Magister Legum - LLM / South Africa

Magister Legum - LLM / In South Africa, as in most jurisdictions, the presumption of innocence is a guaranteed constitutional right. The rationale of the presumption lies in the protection which it offers, since a person charged with a criminal offence stands to lose dearly in personal liberty, in social life and psychological well-being. The presumption is, therefore, a pivotal element of a culture of democracy and human rights. This study is prompted by the realisation that the presumption of innocence, which ought to constitute one of the most fundamental rights in any criminal justice system, is being eroded steadily in South Africa. In this regard, a significant area of concern is the current bail laws which, in my estimation, make a big dent into the right to be presumed innocent. The bail laws are part of government’s policies directed at fighting crime. However, the pre-occupation with crime control measures threatens to reverse the hard-won rights of the accused and threatens to undermine individual liberty. Also, these measures are incompatible with the constitutional commitment to a culture of human rights.

“No civilized society, regards children as accountable for their actions to the same extent as adults”.1 In the absence of a justice system applicable exclusively to children in conflict with the law in South Africa, children are subjected to the same rigours of the criminal law applicable to adults in South Africa. “States Parties recognize the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the child's respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others and which takes into account the child's age and the desirability of promoting the child's reintegration and the child's assuming a constructive role in society”.2 As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, South Africa has a duty to ensure that the children in conflict with the law are treated in a manner that gives effect to the protectionary ideals espoused in the Convention. In July 2000, the South African Law Commission [Project 106] released the Child Justice Bill3, together with its Report on Juvenile Justice. Because the child justice system at present is not governed by legislation, uncertainty and inconsistency are constant dangers. We need legislation to ensure that all children in conflict with the law are dealt with consistently, fairly and appropriately. The question that needs to be answered in this treatise, is whether the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008, which comes into effect on 01 April 2010, is a legislative framework that incorporates due process rights together with the rights of children who is alleged to have committed an offence, to be protected and treated in a manner appropriate to their age.

Suspension as a form of an unfair labour practice can be of two categories. There could be a situation where an employer suspends an employee as a disciplinary sanction after an employee has committed an act of misconduct. This is often referred to as a punitive suspension. An employer may also suspend an employee pending a disciplinary hearing. In this case the employee has not yet been found guilty because the investigation into the alleged misconduct is still on going. The employee may be suspended as a way of preventing him from interfering with the investigation process into the alleged misconduct. This form of suspension is often referred to as a preventative suspension. It is very important to note the distinction between the two forms of suspension because the processes that are followed when effecting them are different. Failure to acknowledge the difference might result in a situation where an employer might be effecting a preventative suspension but the consequences might be that of a punitive suspension and end-up being an unfair labour practice. Suspension is a disciplinary measure, and it is important to note that in the event that the employer elects to implement a suspension, its conduct must be disciplinary in nature and intent and should be corrective rather than punitive.Unlike dismissals where the Code of Good Practice of the Labour Relations Act, No 66 of 1995 provides guidance on what constitutes procedural and substantive fairness, there are no guidelines on what constitutes procedural and substantive fairness when it comes to suspensions. This has resulted in a situation where suspension is treated as a minor aspect of disciplinary measures that is frequently abused as it is often on full remuneration. This, however, does not allow an employer to suspend employees at will, without merit and without following proper procedure. Suspension could have severe adverse effects on employees and often affects their reputation, goodwill, human dignity, self-esteem and the right to meaningful association and work. It is for this reason that suspension must be effected in a way that is procedurally and substantively fair.Punitive suspension is implemented as a sanction and is often without pay and is a last resort prior to dismissal. Preventative suspension occurs prior to a disciplinary hearing, with the aim of temporarily removing the employee from the workplace to enable the employer to conduct a proper investigation without interference. Unfortunately preventative suspensions are often abused by employers in that they protract over extended periods of time, making the preventative suspension punitive in nature, to the extent that the courts have been forced to intervene and lay down stringent requirements that must be met in order to prevent such abuse.There are various requirements for suspension which range from the intention of the employer, the audi alteram partem rule, sufficient reasons prior to suspension to period of suspension. Most employment relationships are governed by disciplinary codes or collective agreements, which often place limitations on the concept of suspension. Some codes provide for special leave at the option of the employee, which the employer often abuses instead of utilizing the preventative suspension option. This, however, is more often than not to suit a political agenda.In the event of non-compliance by an employer, an employee is not left remediless. An unfair suspension constitutes an unfair labour practice and an employee has the right to refer such dispute to the relevant labour forums like the CCMA or the relevant bargaining council. Employees are cautioned not to refer their disputes to the Labour Court for final relief, but rather to only approach the courts for urgent interim relief, like interdicts.

Weigh scaling is a method of estimating the total volume of timber harvested from a given region. The implementation of statistical sampling techniques in weigh scaling is described, along with related issues. A review of ratio estimators, along with variance estimators of the classical ratio estimator is conducted. The estimation of the variance of the estimated total volume is considered using jackknife- and bootstrap-based variance estimators. Weighted versions of the jackknife and bootstrap variance estimators are derived using influence functions and Fisher Information matrices. Empirical studies of analytic and resampling-based variance estimators are conducted, with particular emphasis on small sample properties and on robustness with respect to both the homoscedastic variance and zero-intercept population characteristics. With a squared error loss function, the resampling-based variance estimators are shown to perform very well at all sample sizes in finite populations with normally distributed errors. These estimators are found to have small negative biases for small sample sizes and to be robust with respect to heteroscedasticity. / Science, Faculty of / Statistics, Department of / Graduate

A survey and analysis of Canadian statutes and cases affecting the management of the mentally disordered demonstrates that this area of law has experienced several periods of reform since 1900. In the early 1900's, legislation was characterized by 'limited legalism'. Governments subsequently eased, removed, and then re-imposed forms of judicial and quasi-judicial supervision over the activities of medical practitioners, and the periods of reform are referred to as 'medicalization', 'enhanced medicalization', and the 'new legalism'. The law reforms are associated with changes in state strategies for the management of the mentally disordered, and the relationship between these reforms and changes, the state, structural conditions (e.g., shifts in economic policy), and human agency (e.g., the work of reformers) is explored through an analysis of the emergence of 'enhanced medicalization' in the 1950's/60's, and the rise of the 'new legalism' in the 1970's/80's. This includes a detailed case study of shifts in strategy and the process of law reform in the province of British Columbia. This component of the research involved an analysis of documentary and archival materials, and the structuralist theoretical trajectory within the neo-Marxist sociology of state and law is utilized to explain the changes. Enhanced medicalization was an integral part of a strategy involving de-institutionalization, an abandonment of segregated confinement, and the use of community-based resources integrated with the health care component of a Keynesian, 'welfare state'. Institutions were seriously over-crowded, ineffective, expensive, and discredited, and the emergence of social assistance and other features of the welfare state enabled the development of alternatives. The conditions were favourable to the efforts of a group of reformers that was an auxiliary part of the state apparatus; namely, the Canadian Mental Health Association. The latter constructed a strategy and supporting legislation which advanced the interests of psychiatry and resolved the state's order maintenance and legitimation problems in a manner consistent with welfare state expansion. Economic difficulties and changes which began to emerge in the 1970's created new problems for the state, and cost-stabilization and restraint measures were imposed throughout the politically sensitive health care field. The strategy for the management of the mentally disordered consequently shifted to, in particular, accelerated de-institutionalization aimed at hospital closure. In order to facilitate and legitimate the shift, the state has adopted reforms proposed by the patients' rights movement and, despite the objections of organized psychiatry, introduced legislation which limits the use of hospitals and erodes medical domination (i.e., the new legalism). The contributions to the sociologies of social control, state and law are discussed and the convergence of these fields is identified. The implications for the neo-Marxist theoretical research programme are examined. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate

This thesis seeks to develop background knowledge about actors in the Province of British Columbia. The British Columbia Labour Relations Act defines actors as employees. The federal Status of the Artist Act recognizes them as self-employed. How did this conflict arise, and how does it affect the role of actors in Canadian cultural life? The status of actors individually and severally under the Vagrancy Acts of England from 1572 is analyzed. The censure of. artists by a U.S. Congressional Committee in the twentieth century is reviewed. The international model of cultural self- determination and freedom of individual conscience as promulgated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UNESCO Charter is outlined. The arms-length model suggested in the 1951 Massey Report; and the 1957 Canada Council. Act is examined. The erosion of the arms-length principle in Canadian cultural affairs is linked to the politicizing of the arts in Canada: art production coupled with social policy and political initiatives in the 1970's; the cultural industries identified as a source of economic benefits in the 1980's; and regional industrial strategy initiatives presented as cultural policy in the 1990's. In conclusion, an assessment of current trends in cultural policy affecting actors' status, rights, professional development, and artistic freedom in British Columbia is followed by a draft Status of the Artist Act, policy recommendations in culture, and a proposal for an Actors' Development Company. / Arts, Faculty of / Theatre and Film, Department of / Graduate

In an effort to adapt the law to modern society, the courts have expanded the bases on which divorces obtained abroad will be recognized in Canada and Parliament has modified the domestic rules for the assumption of jurisdiction in divorce petitions. This has resulted in a significant increase in uncertainty and inconsistency in the law, which is evidenced in the large volume of litigation in this area. Analysis of the grounds for recognition of foreign divorces gives rise to a further concern, that is, the effect of a foreign divorce on the right of a spouse or former spouse to financial support. The chief unresolved problem, at least as far as Canadian divorce legislation is concerned, is the protection of a spouse's right to financial support in Canada when a foreign divorce is recognized here. Furthermore, if a foreign divorce is not recognized here, its effect on the right to financial support seems to be somewhat uncertain. Having considered the objectives of the law in this field, together with the current law and alternatives available to the legislature, it is submitted that law reform is desirable. Specific recommendations are formulated at the end of each of the three parts of the thesis. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

In response to concern about the model of trade and investment liberalization reflected in existing and proposed trade and investment agreements (TIAs), efforts have been made to balance the economic orientation of trade with social considerations. One proposal that has garnered significant attention in this regard is the social clause (SC): a set of labour rights to be attached to the text of TIAs. Although the idea of including labour rights in TIAs seems laudable, significant opposition to the particular SC recommendations developed by Canadian and international labour organizations has emerged. Some critics charge that the addition of a clause to TIAs will not only prove unproductive, but will actually serve to legitimate problematic aspects of these agreements. Others insist that the content of the SC will exacerbate existing inequalities in the international trade order. In this thesis, I reconstruct debate over the SC to determine whether this instrument can effectively contribute to the realization of a more socially responsible trade and investment regime. Using proposals advanced by the Canadian Labour Congress as a key point of reference, I argue that there are resources available to clause proponents to respond to claims that the SC is an inadequate approach to the goal of resisting the current model of liberalization. As such, there is room to resist the conclusion that the SC should be rejected in its entirety. While it may be possible to preserve the SC approach, however, the same cannot be said about the content of current clause proposals. Criticisms of the narrow range of issues covered by existing SC recommendations clearly demonstrate that a rethinking of the content of the clause is not only warranted, but also necessary. Accordingly, I conclude by exploring three considerations that should be factored into the development of what would constitute a more adequate SC: first, existing patterns of inequality in the international trade system; second, the range of issues addressed by the clause; and third, the location of the clause within the context of the international trade regime. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

M.Phil. / Problem: Writer has identified a lack of authoritative guidelines on how to properly administer a po;ygraph test and subsequently present evidence on such test, before dispute resolution and/or adjudicating bodies. Purpose: In short, writer would attempt to analyse the various shortcomings in the manner that labour practitioners and/or presiding officers have dealt with expert evidence, and the admissibility and/or reliability of polygraph tests, over the past two decades. After identifying these shortcomings, writer would attempt a comparison of the South African position with that of the United States of America. Thereafter, writer would make certain suggestions on how the situation may be corrected, so as to attain legal certainty on the subject. Research Methodology: Writer will consider the history of the Lie Detector Test and will consider the scientific operation of such Test. Writer would further analyse the South African legal position on the subject of expert evidence and polygraph testing, including legislation, case law, academic articles, etc. Writer would also endeavour to compare the South African position with that of the United States of America, once again reviewing legislation, case law and academic guidelines. Suggestions: Writer will present practical guidelines to the employee undergoing the test, the polygraph exarr.:ner and the adjudicator at the disciplinary hearing, Labour Court, Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration or Bargaining Council. In conclusion, writer will propose that a Code of Good Practise, similar to the current legislation in the United States, be promulgated. Such Code, or similar legislation, should contain a detailed set of guidelines on the evidentiary value of evidence on polygraph testing and the manner that same should be presented during litigious proceedings. In addition, same should set out strict requirements for the administration of valid polygraph tests, i.e. that same should be undertaken voluntarily, that the proceedings must be video recorded, etc.