Abstract

OSMAN, Fatima. The omission of the opt-out clause – The revised (and improved?) Traditional Courts Bill 2017. SA crime q. [online]. 2020, n.69, pp.69-79. ISSN 2413-3108.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3108/2020/i69a7821.

The Traditional Courts Bill B1B-2017 omits the opt-out clause and the notion that engagement with traditional courts is on a voluntary and consensual basis - a long-standing sticky point with traditional leaders. Under the Bill, individuals are bound to attend a traditional court when summoned and cannot opt-out of the system, which conflicts starkly with the notion of customary law as a voluntary and consensual system of law. This article argues that compelling individuals to attend a traditional court may be unconstitutional for unjustifiably infringing the rights to culture, a fair trial and equality.

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