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The implementation of court orders in respect of socio-economic rights in South Africa

Thesis (LL.M.)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recognition of the socio-economic imbalances inherited from the past and the
abject poverty experienced by many, the people of South Africa adopted a
Constitution fully committed to protecting socio-economic rights and advancing
social justice. Apartheid constituted a violation of every internationally
recognised human right. Seen in this light the emphasis on socio-economic
rights in the new South African Constitution represents a commitment to
guarantee to everyone in society a certain minimum standard of living below
which they will not be allowed to fall.
As the Constitution recognises socio-economic rights as justiciable rights, they
can be of assistance to those who are unable to support themselves when
challenging the state for the non-delivery of basic services. The duty to deliver
the services lies first with the state and the court becomes involved only once it
is alleged that the state has failed to fulfil its duty.
The primary purpose of the study is aimed at determining the effectiveness of
the South African Human Rights Commission in monitoring court orders in
respect of the implementation of socio-economic rights. Non-Governmental
Organisations, involved in the promotion and protection of human rights
including socio-economic rights, cannot be left out of the process.
It is argued that where the Courts issue structural interdicts, which have of late
been used by them, albeit not enough in the context of socio-economic rights,
they are responsible for the implementation of such orders. It is also argued that
the South African Human Rights Commission and NGOs must be enjoined to
ensure that court orders are better implemented. Court orders in respect of
socio-economic rights in almost all the cases to date were neither implemented
nor monitored adequately. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ter erkenning van die sosio-ekonomiese ongelykhede wat post-apartheid Suid-
Afrika geërf het en die volslae armoede waaraan talle Suid-Afrikaners
onderwerp is, het die mense van Suid-Afrika 'n grondwet aanvaar wat verbonde
is tot die beskerming van sosio-ekonomiese regte en die bevordering van
maatskaplike geregtigheid. Apartheid het elke internasionaal-erkende mensereg
geskend. Teen hierdie agtergrond verteenwoordig die klem op sosioekonomiese
regte in die nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse grondwet 'n verbondenheid
daartoe om vir elkeen in die maatskappy 'n bepaalde minimum lewensstandaard
te waarborg, waaronder hulle nie toegelaat sal word om te sak nie.
Aangesien die grondwet sosio-ekonomiese regte as beregbare regte erken, kan
hierdie regte van nut wees vir mense wat hulself nie kan onderhou nie, as hulle
die staat uitdaag omdat basiese dienste nie gelewer word nie. Die plig om
dienste te lewer berus eerstens by die staat, met die gevolg dat die hof eers
betrokke raak as die staat nie daarin slaag om sy plig te vervul nie.
Die primêre doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel hoe effektief die Suid-
Afrikaanse Menseregtekommissie is met die monitering van hofbevele wat
betrekking het op die verwesenliking van sosio-ekonomiese regte. Nieregeringsinstansies
wat betrokke is by die bevordering en beserkming van
menseregte, met inbegrip van sosio-ekonomiese regte, kan egter nie uit die
proses gelaat word nie.
In hierdie studie word aangevoer dat waar die strukturele interdikte gee, soos
wat in die onlangse verlede gebeur het, selfs al is dit nie genoeg in die konteks
van sosio-ekonomiese regte nie, hulle ook verantwoordelikheid is daarvoor dat
sulke bevele uitgevoer word.
Dit word verder gestel dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Menseregtekommissie en nieregeringsinstansies
moet saamwerk om te verseker dat hofbevele beter uitgevoer
word. Tot op datum is amper geen hofbevele oor sosio-ekonomiese regte
bevredigend uitgevoer of genoegsaam gemoniteer nie.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53648
Date12 1900
CreatorsNtlama, Nomthandazo Patience
ContributorsDe Waal, H. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Department of Private Law.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Formatviii, 119 pages
RightsStellenbosch University

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