Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A democratic political system grants unimpaired opportunities for all citizens to have their preferences weighted equally in the conduct of government regardless of content or source. However, governments in democratic political systems frequently disregard public preference. But all governments, not only popular governments, are dependent on the 'will of the people' if the system is to remain viable. This study investigates the relationship between public opinion and public policy in South Africa, using the 1996 Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act as case study, as it provides a practical example to illustrate this complex relationship. The study used a longitudinal approach to investigate shifts in public opinion over a period of five years, using secondary survey analysis. Attitudes towards abortion are cross-tabulated by demographic variables, religion, interest in politics and democratic norms. The study found that the most significant shifts in public opinion occurred within demographic groups previously discriminated against by the 1975 Abortion and Sterilisation Act. In 1994 South Africa emerged from a lengthy anti-apartheid struggle and human rights were of paramount importance to many South Africans. The restrictive abortion legislation of 1975 was vestige of discriminative apartheid legislation and was not in line with South Africa's exemplary 1996 Constitution. Consequently, progressive abortion legislation was ratified, amidst significant public indifference, in order to promote equal citizenship of women. It is argued that abortion constitutes a basic democratic right, in the context of reproductive health rights, and although South African citizens predominantly support a democratic political system, few made the ideological connection with abortion as a democratic right. Therefore, the study infers that the South African electorate is ill informed of the ideological norms surrounding democracy. The significance of this study is that it investigated abortion not as a legal or moral issue, but as a politicised issue in South Africa. The African National Congress (ANC) was strongly committed to advancing progressive abortion legislation in South Africa. The ANC elected to vote on a party platform on the proposed abortion bill. When a majority party, which holds 252 seats of 400 in the National Assembly, elects to vote as a block on proposed legislation, it is likely that the legislation will be passed into law. This conduct of the ANC raises fears that South Africa is a de facto one-party dominant state, where free and fair elections are held, but no rotation in office occurs. Both the 1994 and 1999 elections led to landslide victories for the ANC, and they are assured that the 2003 elections will yield the same result. It is extremely damaging to any democratic system when competition but no contestation occurs. Therefore, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between state and party interests. The study concludes that in the case of progressive abortion legislation in South Africa, the people did not rule. It is the view of this study that the enactment of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act did not represent democratic conduct. It illustrates that the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act was, by implication, "bulldozed" into law by the ANC. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Demokratiese politieke stelsel vergun gelyke geleenthede aan elke burger sodat hul voorkeure gelyk opgeweeg word in die optrede van 'n regering, ongeag die bron of konteks daarvan. Nogtans minag regerings gereeld openbare voorkeur. Nie slegs populêre regerings nie, maar alle regerings is afhanklik van volkswil, as slegs dan die stelsel lewensvatbaar sal bly. Hierdie studie ondersoek die verhouding tussen openbare mening en openbare beleid in Suid-Afrika. Die Wet op Keuse oor Beëindiging van Swangerskap van 1996 word gebruik, omdat dit 'n praktiese gevallestudie bied om hierdie komplekse verhouding te illustreer. Die studie maak gebruik van 'n langsdeursnee aanslag om die verandering van openbare mening oor vyf jaar te ondersoek en maak gebruik van sekondêre meningsopname vraelys analiese. Lewenshoudings oor aborsie is kruis getabuleer met demografiese veranderlikes, geloof, intriseerdheid in politiek en demokratiese grondregte. Daar is gevind dat die mees aanduidende veranderinge in openbare menings te vinde was in demografiese groepe waarteen gediskrimineer was deur die Wet op Vrugafdrywing en Sterilisasie van 1975. Suid-Afrika het in 1994 uit 'n wydlopende anti-apartheid stryd getree en mense-regte was van oorwegende belang vir die meeste Suid-Afrikaners. Die 1975 Wet op Vrugafdrywing en Sterilisasie was 'n bewys van diskriminerende apartheid wetgewing en was nie in lyn met Suid-Afrika se nuwe Grondwet nie. Dus is progressiewe aborsie wetgewing bekragtig, om vroue in Suid-Afrika gelyke burgerskap te gee, te midde van deurslaggewende openbare ontevredenheid. Die studie veronderstel dat aborsie 'n grondreg van demokrasie vorm, binne die konteks van reproduktiewe gesondheids-regte. Alhoewel Suid-Afrikaners 'n demokratiese politieke stelsel steun, het weinig die konneksie tussen aborsie en demokratiese ideologiese grondregte gemaak. Die studie maak dus die gevolgtrekking dat Suid-Afrikaners swak ingelig is in verband met die ideologiese grondregte van demokrasie. Die inhoudsbelang van hierdie studie is dat aborsie ondersoek word as 'n politieke vraagstuk en nie as morele of wetregtige vraagstuk nie. Die African National Congress (ANC) was sterk verbind tot die totstandbringing van progresiewe aborsie wetgewing in Suid-Afrika en het besluit om op 'n party-platform te stem in Parlement aangaande voorgestelde progressiewe aborsie wetgewing. Wanneer 'n meerderheidsparty, wat 252 setels van 400 in die parlement beslaan, besluit om as 'n blok te stem oor voorgestelde wetgewing, dit redelik seker is dat dié wetgewing bekragtig sal word. Hierdie gedrag van die ANC gee aanleiding tot vrese dat Suid Afrika 'n de facto een party dominante staat is, waar vry en regverdige verkiesings voorkom, maar geen afwisseling in ampstermyn nie. Dit is skadelik vir enige demokratiese stelsel wanneer kompetisie maar geen betwisting paasvind nie. Gevolglik word dit al hoe moeiliker om te onderskei tussen party-en staatsbelange. Die studie sluit af dat die publiek nie regeer het in hierdie geval nie. Dit is die siening van hierdie studie dat die bekragtiging van die Wet op Keuse oor die Beëindiging van Swangerskap van 1996 nie goeie demokratiese optrede weerspieël het nie en dat dit, by implikasie, deur die ANC deur middel van intimidasie bekragtig is.

Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines the constitutional law of equality, non-discrimination and affirmative action in Namibia, and compares it to that of South Africa and the United States. Namibian judicial interpretation in these areas seeks to balance the need to safeguard the internationally recognized human rights that the Namibian Constitution guarantees with the need to ensure that Namibian constitutional law is seen as grounded in Namibia's historical experience and culture. This latter imperative derives from the Namibian Constitution's origins in an international negotiation process, which has led to some popular criticism of the Constitution as foreign and imposed. As a result, Namibian courts have been careful to ensure that reliance on foreign precedent (where there is no local authority) does not diminish the Constitution's unique character and its suitability to the Namibian situation. To that end, the Namibian courts have given great weight to the role of current Namibian societal values in constitutional interpretation. In the areas of equality, nondiscrimination and affirmative action, Namibian courts have generally followed the South African approach, except with respect to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The author concludes that the adoption of the South African approach generally makes sense for Namibia, and specifically criticizes the Namibian courts' approach to sexual orientation discrimination. The statutes enacted in Namibia to carry out the Constitution's equality and nondiscrimination guarantees, including in the area of affirmative action, are also considered. While these statutes have not yet been subject to judicial interpretation, it seems likely that future cases presenting issues arising under these statutes will necessitate the same balancing referred to above. The thesis begins with an overview of each Constitution's textual treatment of equality, non-discrimination and affirmative action, and a discussion comparing the background and basic structure of the three Constitutions. It then focuses on the judicial and legislative interpretation of the concepts of equality and nondiscrimination in Namibia, as compared to that in South Africa and the US. Following that, the author discusses the judicial and legislative interpretation of the concept of affirmative action in Namibia, also as compared to that in South Africa and the United States. The thesis ends with the author's conclusions and some predictions as to how the Namibian courts might rule on certain issues that seem likely to arise in these areas in the future. / LLM Tesis deur Elizabeth Kandravy Cassidy, '''n Delikate Balans: Gelykheid, nie-diskrimnasie en gelykberegtiging in Namibiese staatsreg - 'n vergelykende studie met Suid-Afrikaanse en Amerikaanse Staatsreg" (2002) Hierdie tesis ondersoek die staatsregtelike beskerming van gelykheid, niediskriminasie en gelykberegtiging in Namibië in 'n regsvergelykende studie van Suid- Afrikaanse en Amerikaanse staatsreg. Namibiese geregtelike interpretasie op hierdie gebied poog om 'n balans te handhaaf tussen die behoefte om internasionaal erkende menseregte deur die Namibiese grondwet te waarborg en die behoefte om te verseker dat die grondslag van die Namibiese staatsreg soos gevestig in sy geskiedenis en kultuur behoue bly. Laasgenoemde beweegrede spruit voort uit die feit dat die Namibiese grondwet sy oorsprong te danke het aan 'n internasionale onderhandelingsproses, wat gelei het tot die algemene siening dat die grondwet vreemd is en nie uit eie geledere afgedwing word nie. Gevolglik steun die Namibiese howe met omsigtigheid op buitelandse presedente (waar daar geen plaaslike gesag is nie) met die oog op behoud van die grondwet se unieke karakter en gepastheid binne die Namibiese konteks. Met hierdie doel voor oë, plaas die Namibiese howe in grondwetlike interpretasie, groter klem op die rol van kontemporêre gemeenskapswaardes in Namibië. Op die gebied van gelykheid, nie-diskriminasie en gelykberegtiging volg die Namibiese howe oor die algemeen die Suid-Afrikaanse benadering, behalwe in die geval van diskriminasie op grond van seksuele oriëntasie. Die skrywer kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die toepassing van die Suid-Afrikaanse benadering in die algemeen sinvol is binne die Namibiese konteks and kritiseer die Namibiese howe se benadering tot diskriminasie op grond van seksuele orientasie. Die wetgewing wat in Namibië uitgevaardig is om die grondwetlik gewaarborgde gelykheid en nie-diskriminasie, insluitend gelykberegtiging te verseker word ook ondersoek. Alhoewel hierdie wetgewing nog nie aan geregtelike interpretasie onderwerp is nie, blyk dit dat toekomstige uitsprake waar die wetgewing ter sprake kom ook die balansering van hierdie belange sal noodsaak. Die tesis begin met 'n oorsigtelike bespreking van die benadering tot gelykheid, niediskriminasie en gelykberegtiging van die onderskeie grondwette en 'n regsvergelykende bespreking van die agtergrond en basiese struktuur van die drie grondwette. Vervolgens fokus die tesis op die geregtelike interpretasie van die beginsels van gelykheid en nie-diskriminasie in Namibië, in vergelyking met Suid- Afrika en die Verenigde State. Daarna bepreek die skrywer die geregtelike en wetgewende interpretasie van die beginsel van gelykgeregtiging in Namibië, ook in 'n regsvergelyking met die Suid-Afrikaanse en Amerikaanse posisie. Die tesis sluit af met die skrywer se gevolgtrekkings en 'n paar voorspellings oor die moontlike benadering wat die Namibiese howe in die toekoms sal volg tot sekere regskwessies wat in hierdie vakgebied kan voorkom.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus in this research report is the violation of the constitutional rights of a young person in conflict with the law in the Cape Town Magisterial District. This violation is caused by the lack of collaboration between the different role players. The situation can be rectified with a policy intervention which will ensure multi-disciplinary collaboration between the role players. The researcher proves that stipulations in section 28 of the Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, are violated because the different role players in the juvenile justice system of Cape Town magisterial district work in a fragmented manner and do not operate as a unit. The young person in conflict with law is harmed in this process. The situation can be rectified through a policy intervention. The policy intervention entails a uniform administrative procedure, the drafting and implementation of a working agreement between the role players, establishing a communication network, combined and integrated training and a multi-disciplinary committee that evaluates and monitors these aspects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fokus van hierdie navorsingverslag is die skending van die grondwetlike regte van die jong persoon in botsing met die gereg binne die Kaapstad se landdrosdistrik. Die skendings is vanweë die gebrek aan samewerking tussen die verskillende rolspelers. Die situasie kan deur middel van 'n beleidintervensie reggestel word ten einde multi-dissiplinêre samewerking tussen die rolspelers te verseker. Die navorser bewys dat bepalings in artikel 28 van die Grondwet, Wet 108 van 1996, geskend word omdat die verskillende rolspelers in die jeugregstel van Kaapstad se landdrosdistrik gefragmenteerd werk en nie as 'n eenheid funksioneer nie. Die jong persoon in botsing met die gereg word benadeel in die proses. Die situasie kan deur middel van 'n beleidsintervensie reggestel word. Die beleidsintervensie behels dat daar 'n eenvormige administratiewe proses gevolg word, 'n samewerkingsooreenkoms tussen die rolspelers opgestel word, 'n kommunikasienetwerk gevestig word, gesamentlike en geïntegreerde opleiding plaasvind en dat 'n multi-dissiplinêre komitee die gemelde aspekte evalueer en moniteer.

Thesis (LLM)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rights entrenched in the Bill of Rights in South Africa’s final Constitution are, with a few exceptions, guaranteed to citizens and non-citizens alike. South Africa has seen an influx of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees since 1994, and this migratory movement has posed significant challenges to the post-apartheid legal order. This thesis is concerned with the State’s implementation of its constitutional obligations to protect and guarantee the constitutional rights of everyone within the borders of South Africa. It is important that these constitutional obligations do not remain mere aspirations but should translate into reality. Most non-citizens living in South Africa face numerous barriers to accessing justice and the processes that could enable them to realise their rights. The thesis examines the concept of “access to justice” and investigates a number of obstacles encountered by different categories of non-citizens – such as refugees, asylum seekers and documented and undocumented migrants – in trying to access justice and to realise their rights. Against this background, arrest, detention and deportation under the Immigration Act and Refugees Act are examined because these processes have often been abused by State officials to prevent non-citizens from accessing the rights and protections guaranteed in these Acts and the Constitution, and to frustrate the implementation of court orders vindicating the rights of non-citizens. The application of the Immigration and Refugees Acts is discussed through the lens of sections 12(1), 33, 34 and 35(2) of the Constitution which ensure that arrest, detention and deportation are done in a lawful and procedurally fair manner, as opposed to the arbitrariness that most non-citizens experience on a daily basis. Secondly, the thesis also examines access to justice for non-citizens in the context of xenophobia and bias based crimes. The State has in the past failed to respond in a coordinated and timely fashion in the face of violent manifestations of xenophobia. Against this background, the State’s obligation to protect non-citizens from violence from either public or private sources in terms of section 12(1)(c) of the Constitution is discussed and analysed. The role, accessibility and effectiveness of Equality Courts are also examined in light of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act and the cases that were brought before them emanating from xenophobic incidents. The thesis concludes with proposals on areas which require better implementation of existing laws; and areas in which legislative reform is needed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regte wat in die Handves van Regte in Suid-Afrika se finale Grondwet veranker is, word op enkele uitsonderings na vir burgers en nie-burgers gewaarborg. Sedert 1994 het Suid- Afrika instroming van migrante, asielsoekers en vlugtelinge beleef, en hierdie verskuiwing het wesenlike uitdagings aan die post-apartheid regsorde gestel. Hierdie tesis is gemoeid met die Staat se implementering van sy grondwetlike verpligting om die grondwetlike regte van almal wat hul binne Suid-Afrika se landsgrense bevind, te beskerm en te waarborg. Dit is belangrik dat hierdie grondwetlike verpligtinge nie blote aspirasies bly nie, maar ’n werklikheid word. Die meeste nie-burgers wat in Suid-Afrika woon staar talle hindernisse in die gesig wat dit vir hulle moeilik maak om toegang tot geregtigheid te verkry en om hul regte te verwesenlik. Die tesis ondersoek die begrip “toegang tot geregtigheid” en bekyk aantal struikelblokke in die weg van verskillende kategorieë nie-burgers – soos vlugtelinge, asielsoekers en gedokumenteerde en nie-gedokumenteerde migrante – wat toegang tot geregtigheid probeer verkry en hul regte probeer verwesenlik. Teen hierdie agtergrond word arrestasie, aanhouding en deportering ingevolge die Wet op Immigrasie en die Wet op Vlugtelinge ondersoek, aangesien hierdie prosesse dikwels deur staatsamptenare misbruik word om nie-burgers te verhinder om toegang te verkry tot die regte en beskermings wat in hierdie wetgewing en in die Grondwet gewaarborg word, en om geregtelike bevele wat die regte van nie-burgers afdwing, te verydel. Die toepassing van die Wet op Immigrasie en die Wet op Vlugtelinge word deur die lens van artikels 12(1), 33, 34 en 35(2) van die Grondwet bespreek, wat probeer verseker dat arrestasie, aanhouding en deportering op regmatige en prosedureel billike manier geskied, in teenstelling met die willekeur wat nie-burgers op daaglikse basis ervaar. Tweedens ondersoek die tesis toegang tot geregtigheid vir nie-burgers in die konteks van vreemdelingehaat en misdade wat op vooroordeel gebaseer is. Die Staat het in die verlede in gebreke gebly om in die aangesig van gewelddadige manifesterings van vreemdelingehaat op gekoördineerde en tydige manier te reageer. Die Staat se verpligting om ingevolge artikel 12(1)(c) van die Grondwet nie-burgers teen geweld van hetsy openbare hetsy private oorsprong te beskerm, word bespreek en ontleed. Die rol, toeganklikheid en doeltreffendheid van gelykheidshowe word ook bespreek in die lig van die Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act en die sake wat deur hierdie howe beslis is wat uit xenofobiese voorvalle voortspruit. Die tesis sluit af met voorstelle oor terreine waar beter implementering van bestaande wetgewing benodig word, asook terreine waar wetgewende hervorming verlang word.

This study examines the implementation and enforcement of the right to environment in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and compares it with the situation in South Africa. To date, there is no legislation in the DRC that gives effect to this right, and the gap between the guaranteed right and the reality remains significant. Guidance may be found in the South African model for implementing and enforcing environmental right(s) which is sustained by an array of legislation. While the priorities on the agenda of political leaders in the DRC lack real willingness to deal with this matter, parliament must be pressured to pass legislation that gives effect to the right to environment and to improve the current framework of environmental regulation. It is imperative to create awareness in government and at grassroots level for the protection of the environment as a human right. / Jurisprudence / LL.M.

Text in Afrikaans. / Die definisie van 'n huwelik tref 'n onderskeid tussen heteroseksuele en homoseksuele lewensmetgeselle ten opsigte van die bevoegdheid om te trou. Hierdie onderskeid op grond van seksuele georiënteerdheid mag moontlik ongrondwetlik wees. Voorts is daar 'n menigte regte en verpligtinge wat outomaties uit huweliksluiting spruit, maar nie outomaties op lewensverhoudings van toepassing is nie. Hierdie onderskeid op grond van huwelikstaat mag eweneens moontlik teen die bepalings van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 1996 indruis. Hierdie studie is gevolglik daarop toegespits om ondersoek in te stel na die grondwetlikheid van hierdie twee onderskeide. Die ondersoek word geloods met verwysing na relevante wetgewing en regspraak. 'n Bondige oorsig van fundamentele regte word as agtergrond verskaf. Na afhandeling van die ondersoek word daar aandag geskenk aan die huidige en voorgestelde toekomstige erkenning en regulering van lewensverhoudings in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg, waarna die bevindings saamgevat en krities beoordeel word. SUMMARY The definition of marriage differentiates between heterosexual and homosexual life partners with regard to the capacity to marry. This differentiation on account of sexual orientation may possibly be unconstitutional. Furthermore there are a multitude of rights and obligations that automatically flow from marriage, which are not automatically applicable to life partnerships. This differentiation on account of marital status may also violate the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Accordingly this study is aimed at investigating the constitutionality of these two differentiations. The investigation is conducted with reference to relevant legislation and case law. A concise overview of fundamental rights is provided as background. In conclusion of the investigation, attention is paid to the present recognition and regulation of domestic partnerships in South African law, after which the findings are summarised and evaluated critically. / Jurisprudence / LL.M.

The following is a study and comparison of the various types of surrogacy currently being implemented locally and internationally and the laws surrounding it. I discuss the current South African legal framework on surrogacy and summarise the relevant legislative provisions whilst also further discussing the provisions prohibiting commercial surrogacy and the reasons behind them. Thereafter an investigation follows into other counties in respect of their individual laws regulating surrogacy and more specifically, commercial surrogacy. I discuss how these countries attempted to regulate commercial surrogacy and which regulations were a success and which weren‘t. The various international laws and regulations surrounding surrogacy as well as commercial surrogacy is then compared and discussed in a South African context. A discussion on the intertwined constitutional rights of the surrogate mother, commissioning parents and child follows and in conclusion I offer some recommendations on how to go about legalising commercial surrogacy safely and successfully implementing it free from exploitation. / Private Law / LL.M. (Specialisation in Private Law)

Reasonableness as a concept used in determining delictual liability or liability in tort law, is either embraced or perceived by some as frustrating. It is a normative concept which is inextricably linked with the concepts of fairness, justice, equity, public policy and the values of the community. These concepts assist in providing value judgements in determining liability. It is apparent from this study that the influence of reasonableness is predominantly implicit on the French law of delict, but more explicit on the South African law of delict and Anglo-American tort law. Its influence varies with respect to each element of tort or delictual liability. In order to hold a person liable for a delict or tort, it is only reasonable that all the elements of a delict or tort are present. Common to all the jurisdictions studied in this thesis is the idea of striking a balance between the defendant’s interests promoted, the plaintiff’s interests adversely affected and the interests of society. Where liability is based on fault, the reasonableness of conduct is called into question. In respect of causation whichever test or theory is used, what must ultimately be determined is whether according to the facts of the case, it is reasonable to impute liability on the defendant for the factually caused consequences. Whether loss or harm is required, assumed or not required, the question of the appropriate remedy or compensation which is reasonable under the circumstances is called into question. In South African and Anglo-American law, the multiple uses of the standards of the reasonable person, reasonable foreseeability of harm, reasonable preventability of harm, whether it is reasonable to impose an element of liability, or whether it is reasonable to impute liability, often cause confusion and uncertainty. At times, the role of these criteria with regard to a specific element may be valid and amplified while, at other times, their role is diminished and controversial. However, there is nothing wrong with the concept of reasonableness itself; indeed, it is a necessary and useful concept in law. Rather, it is the way that it is interpreted and applied in determining liability that is problematic. / Private Law / LL. D.

Contemporary South Africa prides itself on having a Bill of Rights. For 84 years (1910 to 1994) public administration regulated the general welfare and lives of inhabitants in the finest detail, while being subject to almost only the whims and political objectives of the governing authority. On 27 April 1994 the 1993 Constitution introduced a constitutional obligation and radical change to the manner in which public administration must be exercised. Today, still an infant in experience relating to a bill of rights, public administration must be exercised with the Bill of Rights as an integral part of this inhabitant / governing authority interaction. The primary aim of this study is to attempt to describe the manner in which public administration was exercised, firstly, during constitutional dispensations prior to 1994 and, secondly, since public administration became subject to constitutionally entrenched fundamental rights. The empirical investigation is aimed at exploring and analysing the extent to which public administration has realised the constitutional obligation in practice. The results of the empirical investigation highlighted, primarily, that the majority of the officials that participated in the survey do not know of the Bill of Rights, and that half of those who do know of the Bill have little knowledge of its provisions. More than half of the respondents lack awareness of section 195 of the 1996 Constitution, which states that public administration must be governed by democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution. Barely one tenth of respondents were informed of the significance of the Bill and its role regarding public administration. The majority of respondents have not of their own accord studied the Bill and the Bill does not have the desired effect on the manner in which public administration is exercised. Two thirds of respondents have mixed perceptions as to whether to serve the interests of inhabitants above the political objectives of the governing authority and less than a quarter of respondents give recognition to the Bill when rendering public services. It seems as if South African public administration has a long way to go in adhering to its constitutional obligation in practice. / Public Administration and Management / D. Litt et Phil.(Public Administration)

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a comprehensive process for identifying and addressing primarily constitutional, medico-legal and liability issues, and in addition ethical, social and scientific issues related to the psychiatric and psychology professions in South Africa. In fulfilling this purpose, a comprehensive search is conducted of relevant historical, ethical, philosophical and clinical aspects pertaining to psychiatry and psychology, as well as an evaluation of the current juridical framework regarding the legal liability of the psychiatrist and psychologist balanced against the constitutional rights of the mentally disordered patient in South Africa. Recommendations are made for the establishment of any new controls needed to mitigate and prevent the exposure of mentally disordered patients, further attempting to provide specific remedies to adapt the current juridical framework in South Africa. The examination is conducted within the framework of the South African and United Kingdom's legal systems. Focus is placed on aspects of medical law, human rights law (as envisaged in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996), criminal law and the law of delict and, to a lesser extent, administrative law and the law of evidence. / Law / LL.D.