Assignment 1 Semester 2 2026
Unique number:
Due date: August 2026
Question 1: Jurisdiction of a South African Court
South African criminal courts normally exercise jurisdiction over offences committed
within South Africa. This territorial approach was confirmed in Kaunda v President of
the Republic of South Africa, where it was accepted that a state’s laws ordinarily
operate within its own territory.1 There are, however, recognised exceptions where
South African courts may deal with crimes committed outside the country. 1
The allegations against X involve much more than ordinary security work. The
alleged execution of more than 200 men, women and children during activities
connected to an attempted coup could, depending on the surrounding facts, amount
to genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.1 These are recognised
categories of offences for which South African courts have extraterritorial
jurisdiction.1 Section 4(3) of the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the