International Law and the South African Constitution VIII Conclusion The 1996 South African Constitution, like the Interim Constitution of 1993, seeks to ensure that South African law will evolve in accordance with international law. The legal profession and the judiciary, which during the apartheid era made little use of international law, have generally responded positively. Law libraries have acquired international law materials and arguments are frequently made in the language of international law, particularly in the field of human rights. Judges in both the ordinary courts and the Constitutional Court have not hesitated to invoke international law to support their findings. That international law is still unfamiliar terrain to the courts, however, is illustrated by the AZAPO case. Inevitably, it will take time for South African lawyers and judges to become fully conversant with the sources, rules and reasoning of international law. The Constitution which serves as the foundation stone for the new South Africa will ensure that this happens.
	© 1990-2004 European Journal of International Law All comments and suggestions should be sent to webmaster This site is part of the Academy of European Law online, a joint partnership of the Jean Monnet Center at NYU School of Law and the Academy of European Law at the European University Institute. This file was last modified: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 12:31PM