The Relationship between Public Policy and Judicial Review in South Africa’s Constitutional Democracy Puleng Ndjwili-Potele Supervisor: Professor Susan Booysen RESEARCH REPORT Masters of Management in Public Policy (MMPP) School of Governance Faculty of Commence Law and Management October 2017 Table of Contents ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Problem statement ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Research questions ........................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Research objectives ........................................................................................................................ 10 1.5 Research paradigm ......................................................................................................................... 10 1.6 Limitations of the study .................................................................................................................. 11 1.7 Ethical considerations in conducting research ............................................................................... 12 1.8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DATA ANALYSIS ............................................................ 14 2.1 Research methodology ................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.1 Research design ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.2 Data sources ............................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.3 Data collection ......................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.4 Data collection process ............................................................................................................ 18 2.1.5 Research approach................................................................................................................... 20 2.1.6 Methods ................................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.7 Themes guiding the analysis .................................................................................................... 21 2.1.8 Questionnaire and targeting of the interviews........................................................................ 22 2.2 Data analysis ................................................................................................................................... 24 2.2.1 Induction .................................................................................................................................. 25 2.2.2 Content analysis ....................................................................................................................... 26 2.2.3 Data analysis tools ................................................................................................................... 27 2.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................... 29 3.1 Conceptual clarifications ................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Theoretical framework ................................................................................................................... 32 3.2.1 Constitutional supremacy and the rule of law ......................................................................... 32 3.2.2 Separation of powers ............................................................................................................... 34 1 | P a g e 3.2.3 Chapter Nine institutions ......................................................................................................... 38 3.2.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 39 3.3 Literature review ............................................................................................................................. 39 3.3.1 Judicial review of public policy and separation of powers ...................................................... 39 3.3.2 Judicial deference .................................................................................................................... 42 3.3.3 The meeting between the Chief Justice and the executive ..................................................... 44 3.3.4 Consequences of judicial review .............................................................................................. 45 3.3.4.1 Courts and politics ............................................................................................................ 45 3.3.4.2 Judicial independence ....................................................................................................... 47 3.3.4.3 Enforcement of court judgments ...................................................................................... 49 3.3.4.4 Legitimacy of courts .......................................................................................................... 52 3.3.4.5 Judiciary as policy-maker .................................................................................................. 55 3.4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH FINDINGS I: CASE STUDY REVIEW ................................................................... 57 4.1 The exercise of public power by the executive ............................................................................... 58 4.1.1 The SABC case study ................................................................................................................ 58 4.1.2 The Nkandla case study ........................................................................................................... 61 4.1.3 The Bashir case study ............................................................................................................... 65 4.2 Additional cases .............................................................................................................................. 71 4.2.1 SASSA and the Department of Social Development ................................................................ 71 4.2.2 The Hawks ................................................................................................................................ 72 4.2.3 The IPID .................................................................................................................................... 73 4.2.4 National Treasury ..................................................................................................................... 74 4.2.5 The NPA .................................................................................................................................... 77 4.2.6 State of Capture report ............................................................................................................ 79 4.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 81 CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH FINDINGS II: INTERVIEWS ................................................................................ 82 5.1 Findings from the interviews ...................................................................................................... 82 5.2 Summary of the findings ............................................................................................................. 85 5.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER 6: COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE CUMULATIVE RESEARCH FINDINGS ...................... 88 6.1 Findings from the interviews .......................................................................................................... 88 6.2 Findings from the literature review ................................................................................................ 89 6.2.1 Reasons for judicial review ...................................................................................................... 89 2 | P a g e 6.2.2 Independence of the judiciary ................................................................................................. 90 6.2.3 Ideology of judges ...................................................................................................................