The Horizontal Application Of The Constitution

ASSIGNMENT COVERSHEET

JOHANN COETZEE POSBUS 2101 POTCHEFSTROOM 2520

LLB

STUDY CENTRE Potchefstroom
STUDENT NUMBER 12334235

SURNAME : COETZEE INITIALS : J

SIGNATURE:

Question No Mark
Course Unit : RESEARCH REPORT Course Unit Code : LLBR 451 Assignment No : FINAL REPORT Assignment due date : 17/09/04

TOTAL

LLBR 451
Research Report

THE HORIZONTAL APPLICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1996

INDEX PAGE
1 Introduction 4
2 Historical Perspective 4
2.1 The Interim Constitution 5
2.2 Du Plessis v De Klerk 6
3 Section 8 of the Constitution, 1996 6
3.1 Section 8(1) 6
3.2 Section 8(2) 7
3.3 Section 8(3) 7
3.4 Section 39(2) 7
4 Criticism of classical conceptual theories 7
5 The requirements for disclosing a cause of action 9
6 Conclusions regarding application on horizontal level 10
7 Bibliography 12

1 Introduction
The horizontal application of rights is a key issue between constitutional and common law jurisprudence in the resolution of private law disputes and thus the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court.

A historical perspective is given by studying the relevant sections of the Interim Constitution and then the doctrinal stance in favour of indirect horizontal application of fundamental rights that the Constitutional Court took in the case of Du Plessis v De Klerk.

The relevant sections of the 1996 Constitution are then examined to take cognizance of the changes regarding the application of the Bill of Rights. The meaning of section 8 and 39 of the final Constitution is then analyzed. The classical conceptual theories are then