Constitution of South Africa

The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa. It provides the legal basis for the existence of the republic, establishes the rights and duties of its citizens and defines the structure of government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was drafted by the Parliament elected in 1994 at the 1994 South Africa general election. It was promulgated by President Nelson Mandela on December 18, 1996 and entered into force on February 4, 1997, replacing the 1993 Interinade Constitution.

The Constitution is formally entitled "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996". Previously, it was also numbered as if it were a Law of Parliament - No. 108, 1996 - but since the adoption of the Constitutional Law, nor the acts that alter it receive numbers of actions.

The constitution consists of a preamble, fourteen chapters containing 244 sections, and eight schedules. Each chapter deals with a specific topic; The schedules contain ancillary information referred to in the main text.

Chapter 1: Fundamental Provisions

Chapter 2: Bill of Rights

Chapter 3: Cooperative Government

Chapter 4: Parliament

Chapter 5: The President and the National Executive

Chapter 6: Provinces

Chapter 7: Local Government

Chapter 8: Courts and Administration of Justice

Chapter 9: State Institutions to Support Constitutional Democracy

Chapter 10: Public Administration

Chapter 11: Security Services

Chapter 12: Traditional Leaders

Chapter 13: Finances

Chapter 14: General Provisions

Schedules