Page:The constitution ("grondwet") of the South African Republic.djvu/39



WHEREAS it appears that constant uncertainty exists which cases (lawsuits) the Courts of Law will be competent to deal with and pass judgment upon, and Article 143, in connection with Article 219 of the Constitution, are not always interpreted in the same manner, in consequence of which, to the great detriment of the State, the property of several burgers is insecure : therefore the Volksraad of the South African Republic, on recommendation of the Executive Council, has deemed it advisable to lay down the following stipulations, which are herewith confirmed.

Article 1. Pending cases within the meaning of Article 219 of the Constitution, are those upon which the Executive have taken no Resolution.

Article 2. Every Court will respect all Executive Council Resolutions as law, and not remark or comment thereupon; and whatever has been decided upon or confirmed by the Volksraad shall not be submitted to the decision of any Court of Law.

Article 3. Where there are several Volksraad Resolutions on the same subject, the last shall by every Court of Law be respected (read) as law.

Article 4. This law comes immediately into force.

Received and confirmed in the Volksraad Session, Article 53, of 19th September, 1859, held at Pretoria.

(Signed), Chairman, (Signed), Secretary,