Page:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 from Government Gazette.djvu/7

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
Government Gazette, 18 December 1996
No. 17678 5

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 Act No. 108, 1996
Chapter 1—Founding Provisions

Chapter 1

Founding Provisions


Republic of South Africa

1.

The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:

(a)

Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.

(b)

Non-racialism and non-sexism.

(c)

Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.

(d)

Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.


Supremacy of Constitution

2.

This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic; law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it must be fulfilled.


Citizenship

3.

(1)

There is a common South African citizenship.

(2)

All citizens are ―

(a)

equally entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship; and

(b)

equally subject to the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.

(3)

National legislation must provide for the acquisition, loss and restoration of citizenship.


National anthem

4.

The national anthem of the Republic is determined by the President by proclamation.


National flag

5.

The national flag of the Republic is black, gold, green, white, red and blue, as described and sketched in Schedule 1.


Languages

6.

(1)

The official languages of the Republic are Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu.