LAW FOR ARCHITECTS _ARCH811

AN INTRODUCTION TO SOUTH AFRICAN LAW

Lawrence Ogunsanya
ogunsanya@ukzn.ac.za

WHAT IS LAW?
The law is a set of rules used to control the behaviour of

people in society.
The law:
tells you what you are entitled to
tells you what you must do
tells you what you must not do
tells you what others may not do to you
tells you what your rights are against the state and others
tells you what your responsibilities are as a member of
society.
In other words the law tells you about your legal
'rights' and 'duties'.

HOW THE LAW DEVELOPS

ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITIES
DEVELOPMENT OF CODES OF CONDUCT
SOCIAL VALUES AND MORES
NEED TO REGULATE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
CONSISTENCY
APPOINTING ARBITERS
ROLE OF LAWYERS
MODERN LEGAL SYSTEMS

SOURCES OF LAW
THE CONSTITUTION
SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND
ALL LAW IS SUBJECT TO THE CONSTITUTION
STATUTES
ACTS OF PARLIAMENT
REGULATIONS
PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION
MUNICIPAL BYLAWS
THE COMMON LAW
ROMAN DUTCH LAW
JUDICIAL INTERPRETATIONS
THE CUSTOMARY LAW
WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN LAW WHICH DEVELOPS FROM
THE CUSTOMS OF A COMMUNITY.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

COMMON LAW
RELEVANCE OF ROMAN DUTCH LAW

CUSTOMARY LAW
MARITAL
CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS.

INFLUENCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

CONVENTIONS
PROTOCOLS

NEIGHBOUR LAW AND NUISANCE

POLLUTION
NOISE
AIR
VEGETATION

WHAT IS A CONSTITUTION
SUPREMACY OF CONSTITUTION
DECLARATION OF IDENTITY

DECLARATION OF FREEDOM
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS (BILL OF RIGHTS)
ESTABLISHMENT OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL, MUNICIPAL
PARLIAMENT AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE

STRUCTURES

BRANCHES OF THE LAW

CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW
LAW OF CONTRACT
LAW OF DELICT
LAW OF PROPERTY (THINGS)
LAND LAW

RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS

LAND REFORM AND ACCESS TO LAND

QUESTIONS