EDA3058-001_2009_4 Study Guide

,# 2008 University of South Africa

All rights reserved

Printed and published by the
University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria

EDA3058/1/2009-2011
ETC102V/1/2009-2011

98334565


3B2




PRL styl

,Contents
Study unit Page
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS (viii)
EXIT OUTCOMES (ix)
GUIDELINES ON ASSESSMENT (ix)

PART A
The education law environment, the Constitution and education law in the South
African education system, and labour legislation in education
1 INTRODUCTION TO SOUTH AFRICAN EDUCATION LAW 2
1.1 The education law environment 2
1.2 What is a legal environment? 2
1.3 The function of the law in general 3
1.4 The definition and function of education law 3
1.5 The place of education law in the South African legal system 4
1.5.1 Public law 5
1.5.2 Private law 5
1.5.3 Formal law 7
1.6 The sources of education law 7
1.6.1 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996 7
1.6.2 Legislation 7
1.6.3 Common law 7
1.6.4 Case law 8
1.7 Why educators need to know education law? 9
1.8 Summary 9
1.9 Self-evaluation questions 9

2 LEGISLATION 12
2.1 Legislation 12
2.2 Interpretation of statutes 13
2.2.1 What does interpretation of statutes mean? 13
2.2.2 The difference between a statute (an Act), a bill and a regulation 13
2.2.3 Theoretical foundations of statutory interpretation 13
2.2.3.1 The textual approach 13
2.2.3.2 The contextual approach 14
2.2.4 The influence of the Constitution 14
2.3 Summary 14
2.4 Self-evaluation questions 15

3 COMMON LAW 16
3.1 Introduction 16
3.2 The ultra vires principle 16
3.3 The rules of natural justice 17
3.4 In loco parentis 18
3.5 The ``reasonable person'' requirement in cases of negligence 19
3.5.1 The concept of negligence 20
3.5.2 Common sources of negligence 20
3.6 Summary 21
3.7 Self-evaluation questions 21



EDA3058/1/2009±2011 (iii)
ETC102V/1/2009-2011

, 4 CASE LAW 23
4.1 Introduction 23
4.2 The stare decisis principle 23
4.3 The title of a law report 24
4.4 Outline of the case 26
4.5 The headnote 26
4.6 The content 26
4.7 Summary 26
4.8 Self-evaluation questions 27

5 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 108 OF 1996 29
5.1 Introduction 29
5.2 The aim of the Constitution 29
5.3 The supremacy of the Constitution 30
5.4 Chapter 2 of the Constitution: the Bill of Rights 30
5.4.1 Equality (s 9) 30
5.4.2 Human dignity (s 10) 31
5.4.3 Freedom and security of the person (s 12) 31
5.4.4 Privacy (s 14) 32
5.4.5 Freedom of religion, belief and opinion (s 15) 33
5.4.6 Freedom of expression (s 16) 34
5.4.7 Assembly, demonstration, picket and petition (s 17) 35
5.4.8 Freedom of association (s 18) 35
5.4.9 Political rights (s 19) 35
5.4.10 Labour relations (s 23) 35
5.4.11 Environment (s 24) 35
5.4.12 Children (s 28) 35
5.4.13 Education (s 29) 36
5.4.14 Language and culture (s 30) 37
5.4.15 Access to information (s 32) 37
5.4.16 Just administrative action (s 33) 37
5.5 Education in the provinces 37
5.6 Summary 38
5.7 Self-evaluation questions 38

6 THE NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY ACT 27 OF 1996 41
6.1 Introduction 41
6.2 The aim of the National Education Policy Act 27 of 1996 41
6.3 Objectives of the Act (s 2) 41
6.4 The determination of the national education policy by the Minister (s 3) 42
6.5 Directive principles for national education policy (s 4) 42
6.6 Consultation 43
6.6.1 On the national education policy (s 5) 43
6.6.2 On legislation (s 6) 44
6.7 Publication of the national education policy (s 7) 44
6.8 Summary 44
6.9 Self-evaluation questions 44

7 THE SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS ACT 84 OF 1996 45
7.1 Introduction 45
7.2 The purpose of the Schools Act 45
7.3 The legal status of public schools 45
7.4 Important provisions of the Schools Act 46
7.4.1 School admission policy 46
7.4.2 Language policy 47


iv Contents