The Constitution of the country is a set of the most important laws of the country. It describes certain rights and responsibilities that people have. It states how South Africans should treat one another. It also states how the government should work.
When South Africa became a democracy in 1994, the country needed to write a new Constitution to protect the rights of everyone. During this time, many meetings and discussions took place, and everyone could send in their comments. By December 1996, the new Constitution was made into law. Everyone, including the president, must obey the laws of the Constitution. The Constitution cannot easily be changed by the political party in power.
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Some of the laws giving in the constitution are:
Everyone is equal before the law.
Everyone has the freedom of opinion, belief and religion.
Everyone is free to choose the work he or she wants to do.
Everyone has the right to a healthy and safe environment.
Everyone has a right to housing.
Everyone has a right to education.
Everyone has the right to live anywhere in the country.
Discussion Questions:
Which laws are being violated (broken) in the following situations?
Thembi's neighbours say she is different to them and that she does not belong in their area.
Junaid is 10 years old. Instead of going to school, he sells fruit and other items on the roadside at traffic lights.
Mbuli lives in an area where the rubbish is never collected and there are always a lot of flies and rats.
Paula does not have to obey the law because she is the president of the country.