South AfricaZA

Article 79 of the Constitution of South Africa

Article
79
Chapter
CHAPTER 4 — PARLIAMENT
Index row title
(1) The President must either assent to and sign a Bill passed in terms of this Chapter or, if the President has reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill, refer it back
Source document
The South Africa Constitution
Provision ID
2845b218-ab55-4593-9402-96634fe83f80

191 words

Verbatim text

if the President has reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill, refer it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration. (2) The joint rules and orders must provide for the procedure for the reconsideration of a Bill by the National Assembly and the participation of the National Council of Provinces in the process. (3) The National Council of Provinces must participate in the reconsideration of a Bill that the President has referred back to the National Assembly if— (a) the President’s reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill relate to a procedural matter that involves the Council; or (b) section 74(1), (2) or (3)(b) or 76 was applicable in the passing of the Bill. (4) If, after reconsideration, a Bill fully accommodates the President’s reservations, the President must assent to and sign the Bill; if not, the President must either—Chapter 4: Parliament (a) assent to and sign the Bill; or (b) refer it to the Constitutional Court for a decision on its constitutionality. (5) If the Constitutional Court decides that the Bill is constitutional, the President must assent to and sign it. Application by members of National Assembly to Constitutional Court

What this means

  • The index files this text under article 79 of the Constitution of South Africa.
  • The index files it under the chapter heading “CHAPTER 4 — PARLIAMENT”.
  • The passage runs to about 191 words.
  • Read plainly, it mentions assembly and association — it protects gathering together or joining a group, union or party (the words used: “Assembly”).

The row’s stored title is a body fragment, not a heading (“(1) The President must either assent to and sign a Bill passed in terms of this Chapter or, if the President has reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill, refer it back”), so it is not used as the provision’s title here.

The index gives this passage an article number but stores a body fragment where a heading would be, so the number could not be cross-checked against the text. Check it against the official Constitution before relying on it in a citation.

This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.

How to cite this

Constitution of South Africa, article 79, Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/2845b218-ab55-4593-9402-96634fe83f80 (accessed 25 October 2026).

Canonical URL: https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/2845b218-ab55-4593-9402-96634fe83f80

Accessed 25 October 2026.

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