The Constitution of South Africa
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA,
1996
(English text signed by the President)
[Promulgation Date: 18 December 1996]
[Commencement Date: 4 February 1997 – unless otherwise indicated] as amended by:
Constitution First Amendment Act of 1997
Constitution Second Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Third Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Fourth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Fifth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Sixth Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Seventh Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Eighth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Ninth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of 2003
[with effect from 20 March 2003]
Constitution Eleventh Amendment Act of 2003
[with effect from 11 July 2003]
[Note: The above-mentioned Amendment Acts have been amended by the Citation of Constitutional Laws
Act 5 of 2005]
NOTE:
The Act has been amended by section 4 of the Constitution Second Amendment Act of 1998, by the substitution for the expression “Human Rights Commission”, wherever it occurs, of the expression
“South African Human Rights Commission”.
ACT
To introduce a new Constitution for the Republic of South Africa and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
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 of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
1996
(English text signed by the President)
[Promulgation Date: 18 December 1996]
[Commencement Date: 4 February 1997 – unless otherwise indicated] as amended by:
Constitution First Amendment Act of 1997
Constitution Second Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Third Amendment Act of 1998
Constitution Fourth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Fifth Amendment Act of 1999
Constitution Sixth Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Seventh Amendment Act of 2001
Constitution Eighth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Ninth Amendment Act of 2002
Constitution Tenth Amendment Act of 2003
[with effect from 20 March 2003]
Constitution Eleventh Amendment Act of 2003
[with effect from 11 July 2003]
[Note: The above-mentioned Amendment Acts have been amended by the Citation of Constitutional Laws
Act 5 of 2005]
NOTE:
The Act has been amended by section 4 of the Constitution Second Amendment Act of 1998, by the substitution for the expression “Human Rights Commission”, wherever it occurs, of the expression
“South African Human Rights Commission”.
ACT
To introduce a new Constitution for the Republic of South Africa and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
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 of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and