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Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000

Act 3 of 2000

Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000
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Act 3 of 2000
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PAJA
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South Africa

Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000

Act 3 of 2000

  1. [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2001 (Act 42 of 2001) on 7 December 2001]
  2. [Amended by Promotion of Administrative Justice Amendment Act, 2002 (Act 53 of 2002) on 6 February 2003]
  3. [Amended by Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 55 of 2003) on 31 March 2005]
  4. [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2005 (Act 22 of 2005) on 11 January 2006]
  5. [Amended by Public Service Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 30 of 2007) on 1 April 2008]
  6. [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 66 of 2008) on 17 February 2009]
  7. [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2015 (Act 24 of 2015) on 8 January 2016]
  8. [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2017 (Act 8 of 2017) on 2 August 2017]
(English text signed by the President)ACTTo give effect to the right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair and to the right to written reasons for administrative action as contemplated in section 33 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
WHEREAS section 33(1) and (2) of the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair and that everyone whose rights have been adversely affected by administrative action has the right to be given written reasons;AND WHEREAS section 33(3) of the Constitution requires national legislation to be enacted to give effect to those rights, and to—provide for the review of administrative action by a court or, where appropriate, an independent and impartial tribunal;impose a duty on the state to give effect to those rights; andpromote an efficient administration;AND WHEREAS item 23 of Schedule 6 to the Constitution provides that the national legislation envisaged in section 33(3) must be enacted within three years of the date on which the Constitution took effect;AND IN ORDER TO—promote an efficient administration and good governance; andcreate a culture of accountability, openness and transparency in the public administration or in the exercise of a public power or the performance of a public function, by giving effect to the right to just administrative action,BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

1. Definitions

In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise—"administrative action" means any decision taken, or any failure to take a decision, by—(a)an organ of state, when—(i)exercising a power in terms of the Constitution or a provincial constitution; or(ii)exercising a public power or performing a public function in terms of any legislation; or(b)a natural or juristic person, other than an organ of state, when exercising a public power or performing a public function in terms of an empowering provision,which adversely affects the rights of any person and which has a direct, external legal effect, but does not include—(aa)the executive powers or functions of the National Executive, including the powers or functions referred to in sections 79(1) and (4), 84(2)(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i) and k, 85(2)(b), (c), (d) and (e), 91(2), (3), (4) and (5), 92(3), 93, 97, 98, 99 and 100 of the Constitution;(bb)the executive powers or functions of the Provincial Executive, including the powers or functions referred to in sections 121(1) and (2), 125(2)(d), (e) and (f), 126, 127(2), 132(2), 133(3)(b), 137,138 139 and 145(l) of the Constitution;(cc)the executive powers or functions of a municipal council;(dd)the legislative functions of Parliament, a provincial legislature or a municipal council;(ee)the judicial functions of a judicial officer of a court referred to in section 166 of the Constitution or of a Special Tribunal established under section 2 of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996), and the judicial functions of a traditional leader under customary law or any other law;(ff)a decision to institute or continue a prosecution;(gg)a decision relating to any aspect regarding the nomination, selection or appointment of a judicial officer or any other person, by the Judicial Service Commission in terms of any law;[paragraph (gg) substituted by section 26 of Act 55 of 2003](hh)any decision taken, or failure to take a decision, in terms of any provision of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000; or(ii)any decision taken, or failure to take a decision, in terms of section 4(1);"administrator" means an organ of state or any natural or juristic person taking administrative action;"Constitution" means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996;"court" means—(a)the Constitutional Court acting in terms of section 167(6)(a) of the Constitution; or(b)(i)a High Court or another court of similar status; or(ii)a Magistrate’s Court for any district or for any regional division established by the Minister for the purposes of adjudicating civil disputes in terms of section 2 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, 1944 (Act No. 32 of 1944), either generally or in respect of a specified class of administrative actions, designated by the Minister by notice in the Gazette and presided over by a magistrate, an additional magistrate or a magistrate of a regional division established for the purposes of adjudicating civil disputes, as the case may be, designated in terms of section 9A;[subparagraph (ii) substituted by section 8 of Act 24 of 2015]within whose area of jurisdiction the administrative action occurred or the administrator has his or her or its principal place of administration or the party whose rights have been affected is domiciled or ordinarily resident or the adverse effect of the administrative action was, is or will be experienced;[definition of "court" substituted by section 1 of Act 53 of 2002]"decision" means any decision of an administrative nature made, proposed to be made, or required to be made, as the case may be, under an empowering provision, including a decision relating to—(a)making, suspending, revoting or refusing to make an order, award or determination;(b)giving, suspending, revoting or refusing to give a certificate, direction, approval, consent or permission;(c)issuing, suspending, revoking or refusing to issue a licence, authority or other instrument;(d)imposing a condition or restriction;(e)making a declaration, demand or requirement;(f)retaining, or refusing to deliver up, an article; or(g)doing or refusing to do any other act or thing of an administrative nature, and a reference to a failure to take a decision must be construed accordingly;"empowering provision" means a law, a rule of common law, customary law, or an agreement, instrument or other document in terms of which an administrative action was purportedly taken;"failure", in relation to the taking of a decision, includes a refusal to take the decision;"Minister" means the Cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice;"organ of state" bears the meaning assigned to it in section 239 of the Constitution;"prescribed" means prescribed by regulation made under section 10;"public", for the purposes of section 4, includes any group or class of the public;"this Act" includes the regulations; and"tribunal" means any independent and impartial tribunal established by national legislation for the purpose of judicially reviewing an administrative action in terms of this Act.

2. Application of Act

(1)The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette—
(a)if it is reasonable and justifiable in the circumstances, exempt an administrative action or a group or class of administrative actions from the application of any of the provisions of section 3, 4 or 5; or
(b)in order to promote an efficient administration and if it is reasonable and justifiable in the circumstances, permit an administrator to vary any of the requirements referred to in section 3(2), 4(1)(a) to (e), (2) and (3) or 5(2), in a manner specified in the notice.
(2)Any exemption or permission granted in terms of subsection (1) must, before publication in the Gazette, be approved by Parliament.

3. Procedurally fair administrative action affecting any person

(1)Administrative action which materially and adversely affects the rights or legitimate expectations of any person must be procedurally fair.
(2)
(a)A fair administrative procedure depends on the circumstances of each case.
(b)In order to give effect to the right to procedurally fair administrative action, an administrator, subject to subsection (4), must give a person referred to in subsection (1)—
(i)adequate notice of the nature and purpose of the proposed administrative action;[subparagraph (i), previously subparagraph (a), renumbered by section 46 of Act 42 of 2001]
(ii)a reasonable opportunity to make representations;[subparagraph (ii), previously subparagraph (b), renumbered by section 46 of Act 42 of 2001]
(iii)a clear statement of the administrative action;[subparagraph (iii), previously subparagraph (c), renumbered by section 46 of Act 42 of 2001]
(iv)adequate notice of any right of review or internal appeal, where applicable; and[subparagraph (iv), previously subparagraph (d), renumbered by section 46 of Act 42 of 2001]
(v)adequate notice of the right to request reasons in terms of section 5.[subparagraph (v), previously subparagraph (e), renumbered by section 46 of Act 42 of 2001]
(3)In order to give effect to the right to procedurally fair administrative action, an administrator may, in his or her or its discretion, also give a person referred to in subsection (1) an opportunity to—
(a)obtain assistance and, in serious or complex cases, legal representation;
(b)present and dispute information and arguments; and
(c)appear in person.
(4)
(a)If it is reasonable and justifiable in the circumstances, an administrator may depart from any of the requirements referred to in subsection (2).
(b)In determining whether a departure as contemplated in paragraph (a) is reasonable and justifiable, an administrator must take into account all relevant factors, including—
(i)the objects of the empowering provision; -
(ii)the nature and purpose of, and the need to take, the administrative action;
(iii)the likely effect of the administrative action;
(iv)the urgency of taking the administrative action or the urgency of the matter; and
(v)the need to promote an efficient administration and good governance.
(5)Where an administrator is empowered by any empowering provision to follow a procedure which is fair but different from the provisions of subsection (2), the administrator may act in accordance with that different procedure.

4. Administrative action affecting public

(1)In cases where an administrative action materially and adversely affects the rights of the public, an administrator, in order to give effect to the right to procedurally fair administrative action, must decide whether—
(a)to hold a public inquiry in terms of subsection (2);
(b)to follow a notice and comment procedure in terms of subsection (3);
(c)to follow the procedures in both subsections (2) and (3);
(d)where the administrator is empowered by any empowering provision to follow a procedure which is fair but different, to follow that procedure; or
(e)to follow another appropriate procedure which gives effect to section 3.
(2)If an administrator decides to hold a public inquiry—
(a)the administrator must conduct the public inquiry or appoint a suitably qualified person or panel of persons to do so; and
(b)the administrator or the person or panel referred to in paragraph (a) must—
(i)determine the procedure for the public inquiry, which must—
(aa)include a public hearing; and
(bb)comply with the procedures to be followed in connection with public inquiries, as prescribed;
(ii)conduct the inquiry in accordance with that procedure;
(iii)compile a written report on the inquiry and give reasons for any administrative action taken or recommended; and
(iv)as soon as possible thereafter—
(aa)publish in English and in at least one of the other official languages in the Gazette or relevant provincial Gazette a notice containing a concise summary of any report and the particulars of the places and times at which the report may be inspected and copied; and
(bb)convey by such other means of communication which the administrator considers effective, the information referred to in item (aa) to the public concerned.
(3)If an administrator decides to follow a notice and comment procedure, the administrator must—
(a)take appropriate steps to communicate the administrative action to those likely to be materially and adversely affected by it and call for comments from them;
(b)consider any comments received;
(c)decide whether or not to take the administrative action, with or without changes; and
(d)comply with the procedures to be followed in connection with notice and comment procedures, as prescribed.
(4)
(a)If it is reasonable and justifiable in the circumstances, an administrator may depart from the requirements referred to in subsections (1)(a) to (e), (2) and (3).
(b)In determining whether a departure as contemplated in paragraph (a) is reasonable and justifiable, an administrator must take into account all relevant factors, including—
(i)the objects of the empowering provision;
(ii)the nature and purpose of, and the need to take, the administrative action;
(iii)the likely effect of the administrative action;
(iv)the urgency of taking the administrative action or the urgency of the matter; and
(v)the need to promote an efficient administration and good governance.

5. Reasons for administrative action

(1)Any person whose rights have been materially and adversely affected by administrative action and who has not been given reasons for the action may, within 90 days after the date on which that person became aware of the action or might reasonably have been expected to have become aware of the action, request that the administrator concerned furnish written reasons for the action.
(2)The administrator to whom the request is made must, within 90 days after receiving the request, give that person adequate reasons in writing for the administrative action.
(3)If an administrator fails to furnish adequate reasons for an administrative action, it must, subject to subsection (4) and in the absence of proof to the contrary, be presumed in any proceedings for judicial review that the administrative action was taken without good reason.
(4)
(a)An administrator may depart from the requirement to furnish adequate reasons if it is reasonable and justifiable in the circumstances, and must forthwith inform the person making the request of such departure.
(b)In determining whether a departure as contemplated in paragraph (a) is reasonable and justifiable, an administrator must take into account all relevant factors, including—
(i)the objects of the empowering provision;
(ii)the nature, purpose and likely effect of the administrative action concerned;
(iii)the nature and the extent of the departure;
(iv)the relation between the departure and its purpose;
(v)the importance of the purpose of the departure; and
(vi)the need to promote an efficient administration and good governance.
(5)Where an administrator is empowered by any empowering provision to follow a procedure which is fair but different from the provisions of subsection (2), the administrator may act in accordance with that different procedure.
(6)
(a)In order to promote an efficient administration, the Minister may, at the request of an administrator, by notice in the Gazette publish a list specifying any administrative action or a group or class of administrative actions in respect of which the administrator concerned will automatically furnish reasons to a person whose rights are adversely affected by such actions, without such person having to request reasons in terms of this section.
(b)The Minister must, within 14 days after the receipt of a request referred to in paragraph (a) and at the cost of the relevant administrator, publish such list, as contemplated in that paragraph.

6. Judicial review of administrative action

(1)Any person may institute proceedings in a court or a tribunal for the judicial review of an administrative action.
(2)A court or tribunal has the power to judicially review an administrative action if—
(a)the administrator who took it—
(i)was not authorised to do so by the empowering provision;
(ii)acted under a delegation of power which was not authorised by the empowering provision; or
(iii)was biased or reasonably suspected of bias;
(b)a mandatory and material procedure or condition prescribed by an empowering provision was not complied with;
(c)the action was procedurally unfair;
(d)the action was materially influenced by an error of law;
(e)the action was taken—
(i)for a reason not authorised by the empowering provision;
(ii)for an ulterior purpose or motive;
(iii)because irrelevant considerations were taken into account or relevant considerations were not considered;
(iv)because of the unauthorised or unwarranted dictates of another person or body;
(v)in bad faith; or
(vi)arbitrarily or capriciously;
(f)the action itself—
(i)contravenes a law or is not authorised by the empowering provision; or
(ii)is not rationally connected to—
(aa)the purpose for which it was taken;
(bb)the purpose of the empowering provision;
(cc)the information before the administrator; or
(dd)the reasons given for it by the administrator;
(g)the action concerned consists of a failure to take a decision;
(h)the exercise of the power or the performance of the function authorised by the empowering provision, in pursuance of which the administrative action was purportedly taken, is so unreasonable that no reasonable person could have so exercised the power or performed the function; or
(i)the action is otherwise unconstitutional or unlawful.
(3)If any person relies on the ground of review referred to in subsection (2)(g), he or she may in respect of a failure to take a decision, where—
(a)
(i)an administrator has a duty to take a decision;
(ii)there is no law that prescribes a period within which the administrator is required to take that decision; and
(iii)the administrator has failed to take that decision,
institute proceedings in a court or tribunal for judicial review of the failure to take the decision on the ground that there has been unreasonable delay in taking the decision; or
(b)
(i)an administrator has a duty to take a decision;
(ii)a law prescribes a period within which the administrator is required to take that decision; and
(iii)the administrator has failed to take that decision before the expiration of that period,
institute proceedings in a court or tribunal for judicial review of the failure to take the decision within that period on the ground that the administrator has a duty to take the decision notwithstanding the expiration of that period.

7. Procedure for judicial review

(1)Any proceedings for judicial review in terms of section 6(1) must be instituted without unreasonable delay and not later than 180 days after the date—
(a)subject to subsection (2)(c), on which any proceedings instituted in terms of internal remedies as contemplated in subsection (2)(a) have been concluded; or
(b)where no such remedies exist, on which the person concerned was informed of the administrative action, became aware of the action and the reasons for it or might reasonably have been expected to have become aware of the action and the reasons.
(2)
(a)Subject to paragraph (c), no court or tribunal shall review an administrative action in terms of this Act unless any internal remedy provided for in any other law has first been exhausted.
(b)Subject to paragraph (c), a court or tribunal must, if it is not satisfied that any internal remedy referred to in paragraph (a) has been exhausted, direct that the person concerned must first exhaust such remedy before instituting proceedings in a court or tribunal for judicial review in terms of this Act.
(c)A court or tribunal may, in exceptional circumstances and on application by the person concerned, exempt such person from the obligation to exhaust any internal remedy if the court or tribunal deems it in the interest of justice.
(3)The Rules Board for Courts of Law established by section 2 of the Rules Board for Courts of Law Act, 1985 (Act 107 of 1985), must, before 28 February 2009, subject to the approval of the Minister, make rules of procedure for judicial review.[subsection (3) substituted by section 27(a) of Act 55 of 2003 and by section 29 of Act 66 of 2008]
(4)Until the rules of procedure referred to in subsection (3) come into operation, all proceedings for judicial review under this Act must be instituted in a High Court or another court having jurisdiction.[subsection (4) substituted by section 27(b) of Act 55 of 2003]
(5)Any rule made under subsection (3) must, before publication in the Gazette, be approved by Parliament.

8. Remedies in proceedings for judicial review

(1)The court or tribunal, in proceedings for judicial review in terms of section 6(1), may grant any order that is just and equitable, including orders—
(a)directing the administrator—
(i)to give reasons; or
(ii)to act in the manner the court or tribunal requires;
(b)prohibiting the administrator from acting in a particular manner;
(c)setting aside the administrative action and—
(i)remitting the matter for reconsideration by the administrator, with or without directions; or
(ii)in exceptional cases—
(aa)substituting or varying the administrative action or correcting a defect resulting from the administrative action; or
(bb)directing the administrator or any other party to the proceedings to pay compensation;
(d)declaring the rights of the parties in respect of any matter to which the administrative action relates;
(e)granting a temporary interdictor other temporary relief; or
(f)as to costs.
(2)The court or tribunal, in proceedings for judicial review in terms of section 6(3), may grant any order that is just and equitable, including orders—
(a)directing the taking of the decision;
(b)declaring the rights of the parties in relation to the taking of the decision;
(c)directing any of the parties to do, or to refrain from doing, any act or thing the doing, or the refraining from the doing, of which the court or tribunal considers necessary to do justice between the parties; or
(d)as to costs.

9. Variation of time

(1)The period of—
(a)90 days referred to in section 5 may be reduced; or
(b)90 days or 180 days referred to in sections 3 and 7 may be extended for a fixed period,
by agreement between the parties or, failing such agreement, by a court or tribunal on application by the person or administrator concerned.
(2)The court or tribunal may grant an application in terms of subsection (1) where the interests of justice so require.

9A. Designation and training of presiding officers

(1)
(a)The head of an administrative region defined in section 1 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act No. 32 of 1944), or the magistrate at the head of a regional division established for the purposes of adjudicating civil disputes in terms of section 2 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944, must designate in writing any magistrate, additional magistrate or magistrate of a regional division established for the purposes of adjudicating civil disputes, as the case may be, as a presiding officer of the Magistrate's Court designated by the Minister in terms of section 1 of this Act.[paragraph (a) substituted by section 29(a) of Act 8 of 2017]
(b)A presiding officer must perform all the functions and duties and exercise the powers assigned to or conferred on him or her under this Act or any other law.
(2)[subsection (2) deleted by section 29(b) of Act 8 of 2017]
(3)The heads of administrative regions or magistrates at the head of regional divisions established for the purposes of adjudicating civil disputes, must take all reasonable steps within available resources to designate at least one presiding officer for each magistrate's court within his or her area of jurisdiction which has been designated by the Minister in terms of section 1.[subsection (3) substituted by section 29(c) of Act 8 of 2017]
(4)[subsection (4) deleted by section 29(d) of Act 8 of 2017]
(5)The South African Judicial Education Institute established in terms of section 3 of the South African Judicial Education Institute Act, 2008 (Act No. 14 of 2008), must develop and implement training courses for presiding officers with the view to building a dedicated and experienced pool of trained and specialised presiding officers for purposes of presiding in court proceedings as contemplated in this Act.
(6)[subsection (6) omitted by section 9 of Act 24 of 2015]
(7)[subsection (7) omitted by section 9 of Act 24 of 2015]
(8)The provisions of section 12(6) and (8) of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act No. 32 of 1944), are applicable with the necessary changes required by the context.[subsection (8) substituted by section 29(e) of Act 8 of 2017]
[section 9A inserted by section 2 of Act 53 of 2002 and substituted by section 9 of Act 24 of 2015]

10. Regulations and code of good administrative conduct

(1)The Minister must make regulations relating to—
(a)the procedures to be followed by designated administrators or in relation to classes of administrative action in order to promote the right to procedural fairness;
(b)the procedures to be followed in connection with public inquiries;
(c)the procedures to be followed in connection with notice and comment procedures; and
(d)the procedures to be followed in connection with requests for reasons.
(2)The Minister may make regulations relating to—
(a)the establishment, duties and powers of an advisory council to monitor the application of this Act and to advise the Minister on—
(i)the appropriateness of publishing uniform rules and standards which must be complied with in the taking of administrative actions, including the compilation and maintenance of registers containing the text of rules and standards used by organs of state;
(ii)any improvements that might be made in respect of internal complaints procedures, internal administrative appeals and the judicial review by courts or tribunals of administrative action;
(iii)the appropriateness of establishing independent and impartial tribunals, in addition to the courts, to review administrative action and of specialised administrative tribunals, including a tribunal with general jurisdiction over all organs of state or a number of organs of state, to hear and determine appeals against administrative action;
(iv)the appropriateness of requiring administrators, from time to time, to consider the continuance of standards administered by them and of prescribing measures for the automatic lapsing of rules and standards;
(v)programmes for educating the public and the members and employees of administrators regarding the contents of this Act and the provisions of the Constitution relating to administrative action;
(vi)any other improvements aimed at ensuring that administrative action conforms with the right to administrative justice;
(vii)any steps which may lead to the achievement of the objects of this Act; and
(viii)any other matter in respect of which the Minister requests advice;
(b)the compilation and publication of protocols for the drafting of rules and standards;
(c)the initiation, conducting and co-ordination of programmes for educating the public and the members and employees of administrators regarding the contents of this Act and the provisions of the Constitution relating to administrative action;
(d)matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; and
(e)matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed in order to—
(i)achieve the objects of this Act; or
(ii)subject to subsection (3), give effect to any advice or recommendations by the advisory council referred to in paragraph (a).
(3)This section may not be construed as empowering the Minister to make regulations, without prior consultation with the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, regarding any matter which affects the public service.[subsection (3) substituted by section 42 of Act 30 of 2007]
(4)Any regulation—
(a)made under subsections (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) and (2)(c), (d) and (e) must, before publication in the Gazette, be submitted to Parliament; and
(b)made under subsection (2)(a) and (b) must, before publication in the Gazette, be approved by Parliament.
(5)Any regulation made under subsections (1) and (2) or any provision of the code of good administrative conduct made under subsection (5A) which may result in financial expenditure for the State must be made in consultation with the Minister of Finance.
(5A)The Minister must, by notice in the Gazette, publish a code of good administrative conduct in order to provide administrators with practical guidelines and information aimed at the promotion of an efficient administration and the achievement of the objects of this Act.
(6)The code of good administrative conduct referred to in subsection (5A) must, before publication in the Gazette, be approved by Cabinet and Parliament and must be made before 28 February 2009.[subsection (6) substituted by section 30 of Act 66 of 2008]
[section 10 substituted by section 15 of Act 22 of 2005]

10A. Liability

No person is criminally or civilly liable for anything done in good faith in the exercise or performance or purported exercise or performance of any power or duty in terms of this Act or the rules made under section 7(3).[section 10A inserted by section 31 of Act 66 of 2008]

11. Short title and commencement

This Act is called the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000, and comes into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.

Unconstitutional provisions

Legislation provisions that have been declared unconstitutional by a court. They are resolved when new legislation is passed. All unconstitutional provisions →
  • 6. Judicial review of administrative action (2) (i) Unresolved
    Date deemed unconstitutional
    2 August 2017

    Section 6(2)(i) of PAJA and/or the principle of legality, in that the determination was otherwise unconstitutional or unlawful.

    6. Judicial review of administrative action (2) (i) as at 2 August 2017:
    (i)the action is otherwise unconstitutional or unlawful.

Cited documents 5

Act
5
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Citizenship and Immigration · Education · Environment, Climate and Wildlife · Health and Food Safety · Human Rights · International Law · Labour and Employment · Public administration
Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944
Dispute Resolution and Mediation · Environment, Climate and Wildlife
Rules Board for Courts of Law Act, 1985
Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996
South African Judicial Education Institute Act, 2008
Dispute Resolution and Mediation · Education · Public administration

Documents citing this one 3029

Judgment
1890
National Director of Public Prosecutions v Zuma (Mbeki and Another intervening) (573/2008) [2009] ZASCA 1 (12 January 2009)
Reported
SCA holds s179(5)(d) governs NDPP review of DPP decisions only; prosecutorial charging decisions not PAJA administrative action.
• Constitutional law – s 179(5)(d) – scope of NDPP’s review powers – applies to review of decisions by DPPs/prosecutors, not to NDPP’s own reconsideration. • Criminal procedure – decision to prosecute – not administrative action under PAJA; failure to comply with constitutional/statutory hearing requirements reviewable under legality. • Civil procedure – motion proceedings – Plascon‑Evans rule; courts must not decide disputes of fact on probabilities from affidavits. • Judicial conduct – limits of judicial decision‑making; avoid gratuitous findings against non‑parties. • Costs – striking out irrelevant scandalous allegations may attract attorney‑and‑client costs and costs of three counsel.
Bato Star Fishing (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Others [2004] ZACC 15 (12 March 2004)
Reported
Allocation upheld: decision‑maker reasonably and demonstrably considered statutory transformation obligations under PAJA and the Act.
Administrative law/PAJA – review grounds and reasonableness; Marine Living Resources Act – interpretation of section 2(j) and section 18(5) (transformation/new entrants); standard of review – ‘‘reasonable decision‑maker’’ (s 6(2)(h)); judicial deference to expert administrative policy choices; procedural fairness and alleged undisclosed policy change in quota allocation.
Trencon Construction (Pty) Limited v Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited and Another (198/14) [2015] ZACC 22 (26 June 2015)
Reported
Court may substitute administrative award only in exceptional circumstances where it is in as good a position and outcome is foregone conclusion.
Administrative law – PAJA s 8(1)(c)(ii)(aa) – substitution of administrative action – test for exceptional circumstances: (i) court in as good a position as administrator and (ii) foregone conclusion, considered cumulatively – other factors (delay, bias, incompetence, fairness) relevant – substitution extraordinary remedy – tender validity period not absolute bar – appellate interference limited where lower court exercised discretion in true sense.
MEC for Health, Eastern Cape and Another v Kirland Investments (Pty) Ltd (77/13) [2014] ZACC 6 (25 March 2014)
Reported
Unlawful administrative approvals remain effectual until set aside; administration should bring formal review to impugn them.
Administrative law — unlawful political dictation — validity of administrative approvals — effect of unlawful administrative action — whether an unlawful decision remains effectual until set aside — duty of organ of state to bring review/counter‑application — role of PAJA and section 172 remedial discretion — remittal vs substitution.
Public Protector v South African Reserve Bank (107/18) [2019] ZACC 29 (22 July 2019)
Reported
Whether punitive personal costs may be imposed on a public official for bad faith or gross negligence.
* Constitutional office-bearers – personal costs de bonis propriis – tests: bad faith or gross negligence in litigation or performance of public duties. * Costs – punitive (attorney-and-client) scale – exceptional remedy requiring conduct that is fraudulent, dishonest, vexatious or an abuse of process. * Administrative law – procedural fairness, reasonable apprehension of bias and full disclosure by public litigants; rule 53 record obligations. * Declaratory relief – pleadings and procedural fairness when seeking a declaration that an official abused office.
National Treasury and Others v Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance and Others (Road Freight Association intervening) [2012] ZACC 18 (20 September 2012)
Reported
Interim interdict blocking tolling set aside as unjustified intrusion into executive budgetary and separation‑of‑powers functions.
Constitutional law; interim interdicts restraining statutory executive action; Setlogelo test applied with separation of powers considerations; urgency and direct access to Constitutional Court; administrative review (PAJA); balance of convenience and irreparable harm in public finance context.
Allpay Consolidated Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Others v Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency and Others [2013] ZACC 42 (29 November 2013)
Reported
A procurement award is invalid where material procedural defects—including failure to verify substantive BEE participation—render the process unfair.
Public procurement — section 217 constitutional requirements; PAJA governs review of procurement decisions; procedural fairness assessed independently of outcome; materiality linked to purpose of procurement rules; mandatory verification of substantive BEE (management/control/active involvement) credentials; vagueness and unilateral amendment of tender criteria (Bidders Notice 2) can render process procedurally unfair; remedy balancing public interest and beneficiaries' rights.
Albutt v Centre for Study of Violence and Reconciliation and Others (CCT 54/09) [2010] ZACC 4 (23 February 2010)
Reported
Victims must be given an opportunity to make representations before presidential pardons under the political-offences special dispensation are granted.
* Constitutional law – Presidential pardon (s 84(2)(j)) – Special dispensation for political offences – victims’ right to be heard before pardon decisions – exclusion held irrational and unlawful. * Administrative law – PAJA – whether pardon power is "administrative action" left undecided; High Court erred in deciding PAJA issue. * Remedies – interim interdict upheld; condonation and direct leave granted; appeal dismissed. * Standing – NGOs permitted to litigate in public interest and on behalf of victims.
Gcaba v Minister for Safety and Security and Others [2009] ZACC 26 (7 October 2009)
Reported
A failure to promote is typically a labour matter, not PAJA administrative action; jurisdiction lies with the Labour Court where LRA applies.
Labour and administrative law – Promotion/appointment decisions – Whether such employment decisions constitute "administrative action" under PAJA – Interpretation of s157(1) and (2) of the LRA – Jurisdiction determined by pleadings – Relationship between Fredericks and Chirwa.
Minister of Health and Another v New Clicks South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Others [2005] ZACC 14 (30 September 2005)
Reported
Single exit price and dispensing-fee regulations are broadly permitted, but dispensing fees (and some provisions) invalid; matter remitted for reconsideration.
* Medicines Act – s 22G power to introduce transparent pricing system – recommendation of Pricing Committee and Minister’s regulations – applicability of PAJA – review for lawfulness, reasonableness and procedural fairness – Severance and reading-in to cure certain defects. * Administrative law – delegated legislation – relation to section 33 of the Constitution and PAJA – administrative action – implementation of legislation – pricing regulations reviewable. * Regulatory law – single exit price regime – scheduling, calculation and publication – international benchmarking – logistics fee – transparency – severability and corrective reading-in. * Health law – right of access to health care – affordability and availability of medicines – duties of the Minister and Pricing Committee when fixing dispensing fees – impact on rural and courier pharmacies.
Gazette
1044
Act
43
Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998
Human Rights · Infrastructure and Transportation · Labour and Employment · Public administration
Companies Act, 2008
Business, Trade and Industry
Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000
Business, Trade and Industry · Human Rights
Pension Funds Act, 1956
Finance and Money
National Land Transport Act, 2009
Infrastructure and Transportation
Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994
Agriculture and Land
Electronic Communications Act, 2005
Communications and Media · Infrastructure and Transportation
Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992
Citizenship and Immigration
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002
Business, Trade and Industry · Energy and Natural Resources · Environment, Climate and Wildlife
Long-term Insurance Act, 1998
Business, Trade and Industry · Energy and Natural Resources · Environment, Climate and Wildlife · Finance and Money · Health and Food Safety
By-law
25
Dogs and Cats By-law, 2006
Health and Food Safety
Indigent Support By-law, 2014
Finance and Money
Land Use Planning
Liquor Trading Hours By-law, 2013
Business, Trade and Industry
Market By-law, 2022
Agriculture and Land · Business, Trade and Industry
Municipal Land Use Planning By-law, 2015
Infrastructure and Transportation
Municipal Land Use Planning By-law, 2015
Agriculture and Land · Infrastructure and Transportation
Municipal Land Use Planning By-law, 2015
RepealedUncommenced
Infrastructure and Transportation
Municipal Land Use Planning By-law, 2015
Repealed
Infrastructure and Transportation
Municipal Land Use Planning By-law, 2016
Infrastructure and Transportation
Journal
17
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.10 No.11
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.10 No.12
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.10 No.6
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.13 No.3
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.13 No.4
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.14 No.6
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.14 No.9
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.15 No.4
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.15 No.9
Labour Law — Journals
Contemporary Labour Law Vol.16 No.10
Labour Law — Journals
Government Notice
7
Administrative Review Rules, 2019
Dispute Resolution and Mediation
Department of Social Development: Adjusted Alert Level 3 Directions
Environment, Climate and Wildlife · Infrastructure and Transportation
Directions to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19
Health and Food Safety
Disaster Management Act: Regulations relating to COVID-19
Health and Food Safety
Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000: Designation of Courts
Dispute Resolution and Mediation
Regulations on Fair Administrative Procedures, 2002
Dispute Resolution and Mediation · Human Rights
Regulations relating to Child Justice, 2010
Human Rights
Guide
1
Law Reform Report
1
Provincial Notice
1

Subsidiary legislation

Title
Administrative Review Rules, 2019
Dispute Resolution and Mediation
Government Notice R1284 of 2019
Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000: Designation of Courts
Dispute Resolution and Mediation
Government Notice 1216 of 2019
Regulations on Fair Administrative Procedures, 2002
Dispute Resolution and Mediation · Human Rights
Government Notice R1022 of 2002
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