Assessment of the Impact of Decisions of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal on the Transformation of Society Final Report
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Assessment of the Impact of Decisions of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal on the Transformation of Society Final Report (Consitutional Justice Report) Prepared for The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development by the Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery Research Programme of the Human Sciences Research Council in partnership with the Nelson R Mandela School of Law of the University of Fort Hare November 2015 Contents List of Main Contributors to this Report .................................................................................... 7 Research Project Team Members .............................................................................................. 8 List of tables ............................................................................................................................... 9 List of figures .............................................................................................................................. 9 List of charts ............................................................................................................................... 9 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................. 10 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 12 1 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT ............................................................ 27 2. METHODOLOGY AND PROJECT TRAJECTORY ................................................................. 31 3. DELIVERABLES ................................................................................................................ 34 4. THEME 1: JURISPRUDENCE ............................................................................................. 37 4.1 The meaning of “transformation” .................................................................................. 37 4.2 Separation of Powers ..................................................................................................... 48 4.3 Constitutional dialogue .................................................................................................. 57 4.4 Minimum core content of SERs ...................................................................................... 60 4.5 The right to food ............................................................................................................. 65 4.6 International and comparative laws and norms ............................................................ 68 4.7 International and comparative norms under the South African Constitution ............... 73 5. THEME 2: IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT OF SELECTED JUDGMENTS ....................... 80 5.1 Background and rationale .............................................................................................. 80 5.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................ 83 5.3 Conceptual and theoretical issues ................................................................................. 84 5.4 Findings on levels of implementation and impact of SCA and CC judgments in socio- economic rights .............................................................................................................. 86 5.5 Summary of emerging issues and discussion ............................................................... 118 5.6 Concluding implementation and impact issues ........................................................... 121 6 THEME 3: DIRECT AND INDIRECT ACCESS TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ............. 124 6.1 Introduction and Rationale .......................................................................................... 124 6.2 Desk-top study on direct access ................................................................................... 124 4 7.3 Comparative study of other jurisdictions on direct access .......................................... 131 6.4 Fieldwork .............................................................................................................. 134 6.5 Suggestions .............................................................................................................. 137 7 THEME 4: ACCESS T0 JUSTICE — COSTS, DURATION AND PROCESS ........................... 140 7.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 140 7.2 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 142 7.3 Rule of law .............................................................................................................. 144 7.4 Awareness of rights ...................................................................................................... 145 7.5 Procedural Justice ......................................................................................................... 148 7.6 Legal costs .............................................................................................................. 159 7.7 Duration .............................................................................................................. 165 7.8 Access to legal representation in SER cases ................................................................. 167 7.9 Enhancing access to justice by changing current rules and procedures ...................... 178 7.10 Case management ........................................................................................................ 181 7.11 Conclusion and findings ................................................................................................ 182 8 FINALISATION OF THE PROJECT.................................................................................... 186 8.1 Reference Group .......................................................................................................... 186 8.2 Call for Written Submissions ........................................................................................ 186 9. PUBLICATIONS .............................................................................................................. 186 10. FURTHER RESEARCH OPTIONS ..................................................................................... 188 11 ANNEXURES .................................................................................................................. 190 5 List of Main Contributors to this Report Project Leaders: Prof. Narnia Bohler-Muller (HSRC) Prof. Obeng Mireku (UFH) Theme Leaders and Co-Leaders: Prof. Modimowabarwa H Kanyane (HSRC) Gary Pienaar (HSRC) Dr. Vanessa Barolsky (HSRC) Dr. Khulekani Moyo (SAHRC, formerly UFH) Researchers: Prof. Harry Nengwekhulu (UNISA) Tracy Morison (HSRC) Nedson Pophiwa (HSRC) Johan Viljoen (HSRC) Marie Wentzel (HSRC) Jakes Dipholo (HSRC Intern) Nkululeko Majozi (HSRC Intern) SASAS team (HSRC): Benjamin Roberts Jarè Struwig Mercy Ngungu Steven Gordon Project Managers: Dr Gerard Hagg Koshen Govender Editor: Cindhamani Naidoo Cover: Marise Taljaard Photographs: The identity of the photographers of photographs appearing on pp. 27, 79, 123 and 140 could not be identified. Their copyright is herewith acknowledged. 7 Research Project Team Members Project Leaders: Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller (HSRC); Prof Obeng Mireku (UFH) Theme 1: Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller (HSRC); Prof Obeng Mireku (UFH); Gary Pienaar (HSRC); Dr Khulekani Moyo (SAHRC, formerly UFH); Jackie Dugard (SERI); Sanele Sibanda (Wits); Adv Tsietsi G. Ramatsekisa (UFH); Isabel Magaya (HSRC intern); Sihle Dumisa (HSRC intern); Dineo Seabe (HSRC intern); Ntandokayise Ndlovu (UFH intern); Dr Wiseman Mupindu (UFH Intern), Dr Chukwuemeka Okafor (UFH Intern); Melissa Omino (UFH Intern). Theme 2: Prof Modimowabarwa H Kanyane (HSRC); Prof Harry Nengwekhulu (UNISA); Prof Edwin Ijeoma (UFH); Dr Godwin Onuoha (HSRC); Nedson Pophiwa (HSRC); Kombi Sausi (HSRC intern); Jakes Dipholo (HSRC intern); Nkululeko Majozi (HSRC intern). Theme 3: Gary Pienaar (HSRC); Dr Khulekani Moyo (SAHRC, formerly UFH); Prof Vasu Reddy (HSRC-HSD); Marie Wentzel (HSRC); Johan Viljoen (HSRC); Safyaa Goga (HSRC intern); Jackie Dugard (SERI); Lisa Chamberlain (CALS); Edgar Moitui Nyamayera (UFH intern). Theme 4: Dr Vanessa Barolsky (HSRC); Marie Wentzel (HSRC); Dr Godwin Onuoha (HSRC); Tracy Morison (HSRC - HSD)j; Jakes Dipholo (HSRC intern), Hope Magidimisha (HSRC intern); Jerome Chaskalson (consultant). SASAS team (HSRC): Benjamin Roberts, Jarè Struwig, Mercy Ngungu, Steven Gordon Project Managers: Dr. Gerard Hagg, Koshen Govender Project Administrators: Hermien Bolton and Nicola Kruyshaar Editor: Cindhamani Naidoo Lay-out: Annemarie Booyens, Marise Taljaard. 8 List of tables Table 1: Interviews planned and conducted ........................................................................... 33 Table 2: Management structures ............................................................................................ 34 Table 3: Rights-based cases heard by CC for the period 2006-2013 ....................................... 66 Table 4: Experience of refugees 1 .......................................................................................... 114 Table 5: Experience of refugees 2 .......................................................................................... 114 Table 6: NGOs interviewed ...................................................................................................