Judgment No. CCZ 7/16 8
Const. Application No. CCZ 17/15
“(1) The fundamental rights and freedoms set out in this Chapter must be
exercised reasonably and with due regard for the rights and freedoms of other
persons.
(2) The fundamental rights and freedoms set out in this Chapter may be limited
only in terms of a law of general application and to the extent that the limitation is
fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on
openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into account all
relevant factors, including—
(a) the nature of the right or freedom concerned;
(b) the purpose of the limitation, in particular whether it is necessary in the
interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public
health, regional or town planning or the general public interest;
(c) the nature and extent of the limitation;
(d) the need to ensure that the enjoyment of rights and freedoms by any
person does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others;
(e) the relationship between the limitation and its purpose, in particular
whether it imposes greater restrictions on the right or freedom concerned
than are necessary to achieve its purpose; and
(f) whether there are any less restrictive means of achieving the purpose of
the limitation.
(3) No law may limit the following rights enshrined in this Chapter, and no person
may violate them—
(a) the right to life, except to the extent specified in section 48;
(b) the right to human dignity;
(c) the right not to be tortured or subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment;
(d) the right not to be placed in slavery or servitude;
(e) the right to a fair trial;
(f) the right to obtain an order of habeas corpus as provided in section
50(7)(a).”
As appears from subs (3) of s 86, none of the rights allegedly violated in
casu falls into the category of inviolable rights enumerated in that subsection.
Accordingly, in the event that the applicants are able to establish any violation of their
rights, it will be necessary to measure such prima facie violation as against the rights and
freedoms of others, in terms of subs (1), and within the context of the permissible
derogations contemplated in subs (2).