A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC

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A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
African Law Review
                   VOLUME 1   • ISSUE 3 • 2018

A Closer Look
                                           Customary
                                             marriage
                                           in practice
                                      In depth: The
                                         Prevention
                                      of Organised
                                          Crime Act

                                           Corporal
                                       punishment
                                       To spank or
                                      not to spank?

                                        Drunk drivers
                                            BEWARE

A tribute to the flames
of democracy:
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
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    African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
C ON TE N TS PA GE   3

                                                                                                              23
                                                                             Volume 1 � Issue 3

  African                                            4      Editorial note

   Law
                                                     BLA-LEC BUZZ
                                                     5     Chair’s word
                                                           The preamble to the Constitution

  Review
                                                     6     Legal training

                                                     BLA DESK
                                                     8     BLA-History: 2nd series
                                                           By Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo
Physical Address                                     10    The BLA, out and about
BLA-Legal Education Centre
1st Floor, Kingsmead Building
The Oval Office Park
                                                     IN DEPTH
Cnr Sloane and Meadowbrook Lane                      12    The land reform agenda
Bryanston, 2021                                            By Sphesihle Nxumalo
Postal Address
                                                     15    Prevention of Organised Crime Act
P.O. Box. 70557                                            By Justice Legoabe Willie Seriti
Bryanston                                            18    Prescribed debt
2021                                                       By Adv. Fhumulani Mbedzi
Views expressed in the ALR do not necessarily
                                                     20    Decolonising South Africa
represent the views of the BLA-LEC or the Black            By retired Judge Albie Sachs
Lawyers Association. Acceptance of material          23    Understanding customary marriages
for publication is not a guarantee that it will in         By Inkosi Sipho Mahlangu
fact be included in a particular issue since the
depends on the space available. Views and
                                                     26    Protect your intellectual property
opinions of this journal are, unless otherwise             By Ursuley Matjeke
stated those of the authors. Editorial opinion
or comment is, unless otherwise stated, that         LEGAL EXCELLENCE
of the editor and publication thereof does not
indicate the agreement of the BLA-LEC, unless
                                                     28    Pioneering Heads of Court
so stated. Contributions may be edited for
clarity, space and/or language. The appearance       LAW REPORT
of an advertisement in this publication does not     32    The Transkei Marriage Act
necessarily indicate approval by the BLA-LEC
for the product or service advertised.
                                                           By Adv. Gugu Nkosi
____________________
                                                     OPINION
Editorial Collective                                 34    Drunk driving proposed law
Retired Judge President HMT Musi (Convenor)
Mpho Sithole (Editor)
                                                           By Howard Dembovsky
Andisiwe Sigonyela (Acting Director)                 37    Corporal punishment
Fhumulani Mbedzi (Researcher)                              By Andre Lewaks and Suleiman Henry
Thandi Bees (Librarian)
                                                     TRIBUTES
Letters to the editor
                                                     39    Bantu Stephen Biko: A symbol beyond his lifetime
Email:mpho@blalec.co.za
                                                           By Nkosinathi Biko
Distribution and subscription                        41    Justice Tholakele Hope Madala
Fhumulani Mbedzi                                           By Adv. Dumisa Ntsebeza SC
Tel: 011 403 0802 Fax: 011 403 0814
Email:fhumulani@blalec.co.za
                                                     IN THE NEWS
Publisher and Distributer                            43     South Africa’s new NDPP
BLA-LEC                                                     By BLA-LEC desk
© Copyright
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
4      ED I T O RI AL N O T E

    2018, what a year!
    So many events shook the year into transformation and
    action.
                                                 one direction. Besides that, the year
    Most of those events revolved                2018 came with a list of achievements
    around aspects of the South African          among them is the Black Lawyers
    Constitution - the highest law in the        Association – Legal Education Centre
    land.                                        (BLA-LEC) training close to 2000 legal
         In Issue 3 of the African Law           professionals this year.
    Review, sections of the country’s
    Constitution come under focus. The
    Constitution serves as the foundation for            The
    a democratic country, free of oppression
    and discrimination. In accordance with
                                                         Constitution
    the Bill of Rights, every South African              serves as the
    citizen has the inalienable right to life,     foundation for a                                                  Mpho Sithole, Editor

    equality, human dignity and privacy.
    Signed into law by former President
                                                   democratic country,                        become a defining moment in the
    Nelson Mandela in Sharpeville on               free of oppression                         history of our constitutional democracy,
                                                                                              marking the first amendment of the bill
    10 December 1996, the Constitution             and discrimination.                        of rights.
    become operational on 4 February 1997.
    It was a triumphant occasion but a long                                                       Customary marriages got the
    walk to an inclusive Constitution. It had        We cannot ignore momentous               country talking, especially following
    been amended 17 times thereafter.            changes like the appointment of a            the death of rapper Robert Tsambo
         Each new change aimed to                new head of the National Prosecuting         known as HHP. Within this issue the
    deepen democracy and strengthen the          Authority, Advocate Shamila Batohi           national house of traditional leaders
    independence of the judiciary.               who’s tasked with restoring public           gives guidelines on the application of
         Prior to this significant day, South    confidence in the criminal justice           customary law under the guide of the
    Africa had several other constitutions;      system.                                      constitution.
    the 1910 Constitution granted the                This is also the year, President Cyril       As the festive season is upon
    country independence from Britain,           Ramaphosa announced a decision to            us, irrespective of your levels of
    the 1961 Constitution declared the           amend the Constitution to expropriate        intoxication, yes drunken driver you too
    country a republic and the 1983              land without compensation following a        have rights as explained in the article
    Constitution established a tri-cameral       series of nationwide hearings. The land      No provision for drunken driving jail
    parliament. As important as they             issue will continue to be a hot topic, so    time by Howard Dembovsky. On that
    were, the Constitutions ignored the          hot that US President Donald Trump           tipsy note, as we all head out in different
    everyday rights of black South Africans,     startled South Africans on August 23         destinations to say Happppppyyyyyy,
    barring them from voting and political       – with a tweet that he had instructed            The celebrated South African
    participation.                               his secretary of state to investigate the    constitution provides a lovely closing
         In an article by retired Judge Albie    country. Without any proof to the claim,     remark;
    Sachs, Decolonizing South Africa he          Trump deliberately became a victim of
    explains that the key struggle within        fake news claiming the South African           May God protect our people.
    the constitution-making process was          government had started seizing land            Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika.
    to ensure that it would be made by a         from white farmers. The land debate            Morena boluka setjhaba sa heso.
    Constitutional Assembly chosen by            is broadened in an opinion piece by            God seën Suid-Afrika.
    the whole nation on a one person one         Attorney Sphesihle Nxumalo, who                Mudzimu fhatushedza Afurika.
    vote basis instead of self-appointed         questions the Constitutionality of the         Hosi katekisa Africa
    negotiators under apartheid conditions.      land reform agenda. The South African
         As the year comes to a close, we’re     Constitution has been hailed as one of
    all fatigued more especially as the cost     the most progressive in the world. If
    of living seems to be shooting up in         section 25 is to be amended it would

                                             African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
C H AI R ’S WO RD          5

The preamble
to the Constitution
By Adv. Mc Caps Motimele SC: BLA-LEC Chairperson

The Preamble to our Constitution is concise, commemorative and edifying. It contextualises
our constitutional project with enlightening exactitude. In simple terms, it frames the
constitution with a commentary of hope, vision, transformation.
Correctly observed, it’s part of a poem, part of a song and                  render nation building an elusive dream.
more subtly, a national prayer. It opens with a significant                      The Preamble acknowledges the evils of apartheid and
phrase “we the people of South Africa” , to signify our                      makes a clarion call to all, to honour those who suffered
collective resolve to build a united South Africa premised on                for justice and freedom in our land and unite regardless of
democratic values and ideals.                                                diverse backgrounds and cultural heritage. Indeed, South
    It is regrettable that society at large knows very little about          Africa belongs to all who live in it , united in our diversity.
the Preamble to the constitution and its profound opening.                   What we ought to learn from the text of the Preamble is
Despite its potential to serve as an educational clause and                  that it is a foundation for a peaceful co-existence, healing,
instil a sense of national consciousness , policy-makers                     transformation, pursuit of justice, tolerance, reconciliation and
appear to overlook the essence of the preamble. Comparative                  nation building etc...
constitutional law teaches us that preambles to constitutions                    Our preamble succinctly proclaims that the sovereign
have played crucial roles in both law and policy making                      power rest with “ we the people of South Africa’’. The “ we ”,
throughout the world.                                                        demonstrates our common identity as a nation. The preamble
                                                                             outlines our objectives in adopting the constitution such as;
Justice Albie Sachs in S v Mhlungu 1995 (7) BCLR 793 (CC)
                                                                             to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based
correctly observed:
   “ The Preamble in particular should not be dismissed as a mere            on democratic values , social justice and fundamental human
   aspirational and throat-clearing exercise of little interpretive value.   rights.
   It connects up, reinforces and underlies all of the text that follows.        Concerted efforts must therefore be made to ensure that
   It helps to establish the basic design of the Constitution and            every South African understands this fundamental basis of
   indicate its fundamental purposes. This is not a case of making the       our constitutional scheme. Policy makers have a critical role
   Constitution mean what we like, but of making it mean what the            to play. For example, in our schools, learners must be taught
   framers wanted it to mean; we gather their intention not from our         to recite the preamble. This will constantly fortify their
   subjective wishes, but from looking at the document as a whole”           consciousness and understanding of the country’s history,
And in City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality v Afriforum                 present and future aspirations. For example , in the United
and Another [2016] ZACC 19, Chief Justice Mogoeng                            States of America , learners are required to pledge allegiance
correctly remarked:                                                          to the US flag each morning. South African leaners may
    “ A preamble is after all a succinct expressionary statement that        well be taught to pledge their allegiance to the Preamble and
   sets out a constitution’s purpose and underlying philosophy. By           the constitution in its entirety. This will serve as a powerful
   design and like all others, our Preamble captures the essential           affirmation, planting the seed and spirit of reconciliation,
   principles by which we the people seek to govern our affairs.             transformation and peaceful co-existence in their hearts. The
   It is such a crucial part of our Constitution that, if only every         strength of the Preamble lies not only in the legal sphere but
   citizen were to internalise it and live according to its terms, our       also in its social function and effect, ours is an integrative
   aspirations would most likely be expeditiously realised.”                 preamble. It fosters integration by forging common identity,
Although South Africa achieved or made major strides in the                  drawing people together, contributing and promoting social
struggle for freedom and quality, the vestiges of colonialism                cohesion. Surprisingly, despite its importance, the study of
and apartheid are still evident.                                             the preamble remains a neglected subject in the South African
These are pernicious systems. Racism and other despicable                    constitutional theory and receives scant attention in literature
tendencies which epitomise racial intolerance are still                      as well. It is cause for concern that law professors rarely teach
prevalent, in all sectors of society. This is a clear indication             and that courts rarely cite the preamble. Yet I remain hopeful,
that the preamble is not yet fully internalised. The ideal                   that in time the preamble will become the credo of our young
society envisaged in the preamble of the constitution will                   society; grounding morality, shaping dreams and the pursuit
continue to elude us as a people until such time we recognise                of happiness. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, the time is
its importance in nation building. To negate this reality will               always ripe to do right.

                                               African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
6       L EG AL T RAI N I NG

    Empowering legal minds
    By Andisiwe Sigonyela, Acting Director-BLA-LEC

     Labour Lawyer, Madoda Nxumalo teaching one of the TAT sessions in Namibia.

    Continuing legal education and training is at                                 year 2018. We aim to expand our reach in the year 2019.
                                                                                      We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all our
    the centre of the Black Lawyers Association-                                  sponsors , instructors and participants who made it all possible.
    Legal Education Centre goals.                                                     Our training this year also extended beyond South African
                                                                                  borders, visiting Windhoek, Namibia.
    We are dedicated to providing the legal and allied professions                    Some of our well-designed programmes and attendance in
    with advanced skills and information, ensuring that they excel                the fourth quarter of 2018 are listed as follows:
    in their professions.
        Our aim is to enrich and enhance their competitive edge to                TRIAL ADVOCACY TRAINING (TAT)
    benefit the very ordinary members of society.                                 This training is designed to ensure trial lawyers present a good
        Increasing the number of black lawyers is also of high on                 argument before the courtroom. The programme helps lawyers
    the agenda of the BLA-LEC.                                                    acquire and develop the skills and confidence they need to
        Close to 2000 lawyers in various facets of the law benefited              become competent litigators.
    from our diverse and enriching training programmes in the

    Attorneys And Advocates
    TRAINING                                         DATE                                   AREA                 NUMBER OF DELEGATES
    Advanced Trial Advocacy Training                 19 – 24 November 2018                  Namibia              30 attended

                                                    African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
L E GAL TR A INING           7

Universities
 Unisa                                  09 – 10 October 2018          Durban                                     17 attended
 Unisa                                  09 – 10 October 2018          Nelspruit                                  11 attended
 Unisa                                  09 – 10 October 2018          Johannesburg                               14 attended
 Unisa                                  11 - 12 October 2018          Pretoria                                   30 attended
 Walter Sisulu University               11, 12 & 13 October 2018                                                 44 attended
 University of Fort Hare                18, 19 & 20 October 2018                                                 69 attended
 University of the Western
                                        25, 26 & 27 October 2018                                                 13 attended
 Cape

PLT school(s)
 Bloemfontein PLT School                04, 05 & 06 December
                                                                      Bloemfontein                                21 attended
 (night class)                          2018

Commercial Law Programme Training (CLP)
This programme covers important areas such as purchase and sales agreements, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution and
other significant areas of commercial law.

 TOPIC                                   DATE                           AREA                            NUMBER OF DELEGATES
Competition Law and
                                        10 November 2018               Durban                           19 delegates attended
Merger Filing

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
This programme is aimed at primarily building capacity and enhancing the skills of lawyers. It assists in making the law accessible
to all black and or historically disadvantaged legal practitioners in South Africa.

 TOPIC                                   DATE                           AREA                            NUMBER OF DELEGATES
 Prospecting & Mining Law                28 November 2018               Polokwane                       15 delegates attended

 Advocate Helen Ngomane training Nelson Mandela University students   North West University students listening attentively as training is underway

                                               African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
8      BL A D E S K

    2nd series: The History of the
    Black Lawyers Association
    By Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo, South Gauteng High Court

                                                   The year 1976                               16 June 1960
                                                   The year of youth power and student         Repression, shootings, blood, maiming
                                                   power.                                      and crippling injuries. Howh…!!!?
                                                       On June 16, the youth wrote into        What is wrong with the number 6, and
                                                   the South African calendar and in our       particularly 16 in our history: 1960 –
                                                   collective conscience. They turned
                                                                                               Sharpville massacre; the 1960’s - the
                                                   the tide of the country’s history and
                                                   liberation movement.                        genesis of the Rivonia trial; 16 June
                                                       This was also a year of extreme         1976 – Soweto uprisings and students’
                                                   apartheid police brutality against          massacre, 16 August 2012 – the
                                                   unarmed and defenceless children whose      Marikana massacre!
                                                   only crime was to insist on their rights.       Back to 1976. The students uprising

    This is the second in a
    series of articles that seeks
    to trace the formation and
    history of the Black Lawyers
    Association (BLA). The
    writer shall welcome any
    comments, particularly by
    lawyers who were part of the
    process.
    The coming together of the Black
    Lawyers Group in 1977 and the ultimate
    formation of BLA in 1978/9 must be
    seen within the context of the political
    atmosphere that prevailed at the time.
    The year before had seen the student
    march of June 16, 1976, which started
    in Soweto. On the fateful day, the South
    African Police force shot and killed                        Being black was criminalised by the
    more than 20 black school children and                      apartheid law as blackness became
    pupils; they also injured and arrested
    many. All in Soweto, all on that very                       an element of certain crimes.”
    day. It was news that shocked the world.

                                               African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
BL A DESK           9

had spread throughout the country            the state had to lead witnesses who were    essentially for community legal work to
resulting in the arrest and detention        then cross examined. The full proper        defend the human rights of other black
of many people. Many more children           procedure had to be followed, in each       people, despite the denial of such rights
were killed in various other parts of        and every case right up to sentencing       under the laws of the time.
the country as students’ uprisings and       if found guilty. There was often one            Black lawyers had to organise
youth power spread like an unstoppable       magistrate and one prosecutor a day,        themselves to take turns to defend
inferno in the days that followed. The       between them they processed many            offenders. The system was to get the
political atmosphere throughout the          offenders in a day.                         mandate of each and every arrested
country became highly charged.                                                           person and to defend them all or most of
    Up until then, there was no formal                                                   them on a particular day.
structure of black lawyers in the country.                                                   The black lawyers did this for no
Many of them would however from                        The best                          fee, there was no legal aid system for
time to time come together as a group to               strategy was                      pass offenders. Seeking funding for
discuss common problems and to defend                                                    those one represented would lead to
black people who were prosecuted
                                               to be ready to proceed                    their cases being postponed whilst
under pass laws for exercising their birth     with the case. Or                         they remained in custody. That was
rights in the country of their birth.          on another day, the                       undesirable.
    Under these laws black people were                                                       The best strategy was to be ready to
arrested and brought before courts for         group of black lawyers                    proceed with the case.
offences such as: (a) failing to produce       would change tact and                         On other days , the group of black
a “dom pass” upon demand by the                                                          lawyers would change tact and apply
police officers; (b) entering or remaining     apply for bail for each                   for bail for each and every one that was
within a prescribed area without a             and every one that                        brought to court. Prosecution would
permit; (c) loitering, and (d) many other                                                never know what was coming on any
offences for which only black people           was brought to court.                     day the lawyers came.
could be prosecuted. Being black was           Prosecution would                             The element of community service
criminalised by the apartheid law as                                                     did not stop with the formation of the
blackness became an element of certain
                                               never know what was                       BLA as an association. On the contrary,
crimes.                                        coming on any day                         a basis was created around which people
    The lawyers would from time to             the lawyers came.”                        could organise themselves for that
time organise themselves in groups to                                                    purpose.
defend these pass law offenders and                                                          The system that started in
thus gem the system. In the absence                                                      Johannesburg was replicated whenever
of legal representation, the pass law            With black lawyers lined up at          black lawyers opened offices in other
offenders would often be brought             court to defend each and every case         towns, and the approach of working
before the special pass courts and would     called on any day, prosecution of pass      together in defence of pass offenders
be tried and sentenced summarily to          offenders en-mass became impossible.        was extended to victims of other
imprisonment with the option of a fine.      State witnesses were often not available,   apartheid laws.
    Those who pleaded not guilty would       and if available they would often not           The BLA from the beginning
often be remanded in custody on several      remember who arrested who, where            committed itself to advance and
instances. Pleading guilty was thus a        and under what circumstances. A large       promote respect for the rule of law and
way of getting out of custody at the         number of black people would often          the protection of human rights.
earliest appearance in court. People         have been picked up in one swoop
were pressurised and manipulated to          all over the city on a big truck called
plead guilty for no crime. The system        ‘khwela-khwela’.
of prosecuting people en-mass was                Remembering where each was
essential for the enforcement of the pass    picked up was often a nightmare, which
law offences, for which people would         police had failed to anticipate. The
often be picked up in the street as a form   alternative was for them to fabricate
of harassment.                               evidence, which many did.
    Black lawyers would often clock              Fabricated evidence is a nice
up the system, in their organisational       meal for a seasoned cross examiner.
efforts to defend people.                    The system was gemmed whenever
    In the presence of a legal               black lawyers appeared to defend pass
representative, proper procedures had        offenders in a particular court.
to be followed: charges had to be read       There was thus prior to the formation of
and interpreted to each accused. He or       the BLA an informal ad hoc organisation
she had to plead to the charges and then     of black lawyers. The formation was

                                         African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
A Closer Look African Law Review - A tribute to the flames of democracy: BLA-LEC
10   BL A D E S K

              OUT and ABOUT
      BLA

           The GM Pitje Memorial
      AGM 2018

                    African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
BL A DESK   11

Social Responsibility
        19 October 2018, Cape Town,
           Silikamva High School

  African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
12       IN D E P T H

     The Land Reform Agenda
     By Sphesihle Nxumalo, Baker McKenzie Associate Attorney

                                                                                                                         Source: https://theconversation.com/
                                                                                                                         ©Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

     Is there a dichotomy between the contemplated amendments to the Constitution and the
     constitutional fabric?

     If there ever was a Methuselah1 of grand                   Constitution is one in
     questions around the law reform agenda                     which extinction of rights               The Constitution
     in its current formulation, this is it.                    in property can only be
         On 15 November 2018, the Joint                         constitutional if such
                                                                                                         guarantees the right to
     Constitutional Review Committee                            is against the payment                   compensation, which is
     (JCRC) crossed the Rubicon when                            of just and equitable             just and equitable in the event
     it adopted its report, calling for the                     compensation.
     amendment of section 25 of the                                 In other words,
                                                                                                  that property is expropriated.
     Constitution.                                              the Constitution
         This was to make it possible for                       guarantees the right
     government to expropriate land without                     to compensation, which is just and         But when we steer clear of the socio-
     compensation in the public interest,                       equitable in the event that property       moralistic viewpoint, we are left to
     signalling a momentous move from the                       is expropriated. It further states that    answer the sensible and preeminent
     catatonic constitutional dispensation                      expropriation can only be for a public     question of whether the contemplated
     to a transformative constitutional                         purpose or in the public interest. The     amendments to allow for expropriation
     dispensation.                                              contemplated amendments to section         of land without compensation are in
         The status quo of the expropriation                    25 seek to overcome the restrictions       conformity with the Constitution.
     regime under section 25 of the                             imposed by the very section 25. The        There is a small but significant wave
                                                                land reform agenda is without a doubt      of distress that the JCRC has just set in
     1 According to the Holy Bible, Methuselah is said to
       have lived for nine hundred and sixty-nine years
                                                                a key policy objective, consonant with     full swing a socialist carousel that will
       (Genesis 5:27).                                          transformative social justice.             trump the rule of law in its wake.

                                                            African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
I N DEPTH          13

There is some comfort (albeit dubious)                                                    manner contemplated, and indeed the
in that the opponents and proponents of                There is                           JCRC’s decision, are the extensive
land reform all sing from the same hymn                                                   consultations and public hearings that
sheet of the sanctity of the rule of law as
                                                       an urgent                          have taken place. Due to the sweeping
a founding value of the Constitution and               imperative                         changes that will be brought about
not mobocracy. Transformative social            to underwrite the                         by the contemplated amendments,
change is the major divide.                                                               government has certainly gone
    The ANC government’s economic
                                                improvement in the                        overboard in following due process
philosophy comprises a social                   quality of life of the                    on the issue as ours is a participatory
democratic approach to social reform.           poor and to reduce                        democracy.
There is an urgent imperative to                                                              In debating the constitutionality of
underwrite the improvement in the
                                                inequalities as white
                                                                                          land reform, one cannot lose sight of
quality of life of the poor and to reduce       minorities and black                      the Preamble to the Constitution. It is
inequalities as white minorities and            South Africans are at a                   convenient to set out its telling words:
black South Africans are at a saddle
point.
                                                saddle point.                                “We, the people of South Africa,
                                                                                             recognise the injustices of our past;
    White minorities at a relative
                                                                                             honour those who suffered for justice
maximum and black South Africans at a         muster to keep us farther away from a          and freedom in our land…” and
relative minimum to economic means of         dystopian world, where political forces        thus adopted the “…Constitution as
production, including access to land and      and ruling parties mold the Constitution       the supreme law of the Republic so
standard of life.                             into what they want it to be from time to      as to heal the divisions of the past
    The land reform agenda in its             time.                                          and establish a society based on
current formulation is a mechanism                 But there is no defined start             democratic values, social justice and
in which government seeks to rectify          and end point to the inquiry – the             fundamental human rights; lay the
this socio-economic disparity. Its            constitutionality of texts is contextual       foundations for a democratic and
mainly caused by large scale historical       and is informed primarily by the rule          open society in which government is
dispossessions of blacks, by way of land      of law. The rule of law does not have a        based on the will of the people and
acquisition without compensation and          precise definition, and its meaning can        every citizen is equally protected by
redistribution.                               vary between different nations and legal       law; improve the quality of life of all
    Section 2 of the Constitution (the        traditions.                                    citizens…”.
so-called “supremacy clause”) is non-              Generally, however, it can be
esoteric , it states; “The Constitution is    understood as a legal-political regime      The text of the Preamble supports a
the supreme law of the Republic; law or       under which the law restrains the           flexible system of government with
conduct inconsistent with it is invalid,      government by promoting certain             the capacity of passing laws necessary
and the obligations imposed by it must        liberties and creating order and            to meet the needs and challenges of
be fulfilled.”                                predictability regarding how a country      contemporary South Africa while at the
    This provision does not invalidate        functions. In the most basic sense, the     same time embedding certain liberties
amendments to the Constitution.               rule of law is a system that attempts       deemed essential by a consensus of We,
Indeed, the supremacy of the                  to protect the rights of citizens from      the people of South Africa. If the rule
Constitution does not render it               arbitrary and abusive use of government     of law means anything, it means that
unchangeable and section 74 is in fact        power. This begs the question: how          changes to the Constitution should come
the repository of the National Assembly       do we know what constitutes arbitrary       from a strong consensus of We, the
and National Council of Provinces’            and abusive use of government power?        people of South Africa acting pursuant
powers to amend the Constitution.             That is the question Professor Cora         to, inter alia, the ideals of healing the
To amend section 25 (which is a Chapter       Hoexter tackles with didactic insight       divisions of the past and establishing a
2 provision) will require the support         in Administrative Law in South Arica.       society based on social justice and the
of at least two thirds of the members         Prof. Hoexter posits that at common         improvement of the quality of life of all
of National Assembly and six of nine          law, action is said to be arbitrary when    citizens, amongst other things.
provinces in the National Council of          it is irrational or senseless, without           Whilst I do not discount the real
Provinces.                                    foundation or apparent purpose. Indeed,     prospect of a constitutional challenge
    Does this mean virtually any              our whole constitutional heritage           to the amendment of section 25 of the
provision of the Constitution can be          rebels at senselessness of decision and     Constitution, the very Constitution
amended as long as the thresholds to          policy-making by government, and this       is supposed to represent a consensus
amend it are met? The answer is yes, but      case is no exception. What obviates the     among We, the people of South Africa,
that’s not the end of it – the amendments     arbitrariness of the ANC government’s       and not the policy preferences of a few
would still need to pass constitutional       decision to pursue land reform in the       judges. Furthermore, at some point we

                                          African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
14      IN D E P T H

                    Maintaining the status quo will mean that 22 years later, the
                    Constitution serves as a façade for covering past iniquities than as an
                    instrument for remedying them.

     have to stop philosophical tap-dancing      amendments as unconstitutional in          urgent needs and values of a majority
     and reading texts in isolation of their     the event that there is a breach of the    of the South African society – this is
     historical contexts. For a moment, I        constitutional provision establishing      transformative constitutionalism. As
     found myself in the unfortunate position    the amendment powers and thresholds.       already stated, the Constitution is the
     of the curate given a stale egg at the      When our founding fathers forged the       work of We, the people, and We, the
     bishop’s table; I considered parts of       Constitution, they were well aware of      people did not produce a ‘frozen-in-
     the argument by opponents of land           the social and economic urges in the       time’ Constitution. I must emphasise
     reform that amending the Constitution       country. But they were anxious that we     that it cannot be that re-engineering
     will trump fundamental human rights         should not hurry to achieve socialism      the socio-economic dynamics of the
     (i.e. property rights) persuasive, others   instantly overnight. They would have       South African society to address the
     not. Assuming in their favour, the          made it clear in unequivocal terms         conspicuous grim social disparities
     question then arises, if We, the people     had the intention been that a Chapter 2    between Whites and Blacks, by
     determined what fundamental rights          provision such as section 25 cannot be     abandoning obsolete systems and,
     are deserving of constitutional sanctity,   amended in the manner contemplated         indeed constitutional provisions
     thus protection from state interference,    today because to do so would be, for       that continue to perpetuate socio-
     then what does that mean of the texts of    lack of a better word, preposterous.       economic disparities, borders on
     the Constitution – does it really make      After all, social and economic             unconstitutionality.
     any sense to sanctify and ‘freeze’ the      conditions can be altered by legislative       The “evolution” of constitutionalism
     texts of the Constitution at some point     amendments.                                did not begin at the World Trade
     in time? Well, it does and does not.            Whilst I cannot say the die has        Centre in Johannesburg and did not
     The contemplated amendments will            been cast yet, the JCRC’s decision         end in Sharpeville, Vereeniging.
     represent the normative consensus of the    clearly jibs to the monumentality of       Thus, we have to ask with respect to
     South African society, and this does not    the Constitution, and ushers in an         contemporary constitutional issues,
     suggest the violation of human rights,      era where section 25 has no value in       particularly insofar as accelerating land
     rule of law or any other highly popular     the transformative democratic South        reform is concerned, what really is a
     provisions of the Constitution.             Africa anymore. The contemplated           sensible response? When the text of the
         Maintaining the status quo will mean    amendments are indeed not reflective of    Constitution proves unable to assimilate
     that 22 years later, the Constitution       the subjective moral and philosophical     restorative justice and transformative
     serves as a façade for covering past        preferences of the ANC government,         narratives, people do create new texts
     iniquities than as an instrument for        rather in a democratic and socially        – they amend the Constitution. This
     remedying them. Considering that land       crippled society, the pendulum of          cannot be unconstitutional.
     reform is a key policy objective, the       transformation swings in favour of a
     courts could declare the contemplated       Constitution that seeks to address the

                                             African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
I N DEPTH           15

The Prevention of
Organised Crime Act
By Justice Legoabe Willie Seriti, Supreme Court of Appeal Judge

The legislature enacted s 35 of the Criminal        which was used for the purpose of or in connection with
                                                                           the commission of the offence in
Procedure Act 51 of 1977 (CPA)
                                                                           question or for the conveyance
as a mechanism to combat                     At the outset we              or removal of the stolen property,
crime and alleviate its scourge              must  remind                  and which was seized under the
on society. In essence, s 35 deals           ourselves of                  provisions of this Act, forfeited to
                                                                           the State:. . . . ”
with forfeiture of articles to the    the nature of the                       In terms of these provisions,
State and is stated in the CPA as     legislation we are                   a court can declare an article
follows:                              concerned with. POCA                 or instrument utilised in the
                                                 was enacted in pursuit                  commission of an offence forfeited
                                                                                         to the State only after conviction
“35 Forfeiture of article to State               of legitimate and                       of an accused. In the absence of a
(1) A court which convicts an accused of any
offence may, without notice to any person,
                                                 important government                    conviction, the court cannot declare
declare-                                         purposes of combating                   any instrument utilised in the
   (a)   any weapon, instrument or other         serious organised                       commission of the offence forfeited
                                                                                         to the State. This is the position even
   article by means whereof the offence in       crime and preventing                    if the accused was acquitted on a
   question was committed or which was used      criminals from                          technicality and not on the merits.
   in the commission of such offence; or
   (b)   if the conviction is in respect of an
                                                 benefiting from the                         Section 35(2) provides that a
   offence referred to in Part 1 of Schedule     proceeds of their                       court which convicts an accused or
                                                                                         which finds an accused not guilty of
   2, any vehicle, container or other article    crimes.                                 any offence, shall declare forfeited

                                        African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
16      IN D E P T H

     to the State any article seized under                                                             have the potential to inflict social damage;
     the provisions of this Act which is                               ‘We should                      and (b) South African common law and
     forged or counterfeit or which cannot                                                             statutory law fail to deal adequately with
     lawfully be possessed by any person.
                                                                       embrace                         criminal activities and also fail to keep
     There are certain articles mentioned               POCA as a friend                               pace with international measures aimed
                                                                                                       at dealing effectively with such activities.
     in this subsection which can be                    to democracy, the                              Its scheme seeks to ensure that no person
     declared forfeit to the State even if
     the accused is acquitted of the charge
                                                        rule of law and                                convicted of an offence benefits from the fruits
                                                                                                       of that or any related offence, and to ensure
     he or she was facing.                              constitutionalism                              that property that is used as an instrumentality
          In terms of the provision of s                                                               of an offence is forfeited.”
                                                        and as indispensable
     35(2) the court has an obligation to                                                              In National Director of Public
     declare forfeited to the State articles            in a world where the                           Prosecutions v Elran 2013 (1) SACR 429
     therein mentioned.                                 institutions of State                          (CC); 2013 (4) SACR 429 (CC); 2013 (4)
          In order to improve or strengthen
     the State’s efforts to combat
                                                        are fragile, and the                           BCLR 379 (CC) para 22 Jafta J said:
                                                                                                       “At the outset we must remind ourselves of
     crime, the legislature enacted the                 instruments of law                             the nature of the legislation we are concerned
     Prevention of Organised Crime Act                  sometimes struggle                             with. POCA was enacted in pursuit of
     121 of 1998 (POCA).                                                                               legitimate and important government purposes
          In its introduction POCA states               for their very survival                        of combating serious organised crime and
     its purpose and aim as being to                    against criminals who                          preventing criminals from benefiting from the
                                                                                                       proceeds of their crimes. Among the arsenal
     combat organised crime, money
     laundering and criminal gang
                                                        subvert         them’.                         of tools employed to achieve these objectives
                                                                                                       is the authorisation of seizure of property and
     activities and to provide for the civil                                                           restraint orders. These orders authorise state
     forfeiture of criminal property that                                                              officials to seize property suspected to be the
     has been used to commit an offence.                                          proceeds of crime or an instrumentality of an offence.”
          Its preamble states amongst others - that no person should
     benefit from the fruits of unlawful activities, nor is any person         Chapter 6 of POCA deals with Civil Recovery of Property and
                                                                               the relevant sections are ss 37-62. It is divided into Parts 1 to 4.
     entitled to use property for the commission of an offence. The
                                                                                   Part 1 contains only s 37. This section provides that
     preamble further states that legislation is necessary to provide
                                                                               proceedings under this chapter are civil proceedings and not
     for a civil remedy for the preservation, seizure and forfeiture
                                                                               criminal proceedings. It further states that rules of evidence
     of property which is derived from unlawful activities or is
                                                                               applicable in civil proceedings apply to proceedings under this
     concerned in the commission or suspected commission of an
                                                                               chapter.
     offence.
                                                                                   Part 2 which contains ss 38 to 47 deals with preservation of
          In National Director of Public Prosecutions v Mohamed
                                                                               property. Section 38 deals with preservation of property orders
     NO & others 2003 (1) SACR 561 (CC); 2003 (4) SA 1 (CC)
                                                                               and reads partly as follows:
     para 16, when dealing with POCA, the Constitutional Court
     said:                                                                        “Preservation of property orders
         “The present Act (and particularly Chapters 5 and 6 thereof)             (1) The National Director may by way of an ex
         represents the culmination of a protracted process of law reform            parte application apply to a High Court for an order
         which has sought to give effect to South Africa’s international             prohibiting any person, subject to such conditions and
         obligation and domestic interest to ensure that criminals do not            exceptions as may be specified in the order, from dealing
         benefit from their crimes. . . .”                                           in any manner with any property.
     Organised crime has become a burgeoning international                        (2) The High Court shall make an order referred to in
     problem and countries such as ours are particularly susceptible                 subsection   (1) if there are reasonable grounds to believe
     to organised crime groups. It is generally accepted that                        that  the property   concerned-
     ordinary criminal law measures are ineffective in effectively                   (a)   is an instrumentality    of an offence referred to in
     dealing with organised criminal syndicates, thus necessitating                       Schedule    1;
     extraordinary measures such as civil forfeiture in terms of                     (b)   is the proceeds of unlawful activities; or
     chapter 6 of POCA.                                                              (c)   is property associated with terrorist and related
          In Prophet v National Director of Public Prosecutions                           activities.
     2006 (2) SACR 525 (CC) para 59; the Constitutional Court                     (3) A High Court making a preservation of property order
     said:                                                                           shall at the same time make an order authorising the
         “The POCA is an important tool to achieve the goal of reducing              seizure of the property concerned by a police official,
         organised crime. Its legislative objectives are set out in its              and any other ancillary orders that the court considers
         Preamble which observes that: (a) criminal activities present               appropriate for the proper, fair and effective execution of
         a danger to public order and safety and economic stability and              the order.”

                                                  African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
I N DEPTH         17

Schedule 1 of POCA lists various serious offences, for instance       In an instance where more than one potential forfeiture process
murder, rape, kidnapping, extortion, perjury, drug offences,          exists in a given instance, it must be left up to the National
illicit dealing or possession of precious metals or precious          Director and his/her officials to determine which would be the
stones, etc.                                                          most effective and appropriate procedure to adopt.
     When the National Director approaches the Court in terms              See Ex Parte National Director of Public Prosecutions
of s 38 by way of an ex parte application, the application will       2018 (2) SACR 176 (SCA) para 28.
be set down as provided for in Uniform rule 6 (4)(a) and shall             Section 50 of POCA grants the court a discretion and not
be heard in camera.                                                   an obligation to grant a forfeiture order. The discretion must be
     Section 39 requires the National Director to give notice of      exercised judicially and attention should be given to the nature
the order to all persons known to the National Director to have       and value of the article. The role played by the article in the
an interest in the property which is subject to the order and to      commission of the offence and the effect of the forfeiture on
publish a notice of the order in the Gazette.                         the affected person.
     Any person who has an interest in the affected property               Whether or not the accused is convicted of an offence,
may, if they wish, enter an appearance to defend which shall          any article seized from him which is found to be forged or
be accompanied by an affidavit.                                       counterfeited will be forfeited to the State.
     This shall state the nature and extent of his or her interest         If no criminal proceedings are carried out in connection
in the property concerned and the basis of the defence upon           with the article that has been seized, and the article is not
which he or she intends to rely in opposing a forfeiture order        needed as evidence in any court, then it will be returned to
or applying for the exclusion of interests from the operation         the person from whom it was seized. If no such person is
thereof.                                                              available, then the article will be handed over to the State.
     Section 40 deals with the duration of preservation of                 In Prophet v National Director of Public Prosecutions
property orders. It provides that a preservation order shall          2005 (2) SACR 670 (SCA) paras 30 and 37 it was said that a
expire 90 days after the date on which notice of the making           court may decline to make a forfeiture order if the particular
of the order is published in the Gazette. The order can be            deprivation is disproportionate to the crime. The owner of the
rescinded before the expiry date.                                     property needs to place before the court the necessary material
     Part 3 which contains ss 48 to 57 deals with forfeiture          for a proportionality analysis before the court.
of property. Section 48 provides that if a preservation of                 POCA particularly Chapters 5 and 6 represent the
property order is in force the National Director may apply            culmination of a protracted process of law reform which has
to a high court for an order forfeiting to the State all or any       sought to give effect to SA’s international obligation and
of the property that is subject to the preservation order. The        domestic interest to ensure that criminals do not benefit from
National Director is obliged to give at least 14 days’ notice of      their crimes. Chapter 5 (compromising ss 12 to 36) provides
the application to every person who entered an appearance to          for the forfeiture of the benefits derived from crime but
oppose the granting of the order.                                     its confiscation machinery may be invoked only when the
     In terms of s 50 of POCA the high court shall grant a            ‘defendant’ is convicted of an offence. Chapter 6 (comprising
forfeiture order if the court finds on a balance of probabilities     ss 37 to 62) provides for forfeiture of the proceeds of and
that the property concerned is an instrumentality of an offence       instrumentalities used in crime, but is not conviction based.
referred to in schedule 1 or is the proceeds of unlawful                   Within 90 days of the grant of the preservation order the
activities or is the property associated with terrorist and related   National Director must apply for the forfeiture of the property.
activities.                                                           Section 40 provides that a preservation of property order shall
     The validity of the order is not affected by the outcome of      expire 90 days after the date on which notice of making the
the criminal proceedings. As stated earlier s 35(1) of the CPA        order is published in the Gazette.
entitles the Court after conviction of an accused to declare               To conclude, in National Director of Public Prosecutions
forfeit to the State any property which was used in connection        v Elran 2013 (1) SACR 429 (CC) para 70 it was put as
with the commission of any offence.                                   follows:
     Unlike the forfeiture provisions of POCA, s 35 of the CPA          ‘We should embrace POCA as a friend to democracy, the rule of
entitles the Court to declare forfeit to the State any property         law and constitutionalism and as indispensable in a world where
which was used in the commission of any offence.                        the institutions of State are fragile, and the instruments of law
     In terms of POCA, the offence involved must be one                 sometimes struggle for their very survival against criminals who
stipulated in Schedule 1 thereof, which offences are generally          subvert them’.
serious offences.
     In my view, the forfeiture provisions contained in s 35
of the CPA are easier to invoke after the conviction of the
accused, but prior to any conviction or in the absence of a
conviction, the provisions of s 50 of POCA offers a speedy
and effective remedy to the National Director of Public
Prosecutions.

                                          African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
18      IN D E P T H

     When does a debt prescribe?
     By Adv. Fhumulani Mbedzi, BLA-LEC Researcher

     It is trite that in terms of African Customary
     law a claim does not prescribe. Across all
     South African indigenous people we have a
     principle to the effect that “a claim does not
     prescribe”, for instance in Tshivenda, Sepedi
     and IsiZulu they say, “Mulandu a u sini”,
     “Molato a o boli” or “Icala aliboli”.
     S 211(3) of the Constitution obliges the courts to apply
     customary law when that law is applicable, subject to the
     Constitution and any legislation that specifically deals with
     customary law.
          It cannot be demonstrated that the articulated principle is
     at odds with the constitution, neither can it demonstrated that
                                                                              unless a longer period applies in respect of the debt in
     it is not “applicable” when prescription plea is raised in matters
                                                                              question in terms of paragraph (a)or (b);
     affecting black people.
                                                                          (d) save where an Act of Parliament provides otherwise, three
          For some reason, when matters relating to prescription of
                                                                              years in respect of any other debt.”
     debts are brought before court, it is the Prescription Act which
                                                                          Section 11(C ) provides for the prescription of debts arising
     finds application and not the African Customary Law. This is
                                                                          from a bill of exchange or negotiable instruments. Negotiable
     so even when litigants are black people. In most cases where a
                                                                          instruments (Bill of exchange included) are regulated by the
     special plea of prescription finds application, it succeeds. The
                                                                          Bills Of Exchange Act 34 of 1964. Under the Bills of Exchange
     prescription Act regime now appears to be the preferred avenue
                                                                          Act, negotiable instruments include; Bills of exchange ,
     in our courts. In terms of this Act a debt prescribes.
                                                                          Cheques, Promissory notes, Treasury bill and Traveller’s
          This approach somehow favours “civil law” over African
                                                                          cheques complying with all requirements for the bill. If a debt
     Customary law. The focus of this article is the Prescription Act
                                                                          arises out of these instruments of payment, it will prescribe
     and the law of extinctive prescription in general and its effects
                                                                          after six years unless a longer period applies in respect of the
     on creditors and debtors.
                                                                          debt in question as provided for in terms of s11 (a)or (b) of the
     Section 11 of the Act provides for the periods of prescription of
                                                                          prescription Act.
     debts as follow:
                                                                          Pleading prescription
     Periods of prescription of debts
                                                                          In terms of the Act , prescription should be raised in pleadings.1
     The periods of prescription of debts shall be the following:
                                                                              A court shall not of its own motion take notice of
     (a) thirty years in respect of-
                                                                          prescription.
         (i) any debt secured by mortgage bond;
                                                                              It is trite that a party to a litigation who seeks to invoke
         (ii) any judgment debt;
                                                                          prescription shall do so in a relevant document filed of record
         (iii) any debt in respect of any taxation imposed or levied
                                                                          in the proceedings and that a court may allow prescription to be
               by or under any law;
                                                                          raised at any stage of the proceedings. 2
         (iv) any debt owed to the State in respect of any share
                                                                              Prescription as a special plea must set out sufficient facts to
               of the profits, royalties or any similar consideration
                                                                          show on what basis the defence is based. 3
               payable in respect of the right to mine minerals or
                                                                              The onus is therefore on the defendant to show that the
               other substances;
                                                                          claim is prescribed but if in reply to the plea, the plaintiff
     (b) fifteen years in respect of any debt owed to the State and
                                                                          alleges that prescription was interrupted or waived , the onus
         arising out of an advance or loan of money or a sale or
                                                                          would be on the plaintiff to show that it was so interrupted or
         lease of land by the State to the debtor, unless a longer
                                                                          waived. 4
         period applies in respect of the debt in question in terms of    1 See S 17 in this regard
         paragraph (a);                                                   2 See S17 of the Act, see also stolz v Pretoria North Council 1953 (3) SA 884 (T)
                                                                          3 Hurst , Gunson , Cooper , Tabler Ltd v Agricultural supply Association pty ltd 1965 (1)
     (c) six years in respect of a debt arising from a bill of exchange     SA 48 (W)
         or other negotiable instrument or from a notarial contract,      4 Yusuf v Bailey and others 1964 (4) SA 117 (W)

                                               African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
I N DEPTH        19

Why prescription                                                                      In Minister of Finance & others v Gore NO 2007 (1) SA
One of the philosophical justifications for prescription of                        111 (SCA) the following was stated (at para119J-120A):
debts is that ‘society is intolerant of stale claims’. (Cape Town                    ‘‘This court has, in a series of decisions, emphasised that
Municipality v Allie NO 1981 (2) SA 1 (C) at 5G-H.                                   time begins to run against the creditor when it has the
    In Road Accident Fund & another v Mdeyide 2011 (2) SA                            minimum facts that are necessary to institute action. The
26 (CC) Van der Westhuizen J explained the importance of                             running of prescription is not postponed until a creditor
extinctive prescription as follows:                                                  becomes aware of the full extent of its legal rights, nor until
   ‘In the interests of social certainty and the quality of                          the creditor has evidence that would enable it to prove a
   adjudication, it is important, though, that legal disputes                        case “comfortably”.
   be finalised timeously. The realities of time and human
                                                                                   It bears emphasis that the aim of the Prescription Act is not to
   fallibility require that disputes be brought before a court as
                                                                                   extinguish the cause of action, but to take away the right of
   soon as reasonably possible.5
                                                                                   an inactive creditor to sue after a particular time. Farlam JA
Didcott J in Mohlomi v Minister of Defence 1997 (1) SA 124
                                                                                   succinctly put it in Unilever Bestfoods Robertsons (Pty) Ltd v
(CC) at (para 11) remarked as follows :
                                                                                   Soomai & another 2007 (2) SA 347 (SCA) at 359F-H:
   ‘Inordinate delays in litigation damage the interests
                                                                                       ‘What prescribes in terms of the Prescription Act . . . is a
   of justice. They protract the disputes over the rights
                                                                                       “debt”, that is to say, not a “cause of action”, but a “claim”.’
   and obligations sought to be enforced, prolonging
   the uncertainty of all concerned about their affairs.
                                                                                   Prescription act and the Constitution
   Nor in the end is it always possible to adjudicate
                                                                                   The Constitution proclaims its supremacy and enshrined a
   satisfactorily on cases that have gone stale. By then
                                                                                   number of fundamental human rights. One of the sections
   witnesses may no longer be available to testify. The
                                                                                   recognising a fundamental right is S34 which provides as
   memories of ones whose testimony can still be obtained
                                                                                   follows:
   may have faded and become unreliable. Documentary
   evidence may have disappeared. Such rules prevent                               “Access to courts”
   procrastination and those harmful consequences of it.’                          34. Everyone has the right to have any dispute that can be
                                                                                   resolved by the application of law decided in a fair public
Due debt                                                                           hearing before a court or, where appropriate, another
The phrase ‘debt is due’ is not defined in the Prescription                        independent and impartial tribunal or forum”
Act. But it is now settled that the term must be given its                         The constitutional Court has held that the Act limits s34
ordinary meaning, that is a debt owing and already payable or                      Constitutional rights.7
immediately claimable or immediately exigible at the election                           In Road Accident Fund and Another v Mdeyide 2011 (2)
of the creditor.6                                                                  SA 26 (CC) , the Constitutional Court, having expressed
                                                                                   reservations on whether an obligation may constitute a debt
“Debt” for purposes of prescription                                                contemplated in the Prescription Act, stated that failure to meet
The word ‘debt’ in s 12(1) of the Prescription Act is a wide                       a prescription deadline set in terms of the Act, could deny a
concept which does not equate to a cause of action’. It includes                   litigant access to a court.
the broader concept of a ‘right of action’. In Drennan Maud &                           Although the Prescription Act limits S34 constitutional
Partners v Town Board of the Township Pennington 1998 (3)                          rights, it cannot be attacked purely on the basis that it preceded
SA 200 (SCA) Harms JA put it as follows:                                           a democratic constitution.
   ‘[I]n short, the word “debt” does not refer to the “cause                            The purpose of the law of extinctive prescription should be
   of action”, but more generally to the claim. . . In deciding                    served.
   whether a ‘debt’ has become prescribed, one has to identify                          Stale claims diminish the quality of Justice and matters
   the “debt”, or, put differently, what the “claim” was in the                    must reach finality before human frailties such as forgetfulness
   broad sense of the meaning of that word.’                                       creep in.
                                                                                        Immediately after the debt has become due, creditors are
Furthermore, and in Barnett & others v Minister of Land
                                                                                   allowed to pursue the recovery of debts failure of which the
Affairs & others [2007] 2007 (6) SA 313 (SCA) at para 19, the
                                                                                   law cannot help. Depending on the debt, their legal claims will
term ‘debt’ was given a broad meaning to refer to an obligation
                                                                                   prescribe over time.
to do something, such as payment or delivery of goods or to
                                                                                        That is to say their right to claim will soon cease to exist.
abstain from doing something.
                                                                                   With regard to the prescription law, parties should know that
                                                                                   it is not the merits of the case that matters, it is the time. If the
When prescription begins to run
                                                                                   time has lapsed , S34 right is legitimately limited.
Our courts have clarified when exactly prescription begins to
run against the creditor.
5 Para 2
6 Electricity Supply Commission v Stewarts & Lloyds SA (Pty) Ltd 1979 (4) SA 905   7    Trinity Asset Management (Pty) Limited v Grindstone Investments 132
  (W) at 908E.                                                                         (Pty) Limited [2017] ZACC 32 at para 33

                                                     African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
20      IN D E P T H

                                                                                                                                      Source: Denis Farrell/AP
      Decolonising South Africa
      By retired Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs

               Our clear and constant goal was to destroy the whole racist system and replace it
                      in its totality with a dispensation based on the will of all people.”

     Oliver Tambo’s whole life was dedicated to                       This reality meant that the struggle for self-determination in
                                                                      South Africa had important differences from the struggle for
     decolonising South Africa. When the British                      independence in the rest of the continent.
     handed over power to the whites through the                          In the 1950s, first Ghana and then one country after the
     creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910,                   other on the African continent gained independence. This, each
     they excluded the majority black population                      one did through the establishment of a new internationally
                                                                      recognised state separated from the former metropole
     from the new sovereignty.                                        (primarily Britain, France and Portugal).
     While whites achieved self-government                                South Africa, on the other hand, was already an independent
     followed by full independence, the black                         state – in fact, it had been one of the founders of the United
                                                                      Nations.
     South African majority continued to be                               When the international movement spearheaded by Tambo
     treated as colonised subjects. The only                          succeeded in getting apartheid declared a crime against
     difference was that instead of being ruled                       humanity, it was not South Africa as a country that was
     from London, they were now being dictated                        expelled from the United Nations, but representatives of the
                                                                      racist government who were thrown out.
     to from Pretoria and Cape Town. In terms of                          So the struggle for self-determination in our country did
     the Constitution and the law they were denied                    not take the form of a fight for independence and separate
     the vote, excluded from owning land in 90 per                    statehood, it was not based on a notion of territorial secession.
     cent of the country, forced to carry passes and                  On the contrary, self-determination in South Africa took the
                                                                      form of destroying the system of internal colonialism apartheid
     subjected to a migrant labour system which                       in an already independent state and achieving majority rule in
     treated them as temporary sojourners in the                      an undivided country.
     towns.                                                               For those of us who saw ourselves as part of the Congress
         To cap it all, the Governor General (later the State         movement, this was the vision of the Freedom Charter adopted
     President) was declared to be the Supreme Chief of all           in 1955, two years before Ghana obtained independence.
     ‘natives’. A large part of my practice as a young advocate was       We had no doubt that distructing the apartheid system in
     devoted to dealing with people being prosecuted and harassed     South Africa would be part and parcel of the struggle to free the
     under laws called the Natives Urban Areas Act, the Natives       entire Continent from colonial rule.
     Land Act, the Native Administration Act.                         The perverse reality in our country under apartheid rule was
         The term ‘Natives’ was changed to ‘Bantus’ and then to       that the notion of independence was in fact being invoked not
     ‘Blacks’, but the reality of life for the majority was that of   by the oppressed majority but by the racist rulers.
     living as if in an occupied country under a colonial-type and        The opposition to the Bantustans not only crossed ethnic
     overtly racist administration.                                   divisions, it ensured the evolution of a commonality of purpose

                                             African Law Review � Volume 1 � Issue 3 � 2018
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