CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

The Constitutional Court was established in 1994 by South Africa's first democratic constitution - the interim constitution of 1993. The Court, the key institution of our constitutional democracy, continues to function under the final Constitution of 1996.

There have been sixteen amendments to the Constitution of 1996. A copy can be found here.

Source: Constitutional Court of South Africa

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1996

The purpose of the CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ACT is to introduce a new Constitution for the Republic of South Africa and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

Preamble

We, the people of South Africa,

• Recognise the injustices of our past;

• Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;

• Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and

• Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.

We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to -

• Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;

• Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;

• Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and

• Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.

May God protect our people.
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.
God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.
Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika.

Source: SABINET