We have heard that south Africa has two kind of sources of law.what are those two sources of south African law?
Read the "historical background" section of this:
http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/South_Africa1.html
In South Africa, there are two primary sources of law: statutory law and common law.
1. Statutory Law: Statutory law refers to the laws that are passed by the South African Parliament or other legislative bodies. These laws are formally written, codified, and published in statutes or acts. Statutes are the primary source of law, and they cover a wide range of legal matters, including constitutional law, criminal law, contract law, and administrative law.
To find statutory law in South Africa, you can follow these steps:
a. Start by accessing the official government website of South Africa (https://www.gov.za/) or the official website of the South African Parliament (https://www.parliament.gov.za/).
b. Look for the "Legislation" or "Acts" section on the website.
c. Search for the specific law or topic you are interested in using keywords or categories.
d. Once you find the relevant act or statute, you can read and review the specific provisions and regulations within it.
2. Common Law: Common law, also known as case law, is law that develops through judicial decisions and precedents. In South Africa, common law is derived from a combination of Roman-Dutch law and English law, as well as specific South African legal principles. Common law is created and applied by judges based on their interpretation of legal principles, rights, and legal reasoning.
To research common law in South Africa, you can follow these steps:
a. Access reliable legal databases or websites such as SAFLII (South African Legal Information Institute) or Juta (a legal publishing company in South Africa).
b. Search for a specific legal case or topic using keywords or key phrases.
c. Review the relevant judgments or court decisions that establish or interpret legal principles.
d. Consider exploring legal textbooks, legal journals, or articles written by legal scholars that discuss and analyze common law doctrines and principles.
It is important to note that South Africa also recognizes other sources of law, such as customary law and international law, which can also influence legal decisions and practices in specific contexts.