Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Abbreviations and acronyms
- Glossary
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Thinking secularism from South Africa
- Chapter 2 A South African morality tale: Religion, tradition and racialised rule
- Chapter 3 Negotiated consensus and religious rights
- Chapter 4 Re-establishing traditional authority
- Chapter 5 The spirit of a new South Africa
- Chapter 6 Secular constitutionalism in South Africa?
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Appendix 1 Postamble to the interim constitution
- Appendix 2 Excerpts from the final constitution
- A note on archival sou
- Bibliography
- Index
Appendix 2 - Excerpts from the final constitution
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 April 2018
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Abbreviations and acronyms
- Glossary
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Thinking secularism from South Africa
- Chapter 2 A South African morality tale: Religion, tradition and racialised rule
- Chapter 3 Negotiated consensus and religious rights
- Chapter 4 Re-establishing traditional authority
- Chapter 5 The spirit of a new South Africa
- Chapter 6 Secular constitutionalism in South Africa?
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Appendix 1 Postamble to the interim constitution
- Appendix 2 Excerpts from the final constitution
- A note on archival sou
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act No. 108 of 1996
Preamble
We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of our past;
Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to –
Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;
Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;
Improve the quality of life for all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.
May God protect our people.
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.
God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.
Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika.
Chapter 1: Founding Provisions
Republic of South Africa
1. The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:
a. Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.
b. Non-racialism and non-sexism.
c. Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.
d. Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters’ roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.
Chapter 2: Bill of Rights
Equality
9. (1) Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
[…]
(3) The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.
(4) No person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds in terms of subsection (3).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The State of SecularismReligion, Tradition and Democracy in South Africa, pp. 203 - 208Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2017