,LME3701 ASSIGNMENT 02 SEMESTER 02 2026 ANSWERS
RESEARCH PROJECT
DUE DATE: 4 SEPTEMBER 2026
HISTORICAL APPROACH
THE RIGHT TO LIFE OF THE UNBORN CHILD IN SOUTH AFRICA: A HISTORICAL
ANALYSIS OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMMON LAW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………….5
1.1 Background to the Study……………………………………………………………………5
1.2 Problem Statement……………………………………………………………………………5
1.3 Research Questions……………………………………………………………………………6
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study………………………………………………………….6
1.5 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………7
1.6 Research Methodology and Approach………………………………………………….7
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study……………………………………………………..7
2. LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………………………..8
2.1 The Concept of Legal Personhood……………………………………………………….8
2.2 The Nasciturus Fiction……………………………………………………………………….8
2.3 The Sanctity of Life and the Right to Life………………………………………………8
2.4 Scholarly Perspectives on the Legal Status of the Unborn Child………………..8
, HISTORICAL APPROACH
The Right to Life of the Unborn Child in South Africa: A Historical Analysis of
Constitutional Protection and the Development of the Common Law
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………….5
1.1 Background to the Study……………………………………………………………………5
1.2 Problem Statement……………………………………………………………………………5
1.3 Research Questions……………………………………………………………………………6
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study………………………………………………………….6
1.5 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………7
1.6 Research Methodology and Approach………………………………………………….7
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study……………………………………………………..7
2. LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………………………..8
2.1 The Concept of Legal Personhood……………………………………………………….8
2.2 The Nasciturus Fiction……………………………………………………………………….8
2.3 The Sanctity of Life and the Right to Life………………………………………………8
2.4 Scholarly Perspectives on the Legal Status of the Unborn Child………………..8
3. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE UNBORN
CHILD IN SOUTH AFRICA………………………………………………………………………..9
3.1 The Position under Roman-Dutch Law………………………………………………….9
3.2 The Development of the Common Law…………………………………………………9
3.3 The Nasciturus Fiction in South African Law………………………………………….9
3.4 The Position under the Interim Constitution………………………………………..10
3.5 The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996………………………….10
RESEARCH PROJECT
DUE DATE: 4 SEPTEMBER 2026
HISTORICAL APPROACH
THE RIGHT TO LIFE OF THE UNBORN CHILD IN SOUTH AFRICA: A HISTORICAL
ANALYSIS OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMMON LAW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………….5
1.1 Background to the Study……………………………………………………………………5
1.2 Problem Statement……………………………………………………………………………5
1.3 Research Questions……………………………………………………………………………6
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study………………………………………………………….6
1.5 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………7
1.6 Research Methodology and Approach………………………………………………….7
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study……………………………………………………..7
2. LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………………………..8
2.1 The Concept of Legal Personhood……………………………………………………….8
2.2 The Nasciturus Fiction……………………………………………………………………….8
2.3 The Sanctity of Life and the Right to Life………………………………………………8
2.4 Scholarly Perspectives on the Legal Status of the Unborn Child………………..8
, HISTORICAL APPROACH
The Right to Life of the Unborn Child in South Africa: A Historical Analysis of
Constitutional Protection and the Development of the Common Law
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………….5
1.1 Background to the Study……………………………………………………………………5
1.2 Problem Statement……………………………………………………………………………5
1.3 Research Questions……………………………………………………………………………6
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study………………………………………………………….6
1.5 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………7
1.6 Research Methodology and Approach………………………………………………….7
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study……………………………………………………..7
2. LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………………………..8
2.1 The Concept of Legal Personhood……………………………………………………….8
2.2 The Nasciturus Fiction……………………………………………………………………….8
2.3 The Sanctity of Life and the Right to Life………………………………………………8
2.4 Scholarly Perspectives on the Legal Status of the Unborn Child………………..8
3. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE UNBORN
CHILD IN SOUTH AFRICA………………………………………………………………………..9
3.1 The Position under Roman-Dutch Law………………………………………………….9
3.2 The Development of the Common Law…………………………………………………9
3.3 The Nasciturus Fiction in South African Law………………………………………….9
3.4 The Position under the Interim Constitution………………………………………..10
3.5 The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996………………………….10
