University of Stellenbosch Mercantile and Public Law

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SUBJECT GROUP MERCANTILE AND PUBLIC LAW (MIL)

The subject group Mercantile and Public Law consists of a number of subjects.  The majority of subjects are aimed at students in the Human and Organisational Development Programme.  These students are provided with specific knowledge and skills they will need in the Human and Organisational field, as illustrated by the subjects Applied Labour Law, Interpretation of Statutes, Contract Law and Applied Commercial Law.The subject group also supports students in Organisation and Resource Management, amongst others, with the Contract Law course.  Criminal and Military Law as well as Security Law are subjects aimed at the generic skills that all soldiers need in the exercising of their profession, whether during peace time or during deployment.

FOCUS OF SUBJECT GROUP MERCANTILE AND PUBLIC LAW (MIL)
Due to the diverse field addressed by the subject group there are various focal points in the subject group.

In Criminal and Military law students are introduced to Criminal Law as it applies to the military environment.  They are introduced to the general principles of Criminal Law and a selection of specific offences. These principles are supported by a module in Law of Evidence which results in the application of all these principles in Military Law.  The course is completed by a module in Humanitarian Law.
Students are also introduced to Interpretation of Statutes, which teaches them to analyse legislation applicable in their own working environment.

Contract Law introduces students to the general principles of contract, which also serve as introduction to Applied Commercial Law, in which attention is paid to a selection of specific contracts as well as the influence of various entrepreneurial forms on the status of the contract. Specific attention is paid to the working environment of the person in the military human resource and management environment.
Applied Labour Law focuses on individual as well as collective labour law and the applicability of labour legislation in the military environment.

In Security Law students are introduced to the general principles of International Law.  Specific attention is paid to human rights, Humanitarian Law and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping operations.
PURPOSE OF SUBJECT GROUP MERCANTILE AND PUBLIC LAW (MIL)

The purpose of the subject group is to provide SANDF officers with the applicable knowledge, skills and attitudes to function effectively as in the disciplinary as well as the organisational environment.