Chapter 2: Bill of Rights
(n) to the benefit of the least severe of the prescribed punishments if the
prescribed punishment for the offence has been changed between the time
that the offence was committed and the time of sentencing; and
(o) of appeal to, or review by, a higher court.
(4) Whenever this section requires information to be given to a person, that information
must be given in a language that the person understands.
(5) Evidence obtained in a manner that violates any right in the Bill of Rights must be
excluded if the admission of that evidence would render the trial unfair or otherwise
be detrimental to the administration of justice.
Limitation of rights
36.
(1) The rights in the Bill of Rights may be limited only in terms of law of general
application to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in an open
and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into
account all relevant factors, including—
(a) the nature of the right;
(b) the importance of the purpose of the limitation;
(c) the nature and extent of the limitation;
(d) the relation between the limitation and its purpose; and
(e) less restrictive means to achieve the purpose.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) or in any other provision of the Constitution, no
law may limit any right entrenched in the Bill of Rights.
States of emergency
37.
(1) A state of emergency may be declared only in terms of an Act of Parliament, and
only when—
(a) the life of the nation is threatened by war, invasion, general insurrection,
disorder, natural disaster or other public emergency; and
(b) the declaration is necessary to restore peace and order.
(2) A declaration of a state of emergency, and any legislation enacted or other action
taken in consequence of that declaration, may be effective only—
(a) prospectively; and
(b) for no more than 21 days from the date of the declaration, unless the National
Assembly resolves to extend the declaration. The Assembly may extend a
declaration of a state of emergency for no more than three months at a time.
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