STUDY UNIT 5: HOW LEGISLATION IS

INTERPRETED:

5.1 THEORIES OF INTERPRETATION:

Introduction:

- Before 1994: Statutory interpretation lacked a single theoretical starting point. Resulting in the
application of conflicting rules & principles.
- After 1994: The Constitution now prescribes a single theoretical starting point; the contextual
approach.

The Text-Based Approach:

English
law 1) Primary rule: If
Misconception of meaning of the words is
trias politica doctrine clear → apply that
→ courts ltd to the meaning (settled by the 2) Golden rule: If plain
will of the dictionary) → legislatures meaning vague / strict literal
legislature. intention. interpretation result is absurd
Reason: citizens rely on → court may deviate & turn
Doctrine of legal to secondary aids: internal
everyday meaning.
positivism: absolute aids (long title, headings,
validity of the command. text in other language)
That which is decreed by
the state is law.
3) If secondary aids
Common-law tradition → insufficient → turn to
creative role in The Text-Based tertiary aids: external
interpretation → legislation Approach aids: (common-law
is the exception to the rule. (Literal / presumptions,
Orthodox Method) commission reports,
memorandums)
Legislation drafted as precise
& detailed as possible → avoid
legal uncertainty. (Legislation
has prescribed everything it Introduced into SA legal
wishes to prescribe). system from English law
in De Villiers v Divisional
Council 1875:
Decided legislation after
British had taken over
Over the years courts
This was strange decision β i.t.o. interpreted in accordance
regard the clear literal
English law → a conquered with English rules.
meaning as the intention of
the legislature continued to apply its own legal
system (RDL)
RDL rules: the purpose of
legislation should prevail, based on
functional or purposed oriented
approach.
After British occupation → English
rules of interpretation played a
central role.
Criticism of the text-based approach:

- The common-law presumptions reduced to a last resort.

- Narrow approach → words - their literal meaning regarded as primary index to legislative meaning.
- Important internal & external aids are ignored unless the textual meaning is unclear.
- The intention of the legislature is dependant on how clear the language may be to a court.
- Few texts are so clear that only one interpretation is possible.
- Leaves little room for judicial law-making. (Courts seen as mechanical). Strict adherence to trias
politica.
- Principle that no addition or subtraction from the legislative text is possible is a misunderstanding of
the separation of powers doctrine.

The Purposive Approach:

Jaga v Donges: Judge identified The purpose of

guidelines for interpretation: legislation is central Mischief rule: Acknowledges
1. From outset → wider context of to interpretation. application of external aids:
provision into consideration. Context, social common law prior to enactment of
2. Irrespective of clear meaning, factors, political legislation, defects in the law, new
contextual factors must be taken policy directions remedies provided by legislation,
into consideration. true reason for remedies.
3. Sometimes context more NB than
text.
4. Once meaning of text & context Balance between
determined → it must be applied literal meaning and
→ irrespective of whether
overall contextual
interpreter thinks legislature
intended something else.
meaning.
The Purposive
Approach
(Text-In-Context
Method) Common-law
presumptions and
Mjugu v JHB City
aids of
Council: used a spectrum
interpretation are
of available aids &
central.
surrounding
circumstances to Power to modify is not an A court may modify / adapt
determine the purpose and infringement of trias politica the initial meaning to
scope of the legislation. but a logical extension of harmonise with the purpose
powers. of the legislation.
 Court’s role more
flexible.
Courts have inherent law-
making discretion but is
qualified: Modification of the
text is possible only if the
scope & purpose are
absolutely clear.
 5.2 INFLUENCE OF THE SUPREME CONSTITUTION:

The supremacy clause: (s2)

2 Supremacy of Constitution
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.

Section 2 must be read with section 7 (Bill of Rights → state must respect, protect etc),
Section 8 (Bill of Rights applies to all law, & binds the legislature, judiciary and all organs of state etc),
Section 237(constitutional obligations performed without delay etc).

→ Read together → Constitution supreme.

→ Constitution cannot be interpreted in the light of the common-law, any Act etc. (All law subject to it).
→ Holomisa v Argus Newspapers Ltd 1996: Judge state “The Constitution has changed the ‘context’ of all legal thought and decision making in SA’.
→ Traditional approach had been strict devotion to legislative text, now the supreme Constitution is the fundamental law in which everything is viewed
and reviewed.

1 Republic of South Africa

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

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

The values underpinning the Constitution: The interpretation provisions: (s39(2)) (s233)

→ The three core values: Freedom - Equality - Human Dignity - 39(2) When interpreting any legislation, and when developing the
common-law or customary law, every
→ The interim refers to a constitutional state, but the final does not court, tribunal or forum must promote the spirit purport and
expressly refer to but imply; objects of the Bill of Rights.
Preamble: democratic values, social justice, fundamental human
rights. → The  does not expressly prescribe a contextual purposive
Section 1: democratic state founded on the supremacy of the  approach.
and the rule of law. → Even before a text is read s39(2) forces the interpreter to
Section 7: entrenches the Bill of Rights. promote the Bill of Rights. → This means the interpreter is
consulting external aids.
→ The Constitution deals with → The interpretation process therefore starts with the
- institutional structures of government, Constitution.
- formal checks on state power, → Bato Star Fishing v Minister of Enviromental Affairs: Judge:
- is a value-laden document. “The starting point for any legislation is the Constitution.
→ Hundai Motor Distributors: Judge: “All statues must be
→ The Constitution is underpinned by express and implied values and interpreted through the prism of the Bill of Rights”.
norms. → Form the material guidelines which regulate state → Holomisa v Argus Newspapers: Court held that s39(2) is not
activity. merely an interpretive tool but a force informing legal
institutions of the new power of the .
→ Democratic values: freedom, equality, human dignity, the
advancement of human rights and freedoms, non-racialism, non- 233 When interpreting any legislation, every court must prefer
sexism. any reasonable interpretation of the legislation that is
consistent with international law over any alternative
→ Courts make value judgements during interpretation. interpretation that is inconsistent with international law.
→ Constitutional principles of the interim  live on in the final 
(First Certification case). → Section confirms legislation must be interpreted
constitutionally.
Unfortunately the courts still apply the literal approach: → Prinsloo v Van der Linde 1997: CC → Legislation must be
→ Kalla v The Master: Court did not hold the view of supreme kept alive is more than one reasonable construction is
constitution! It held→ The traditional rules of statutory possible.
interpretation were not affected by the interim  → Section 231 & 232 state the application of international law is
→ Geyser v Msunduzi Municipality 2003: The court followed an subject to the .
orthodox approach. → It may strengthen s39(2) → A construction consistent with
international human rights law, will promote the Bill of
Rights.
5.3 THE PRACTICAL INCLUSIVE METHOD OF INTERPRETATION: Du Plessis:

- Five aspect of the contextual or purposive approach to statutory interpretation.

- Techniques form the basis of a practical, inclusive method of interpretation; they are complementary
and should be used in conjunction with one another.
- Framework within which the interpretation process should take place.

Grammatical interpretation:
- Role of language important.
- Focuses on linguistic & grammatical
meaning of words, phrases, sentences,
syntax.
- This does not imply the orthodox
approach, merely acknowledges the
Comparative Interpretation: importance of language.
- If necessary court refers to Systematic (contextual) interpretation:
legislation of foreign courts, - Meaning of a provision in relation to
international law. the text as a whole.
- Holistic approach.
- Social, political environments.

Teleological Interpretation:
Historical Interpretation: - Emphasises fundamental
- Historical context. constitutional values.
- Circumstances that gave - Value-coherent interpretation.
rise to the adoption of - Constitution forms foundation
legislation. (mischief rule). of value-laden system in
which legislation must filter
through.

- The techniques can be identified in the following dictum from:

Minister v Land Affairs v Slamdies 1999:

The purposive approach made clear by the CC requires;

1) Ascertain the meaning of the provision an analysis of its purpose and,

2) have regard to the context in the sense of its historical origins,

3) have regard to its context, the statute as a whole, the broad objects & values underlying it,

4) have regard to its context, the particular part where the provision is or part where the
provision is interrelated,
5) have regard to the precise wording of the provision.
5.4 JURISPRUDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE ON STATUTORY INTERPRETATION:

The general principles of hermeneutics:

(The science of understanding / theory of interpretation of texts)

Theological & legal hermeneutics: Lategan:

Similarities:
1) Aim to interpret establish authoritative texts with regard to current concrete situations.
2) Have existential urgency: purpose of interpretation (Scriptures to offer liberating message) (Statues
to offer legal certainty and order).
3) Interpreters deal with demands of changing circumstances.
4) Influenced by history.

Differences:
1) Legislation distinct style with own rules aimed at legal order.
2) Biblical text is closed (text complete). Whereas legislation is continuing developing.

- Labuschagne distinguished between;

Exegesis: That which the author originally wanted to say to the readers.
Hermeneutics: That which the author wants to say to present readers.

- Hermeneutics: Words & phrases do not have an inherent meaning but a meaning derived from the total
structure of language including the context.
- The  contribution of hermeneutics was the importance of the interpreter, the fact that interpretation is
not mechanical and involves judgements.

Du Plessis: Relevance of hermeneutics for the interpretation of legislation: “the hermeneutic circle” →
every part of the text to be understood in terms of the whole, & the whole in terms of its parts.
- The part-whole approach underlines the importance of the context of a specific phrase or sentence.

5.5 THE INFLUENCE OF MODERN CRITICAL THEORIES:

Postmodernism: Not a school of thought - an intellectual style/condition/spirit reflecting the times.

Accept everything is relative, welcomes problems, contradictions.
Rejects preconceived ideas, definition & categories.

→ Explain order of the world with so-called macro-arguments:

Liberalism:
Marxism:
Fascism:
→ These are the so-called big picture.
→ Rejects the idea that categories can be correct & final → everything is relative, temporary &
incomplete.  any argument no matter how logical - is only as good as its preconceptions.

a) The Critical Legal Studies Movement (CLS)

- Result of inability of liberalism to solve issues such as poverty, racism, pluralism,
oppression.
- CLS argues that law is objective & neutral.
 - The Western liberal system is a tool of social & economic oppression. (power relationships
are reinforced). Order maintained by mechanical statutory interpretation merging law &
politics.
- CLS raises the following criticism against the existing legal order;
i) Rules determined on hidden political considerations & only change as a result of
changes in the political arena.
ii) Based on individual autonomy, not taking community involvement into account.
The legal jurisprudence reinforces the uneven power distribution.
iii) Interpretation of statutes: legal theories supported by political considerations.

b) Deconstruction:
- Reaction against structuralism (the meaning of language obtained from its grammatical
structure).
- Structuralism supports literal interpretation & legal positivism: rules acquire legal value &
meaning as a result of their position within the legal system & relationship with other rules.
- Deconstruction: challenges person to consider, reconsider & reformulate theories.
i) All meaning takes place within the framework of language. The meaning depends
on similarities & differences between other words. A text is never closed /
finished symbols infinitely refer to each other.
ii) The meaning of the text determined by relationship between text & reader. (Text
liberated form the author, enables reader to read in unbiased fashion.
iii) A text can never have on fixed & final meaning (texts always refer to each other).
Meaning depends on social, cultural & political circumstances of each reader.
iv) Interpretation of statues: Texts are in interaction with each other as well as exta-
legal factors (culture, ideologies). Purpose determined by the relationship between
the interpreter & the text.
- Contextual interpretation criticised: The context of a text has no boundaries therefore there is
no limit to what determines the context.
- Deconstruction shifts focus to judicial accountability & choices: interpretation is value-laden.
Interpreter led by cultural & ideological value systems.

- Du plessis: “Language turn” : legal interpretation amounts to meaning not discovered in text
by made by dealing with the text. Meaning is not fixed & stable. Language is an open
system.

ACTIVITY 1: The textual approach

Public Carriers Association v Toll Road Concessionaries 1990:

Facts: Portion of N3 JHB-DBN declared toll road: National Roads Act provided a toll road shall not be
declared unless “an alternative road” will be available.
The alternative road overlapped for 79km.
Assoc challenged the new toll on the grounds that an “alternative road” had not been made
available.
The toll road operators argued “alternative road” means “alternative route”.

Court: In favour of the toll road operators, reasoning by applying textual approach. Primary approach to
establish the intention of the legislature by giving words their ordinary meaning: Consulted the
dictionary for “road” & “alternative” resulted in no single meaning: Turned to secondary aids:
Turned to common-law presumptions: Result: The textual approach did not provide a solution.

Court decided to look at the purpose of the provision: Stated the purpose was to ensure road users
could reach their original destination without paying toll fess. “Alternative road” therefore meant
“alternative route”
ACTIVITY 2: Criticism against the textual approach

Make a list of the 12 points of criticism and the meaning and significance of each. (Look throughout
chapters 5-8)

1)
2)
3)
4)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)

ACTIVITY 3: The contextual approach (Before 1994)

Jagad v Donges

Facts: During 1950’s Jaga caught selling unwrought gold.

Sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for three years.
Act prescribed any person who is sentenced to imprisonment for selling unwrought metal may be
deported.
Minister, under a warrant, declared for his deportation.
Jaga challenged on the basis he had not been sentenced (physically).
Minister argued a suspended sentence is still a sentence of imprisonment.

Court: Majority adopted a textual approach. “sentenced to imprisonment” was given its plain meaning
and meant the sentence imposed, contained a period of imprisonment (suspended or not).
The warrant was thus issued.

Minority judgment: Schreiner JA: Adopted a contextual approach.

This is NB judgment: The context is not limited to the language of the rest of the statute, of more
importance is its scope and purpose and its background. Schreiner insisted very few words have
one meaning, the meaning is dependant on their context also the mischief rule that the legislation
was designed to remedy.
Schreiner insisted the purpose of “suspended sentence” means keeping offender in the society
while aiding his rehabilitation. To include suspended sentence into the meaning of sentenced to
imprisonment would not serve the aim of the legislation.
Schreiner also argued the textual approach should have led to the same conclusion as above.
Using the common-law presumption that legislative provision must be interpreted in favour of
individual freedom: therefore deportation only where unconditionally sentenced.
ACTIVITY 4: The contextualist approach (After 1994)

Bato Star Fishing v Minister of Environmental Affairs & Tourism.

- Facts: Allocation of quotas in the fishing industry. Amount of fish caught is ltd. by quota system.
- Quota for each trawler determined by the Minister.
- Marine Living Resources Act: objective: sustainable development, further bio-diversity: Minister
to make quotas that confirm the objectives of the Act.
- Bato argued their quota too small.
- Case turned on question whether the Minister did have regard to the objectives to bring equality
in the fishing industry. (The phrase “have regard to” to be interpreted).

- SCA: Textualist approach to determine meaning of “have regard to”. Looked at how the courts
have applied this over the years: result: meant – to take into consideration.
- Therefore the Minister did not have to make it his special concern.

- Bato appealed to CC: Argued that equity should be promoted as overriding concern. The CC
agreed. Judge Ngcobo: No longer the textual meaning that must be applied but the values of the
Constitution. In this case, the context is that the legislation is committed to redressing the
imbalances of the past.
- Confirms the primary & golden rules of textual interpretation do not apply in our law any more.
- S39(2): Implies even where legislation is clear, interpreter must still try to ascribe the meaning
that would best promote the values in the Bill of Rights.

Serious Economic Offences v Hyundai

- Facts:
- Court made clear that “context” refers to the Bill of Rights.

ACTIVITY 5: The Constitution & statutory interpretation

Section 39(1) deals with the interpretation of the Bill of Rights. Discuss whether this section is also
relevant to the interpretation of ordinary legislation.

- Section 39(1) says in effect the Bill of Rights should be interpreted in the light of the foundational
provisions of the new democratic constitutional order.
- Those values are found in the preamble and paragraph 1 of the Constitution.
- Section 39(1) says nothing about ordinary legislation but section 39(2) says the spirit of the Bill
of Rights must be promoted when ordinary legislation is interpreted.
- Thus the two must be read together.

5.6 AIMS OF THE UNIT:

1) Discuss the methodological debate between the textual and contextual approaches to statutory
interpretation.

2) Critically discuss with examples from case law, how textualists interpret legislation.
3) Critically discuss with examples from case law, how contextualists interpret legislation.

4) Motivate why the contextualist approach should be adopted in post-apartheid South Africa.

5.7 QUESTIONS:

5) List the ten criticisms of the textual approach and briefly explain each.

6) Why is the judgment in each of the following cases important for the theory and practice of
statutory interpretation;
i) Public Carriers Association v Toll Road Concessionaries;
ii) Jaga v Donges;
iv) Bato Star Fishing v Minister of Enviromental Affairs & Tourism;
v) Heyden’s case.

7) Write a note on the influence of the 1996 Constitution on statutory interpretation including the
supremacy, foundational and interpretation clauses.

8) Name and discuss the various dimensions of the “practical inclusive method of interpretation”
favoured by Botha.