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Constitution
Contents

Chapter 1
1-6 Founding Provisions

Chapter 2
7-39 Bill of Rights

Chapter 3
40-41 Co-operative Government

Chapter 4
42-82 Parliament

Chapter 5
83-102 The President and National Executive

Chapter 6
103-150 Provinces

Chapter 7
151-164 Local Government

Chapter 8
165-180 Courts and Administration of Justice

Chapter 9
181-194 State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy

Chapter 10
195-197 Public Administration

Chapter 11
198-210 Security Services

Chapter 12
211-212 Traditional Leaders

Chapter 13
213-230 Finance

Chapter 14
231-243 General Provisions

Schedule 1
National Flag

Schedule 2
Oaths and Solemn Affirmations

Schedule 3
Election Procedures

Schedule 4
Functional Areas of Concurrent National and Provincial Legislative Competence

Schedule 5
Functional Areas of Exclusive Provincial Legislative Competence

Schedule 6
Transitional Arrangements

Schedule 7
Laws Repealed

Amendments
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Act 35 of 1997
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Act 65 of 1998
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Second Amendment Act 87 of 1998
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Second Amendment Act 2 of 1999
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Act 3 of 1999

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Chapter 1
Founding Provisions

Index to Sections

Republic of South Africa
Supremacy of the Constitution
Citizenship
National Anthem
National Flag
Languages

Republic of South Africa

1.
The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:

Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.
Non-racialism and non-sexism.
Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.
Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.

Supremacy of Constitution

2.
This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic; law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it must be fulfilled.

Citizenship

3.
(1) There is a common South African citizenship.
(2) All citizens are

equally entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship; and
equally subject to the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.

(3) National legislation must provide for the acquisition, loss and restoration of citizenship.

National anthem

4.
The national anthem of the Republic is determined by the President by proclamation.

National flag

5.
The national flag of the Republic is black, gold, green, white, red and blue, as described and sketched in Schedule 1.

Languages

6.
(1) The official languages of the Republic are Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu.
(2) Recognising the historically diminished use and status of the indigenous languages of our people, the state must take practical and positive measures to elevate the status and advance the use of these languages.
(3)

The national government and provincial governments may use any particular official languages for the purposes of government, taking into account usage, practicality, expense, regional circumstances and the balance of the needs and preferences of the population as a whole or in the province concerned; but the national government and each provincial government must use at least two official languages.
Municipalities must take into account the language usage and preferences of their residents.

(4) The national government and provincial governments, by legislative and other measures, must regulate and monitor their use of official languages. Without detracting from the provisions of subsection (2), all official languages must enjoy parity of esteem and must be treated equitably.
(5) A Pan South African Language Board established by national legislation must

promote, and create conditions for, the development and use of

all official languages;
the Khoi, Nama and San languages; and
sign language ; and

promote and ensure respect for

all languages commonly used by communities in South Africa, including German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Portuguese, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu; and
Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit and other languages used for religious purposes in South Africa.

Index | Chapter 2