constutionalism and judicial appointment as a means of safeguarding judicial independence in ...

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CONSTUTIONALISM AND JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT AS A MEANS
OF SAFEGUARDING JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IN SELECTED
AFRICAN JURISDICTIONS
by
SAUL PORSCHE MAKAMA
Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF LAWS
at the
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
SUPERVISOR: PROF NJ BOTHA
NOVEMBER 2012
DECLARATION
I declare that 'Constitutionalism and the process of judicial appointment as a means of
safeguarding democracy and judicial independence in selected African jurisdictions' is my
own work and that all sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged
by means of complete references.
33630496
Signature: Mr. S P MAKAMA STUDENT NUMBER
Date: November 2012
ABSTRACT

The beginning of the 1990s saw many African countries embarking on the process of drafting
new constitutions as they abandoned independence constitutions. Most of the independence
constitutions were perceived as constitutions without constitutionalism and they were
generally blamed for failure of democracy and the rule of law in Africa.

The study analyses the state of democracy and constitutionalism and the impact that
colonialism had on the African continent. Apart from the spurt of new constitutions adopted,
democracy is growing very slowly in most African states with widespread human rights
violations and disregard for the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers, still
holding the centre stage.

Judicial independence is an important component of democracy in the modern state. The
study therefore scrutinizes how the principle of judicial independence can be promoted and
protected to enhance democracy. One important mechanism which plays a crucial role in
safeguarding judicial independence is the way judicial officers are appointed. The study
selects four countries – Swaziland, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa and analyses how
judicial officers are appointed in these countries in an effort to find an effective and optimal
approach.

The premise of the study is centred on the role of constitutionalism and the process of
appointing judges as a means of promoting and safeguarding democracy in these selected
countries.

Key terms
Constitutionalism, Constitution, Rule of Law, Democracy, International Law, Judicial
Independence, Judiciary, and separation of powers.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost I would like to thank the Mighty GOD for the strength that he has given
me throughout the period of writing this dissertation.
My earnest gratitude to the following people:
 Prof Neville J Botha, my supervisor, for his guidance, encouragement and
inspirational ideas, suggestions and quality comments during the writing of my
dissertation.
 Prof André Thomashausen, the COD in the Department of Public, Constitutional and
International Law.
 Prof Wessel le Roux, whom I started this dissertation with as my supervisor but later,
left the University.
 Thea de Villiers.
 My family and friends for their support.
 My colleagues in the Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law.
 The UNISA Library staff.
 Lastly I dedicate this dissertation to Sandie Khumalo; I say your support has been a
true inspiration during the long journey.

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ABBREVIATIONS

ACHPR African Charter on Human and People’s Rights
ANC African National Congress
APP African People’s Party
APRM African Peer Review Mechanism
AU African Union
BIICL British Institute of International and Comparative Law
BLA Black Lawyers Association
CA Constitutional Assembly
CALS Centre for Applied Legal Studies
CASAC Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution
CC Constitutional Court
CJ Chief Justice
CODESA Convention for a Democratic South Africa
CPA Criminal Procedure Act (SA)
CP Constitutional Principle
CSVR Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
DA Democratic Alliance
DCJ Deputy Chief Justice
DJCD Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
DRC Democratic Republic of Congo
ECK Electoral Commission of Kenya
EEC European Economic Community
EU European Union
FUL Freedom Under Law
GA General Assembly
GCB General Council of the Bar
GNU Government of National Unity
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GPA Global Political Agreement
IBA International Bar Association
IC Interim Constitution
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ICD Independent Complaints Directorate
ICJ International Commission of Jurists
JSA Judicial Service Act
JASA Justice Alliance of South Africa
JSC Judicial Service Commission
KADU Kenya Democratic Party
KANU Kenya African National Union
LSSA Law Society of South Africa
MDC Movement for Democratic Change
MJCD Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
MPNP Multi-Party Negotiating Process
MP Member of Parliament
Mps Members of Parliament
MPS Municipal Police Service
NA National Assembly
NADEL National Association of Democratic Lawyers
NARC National Rainbow Coalition
NCOP National Council of Provinces
NDI National Democratic Institute
NDPP National Director of Public Prosecution
NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development
NPA National Prosecuting Authority
OAU Organization of African Unity
OSISA Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa
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PAC Pan Africanist Congress
PSC Public Service Commission
SAA South African Airways
SAHRC South African Human Rights Commission
SADC Southern African Development Community
SADCLA Southern African Development Community Lawyer Association
SAIIA South African Institute of International Affairs
SAPS South African Police Service
SCA Supreme Court of Appeal (South Africa)
UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights
UN United Nations
US United States
WJP World Justice Project
WWI First World War
WWII Second World War
ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration............................................................................... i
Abstract. ................................................................................ ii
Key terms................................................................................ ii
Acknowledgements. ...................................................................... iii
Abbreviations............................................................................. 4
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL OVERVIEW
1.1 Background. ...................................................................... 2
1.2 Research Questions. ................................................................ 3
1.3 Aim of Study. ..................................................................... 4
1.4 Scope and Limitation of Study......................................................... 5
1.5 Description of Planned Research Methodology............................................ 5
1.6 Structure of the Study and Outline of the Chapters. ........................................ 6
1.7 Key Concepts...................................................................... 7
1.7.1 Constitutionalism............................................................ 7
1.7.2 Democracy................................................................. 7
1.7.3 The Rule of Law. ........................................................... 9
1.7.4 The Separation of Powers Doctrine.............................................. 9
1.7.5 Judicial Independence. ...................................................... 11
1.7.5.1 Functional and Personal Independence. ............................... 12
1.7.5.2 Appointment Process of Judicial Officers in Comparative Perspective . ...... 12
Chapter Two
ANALYSIS OF CONSTITUTIONALISM, DEMOCRACY, SEPARATION
OF POWERS, AND THE RULE OF LAW IN AFRICA
2.1 Introduction. ..................................................................... 17
2.2 The Impact of Colonialism on Constitutionalism in Africa.................................. 19
2.2.1 Defining Colonialism........................................................ 19
2.2.2 The State of Africa after Colonialism. .......................................... 21
2.3 Explaining the Concept of Constitutionalism............................................. 25
2.4 Explaining the relationship and connection between the concepts of
Constitution(s), Constitutionalism, Democracy, and Elections. .............................. 28
2.4.1 The state of democracy and constitutional sovereignty in South Africa
since the adoption of the 1993 Interim Constitution (and Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa, 1996) and the first democratic elections of 1994:
Are there lessons for other African countries?..................................... 30
2.4.2 Overview of Elections v Democracy in Africa. ................................... 33
2.4.2.1 The African Union (AU) and the African Charter on
Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG)........................ 35
2.5 The Doctrine of Separation of Powers and the Rule of Law in Africa.......................... 36
2.5.1 Explaining the Doctrine of Separation of Powers. ................................. 38
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2.5.2 Implementation of the Idea of Constitutionalism and the Doctrine of Separation of
Powers in Selected African States in Contrast with the US and Germany................ 40
2.5.2.1 Checks and Balances. ............................................. 41
2.5.2.2 The System of Checks and Balances and Separation of
Powers under the US Constitution. ................................... 41
2.5.2.3 Constitutionalism and Separation of Powers in the Federal
Republic of Germany.............................................. 43
2.5.2.4 Constitutionalism and Separation of Powers under the South
African Constitution. ............................................. 46
2.5.2.5 Constitutionalism and Separation of Powers in Zimbabwe. ................ 52
2.5.2.6 Constitutionalism and the Doctrine of Separation of Powers in Kenya. ....... 58
2.5.2.6.1 Kenya from Independence (1963)......................... 58
2.5.2.6.2 The Period 1978 to 1991. .............................. 60
2.5.2.6.3 The influence of Elections on Constitutionalism
and Separation of Powers in Kenya. ...................... 62
2.5.2.6.3.1 Multi-Party Elections.................... 62
2.5.2.6.3.2 1992 Elections. ........................ 62
2.5.2.6.3.3 1997 Elections. ........................ 62
2.5.2.6.3.4 2002 Elections. ........................ 63
2.5.2.6.3.5 2007 Elections. ........................ 64
2.5.2.7 Constitutionalism and Separation of Powers in Swaziland...... 65
2.5.3 A Comparative Assessment of Constitutionalism and Democracy in
Western and African Countries. ............................................... 66
2.5.4 Africa and the Rule of Law. .................................................. 67
2.5.4.1 Explaining the Rule of Law. ........................................ 67
2.5.4.2 The African Peer Review Mechanism (ARPM) and the rule
of law in Africa................................................... 69
2.6 Conclusion....................................................................... 71
Chapter Three
PROTECTING JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE
3.1 Introduction. ..................................................................... 75
3.2 Judicial Independence in the Contemporary State......................................... 77
3.3 Different Ways of Ensuring Judicial Independence........................................ 80
3.3.1 The Constitution and Legislation............................................... 80
3.3.2 Judicial Service Commissions or Councils. ...................................... 81
3.3.3 Courts or Tribunals. ........................................................ 81
3.3.4 International Law/Conventions or Documents..................................... 83
3.3.5 The Process for the Appointment of Judicial Officers............................... 84
3.3.6 Personal Independence. ..................................................... 84
(i) Appointment . ................................................... 85
(ii) Removal. ....................................................... 85
(iii) Terms of Office................................................... 86
(iv) Remuneration.................................................... 86
(v) Conditions of Service.............................................. 87
3.3.7 Functional Independence..................................................... 87
3.4 Judicial Independence in Practice: The Case of South Africa................................ 90
3.4.1 South Africa’s Constitution (1996) and the Notion of Judicial Independence............. 90
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3.4.2 How does the Concept of Judicial Independence Link to Human Rights and Democracy
in a State? (For example – the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa declares that
the bill of rights is the cornerstone of democracy in the country). ..................... 91
3.4.3 Judicial officers and the “fit and proper” requirement............................... 92
3.4.4 The nexus between the notion of judicial independence and human
rights and democracy: A South African constitutional perspective. ................... 96
3.5 South Africa’s Judicial History under Apartheid Rule and the Judicial Triumph
and Challenges since the Start of a New Democratic and Constitutional Order. ................ 102
3.6 Conclusion...................................................................... 103
Chapter Four
THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS IN
SWAZILAND, KENYA, ZIMBABWE AND SOUTH AFRICA
4.1 Introduction. .................................................................... 106
4.2 The Judiciary and the Selection Process of Judicial Officers in Swaziland..................... 108
4.2.1 The Constitution and Judicial Authority in Swaziland.............................. 108
4.2.2 The Appointment of Judicial Officers under the Swazi Constitution................... 110
4.2.3 The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in Swaziland. ............................ 112
4.2.4 The State of the Judiciary since the adoption of the New Constitution in Swaziland. ..... 115
4.2.5 Judicial Crisis. ........................................................... 119
4.3 The Judiciary and the Selection Process Of Judicial Officers in Kenya........................ 121
4.3.1 The Judiciary in Kenya. .................................................... 121
4.3.2 The Judiciary under the new Constitution of Kenya, 2010. ......................... 124
4.3.3 Appointment of Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and other Judges in Kenya. ........ 126
4.3.4 The Role of the Judicial Service Commission in Kenya. ........................... 128
4.3.5 Assessment. ............................................................. 129
4.4 The Judiciary and the Selection Process of Judicial Officers in Zimbabwe..................... 130
4.4.1 A Brief Description of the Crisis in Zimbabwe since 2000.......................... 130
4.4.2 The Judiciary and the Constitution in Zimbabwe. ................................ 131
4.4.3 Appointment of Judges. .................................................... 134
4.4.4 The Judicial Service Commission in Zimbabwe. ................................. 135
4.4.5 Assessment. ............................................................. 136
4.5 The Judiciary and the Selection Process of Judicial Officers in South Africa................... 137
4.5.1 The Judicial Service Commission in South Africa. ............................... 137
4.5.2 The Appointment of Judicial Officers in terms of Section 174 of the Constitution........ 140
4.5.3 The need for the judiciary to reflect broadly the racial and gender composition of
South Africa when judicial officers are appointed (Section 174(2)). .................. 141
4.5.4 The Appointment of the Chief Justice (CJ) and Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) of the CC
and the Appointment of the President and Deputy President of the SCA (Section 174(3)
of the Constitution). ....................................................... 143
4.5.5 Appointment to the Constitutional Court (Section 174(4)). ......................... 149
4.5.6 Appointment in the Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Courts. .................. 151
4.5.7 Term of Office, Remuneration and Removal of Judges in South Africa................ 153
4.6. Conclusion...................................................................... 155
Chapter Five
GENERAL CONCLUSION.......................................................... 158
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