ADL2601 – Administrative Law | Assignment 1 | UNISA
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Department of Public, Constitutional & International Law
ADL2601 – ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
ASSIGNMENT 1
Semester 1 | 2026
Student Name: Sample Student
Student Number: 12345678
Module Code: ADL2601
Module Name: Administrative Law
Assignment Number: Assignment 1
Due Date: 15 April 2026
Declaration: I declare that this assignment is my own original work and I have
not plagiarised any other person's work.
QUESTION 1
1.1 Introduction to Administrative Law
Administrative law governs the exercise of public power by organs of state. It is a
foundational branch of public law in South Africa, giving effect to the constitutional right
to just administrative action as enshrined in section 33 of the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa, 1996.
The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000 (PAJA) was enacted to give
legislative expression to section 33 of the Constitution. It provides the principal
statutory framework through which the administrative actions of state organs may be
reviewed and challenged by aggrieved parties.
1.2 Definition of Administrative Action
Administrative action is defined in section 1 of PAJA as any decision or failure to
take a decision by an organ of state, when exercising a public power or performing a
public function in terms of any legislation. The following elements must be satisfied:
1. There must be a decision (or failure to decide) by an organ of state;
2. The decision must be exercised pursuant to a public power or public function;
3. The power or function must be conferred by legislation; and
Page 1 of 3 | Confidential – For Academic Use Only
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Department of Public, Constitutional & International Law
ADL2601 – ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
ASSIGNMENT 1
Semester 1 | 2026
Student Name: Sample Student
Student Number: 12345678
Module Code: ADL2601
Module Name: Administrative Law
Assignment Number: Assignment 1
Due Date: 15 April 2026
Declaration: I declare that this assignment is my own original work and I have
not plagiarised any other person's work.
QUESTION 1
1.1 Introduction to Administrative Law
Administrative law governs the exercise of public power by organs of state. It is a
foundational branch of public law in South Africa, giving effect to the constitutional right
to just administrative action as enshrined in section 33 of the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa, 1996.
The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000 (PAJA) was enacted to give
legislative expression to section 33 of the Constitution. It provides the principal
statutory framework through which the administrative actions of state organs may be
reviewed and challenged by aggrieved parties.
1.2 Definition of Administrative Action
Administrative action is defined in section 1 of PAJA as any decision or failure to
take a decision by an organ of state, when exercising a public power or performing a
public function in terms of any legislation. The following elements must be satisfied:
1. There must be a decision (or failure to decide) by an organ of state;
2. The decision must be exercised pursuant to a public power or public function;
3. The power or function must be conferred by legislation; and
Page 1 of 3 | Confidential – For Academic Use Only
