Custom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction?

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dc.contributor.authorOsman, Fatima
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-28T13:15:26Z
dc.date.available2025-08-28T13:15:26Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractThis article presents a critical analysis of whether South African courts employ established theoretical concepts to delineate the boundaries between custom and customary law. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding, the article begins by providing an overview of the South African legal system, laying the groundwork for the subsequent discussion. The article then delves into prominent theories that address the differentiation between custom and customary law, providing a succinct summary of each. Finally, the article examines the degree to which these theories have been embraced by the courts. Notably, the article uncovers the courts’ emphasis on factors such as certainty and the protection of human rights when deciding whether to apply customary law, rather than relying solely on the distinction between custom and customary law.
dc.identifier.apacitationOsman, F. (2025). Custom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction?. <i>Journal of African Law</i>, 1-17. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41643en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationOsman, Fatima "Custom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction?." <i>Journal of African Law</i> (2025): 1-17. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41643en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationOsman, F. 2025. Custom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction?. <i>Journal of African Law.</i>:1-17. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41643en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Osman, Fatima AB - This article presents a critical analysis of whether South African courts employ established theoretical concepts to delineate the boundaries between custom and customary law. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding, the article begins by providing an overview of the South African legal system, laying the groundwork for the subsequent discussion. The article then delves into prominent theories that address the differentiation between custom and customary law, providing a succinct summary of each. Finally, the article examines the degree to which these theories have been embraced by the courts. Notably, the article uncovers the courts’ emphasis on factors such as certainty and the protection of human rights when deciding whether to apply customary law, rather than relying solely on the distinction between custom and customary law. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Journal of African Law KW - customary law KW - custom KW - South Africa LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - Custom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction? TI - Custom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41643 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.uri10.1017/S0021855324000159
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41643
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationOsman F. Custom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction?. Journal of African Law. 2025;:1-17. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41643.en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Law
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.sourceJournal of African Law
dc.source.pagination1-17
dc.subjectcustomary law
dc.subjectcustom
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.titleCustom Versus Customary Law: Does South African Jurisprudence Draw the Distinction?
dc.typeJournal Article
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