Harvard Referencing: South Africa's Constitution

The Harvard referencing style is a citation style that follows the author-date method of in-text citations. When referencing the Constitution of South Africa in Harvard style, the general format is as follows: South Africa. Year. Title/Act number and year. Available at: URL or name of database [Accessed date]. For example, when referencing the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which was signed into law on 10 December 1996, the reference would be: South Africa. 1996. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Available at: URL [Accessed date]. Additionally, when referencing specific sections of the Constitution, the section number can be included, such as In terms of Section 26 of the Constitution of South Africa (1996)....

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Citing the Constitution of South Africa in Harvard style

When citing the Constitution of South Africa in Harvard style, there are specific guidelines to follow. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this correctly:

Understanding the Structure:

The basic structure of a Harvard reference for a government publication includes the country name, the legislative body or department, the year of publication, the title (in italics), and the place of publication and publisher. Here's an example:

> South Africa. Central Statistical Service. 1996. *Statistical release*. PO317. Pretoria: Central Statistical Service.

Citing the Constitution:

When referencing the Constitution of South Africa, you would typically follow this structure. Here's an example of how to cite it in Harvard style:

> South Africa. 1996. *Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*. Pretoria: Government Printer.

In this reference, 'South Africa' is the country, '1996' is the year of publication, '*Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*' is the title in italics, 'Pretoria' is the place of publication, and 'Government Printer' is the publisher.

In-Text Citations:

When referring to the Constitution in your text, you would typically use an in-text citation. This would include the short title and the year. For example:

"The right to adequate housing is enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa, 1996, Section 26."

Online Sources:

If you are referencing an online version of the Constitution, you would also include the URL and the date accessed. For example:

> South Africa. 1996. *Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*. https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1996/en/18862 [accessed 21 April 2025].

By following these guidelines, you can correctly cite the Constitution of South Africa in Harvard style, ensuring that your references are clear and consistent.

Referencing the South African legislative body

When referencing the South African legislative body, there are a few key elements that you need to include in your citation. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you construct your reference list entry and in-text citations:

Reference List Entry:

The reference list entry for a South African legislative body document will vary depending on the specific type of document you are citing (e.g., a constitution, an act, a report, or an annual report). Here are some examples of how to format each type of document:

Constitution:

Start with the country name: "South Africa."

• Include the year of publication, which is the year the constitution was signed into law. For the South African Constitution, this was "1996."
• Provide the title, "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa" in italics.
• Add the date of access in square brackets, if you are accessing an online version.

The final reference would look like this:

South Africa. 1996. *Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*. [Accessed on: date]

Act:

Start with the country name: "South Africa."

• State the year the act was passed.
• Provide the official long title of the act in italics.
• Include any relevant act number and the year (as applicable to the act).
• Provide the URL or link to the act, if accessed online.

For example:

South Africa. 2002. *Land and Agricultural Development Bank Act* 15 of 2002. https://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/a15-02.pdf [Accessed on: 22 May 2014]

Report:

Start with the country name: "South Africa."

• Include the name of the relevant committee or commission that published the report (e.g., "Committee of Investigation into the Finances of Local Authorities in South Africa").
• Provide the year the report was published.
• Add the title of the report in italics.
• Mention the report number, if available.
• State the place of publication, which is often "Pretoria" for government publications.
• Include the name of the publisher, which is typically "Government Printer."

An example reference:

South Africa. Committee of Investigation into the Finances of Local Authorities in South Africa (Brown Committee). 1980. *Report, part 1*. RP 36/1982. Pretoria: Government Printer.

Annual Report:

Begin with the country name: "South Africa."

• Provide the name of the specific department or commission that published the report (e.g., "Commission for Administration").
• State the period covered by the annual report.
• Include the year of publication.
• Add the title "Annual report" in italics.
• Provide the report number, if applicable.
• Mention the place of publication, often "Pretoria."
• State the publisher, usually the "Government Printer."

For instance:

South Africa. Commission for Administration. 1980-81. *Annual report* for the period 1 July 1980 to 30 June 1981. RP 36/1982. Pretoria: Government Printer.

In-Text Citations:

When referring to a specific section of the constitution or a particular act within your text, you can cite it in the following manner:

According to Section 26 of the *Constitution of South Africa* (1996), "everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing" (South Africa, 1996).

Alternatively, for acts, you can use the short title and the act number in your in-text citation:

The *Land and Agricultural Development Bank Act* (Act 15 of 2002) outlines the regulations...

Harvard referencing for South African government publications

When referencing government publications from South Africa using the Harvard referencing style, there is a specific format to follow. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to Harvard reference South African government publications, using the Constitution of South Africa as an example:

Step 1: Country Name

Start with the name of the country, which is "South Africa" in this case.

Step 2: Legislative Body or Department

Next, provide the name of the legislative body, court, executive department, bureau, council, commission, or committee responsible for the publication. In the case of the Constitution of South Africa, you would mention the "Constitutional Assembly."

Step 3: Year of Publication

Include the year of publication. The Constitution of South Africa was published in 1996.

Step 4: Title (in italics)

Provide the title of the publication in italics. For the Constitution of South Africa, the title is "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa."

Step 5: Report Number (if applicable)

If there is a report number or an equivalent identifier, include it.

Step 6: Further Particulars

Depending on the nature of the source, you may need to include additional details. This could include the relevant sections or offices involved in the publication.

Step 7: Place of Publication and Publisher

Finally, mention the place of publication and the publisher. For the Constitution of South Africa, this information may not be readily available, so you can omit it.

South Africa. Constitutional Assembly. 1996. *Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*.

Additionally, when referencing acts and laws, you can use their short titles for in-text references. For example, you can refer to the "Income Tax Act 58 of 1962" or the "National Credit Act 34 of 2005" using their short titles and the act number and year.

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Citing South African laws in Harvard style

When citing South African laws in Harvard style, there are specific guidelines and conventions to follow. Here is a detailed guide on how to format your references correctly:

Understanding the Structure

The basic structure for referencing a South African government publication in Harvard style typically includes the following elements:

• Name of the country: Start by stating the country, which in this case is "South Africa".
• Legislative body or department: Mention the specific legislative body, court, executive department, bureau, council, commission, or committee involved. For example, "South Africa. Commission for Administration."
• Year of publication: Indicate the year the document was published. For laws, this may be the year the act was passed or amended.
• Title of the publication: Provide the full official title of the act or report. This is usually in italics.
• Report number (if applicable): Include any relevant report numbers or identifiers to help trace the source.
• Additional details: Depending on the nature of the source, you may need to include further particulars, such as the place of publication and publisher.

Citing the Constitution of South Africa

When referencing the Constitution of South Africa, which was signed into law on December 10, 1996, you would typically follow this structure:

> South Africa. 1996. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. [Date accessed]

For example, if you accessed the document on April 21, 2025, the reference would look like this:

> South Africa. 1996. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1996/en/18862 [Accessed 21 April 2025]

Citing Acts and Laws

When citing specific acts or laws in South Africa, you would follow a similar structure. Here are some examples:

> South Africa. 2005. National Credit Act 34 of 2005. https://www.legalrights.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NATIONAL-CREDIT-ACT-NO.-34-OF-2005.pdf [Accessed 1 April 2018]

> South Africa. 1962. Income Tax Act 58 of 1962. https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/Act%2058%20of%201962s_0.pdf [Accessed 1 March 2015]

Note that the short title of the act is used ("National Credit Act" or "Income Tax Act"), followed by its number and year. The URL and date accessed are also included.

In-Text Citations

When referring to a specific section of a law or act in your text, you can cite it in the following manner:

> In terms of Section 26 of the Constitution of South Africa (1996), everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing.

Here, the section number ("Section 26") is mentioned, followed by the title of the act ("Constitution of South Africa") and the year.

Harvard referencing for online South African laws

When referencing online South African laws in Harvard style, there are specific guidelines to follow. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create accurate and consistent references for online South African laws:

Understanding the Structure:

Country and Legislative Body:

Begin the reference by stating the country name, "South Africa," followed by the specific legislative body, court, or government department associated with the law. For example:

South Africa. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

Publication Year and Title:

After mentioning the country and legislative body, include the year the law was published or enacted. Follow this with the title of the law, which can be either the long official title or the commonly used short title. Remember to italicize the title:

South Africa. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. *Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*.

Act and Section Numbers:

If relevant, include the act number and year, as well as any specific section numbers you are referencing. For example:

South Africa. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, Act 108 of 1996. *Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*, s 26.

Online Source and Access Date:

Finally, provide the URL or link to the online source where the law can be accessed. Include the access date in day-month-year format within square brackets:

South Africa. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, Act 108 of 1996. *Constitution of the Republic of South Africa*, s 26. https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1996/en/18862 [accessed on: 21 April 2025].

Remember to update the access date each time you refer to or access the online source. Additionally, always verify the accuracy of your references using reliable sources and institutional guidelines.

Frequently asked questions