed rules in natural law jurisprudence. Similar in style to E de Vattel&apos;s Le Droit des Gens, ou Principes de la Loi Naturelle (1758), and T Rutherford&apos;s Institutes of Natural Law (1748), Blackstone focused on the detailed rules of natural law rather than indulging in the philosophical underpinnings of natural law theory as such.
Change to the age of majority : general impact and some consequences for the interpretation of wills
Louis Theunis Janse van Vuren
Journal for Juridical Science 34, pp 133 –141 (2009)
On 1 July 2008, the age at which a person attains majority was lowered from 21 years to 18 years. Section 17 of the Children&apos;s Act stipulates that : "A child,whether male or female, becomes a major upon reaching the age of 18 years." This change is consistent with the Constitution, which defines a child as a person under the age of 18 years.