Crate legalis_za 

Legalis-ZA: South Africa Jurisdiction Support

Comprehensive South African legal system implementation for Legalis-RS.

Legal System Overview

South Africa has a Mixed Legal System comprising:

• Common Law (from English law)
• Roman-Dutch Civil Law (from Dutch settlement)
• Customary Law (indigenous African systems)
• Constitution (supreme law since 1996)

The Constitution of 1996 is the cornerstone of the legal system, featuring one of the most progressive Bills of Rights globally.

Hierarchy of Laws

1. Constitution - Supreme law, Bill of Rights
2. Acts of Parliament - National legislation
3. Provincial Legislation
4. Regulations and Subordinate Legislation
5. Common Law (Roman-Dutch and English)
6. Customary Law (where applicable)

Courts Structure

• Constitutional Court - Constitutional matters, highest on constitutional issues
• Supreme Court of Appeal - Highest on non-constitutional matters
• High Courts (9 divisions)
• Magistrates’ Courts
• Specialized Courts (Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court, Land Claims Court)

Modules

citation - South African Legal Citation System

Supports Commonwealth-style citations:

• Acts: Companies Act 71 of 2008, s. 22(1)
• Constitution: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

common - Shared Utilities

• South African Rand (ZAR) currency formatting
• Public holidays
• CCMA regions
• UIF contributions

constitution - Constitution of 1996

• Bill of Rights (s7-39)
• Limitation test (s36)
• Chapter 9 institutions
• Constitutional Court

tax_law - Tax Law

• VAT Act (15%)
• Income Tax Act
• SARS administration
• Transfer duty

criminal_law - Criminal Law and Procedure

• Criminal Procedure Act
• Minimum sentences
• Bail
• Sentencing

property_law - Property Law

• Deeds registration
• Land reform
• ESTA (farm dwellers)
• Sectional titles

customary_law - Customary Law

• Recognition of Customary Marriages Act
• Traditional courts
• Customary succession

intellectual_property - IP Law

• Patents (20 years)
• Trademarks (10 years, renewable)
• Copyright (life + 50)
• Designs

competition_law - Competition Act

• Prohibited practices
• Abuse of dominance
• Merger control

financial_services - FAIS & Financial Regulation

• FSP licensing
• Twin Peaks model
• TCF outcomes

insolvency - Insolvency Law

• Sequestration (individuals)
• Liquidation (companies)
• Business rescue

environmental_law - Environmental Law

• NEMA principles
• Environmental authorization
• Duty of care (s28)

labor - Labour Law (LRA, BCEA)

Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 and Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997:

• Maximum 45 ordinary hours/week
• 21 days annual leave
• Unfair dismissal protection
• CCMA dispute resolution
• Severance pay (retrenchment)

companies - Companies Act 71 of 2008

Company formation and corporate governance:

• Company types: (Pty) Ltd, Ltd, Inc, NPC
• King IV governance principles
• Business rescue (Chapter 6)
• B-BBEE integration

data_protection - POPIA

Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013:

• 8 conditions for lawful processing
• Information Regulator oversight
• Direct marketing rules
• Cross-border transfers

Quick Start

use legalis_za::{
    citation::{SouthAfricanCitation, common_citations},
    labor::{WorkingHours, calculate_severance, LeaveType},
    companies::{CompanyType, BbbeeScorecard, validate_registration},
    common::{Zar, MinimumWageCategory},
};

// Citation example
let citation = SouthAfricanCitation::act("Companies Act", 71, 2008)
    .with_section("22")
    .with_subsection("1");
println!("{}", citation); // Companies Act 71 of 2008, s. 22(1)

// Currency formatting
let salary = Zar::from_rands(25000);
println!("{}", salary.format()); // R 25 000.00

// Minimum wage
let min = MinimumWageCategory::Standard;
println!("Hourly rate: {}", min.hourly_rate_2024());

// B-BBEE scorecard
let scorecard = BbbeeScorecard {
    ownership_points: 20.0,
    management_control_points: 15.0,
    skills_development_points: 18.0,
    enterprise_supplier_development_points: 35.0,
    socio_economic_development_points: 4.0,
    priority_elements_achieved: true,
};
println!("B-BBEE Level: {:?}", scorecard.level());

Major Laws Covered

Act	Name	Year	Module
-	Constitution	1996	constitution
71	Companies Act	2008	companies
66	Labour Relations Act	1995	labor
75	Basic Conditions of Employment Act	1997	labor
4	Protection of Personal Information Act	2013	data_protection
53	B-BBEE Act	2003	companies
55	Employment Equity Act	1998	labor
58	Income Tax Act	1962	tax_law
89	Value-Added Tax Act	1991	tax_law
51	Criminal Procedure Act	1977	criminal_law
105	Criminal Law Amendment Act	1997	criminal_law
47	Deeds Registries Act	1937	property_law
95	Sectional Titles Act	1986	property_law
120	Recognition of Customary Marriages Act	1998	customary_law
57	Patents Act	1978	intellectual_property
194	Trademarks Act	1993	intellectual_property
98	Copyright Act	1978	intellectual_property
89	Competition Act	1998	competition_law
37	FAIS Act	2002	financial_services
9	Financial Sector Regulation Act	2017	financial_services
24	Insolvency Act	1936	insolvency
107	National Environmental Management Act	1998	environmental_law

B-BBEE Framework

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment is integral to South African business:

• Ownership (25 points max)
• Management Control (19 points)
• Skills Development (20 points)
• Enterprise & Supplier Development (40 points)
• Socio-Economic Development (5 points)
• Levels 1-8 + Non-Compliant

Disclaimer

This library is for educational and informational purposes. For legal matters, consult qualified South African legal professionals (attorneys/advocates).

Re-exports

pub use citation::LegalInstrumentType;

pub use citation::Province;

pub use citation::SouthAfricanCitation;

pub use citation::common_citations;

pub use common::CcmaRegion;

pub use common::MinimumWageCategory;

pub use common::SouthAfricanHoliday;

pub use common::SouthAfricanHolidayType;

pub use common::UifContribution;

pub use common::Zar;

pub use common::get_public_holidays;

pub use common::is_public_holiday;

pub use common::is_working_day;

pub use common::working_days_between;

pub use labor::AutomaticallyUnfairGround;

pub use labor::CcmaTimeframes;

pub use labor::ContractType;

pub use labor::LaborError;

pub use labor::LaborResult;

pub use labor::LeaveType;

pub use labor::SeverancePay;

pub use labor::TerminationType;

pub use labor::UnfairDismissalType;

pub use labor::WorkingHours;

pub use labor::calculate_severance;

pub use labor::get_labor_checklist;

pub use labor::validate_working_hours;

pub use companies::BbbeeLevel;

pub use companies::BbbeeScorecard;

pub use companies::BusinessRescueStatus;

pub use companies::CompanyError;

pub use companies::CompanyRegistration;

pub use companies::CompanyResult;

pub use companies::CompanyType;

pub use companies::KingIvPrinciple;

pub use companies::get_company_checklist;

pub use companies::validate_registration;

pub use data_protection::DataSubjectRight;

pub use data_protection::InformationOfficer;

pub use data_protection::LegalBasis;

pub use data_protection::PersonalInformationCategory;

pub use data_protection::PopiaCompliance;

pub use data_protection::PopiaError;

pub use data_protection::PopiaResult;

pub use data_protection::ProcessingCondition;

pub use data_protection::SpecialPersonalInformation;

pub use data_protection::TransferBasis;

pub use data_protection::get_popia_checklist;

pub use data_protection::validate_processing;

pub use constitution::BillOfRightsGuarantee;

pub use constitution::Chapter9Institution;

pub use constitution::ConstitutionalCourtJurisdiction;

pub use constitution::ConstitutionalError;

pub use constitution::ConstitutionalResult;

pub use constitution::DiscriminationGround;

pub use constitution::FoundingValue;

pub use constitution::LimitationTest;

pub use constitution::get_constitutional_checklist;

pub use constitution::validate_limitation;

pub use tax_law::CgtInclusionRate;

pub use tax_law::PersonalIncomeTaxBracket;

pub use tax_law::SarsFilingRequirement;

pub use tax_law::TaxError;

pub use tax_law::TaxRebate;

pub use tax_law::TaxResult;

pub use tax_law::TaxType;

pub use tax_law::VatRegistration;

pub use tax_law::VatSupplyType;

pub use tax_law::get_tax_checklist;

pub use tax_law::validate_vat_registration;

pub use criminal_law::AppealCourt;

pub use criminal_law::BailConsideration;

pub use criminal_law::CrimeElement;

pub use criminal_law::CriminalCapacity;

pub use criminal_law::CriminalError;

pub use criminal_law::CriminalResult;

pub use criminal_law::Fault;

pub use criminal_law::GroundExcludingFault;

pub use criminal_law::GroundOfJustification;

pub use criminal_law::IntentionType;

pub use criminal_law::ScheduleOffence;

pub use criminal_law::SentenceType;

pub use criminal_law::get_criminal_procedure_checklist;

pub use criminal_law::validate_bail;

pub use criminal_law::validate_sentence;

pub use property_law::DeedsOffice;

pub use property_law::DeedsRegistration;

pub use property_law::EstaProtection;

pub use property_law::LandReformType;

pub use property_law::OwnershipType;

pub use property_law::PropertyError;

pub use property_law::PropertyResult;

pub use property_law::RealRight;

pub use property_law::RestitutionClaim;

pub use property_law::SectionalTitle;

pub use property_law::ServitudeType;

pub use property_law::TransferDuty;

pub use property_law::get_property_checklist;

pub use property_law::validate_deeds_registration;

pub use customary_law::CustomaryError;

pub use customary_law::CustomaryMarriage;

pub use customary_law::CustomaryResult;

pub use customary_law::CustomarySuccession;

pub use customary_law::Lobolo;

pub use customary_law::MarriageRegime;

pub use customary_law::TraditionalCommunity;

pub use customary_law::TraditionalCourt;

pub use customary_law::TraditionalLeaderRole;

pub use customary_law::get_customary_law_checklist;

pub use customary_law::validate_customary_marriage;

pub use customary_law::validate_succession_rule;

pub use intellectual_property::Copyright;

pub use intellectual_property::CopyrightWorkType;

pub use intellectual_property::Design;

pub use intellectual_property::DesignType;

pub use intellectual_property::FairDealingPurpose;

pub use intellectual_property::IntellectualPropertyType;

pub use intellectual_property::IpEnforcement;

pub use intellectual_property::IpError;

pub use intellectual_property::IpResult;

pub use intellectual_property::NonPatentableSubject;

pub use intellectual_property::Patent;

pub use intellectual_property::Trademark;

pub use intellectual_property::get_ip_checklist;

pub use intellectual_property::validate_patent;

pub use intellectual_property::validate_trademark;

pub use competition_law::AbuseOfDominance;

pub use competition_law::CompetitionError;

pub use competition_law::CompetitionResult;

pub use competition_law::HorizontalPractice;

pub use competition_law::LeniencyApplication;

pub use competition_law::MergerAssessment;

pub use competition_law::MergerCategory;

pub use competition_law::MergerThresholds;

pub use competition_law::PublicInterestFactor;

pub use competition_law::VerticalPractice;

pub use competition_law::get_competition_checklist;

pub use competition_law::validate_horizontal_agreement;

pub use competition_law::validate_merger_notification;

pub use financial_services::CodeOfConduct;

pub use financial_services::FaisLicense;

pub use financial_services::FinancialProduct;

pub use financial_services::FinancialService;

pub use financial_services::FinancialServicesError;

pub use financial_services::FinancialServicesResult;

pub use financial_services::FitAndProper;

pub use financial_services::FspCategory;

pub use financial_services::RegulatoryObjective;

pub use financial_services::TcfOutcome;

pub use financial_services::TwinPeaksRegulator;

pub use financial_services::get_financial_services_checklist;

pub use financial_services::validate_fais_license;

pub use financial_services::validate_fit_and_proper;

pub use insolvency::ActOfInsolvency;

pub use insolvency::BusinessRescue;

pub use insolvency::CreditorClass;

pub use insolvency::InsolvencyError;

pub use insolvency::InsolvencyResult;

pub use insolvency::Liquidation;

pub use insolvency::LiquidationType;

pub use insolvency::PreferentClaim;

pub use insolvency::Rehabilitation;

pub use insolvency::Sequestration;

pub use insolvency::SequestrationType;

pub use insolvency::VoidableDisposition;

pub use insolvency::get_insolvency_checklist;

pub use insolvency::validate_business_rescue;

pub use insolvency::validate_sequestration;

pub use environmental_law::AirQualityLicense;

pub use environmental_law::AuthorizationType;

pub use environmental_law::BiodiversityThreat;

pub use environmental_law::ComplianceNotice;

pub use environmental_law::DutyOfCare;

pub use environmental_law::EnvironmentalAuthorization;

pub use environmental_law::EnvironmentalError;

pub use environmental_law::EnvironmentalResult;

pub use environmental_law::EnvironmentalRight;

pub use environmental_law::NemaPrinciple;

pub use environmental_law::WasteActivity;

pub use environmental_law::WasteClassification;

pub use environmental_law::WaterUse;

pub use environmental_law::get_environmental_checklist;

pub use environmental_law::validate_duty_of_care;

pub use environmental_law::validate_environmental_authorization;

Modules

citation

South African Legal Citation System

common

Common Utilities for South African Legal System

companies

South African Companies Act 71 of 2008

competition_law

South African Competition Law

constitution

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

criminal_law

South African Criminal Law

customary_law

South African Customary Law

data_protection

Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA)

environmental_law

South African Environmental Law

financial_services

South African Financial Services Law

insolvency

South African Insolvency Law

intellectual_property

South African Intellectual Property Law

labor

South African Labour Law

property_law

South African Property Law

tax_law

South African Tax Law