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Papers by Abraham Klaasen

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, Aug 4, 2017

This contribution provides a short overview of the book by Danielle Ireland-Piper on accountabili... more This contribution provides a short overview of the book by Danielle Ireland-Piper on accountability in extraterritoriality in a comparative and international law context.

Sustainable Development, 2020

Socio‐economic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their co... more Socio‐economic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their constitutionally guaranteed rights whilst ignoring the rule of law. The weakening of the rule of law holds serious implications for democracy in South Africa. This paper explores the rule of law, socio‐economic rights and violent protest in South Africa. The realisation of socio‐economic rights, the reasons for violent protest and the weakening of the rule of law are investigated. Two conventional methodologies for strengthening the rule of law, the institutional approach and the neocultural interventionist approach, are explored. This paper argues that violent citizen protest highlights the urgent need for reform to strengthen the rule of law in South Africa. Such reform can be found in the acknowledgment that the realisation of socio‐economic rights form part of the substantive components of the rule of law. This acknowledgment allows for an integrated and problem‐solving approach to the rule of law; focusing on problems experienced by end users of the law system. A problem‐solving approach to strengthening the rule of law allows the courts, legal scholars and legal practitioners to provide opportunities for communities to realise socio‐economic rights and thereby fulfilling the substantive components of the rule of law.

De Jure, 2017

Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake' verg, in sekere gevalle, dat regters van... more Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake' verg, in sekere gevalle, dat regters van subjektiewe maatstawe moet gebruik maak om definisie te verskaf aan grondwetlike regte en waardes. Dit beteken dat regters van nie-tradisionele bronne gebruik moet maak wanneer grondwetlike interpretasie plaasvind. Dit laat die moontlikheid dat die bevinding van die hof beïnvloed kan word, of selfs baseer mag wees, op die persoonlike geloof-, politieke-of waardesisteem van die regter. In S v Makwanyane, 'n voorbeeld van 'n moeilike saak, het die hof bevind dat subjektiewe interpretasie onontbeerlik deel is van grondwetlike interpretasie. Subjektiewe interpretasie is egter moeilik inaggenome die plig wat op howe rus om 'n beredeneerde rede vir hul beslissings te verskaf. Hierdie artikel stel voor dat regters die effek van eie persoonlike vooroordele moet ondersoek en indien dit moontlik 'n rol mag speel in die beslissing van die hof dit te erken. So erkenning word dan geartikuleer in die beslissing van die hof wat 'n mate van objektiwiteit daaraan verskaf en dit blootstel vir kommentaar en moontlike kritiek.

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 2016

The Constitutional Court is the highest court in all constitutional matters and thus decides appe... more The Constitutional Court is the highest court in all constitutional matters and thus decides appeals from other courts in disputes involving natural and juristic persons and the state, including criminal matters, if the matter is a constitutional matter or an issue connected with a decision on a constitutional matter. The Court may hear any matter, if the Constitutional Court grants leave to appeal because the matter raises an arguable point of law of general public importance that ought to be considered by that court. The Constitution makes it clear that courts are independent and subject only to the Constitution and the law. All persons to whom and organs of state to which a court order or decision applies are bound by it. It is important that the courts employ a standard of judicial review that is compatible with constitutional principles and values. The Constitutional Court subscribes to a standard of “deference” in judicial review. This principle recognises the need to protect ...

Constitutional duty of the state to act fairly in litigation

The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation... more The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation involving the state. The first chapter outlines the background of the study and defines the concept of strategic litigation. In the following chapter the application of the Constitution on legal disputes involving the state is analysed. In the third chapter the concept of strategic litigation is explored within the context of the doctrine of separation of powers. This analysis seeks to ascertain to what Chapter 1: 7 Bernstein v Bester 1996 (2) SA 751 CC para 105. 8 The concept of "rule of law" was familiar to ancient philosophers such as Aristotle, who wrote that "law should govern‖ Aristotle Politics 3.16.

Wiley, 2020

Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their con... more Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their constitutionally guaranteed rights whilst ignoring the rule of law. The weakening of the rule of law holds serious implications for democracy in South Africa. This paper explores the rule of law, socioeconomic rights and violent protest in South Africa. The realisation of socioeconomic rights, the reasons for violent protest and the weakening of the rule of law are investigated. Two conventional methodolo-gies for strengthening the rule of law, the institutional approach and the neocultural interventionist approach, are explored. This paper argues that violent citizen protest highlights the urgent need for reform to strengthen the rule of law in South Africa. Such reform can be found in the acknowledgment that the realisation of socioeconomic rights form part of the substantive components of the rule of law. This acknowledgment allows for an integrated and problem-solving approach to the rule of

Wiley Online Library: Special Issue: Sustainable Development Volume 27, Issue 6, 2019

Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their con... more Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their constitutionally guaranteed rights whilst ignoring the rule of law. The weakening of the rule of law holds serious implications for democracy in South Africa. This paper explores the rule of law, socioeconomic rights and violent protest in South Africa. The realisation of socioeconomic rights, the reasons for violent protest and the weakening of the rule of law are investigated. Two conventional methodolo-gies for strengthening the rule of law, the institutional approach and the neocultural interventionist approach, are explored. This paper argues that violent citizen protest highlights the urgent need for reform to strengthen the rule of law in South Africa. Such reform can be found in the acknowledgment that the realisation of socioeconomic rights form part of the substantive components of the rule of law. This acknowledgment allows for an integrated and problem-solving approach to the rule of

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Review

South African Law Journal

Constitutional duty of the state to act fairly in litigation

OPSOMMING Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake': 'n Herbesoek aan S v Makwanya... more OPSOMMING Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake': 'n Herbesoek aan S v Makwanyane Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake' verg, in sekere gevalle, dat regters van subjektiewe maatstawe moet gebruik maak om definisie te verskaf aan grondwetlike regte en waardes. Dit beteken dat regters van nie-tradisionele bronne gebruik moet maak wanneer grondwetlike interpretasie plaasvind. Dit laat die moontlikheid dat die bevinding van die hof beïnvloed kan word, of selfs baseer mag wees, op die persoonlike geloof-, politieke-of waardesisteem van die regter. In S v Makwanyane, 'n voorbeeld van 'n moeilike saak, het die hof bevind dat subjektiewe interpretasie onontbeerlik deel is van grondwetlike interpretasie. Subjektiewe interpretasie is egter moeilik inaggenome die plig wat op howe rus om 'n beredeneerde rede vir hul beslissings te verskaf. Hierdie artikel stel voor dat regters die effek van eie persoonlike vooroordele moet ondersoek en indien dit moontlik 'n rol mag speel in die beslissing van die hof dit te erken. So erkenning word dan geartikuleer in die beslissing van die hof wat 'n mate van objektiwiteit daaraan verskaf en dit blootstel vir kommentaar en moontlike kritiek.

Thesis Chapters by Abraham Klaasen

The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation... more The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation involving the state. The first chapter outlines the background of the study and defines the concept of strategic litigation. In the following chapter the application of the Constitution on legal disputes involving the state is analysed. In the third chapter the concept of strategic litigation is explored within the context of the doctrine of separation of powers. This analysis seeks to ascertain to what iii KEYWORDS

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, Aug 4, 2017

This contribution provides a short overview of the book by Danielle Ireland-Piper on accountabili... more This contribution provides a short overview of the book by Danielle Ireland-Piper on accountability in extraterritoriality in a comparative and international law context.

Sustainable Development, 2020

Socio‐economic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their co... more Socio‐economic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their constitutionally guaranteed rights whilst ignoring the rule of law. The weakening of the rule of law holds serious implications for democracy in South Africa. This paper explores the rule of law, socio‐economic rights and violent protest in South Africa. The realisation of socio‐economic rights, the reasons for violent protest and the weakening of the rule of law are investigated. Two conventional methodologies for strengthening the rule of law, the institutional approach and the neocultural interventionist approach, are explored. This paper argues that violent citizen protest highlights the urgent need for reform to strengthen the rule of law in South Africa. Such reform can be found in the acknowledgment that the realisation of socio‐economic rights form part of the substantive components of the rule of law. This acknowledgment allows for an integrated and problem‐solving approach to the rule of law; focusing on problems experienced by end users of the law system. A problem‐solving approach to strengthening the rule of law allows the courts, legal scholars and legal practitioners to provide opportunities for communities to realise socio‐economic rights and thereby fulfilling the substantive components of the rule of law.

De Jure, 2017

Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake' verg, in sekere gevalle, dat regters van... more Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake' verg, in sekere gevalle, dat regters van subjektiewe maatstawe moet gebruik maak om definisie te verskaf aan grondwetlike regte en waardes. Dit beteken dat regters van nie-tradisionele bronne gebruik moet maak wanneer grondwetlike interpretasie plaasvind. Dit laat die moontlikheid dat die bevinding van die hof beïnvloed kan word, of selfs baseer mag wees, op die persoonlike geloof-, politieke-of waardesisteem van die regter. In S v Makwanyane, 'n voorbeeld van 'n moeilike saak, het die hof bevind dat subjektiewe interpretasie onontbeerlik deel is van grondwetlike interpretasie. Subjektiewe interpretasie is egter moeilik inaggenome die plig wat op howe rus om 'n beredeneerde rede vir hul beslissings te verskaf. Hierdie artikel stel voor dat regters die effek van eie persoonlike vooroordele moet ondersoek en indien dit moontlik 'n rol mag speel in die beslissing van die hof dit te erken. So erkenning word dan geartikuleer in die beslissing van die hof wat 'n mate van objektiwiteit daaraan verskaf en dit blootstel vir kommentaar en moontlike kritiek.

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 2016

The Constitutional Court is the highest court in all constitutional matters and thus decides appe... more The Constitutional Court is the highest court in all constitutional matters and thus decides appeals from other courts in disputes involving natural and juristic persons and the state, including criminal matters, if the matter is a constitutional matter or an issue connected with a decision on a constitutional matter. The Court may hear any matter, if the Constitutional Court grants leave to appeal because the matter raises an arguable point of law of general public importance that ought to be considered by that court. The Constitution makes it clear that courts are independent and subject only to the Constitution and the law. All persons to whom and organs of state to which a court order or decision applies are bound by it. It is important that the courts employ a standard of judicial review that is compatible with constitutional principles and values. The Constitutional Court subscribes to a standard of “deference” in judicial review. This principle recognises the need to protect ...

Constitutional duty of the state to act fairly in litigation

The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation... more The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation involving the state. The first chapter outlines the background of the study and defines the concept of strategic litigation. In the following chapter the application of the Constitution on legal disputes involving the state is analysed. In the third chapter the concept of strategic litigation is explored within the context of the doctrine of separation of powers. This analysis seeks to ascertain to what Chapter 1: 7 Bernstein v Bester 1996 (2) SA 751 CC para 105. 8 The concept of "rule of law" was familiar to ancient philosophers such as Aristotle, who wrote that "law should govern‖ Aristotle Politics 3.16.

Wiley, 2020

Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their con... more Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their constitutionally guaranteed rights whilst ignoring the rule of law. The weakening of the rule of law holds serious implications for democracy in South Africa. This paper explores the rule of law, socioeconomic rights and violent protest in South Africa. The realisation of socioeconomic rights, the reasons for violent protest and the weakening of the rule of law are investigated. Two conventional methodolo-gies for strengthening the rule of law, the institutional approach and the neocultural interventionist approach, are explored. This paper argues that violent citizen protest highlights the urgent need for reform to strengthen the rule of law in South Africa. Such reform can be found in the acknowledgment that the realisation of socioeconomic rights form part of the substantive components of the rule of law. This acknowledgment allows for an integrated and problem-solving approach to the rule of

Wiley Online Library: Special Issue: Sustainable Development Volume 27, Issue 6, 2019

Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their con... more Socioeconomic protests in South Africa are increasingly violent with citizens demanding their constitutionally guaranteed rights whilst ignoring the rule of law. The weakening of the rule of law holds serious implications for democracy in South Africa. This paper explores the rule of law, socioeconomic rights and violent protest in South Africa. The realisation of socioeconomic rights, the reasons for violent protest and the weakening of the rule of law are investigated. Two conventional methodolo-gies for strengthening the rule of law, the institutional approach and the neocultural interventionist approach, are explored. This paper argues that violent citizen protest highlights the urgent need for reform to strengthen the rule of law in South Africa. Such reform can be found in the acknowledgment that the realisation of socioeconomic rights form part of the substantive components of the rule of law. This acknowledgment allows for an integrated and problem-solving approach to the rule of

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Review

South African Law Journal

Constitutional duty of the state to act fairly in litigation

OPSOMMING Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake': 'n Herbesoek aan S v Makwanya... more OPSOMMING Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake': 'n Herbesoek aan S v Makwanyane Grondwetlike interpretasie in sogenaamde 'moeilike sake' verg, in sekere gevalle, dat regters van subjektiewe maatstawe moet gebruik maak om definisie te verskaf aan grondwetlike regte en waardes. Dit beteken dat regters van nie-tradisionele bronne gebruik moet maak wanneer grondwetlike interpretasie plaasvind. Dit laat die moontlikheid dat die bevinding van die hof beïnvloed kan word, of selfs baseer mag wees, op die persoonlike geloof-, politieke-of waardesisteem van die regter. In S v Makwanyane, 'n voorbeeld van 'n moeilike saak, het die hof bevind dat subjektiewe interpretasie onontbeerlik deel is van grondwetlike interpretasie. Subjektiewe interpretasie is egter moeilik inaggenome die plig wat op howe rus om 'n beredeneerde rede vir hul beslissings te verskaf. Hierdie artikel stel voor dat regters die effek van eie persoonlike vooroordele moet ondersoek en indien dit moontlik 'n rol mag speel in die beslissing van die hof dit te erken. So erkenning word dan geartikuleer in die beslissing van die hof wat 'n mate van objektiwiteit daaraan verskaf en dit blootstel vir kommentaar en moontlike kritiek.

The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation... more The broad focus of the thesis is an analysis of the constitutional limits to strategic litigation involving the state. The first chapter outlines the background of the study and defines the concept of strategic litigation. In the following chapter the application of the Constitution on legal disputes involving the state is analysed. In the third chapter the concept of strategic litigation is explored within the context of the doctrine of separation of powers. This analysis seeks to ascertain to what iii KEYWORDS