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Some Reflections on the Natal Code

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

N. A. Cassim
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Extract

This article attempts to reflect upon the present state of indigenous customary law in South Africa, more particularly as codified in Natal, and to assess the suitability of the system today, as well as its place in the South African legal order. Verloren van Themaat has argued for the retention of indigenous law as follows:

“Die reg is deel van ’n volk se kultuur, en elke besondere volk het sy eie kultuurpatroon. Die eiesoortigheid van n kultuur verdwyn nie sonder meer met opvoeding en beskawing nie, die kultuur van een groep is nie maar net die kultuur van ’n ander groep in vroeëre stadium van ontwikkeling nie.”3

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of African Law , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , Autumn 1981 , pp. 131 - 135
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1981

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References

1 In this article indigenous customary law is used to describe tribal law, African customary law and Black law which exists or existed in traditional African society.

2 Natal Code of Black Law, GG No. 839, 8 September, 1967. The word “Bantu” has been replaced by the word “Black”: see s. 17 of the Second Black Laws Amendment Act, No. 102 of 1978.

3 R. ver Loren van Themaat, “Die bepaling van rigting by die regsopleiding van die Bantoe”, 1968, 31 T.H.R.-H.R. 47.

4 P. 54.

5 A. M. R. Ramolefe, “Sesotho marriage, guardianship and the customary heir” in Max Gluckman (ed.) Ideas and procedures in African Customary Law, 1969, 197.

6 For a brief introductory summary see J. Lewin, An Outline of Native Law, 3rd ed., 1960. The following summary is taken from D. W. Sievwright, “Marriage in contemporary urban Bantu speaking communities in the Republic of South Africa”, 1965–66 Acta Juridica, 149–163.

7 S. 35 of the Black Administration Act, No. 38 of 1927.

8 S. 22 (6) of the Act.

9 “Marriage is the legally recognised voluntary union for life in common of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others while it lasts”; H. R. Hahlo, The South African Law of Husband and Wife, 4th ed., 1975, 28.

10 S. M. Seymour, Bantu Law in South Africa, 3rd ed., 1970, 101; s. 59(1)C, Natal Code.

11 Mkize v. Mamela [1953] N.A.C. (N.E.) 22.

12 Sila v. Masuka [1937] N.A.C. (T. and N.) 121.

13 S. 65, Natal Code.

14 Seymour, op. cit., 101.

15 S. 59(1), Natal Code.

16 S. 76, Natal Code.

17 S. 80, Natal Code.

18 Seymour, op. cit., 185. The guardian is joined as co-defendant to enable the court to make an order, as between him and her husband, concerning the disposal of the dowry.

19 Seymour, op. cit., 192; s. 82, Natal Code.

20 Mokoena v. Mofokeng, 1945, N.A.C. (C. and O.) 89.

21 No. 13 of 1934.

22 Seymour, op. cit., 168, and 204–216. Ss. 32(1) (a), 44(4), 89, Natal Code.

23 See, inter alia, Muriel Horrell, The Rights of African Women: Some Suggested Reforms, 1968; Ellen Hellman, “Tribalism in a modern society”, 1957, 24 Race Relations Journal 1; Z. K. Seedat, The Natal Code of Law as it Affects African Women in the Changing Situation Today, 1969, unpublished thesis.

24 RP 32/1979, Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Legislation Affecting the Utilisation of Manpower, 29 August, 1978. 167 (Riekert Report).

25 Riekert Report, op. cit., 164.

26 Unofficial estimates of unemployment generally put the figure between 1–2 million: Survey of Race Relations in S.A., 1978, 169.

27 Financial Section, Daily News, 30 July, 1980.

28 During the period 1 July, 1978, to 30 June, 1979, 33, 624 Blacks were imprisoned for being longer than 72 hours in a prescribed area: Commissioner of Prisons Retort 1978–79, R.P. 36 of 1980 Table 18.

29 S. 11(1) of Act No. 38 of 1927: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, it shall be in the discretion of the Commissioners' Courts, in all suits or proceedings between Blacks involving customs followed by Blacks, to decide such questions according to the Black law applying to such custom except in so far as it shall have been repealed or modified: Provided that such Black law shall not be opposed to the principles of public policy or natural justice: Provided further that it shall not be lawful for any court to declare that the custom of lobola or bogadi or other similar custom is repugnant to such principles.”

30 U.G. 56, Report of Commissioner of Prisons, 1956, 36.

31 Act No. 38 of 1927. The courts established are: Chief's Courts (s. 12 (1)); Commissioner's Courts, (s. 10); Appeal Court for Commissioners' Courts, (s. 13); and Divorce Courts, (s. 10, Act 1927 as amended by Act No. 9 of 1929).

32 R. S. Suttner, “Towards judicial and legal integration in South Africa”, (1968) LXXXV S.A.L.J. 435; see pp. 443–445.

33 Kekana in Faculty of Law, eds., University of Natal, Durban, Legal Aid in South Africa, 1974, 208.

34 J. Lewin, “English law and African justice”, (1968) 27 African Studies 157; M. B. Hooker, Legal pluralism, 1975, 309.

35 Industrial Conciliation Amendment Act, No. 94 of 1979, s. 1.

36 Sunday Times, 26 July, 1980.

37 W. Friedmann, Law in a Changing Society, 1959, 12.

38 Anderson, “Law reform in the Middle East”, (1956) 32 International Affairs 45.

39 Friedmann, op. cit., 12.

40 The Nature of the Judicial Process, 1921, 112–113.

41 Cited by Friedmann, op. cit., 24.

42 Ibid. 25.