Law of South Africa

[4] The South African court system is organized in a clear hierarchy by Chapter 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, specifically s166, and consists of (from lowest to highest legal authority): Firstly, a number of Magistrates' Courts (both smaller Regional and larger District).

[5] Secondly, a single High Court with multiple divisions across the country, both regional (having jurisdiction over the entire province) and smaller local division (having a geographically smaller jurisdiction, usually over a heavily populated regions) introduced by the Superior Courts Act, 2013.

[6] All High Court names have been clarified by the Chief Justice and can be read on page 14 of the South African Government Gazette No.

Initially, it was applied in subsidium to fill in gaps in existing customary law on a case-by-case basis.

Then, in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was received in complexu (as a system) to such an extent that at the beginning of the 17th century the great Dutch lawyer Huig de Groot (Grotius) could describe this fusion (or joining together) of Dutch and Roman principles as a "new" mixed legal system with its own content.

This was how Roman-Dutch law began, led first and foremost by the doctrinal writers of the Hollandse elegante school.

[citation needed] From 6 April 1652 landing of the Dutch in the Cape of Good Hope, the Roman-Dutch legal system and its legislation and laws took increasing hold,[citation needed] holding sway until the Union of South Africa as a dominion of the British Empire was formed on 31 May 1910.