The
Constitution
OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1996
As adopted on 8 May 1996 and amended
on 11 October 1996 by the Constitutional Assembly
ISBN 978-0-621-39063-6
, CONSTITUTION OF THE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
(Manner of reference to the Act, previously “Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996”,
substituted by s. 1 (1) of the Citation of Constitutional Laws, 2005 (Act No. 5 of 2005)
[Assented to 10 December 1996]
[DATE OF PROMULGATION: 18 DECEMBER, 1996]
[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 4 FEBRUARY, 1997]
(unless otherwise indicated - see also s. 243[5])
(English text signed by the President)
as amended by
Constitution First Amendment Act of 1997
Constitution Second Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Third Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Fourth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Fifth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Sixth Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Seventh Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Eighth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Ninth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of 2003
Constitution Eleventh Amendment Act of 2003
Constitution Twelfth Amendment Act of 2005
Constitution Thirteenth Amendment Act of 2007
Constitution Fourteenth Amendment Act of 2008
Constitution Fifteen Amendment Act of 2008
Constitution Sixteenth Amendment Act of 2009
Constitution Seventeenth Amendment Act of 2012
In terms of Proclamation No. 26 of 26 April, 2001, the administration of this Act has been assigned to the
Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development.
ACT
To introduce a new Constitution for the Republic of South Africa and to provide for matters incidental
thereto.
, CONTENTS
PREAMBLE 1
CHAPTER 1 3
Founding Provisions
CHAPTER 2 5
Bill of Rights
CHAPTER 3 21
Co-operative Government
CHAPTER 4 23
Parliament
CHAPTER 5 46
The President and National Executive
CHAPTER 6 53
Provinces
CHAPTER 7 74
Local Government
CHAPTER 8 82
Courts and Administration of Justice
CHAPTER 9 92
State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy
CHAPTER 10 99
Public Administration
CHAPTER 11 103
Security Services
CHAPTER 12 109
Traditional Leaders
CHAPTER 13 110
Finance
, CHAPTER 14 120
General Provisions
SCHEDULE 1 National Flag 124
SCHEDULE 1A Geographical Areas of Provinces 125
SCHEDULE 2 Oaths and Solemn Affirmations 128
SCHEDULE 3 Election Procedures 131
SCHEDULE 4 Functional Areas of Concurrent 135
National and Provincial Legislative
Competence
SCHEDULE 5 Functional Areas of Exclusive Provincial 138
Legislative Competence
SCHEDULE 6 Transitional Arrangements 140
SCHEDULE 6A [Schedule 6A inserted by s. 6 of the 172
Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of 2003
and repealed by s. 6 of the Constitution
Fourteenth Amendment Act of 2008.]
SCHEDULE 6B [Schedule 6B, previously Schedule 6A, 173
inserted by s. 2 of the Constitution Eighth
Amendment Act of 2002, renumbered by s. 6
of the Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of
2003 and repealed by s. 5 of the Constitution
Fifteenth Amendment Act of 2008.]
SCHEDULE 7 Laws Repealed 174
INDEX 175
Constitution
OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1996
As adopted on 8 May 1996 and amended
on 11 October 1996 by the Constitutional Assembly
ISBN 978-0-621-39063-6
, CONSTITUTION OF THE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
(Manner of reference to the Act, previously “Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996”,
substituted by s. 1 (1) of the Citation of Constitutional Laws, 2005 (Act No. 5 of 2005)
[Assented to 10 December 1996]
[DATE OF PROMULGATION: 18 DECEMBER, 1996]
[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 4 FEBRUARY, 1997]
(unless otherwise indicated - see also s. 243[5])
(English text signed by the President)
as amended by
Constitution First Amendment Act of 1997
Constitution Second Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Third Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Fourth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Fifth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Sixth Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Seventh Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Eighth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Ninth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of 2003
Constitution Eleventh Amendment Act of 2003
Constitution Twelfth Amendment Act of 2005
Constitution Thirteenth Amendment Act of 2007
Constitution Fourteenth Amendment Act of 2008
Constitution Fifteen Amendment Act of 2008
Constitution Sixteenth Amendment Act of 2009
Constitution Seventeenth Amendment Act of 2012
In terms of Proclamation No. 26 of 26 April, 2001, the administration of this Act has been assigned to the
Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development.
ACT
To introduce a new Constitution for the Republic of South Africa and to provide for matters incidental
thereto.
, CONTENTS
PREAMBLE 1
CHAPTER 1 3
Founding Provisions
CHAPTER 2 5
Bill of Rights
CHAPTER 3 21
Co-operative Government
CHAPTER 4 23
Parliament
CHAPTER 5 46
The President and National Executive
CHAPTER 6 53
Provinces
CHAPTER 7 74
Local Government
CHAPTER 8 82
Courts and Administration of Justice
CHAPTER 9 92
State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy
CHAPTER 10 99
Public Administration
CHAPTER 11 103
Security Services
CHAPTER 12 109
Traditional Leaders
CHAPTER 13 110
Finance
, CHAPTER 14 120
General Provisions
SCHEDULE 1 National Flag 124
SCHEDULE 1A Geographical Areas of Provinces 125
SCHEDULE 2 Oaths and Solemn Affirmations 128
SCHEDULE 3 Election Procedures 131
SCHEDULE 4 Functional Areas of Concurrent 135
National and Provincial Legislative
Competence
SCHEDULE 5 Functional Areas of Exclusive Provincial 138
Legislative Competence
SCHEDULE 6 Transitional Arrangements 140
SCHEDULE 6A [Schedule 6A inserted by s. 6 of the 172
Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of 2003
and repealed by s. 6 of the Constitution
Fourteenth Amendment Act of 2008.]
SCHEDULE 6B [Schedule 6B, previously Schedule 6A, 173
inserted by s. 2 of the Constitution Eighth
Amendment Act of 2002, renumbered by s. 6
of the Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of
2003 and repealed by s. 5 of the Constitution
Fifteenth Amendment Act of 2008.]
SCHEDULE 7 Laws Repealed 174
INDEX 175
