South Africa · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in South Africa, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- Constitution
- Supreme law; all other law and conduct must comply.
- Legislation
- Acts of Parliament, provincial acts and municipal by-laws.
- Common law
- Roman-Dutch and English precedent, developed to fit the Bill of Rights.
- Customary law
- Recognised as a distinct source under section 211.
- International law
- Must be considered when interpreting the Bill of Rights.
The legislative process
Bills are tagged by subject matter, pass the National Assembly and, where provinces are affected, the NCOP, before presidential assent; the President may refer a bill to the Constitutional Court.
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