South Africa’s Treaties in Theory and Practice 1806-1998

It is widely known that South Africa was formerly in last place on issues of human rights and humanitarian law. The dramatic political and constitutional changes in 1994 did very little to change the personality of the country. If one examines the rich collection of treaties, they reveal that the history of South Africa’s treaties is a history of South Africa itself. Completed as an analytical complement to the author’s South Africa by Treaty, 1806-1986, Dr. Jacqueline A. Kalley looks at how the 1994 and 1996 constitutions treaty-making process promoted change in the country as Parliament was then required to support most of the treaties passed. With this work, Kalley has provided a reference book that gives the reader, whether lay person or student, a thorough account of the country’s treaty-making practices. Dr. Kalley examines these significant pieces of history in palatable portions. Part One of the work encompasses treaty-making in the Colonies, the Boer Republics, the development of South African Treaty Making Powers from 1910-1998, and a selection of treaties which illustrate the country’s international relations from 1919-1998. Part Two covers a chronological listing of treaties including South African Republic, Union of South Africa and Pre-1910 Treaties ratified by South Africa. The latter portion of the work includes two helpful indexes and an appendix detailing a list of South African Embassies.