Topic 1 Flashcards
why is it important to understand the history of ACL
- social problems have roots in the past
- can’t understand ACL without history of its recognition in SA and development
what context must ACL be seen in
a political context
What does a political context encompass
globalist events like colonialism, human rights movement and the law and development movement
What is the socio economic and political context of colonialism
- control of other people. conquering of territory. subjugation of people and theft of their resources
- moral and cultural legitimacy with political power
why is Africa a product of Western Colonialism
- Eu imposed own law and belief of Eurocentric superiority and educational systems
- dispossessed people of land through terra/ lex nullius
What is the law and development movement
State laws are eu laws imposed by colonial authorities but adapted to local situations
IAL is subordinated to state laws even tho the predate them
What did the Dutch apply in the Cape in 1652
Roman Dutch Law and non -recognition of IAL
what legitimised british colonization in 1814
European superiority from the enlightenment , industrial revolution and a capitalist economic system
How did britain attempt to deal with native laws at first
tried to implement direct rule that was in place from the dutch colony
was direct rule successful
nope
What is indirect rule
policy where natives could control their own affairs separately as long as it did not undermine the colonial administration
how could native people control their customary law under indirect rule
British set up native administrations. courts and treasuries through which customary law was used to ensure native co-operation
what impression did the indirect rule create
group autonomy and independence of indigenous people
To what extent did the British recognize customary law
recognized the customs of indigenous people as long as they were not repugnant to the public policy and natural justice
What is the effect of the repugnancy clause
colonialists decided on the suitability of IAL based on their own imposed values and laws even though they were ignorant of indigenous laws
an example of customary law considered repugnant
customary marriages and lobolo were considered uncivilised and denied legal validity
how did Brit/ European judges interpret the IAL
they used assessors and then imposed their own law
what effect did the british eu judges have on IAL
they ended up changing it
What was the repugnancy clause replaced by in modern times
BoR
What laws were IAL subordinated to under British rule
RDL and ECL
What happened to the indigenous khoisan people under british rule
they were systematically destroyed
What was the policy of recognition towards ACL in the cape
- non -recognition
- only RDL
- no chief power
- mag administer justice
what was the policy towards ACL in Natal
- initially non -recognition but lacked personnel to enforce
- Shepstone introduced indirect rule
why was ACL recognised under british rule
for control purposes