Guides: South African Legal Research: Guides

Tools To Decipher Cites

Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations - Cardiff University
Allows a researcher to enter an abbreviated cite to a legal source and to retrieve the full title of the source.
TIP: Use the full title to search for the source in a library catalog or in a database (SAFLII, Juta Law ($), LexisNexis South Africa ($) or Sabinet ePublications: Law journal collection ($)).
Research, Writing, Style and Referencing Guide - University of Cape Town Faculty of Law
Explains how to decipher a South African case cite (p. 32) and lists names/abbreviations of key South African case reporters. Also includes examples of cites to South African statutes/subordinate legislation (p. 37) and the Constitution (p. 40).

Update: Researching South African Law (Mar. 2010) - Amanda Barratt, Pamela Snyman & Redson Kapindu
CALI Interactive Tutorials (rev. 2010) - University of Cape Town Brand van Zyl Law Library
This library created CALI Tutorials and hosts them on its university's server. BLS is a CALI member and we were able to view these useful lessons.
TIPS: The "Foundations of SA Law" exercises appear to be designed for South African LLB (undergraduate law) students. The exercise, "Juta Online Publications and LexisNexis" is helpful to those who wish to evaluate fee-based South African legal databases and to those who need to develop research training sessions.
An Introduction to African Legal Resources (Sept. 2009) - Silke Sahl
Update: Sources of Online Information for African Countries (Mar./Apr. 2009) - Jane Williams

Beginner's Guide for Law Students (2010) by Duard Kleyn & Frans Viljoen
Discusses: sources of South African law; legal research; courts and alternative dispute resolultion; the legal profession; the Constitution; evidence; civil procedure; criminal law and procedure; human rights; HIV/AIDS and the law; and language and the law. BLS Library has ordered this book.
Introduction to the Law of South Africa (2004) by C.G. van der Merwe & Jacques E. du Plessis, eds.
Call Number: KTL68 .I58 2004 (Location: 1 Res)

In section IV (pp. 36-53) of the introductory chapter, Francois du Bois describes key sources of law.

TIP: Also review "Update: Researching South African Law" (Mar. 2010) and consult sources under tab: "Custom" in this web guide.
The Law of South Africa (2d ed. 2003-) ("LAWSA") by W.A. Joubert, founding ed.
LAWSA provides overviews of many South African legal topics. Use the Consolidated Index to find relevant entries. LAWSA's Cumulative Table of Cases includes cites to cases in reporters. LAWSA's Annual Cumulative Supplement highlights repealed legislation.

TIP: LexisNexis Butterworths began publishing the 2d ed. of LAWSA in 2003. Many LAWSA vols. are now 2d ed. vols. The Consolidated Index covers both 2d ed. vols. and vols. from the older ed. that the publisher has not yet replaced.

LAWSA is available online through LexisNexis South Africa ($). In New York, Columbia Law School's Diamond Law Library owns LAWSA in print.