Marie Wentzel

Constitutional Court statistics for the 2013 term

Abstract This note provides descriptive statistics on the work of the Constitutional Court of South Africa in 2013, organised in a number of tables. Part I covers those decisions in which the Court produced a written judgment while Part II covers applications that were considered in chambers and dismissed without a judgment being given. The purpose of the Constitutional Court statistics is to shed light on issues such as voting patterns on the bench, the nature of cases heard by the Court, government success rates in Constitutional Court litigation, how cases are reaching the Court, and how long it is taking the Court to deliver its judgments. The statistics also provide some insight into the applications that are not being heard by the Court, which are otherwise not open to public scrutiny.

Constitutional court statistics for the 2012 term

This note provides descriptive statistics on the work of the Constitutional Court of South Africa in 2012, organised in a number of tables. The method of constructing each table is given in the text that follows it. The objectives and methods of this annual set of statistics are more fully laid out in the 1995 edition and subsequent editions of the SAJHR.

From information to engagement : exploring communication platforms for the government-citizen interface in South Africa

An effective communication interface between government and citizens can strengthen government responsiveness and deepen citizen engagement. Such communication and information exchange takes many formats, especially given the various platforms and technologies available. This article situates communication options and strategies in the context of: reported challenges around engagement practices; expressed public preferences for particular communication platforms; and existing barriers to ICTs and other infrastructures in South Africa. Using both qualitative and quantitative data, the research reported here explores two questions: What are the most suitable platforms to improve government-citizen communication in South Africa? How could ICTs and other platforms be better used to promote improved communication and more meaningful citizen engagement around public services? We argue for a differentiated approach to communicating with citizens that acknowledges social realities and preferences if technology is to benefit socio-economic processes in a democratic South Africa.

Constitutional Court statistics for the 2009 term

This note provides descriptive statistics on the work of the Constitutional Court of South Africa in 2009, organised in a number of tables. The method of constructing each table is given in the text that follows it. The objectives and methods of this annual set of statistics are more fully laid out in the 1995 edition and subsequent editions of the SAJHR. Part I covers cases in which the Constitutional Court produced a written judgment, while part II analyses applications that were considered in chambers and dismissed without a judgment being handed down.