Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, as amended to 2023
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English
    ...
    (2) A provision of the Bill of Rights binds a natural or a juristic person if, and to the extent that, it is applicable, taking into account the nature of the right and the nature of any duty imposed by the right.
    (3) When applying a provision of the Bill of Rights to a natural or juristic person in terms of subsection (2), a court-
    (a) in order to give effect to a right in the Bill, must apply, or if necessary develop, the common law to the extent that legislation does not give effect to that right; and
    (b) may develop rules of the common law to limit the right, provided that the limitation is in accordance with section 36 (1).
    … (Sec. 8)
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English
    (1) The rights in the Bill of Rights may be limited only in terms of law of general application to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into account all relevant factors, including—
    (a) the nature of the right;
    (b) the importance of the purpose of the limitation;
    (c) the nature and extent of the limitation;
    (d) the relation between the limitation and its purpose; and
    (e) less restrictive means to achieve the purpose.
    (2) Except as provided in subsection (1) or in any other provision of the Constitution, no law may limit any right entrenched in the Bill of Rights. (Sec. 36)
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English

    ...
    (4) Any legislation enacted in consequence of a declaration of a state of emergency may derogate from the Bill of Rights only to the extent that—
    (a) the derogation is strictly required by the emergency; and
    (b) the legislation—
    (i) is consistent with the Republic’s obligations under international law applicable to states of emergency;
    (ii) conforms to subsection (5); and
    (iii) is published in the national Government Gazette as soon as reasonably possible after being enacted.
    (5) No Act of Parliament that authorises a declaration of a state of emergency, and no legislation enacted or other action taken in consequence of a declaration, may permit or authorise—
    (a) indemnifying the state, or any person, in respect of any unlawful act;
    (b) any derogation from this section; or
    (c) any derogation from a section mentioned in column 1 of the Table of Non-Derogable Rights,5 to the extent indicated opposite that section in column 3 of the Table.6
    … (Sec. 37)

Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English

    (3) The Bill of Rights does not deny the existence of any other rights or freedoms that are recognised or conferred by common law, customary law or legislation, to the extent that they are consistent with the Bill. (Sec. 39)
Links to all sites last visited 1 March 2024
2
Chapter 9 on State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. According to Art. 181, those institutions are: “(a) The Public Protector. (b) The South African Human Rights Commission. (c) The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. (d) The Commission for Gender Equality. (e) The Auditor-General. (f) The Electoral Commission.”
3
Chapter 9 on State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. According to Art. 181, those institutions are: “(a) The Public Protector. (b) The South African Human Rights Commission. (c) The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. (d) The Commission for Gender Equality. (e) The Auditor-General. (f) The Electoral Commission.”
4
Chapter 9 on State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. According to Art. 181, those institutions are: “(a) The Public Protector. (b) The South African Human Rights Commission. (c) The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. (d) The Commission for Gender Equality. (e) The Auditor-General. (f) The Electoral Commission.”
5, 6

5- The Table of Non-Derogable Rights includes Equality (Sec. 9), Human Dignity (Sec. 10), Life (Sec. 11), Freedom and Security of the person (Sec. 12), Slavery, servitude and forced labour (Sec. 13), Children (Sec. 28) and Arrested, detained and accused persons (Sec. 35).
6- Refer to Table of Non-Derogable Rights.

7
Chapter 9 on State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. According to Art. 181, those institutions are: “(a) The Public Protector. (b) The South African Human Rights Commission. (c) The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. (d) The Commission for Gender Equality. (e) The Auditor-General. (f) The Electoral Commission.”
8
Chapter 9 on State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. According to Art. 181, those institutions are: “(a) The Public Protector. (b) The South African Human Rights Commission. (c) The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. (d) The Commission for Gender Equality. (e) The Auditor-General. (f) The Electoral Commission.”
9

Chapter 12 on Traditional Leaders.