FUR2601 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) - DUE 27
March 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
QUESTION 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 2
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2
2. The Right of Access to Health Care Services (Section 27) .............................................. 2
3. The Equality Clause (Section 9) ............................................................................................... 3
4. Reasonableness and Resource Constraints ........................................................................ 4
5. Limitation of Rights (Section 36) ............................................................................................. 4
6. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 5
QUESTION 2................................................................................................................................5
1. Introduction .........................................................................................................................6
2. The Nature of the Right Infringed .....................................................................................6
3. The Purpose of the Limitation ..........................................................................................6
4. Application of the Section 36 Limitation Test .................................................................7
5. Overall Assessment ...........................................................................................................8
6. Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................9
References ......................................................................................................................................9
, QUESTION 1
1. Introduction
The issue is whether the decision by the Gauteng Department of Health to reduce
treatment provided to non-citizen AIDS patients due to budgetary constraints is
constitutional. This requires an analysis of the constitutional right of access to health
care services, the principle of equality, and the standards developed by the
Constitutional Court regarding socio-economic rights and the limitation of rights.
The key constitutional provisions implicated are section 27 (right of access to health
care services), section 9 (equality), and section 36 (limitations clause) of the
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
2. The Right of Access to Health Care Services (Section 27)
Section 27(1)(a) provides that “everyone has the right to have access to health care
services”. The use of the word everyone is significant. It does not limit the right to
citizens. The Constitutional Court has consistently interpreted socio-economic rights as
extending to all people within South Africa’s jurisdiction, unless expressly limited.
In Soobramoney v Minister of Health (KwaZulu-Natal), the Court held that the right of
access to health care services is subject to available resources and that the state is
required to take reasonable legislative and other measures to progressively realise the
right. Although the applicant in that case was a citizen, the Court emphasised that
resource scarcity is a relevant consideration but does not give the state unfettered
discretion.
In Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign (No 2), the Court declared that
government policy restricting access to Nevirapine for preventing mother-to-child
transmission of HIV was unreasonable. The Court held that the state must adopt
reasonable measures that are comprehensive, coherent, and inclusive. Importantly, the
March 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
QUESTION 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 2
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2
2. The Right of Access to Health Care Services (Section 27) .............................................. 2
3. The Equality Clause (Section 9) ............................................................................................... 3
4. Reasonableness and Resource Constraints ........................................................................ 4
5. Limitation of Rights (Section 36) ............................................................................................. 4
6. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 5
QUESTION 2................................................................................................................................5
1. Introduction .........................................................................................................................6
2. The Nature of the Right Infringed .....................................................................................6
3. The Purpose of the Limitation ..........................................................................................6
4. Application of the Section 36 Limitation Test .................................................................7
5. Overall Assessment ...........................................................................................................8
6. Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................9
References ......................................................................................................................................9
, QUESTION 1
1. Introduction
The issue is whether the decision by the Gauteng Department of Health to reduce
treatment provided to non-citizen AIDS patients due to budgetary constraints is
constitutional. This requires an analysis of the constitutional right of access to health
care services, the principle of equality, and the standards developed by the
Constitutional Court regarding socio-economic rights and the limitation of rights.
The key constitutional provisions implicated are section 27 (right of access to health
care services), section 9 (equality), and section 36 (limitations clause) of the
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
2. The Right of Access to Health Care Services (Section 27)
Section 27(1)(a) provides that “everyone has the right to have access to health care
services”. The use of the word everyone is significant. It does not limit the right to
citizens. The Constitutional Court has consistently interpreted socio-economic rights as
extending to all people within South Africa’s jurisdiction, unless expressly limited.
In Soobramoney v Minister of Health (KwaZulu-Natal), the Court held that the right of
access to health care services is subject to available resources and that the state is
required to take reasonable legislative and other measures to progressively realise the
right. Although the applicant in that case was a citizen, the Court emphasised that
resource scarcity is a relevant consideration but does not give the state unfettered
discretion.
In Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign (No 2), the Court declared that
government policy restricting access to Nevirapine for preventing mother-to-child
transmission of HIV was unreasonable. The Court held that the state must adopt
reasonable measures that are comprehensive, coherent, and inclusive. Importantly, the
