semester 1 2025 DUE 24 April 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
QUESTION 1
Explain what it means when a court has jurisdiction over a
matter.
Jurisdiction refers to the legal power or authority of a court to
hear and determine a particular case. When a court has
jurisdiction over a matter, it means that the court is legally
empowered to adjudicate on the dispute or issue presented
before it, and any decision made by that court is valid and
enforceable. Jurisdiction is a fundamental aspect of the rule of
law, as it ensures that legal matters are handled by the correct
forums in accordance with established legal procedures and
principles.
Jurisdiction can be broken down into several categories:
1. Territorial jurisdiction: This refers to the geographical
area within which a court may exercise its authority. A
court cannot generally hear a case that falls outside of its
territorial boundaries unless specific legal provisions allow
it to do so.
2. Subject-matter jurisdiction: This involves the court’s
authority to hear cases of a specific type or cases relating to
particular subject matter. For example, the Labour Court
has jurisdiction to deal with employment-related disputes,
while the High Court may hear both civil and criminal
matters, provided they meet the requirements set out by
law.