INTERPRETATION OF
STATUTES
I0S2601
,Table of Contents
Definitions .................................................................................................................................... 3
Section A ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 7
Section B ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 2 ..................................................................................................................................... 9
What is Legislation ....................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................................... 11
Commencement of Legislation ................................................................................................... 11
Chapter 4 ................................................................................................................................... 13
Demise and Amendment of Legislation ...................................................................................... 13
Section C ................................................................................................................................... 16
Chapter 5 ................................................................................................................................... 16
How Legislation is Interpreted .................................................................................................... 16
Chapter 6 ................................................................................................................................... 19
The Five Interrelated Dimensions of Interpretation ..................................................................... 19
Chapter 7 ................................................................................................................................... 22
Judicial Law-Making during Concretisation ................................................................................ 22
Section D ................................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 8 ................................................................................................................................... 25
Noncompliance with Legislation ................................................................................................. 25
Section E ................................................................................................................................... 28
Chapter 9 ................................................................................................................................... 28
Constitutional Interpretation ....................................................................................................... 28
2|Page
, Definitions
Act: A parliamentary statute or provincial legislation. An act
may refer to both the legislative instrument and the
conduct it regulates.
Adoption of legislation: The stages, readings, and processes through which
legislation passes before it is accepted and issued by
the legislative body concerned.
Comparative dimension of interpretation: The process of examining constitutional
judgments of foreign courts and international law to
guide interpretation.
Concretisation of legislation / Concretization: The final phase in statutory interpretation
where the legislative text, the purpose of the legislation,
and the facts of the case are harmonised to reach a just,
purposive, and meaningful conclusion. Courts apply the
legislation to the concrete situation while promoting the
spirit, purport, and aim of fundamental constitutional
rights.
Constitutional state (Rechtsstaat): A state where constitutionalism prevails, and the
constitution is supreme. Types include:
1. Formal – Separation of powers, checks and
balances, and the principle of legality.
2. Material – A state underpinned by fundamental
values of justice and equality.
Constitutionalism: Government conducted in accordance with the
constitution, where powers are derived from and bound
by it. The law is supreme, and state authorities are
subject to it.
Context: Circumstances surrounding an event or situation that
affect its interpretation.
Contextual approach to interpretation: An approach where the purpose or object of the
legislation is the primary factor. Social, political, and
policy contexts are considered to establish legislative
purpose.
Contextualisation: The process of reading and researching legislative text
within its broader context to ascertain its purpose.
3|Page
STATUTES
I0S2601
,Table of Contents
Definitions .................................................................................................................................... 3
Section A ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 7
Section B ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 2 ..................................................................................................................................... 9
What is Legislation ....................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................................... 11
Commencement of Legislation ................................................................................................... 11
Chapter 4 ................................................................................................................................... 13
Demise and Amendment of Legislation ...................................................................................... 13
Section C ................................................................................................................................... 16
Chapter 5 ................................................................................................................................... 16
How Legislation is Interpreted .................................................................................................... 16
Chapter 6 ................................................................................................................................... 19
The Five Interrelated Dimensions of Interpretation ..................................................................... 19
Chapter 7 ................................................................................................................................... 22
Judicial Law-Making during Concretisation ................................................................................ 22
Section D ................................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 8 ................................................................................................................................... 25
Noncompliance with Legislation ................................................................................................. 25
Section E ................................................................................................................................... 28
Chapter 9 ................................................................................................................................... 28
Constitutional Interpretation ....................................................................................................... 28
2|Page
, Definitions
Act: A parliamentary statute or provincial legislation. An act
may refer to both the legislative instrument and the
conduct it regulates.
Adoption of legislation: The stages, readings, and processes through which
legislation passes before it is accepted and issued by
the legislative body concerned.
Comparative dimension of interpretation: The process of examining constitutional
judgments of foreign courts and international law to
guide interpretation.
Concretisation of legislation / Concretization: The final phase in statutory interpretation
where the legislative text, the purpose of the legislation,
and the facts of the case are harmonised to reach a just,
purposive, and meaningful conclusion. Courts apply the
legislation to the concrete situation while promoting the
spirit, purport, and aim of fundamental constitutional
rights.
Constitutional state (Rechtsstaat): A state where constitutionalism prevails, and the
constitution is supreme. Types include:
1. Formal – Separation of powers, checks and
balances, and the principle of legality.
2. Material – A state underpinned by fundamental
values of justice and equality.
Constitutionalism: Government conducted in accordance with the
constitution, where powers are derived from and bound
by it. The law is supreme, and state authorities are
subject to it.
Context: Circumstances surrounding an event or situation that
affect its interpretation.
Contextual approach to interpretation: An approach where the purpose or object of the
legislation is the primary factor. Social, political, and
policy contexts are considered to establish legislative
purpose.
Contextualisation: The process of reading and researching legislative text
within its broader context to ascertain its purpose.
3|Page
