Page:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Act 2001 from Government Gazette.djvu/2



(English text signed by the President.) (Assented to 20 November 2001.)

To amend the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, so as to change the title of the President of the Constitutional Court to that of Chief Justice; to provide for the offices of Deputy Chief Justice, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal and Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal; to provide for the extension of the term of office of a Constitutional Court judge; to further regulate the appointment of Deputy Ministers; to make provision for municipal borrowing powers and to enable a Municipal Council to bind itself and a future Council in the exercise of its legislative and executive authority to secure loans or investments for the municipality; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

E IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

Amendment of section 51 of Act 108 of 1996

1. Section 51 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the Constitution), is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (1) of the following subsection: “(1) After an election, the first sitting of the National Assembly must take place at a time and on a date determined by the [President of the Constitutional Court] Chief Justice, but not more than 14 days after the election result has been declared. The Assembly may determine the time and duration of its other sittings and its recess periods.”.

Amendment of section 52 of Act 108 of 1996

2. Section 52 of the Constitution is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (2) of the following subsection: “(2) The [President of the Constitutional Court] Chief Justice must preside over the election of a Speaker, or designate another judge to do so. The Speaker presides over the election of a Deputy Speaker.”.

Substitution of section 54 of Act 108 of 1996

3. The following section is hereby substituted for section 54 of the Constitution: