Omar Bennett
When citing the Constitution of South Africa, or any other government publication from the country, the Walter Sisulu University's guide to Harvard Referencing Style recommends the following format: South Africa. [The name of the legislative body, court, executive department, bureau, council, commission or committee]. [Year of publication]. [Title] (in italics). [Report number where applicable]. [Further particulars depending on the nature of the source]. Place of publication: Publisher.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the country | South Africa |
| Name of the legislative body, court, executive department, bureau, council, commission or committee | Committee of Investigation into the Finances of Local Authorities in South Africa (Brown Committee) |
| Year of publication | 1980 |
| Title | Report, part 1 |
| Place of publication | Pretoria |
| Publisher | Government Printer |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the Constitution in Harvard style
The Harvard referencing style is a widely recognised citation method used in academic writing. It is particularly useful when referencing legal documents like the Constitution of South Africa, providing a clear and concise way to cite sources. The style promotes standardisation, accuracy, consistency, credibility, clarity, and accessibility in citing sources.
When citing the Constitution of South Africa in Harvard style, it is important to include the name of the country, "South Africa". The title of the constitution, "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996", should be italicised or placed within quotation marks, followed by the year, "1996", and the jurisdiction, "Republic of South Africa". Additionally, if you are referencing a specific section or article, include the relevant number. For example, "In terms of Section 26 of the Constitution of South Africa (1996)...".
South Africa. "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996." 1996. Republic of South Africa.
This format ensures that your work is properly credited and allows readers to easily locate the sources you have used.
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Referencing government publications
When referencing government publications in Harvard style, the general format is as follows:
> Name of country, state or province. The name of the legislative body, court, executive department, bureau, council, commission or committee. If supplied, the name of the relevant sections, office, etc., Year of publication. *Title* (in italics). Report number (where applicable). Further particulars to depend on the nature of the source. Place of publication: Publisher.
Example 1: White Paper
> South Africa. White Paper on the Rationalization of the Public Services and Related Institutions. 1980. Pretoria: Government Printer.
Example 2: Act
> South Africa. Income Tax Act 58 of 1962. 1962. Available at:
Example 3: Annual Report
> South Africa. Administration: House of Assembly. Department of Education and Culture. Annual Report. 1985. Pretoria: Government Printer.
Example 4: Statistical Release
> South Africa. Central Statistical Service. Statistical release. PO317. 1996. Pretoria: Central Statistical Service.
It is important to include as much information as possible to help readers trace the source. For instance, provide the publication number if available, as well as the URL and access date for online sources.
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Citing Acts of South Africa
When citing acts of South Africa, it is important to note that the country's Constitution is treated differently from other Acts of Parliament. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, enacted in 1996, is the supreme law of the land and was adopted by the Constitutional Assembly rather than passed by Parliament. As such, it is not allocated an Act number like ordinary Acts of Parliament.
This unique status of the Constitution is recognised in the Citation of Constitutional Laws Act 5 of 2005, which stipulates that no Act number should be associated with the "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996". Any references to the Constitution in laws or legal documents should simply refer to it as the "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996" without an Act number.
Additionally, this Act also addresses the citation of laws amending the Constitution. From the date of commencement of the Act, no Act number should be associated with or allocated to any law that amends the Constitution. The short titles of these amending laws should reflect their chronological order, as indicated in the Schedule of the Act.
When citing specific sections or clauses within the Constitution or its amending laws, it is common to use a standard legal citation format. This typically includes the name of the document, the year it was enacted, and the specific section or clause number. For example, "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, Section 2" or "Amendment Act No. 1 of 2020, Clause 3(1)".
It is important to stay consistent in your chosen citation style and to adhere to any specific guidelines or requirements set by legal or academic institutions in South Africa.
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Referencing annual reports
When referencing annual reports in relation to the Constitution of South Africa, it's important to follow a consistent style, such as the Harvard referencing style or the NWU Law House Style. Here's a guide on how to structure your references:
Harvard Referencing Style:
The Harvard Referencing Style is a widely used citation style, and here's how you can reference an annual report using this format:
- Start with the name of the country: South Africa.
- Mention the name of the relevant department or legislative body: For example, "Department of Justice and Constitutional Development".
- Include the year of publication: This is typically the year the annual report was released. For instance, "2023".
- Provide the title of the publication: "Annual Report" should be italicized.
- Include the report number, if available: For example, "RP 36/1982".
- Add the place of publication and publisher: This could be "Pretoria: Government Printer".
An example of how this would look in practice is:
> South Africa. Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. 2023. *Annual Report*. Report number (if applicable). Pretoria: Publisher.
NWU Law House Style:
The NWU Law House Style offers specific guidance on referencing the South African Constitution. Here's how you can adapt it for referencing annual reports:
- Country Name: Begin with "South Africa".
- Department or Body: Mention the specific department or legislative body responsible for the annual report.
- Year of Publication: Indicate the year the annual report was published.
- Title of Report: Provide the title of the annual report, which is often simply "Annual Report".
An example of this style in action is:
> South Africa. Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Annual Report. 2023.
Remember, it's important to maintain consistency in your chosen referencing style throughout your document. Additionally, always verify the accuracy of your references by cross-referencing with reliable sources or style guides.
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Referencing reports and investigations
When referencing reports and investigations in Harvard style, the general format is as follows:
> Name of country, state or province. The name of the legislative body, court, executive department, bureau, council, commission or committee. (Year of publication). Title (in italics). Report number (where applicable). Place of publication: Publisher.
For example, when referencing a report from the South African Central Statistical Service, the reference should look like this:
> South Africa. Central Statistical Service. 1996. Statistical release. PO317. Pretoria: Central Statistical Service.
Note that the name of the country comes first, followed by the name of the legislative body. The year of publication is "1996" in this case, and the title of the report is "Statistical release". The report number is "PO317", and the place of publication is Pretoria. The publisher is the Central Statistical Service.
Similarly, when referencing an investigation or inquiry, you would follow a similar structure. For instance, if you were referencing the Brown Committee's investigation into the finances of local authorities in South Africa, the reference would be:
> South Africa. Committee of Investigation into the Finances of Local Authorities in South Africa. (Brown Committee). 1980. Report, part 1. Pretoria: Government Printer. Chairman: C.S. Margo.
Here, "South Africa" is the country, and the "Committee of Investigation into the Finances of Local Authorities in South Africa" is the name of the committee. The year of publication is "1980", and the title of the report is "Report, Part 1". The place of publication is Pretoria, and the publisher is the Government Printer. The chairman of the committee was C.S. Margo.
It is important to note that when referencing specific sections or articles within the Constitution of South Africa, you should include the year of the Constitution and the relevant section number. For example, "Constitution of South Africa, 1996, s 26" or "Constitution, s 26". This format ensures that the reference is clear and allows readers to easily locate the cited section within the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The citation should follow this format: South Africa. Year. Title (in italics). Report number (where applicable). Further particulars will depend on the nature of the source. Place of publication: Publisher.
You can provide the relevant section number to direct readers to the specific part of the source you are referencing.
The format is as follows: Name of the country, state or province. The name of the legislative body, court, executive department, bureau, council, commission or committee. If supplied, the name of the relevant sections, office, etc., Year of publication. Title. (in italics). Report number (where applicable). Further particulars to be mentioned will depend on the nature of the source. Place of publication: Publisher.
Yes, providing the publication number helps readers trace the source, so it is good practice to include it in your citation.
