Administrative Justice as Human Right: A Perspective from South Africa

Abstract

Administrative justice should be a human right. However, it is not easily subsumed into the general body of human rights law because administrative law principles are largely procedural in character, hence, subject to domestic law. In some countries administrative justice is dependent on its development via common law by the courts, while in others is possible to have recourse to a constitutional provision permitting persons whose right is infringed by state action to seek constitutional redress. The article discusses administrative justice as a human right under the South African Constitution with a view to showing potential learning experience for other jurisdictions, and to possibly provide knowledge as to how best the legal framework pertaining to administrative justice could be developed to strengthen the protection of rights violated by action of government or those acting on its behalf. In South Africa, the Constitution and the PAJA constitute the source of the right to just administrative action while the common law ceases to have effect and will continue to inform the content of administrative law and other aspects of public law. The article shows how the Constitutional Court is empowered to develop the common law in relation to the application of the Bill of Rights to natural or juristic persons. The article concludes that constitutional and statutory provisions are available to facilitate the enforcement of the right to just administrative action, ensuring that every person 'has the right to approach a court, alleging that a right in the Bill of Rights has been infringed or threatened, and the court may grant appropriate relief.'