All government reports, white papers and statistical reports are searchable as books in SUNSearch, the search function on the library page. Staff members and student assistants at the general information desks on the upper and lower levels of the JS Gericke Library will be able to assist clients with any problems in finding material. It is important to have the shelf number ready when searching for documents on the shelves.

The service provider Sabinet provides access to several legal products such as the electronic Government gazettes (since 1910), the Retrospective gazettes (1910-1992), Provincial gazettes (since 1995) and Parliamentary Bills (since January 1999) on the Sabinet Legal platform. The Sabinet Legal database is available only to staff members and registered students of the University.

Searching for articles and commentaries on this legal material can also be done by using other valuable products, such as SAePublications (a full-text database of Southern African journal articles), SAMedia (South African newspaper clippings) and SACat (the national catalogue of items available in Southern African libraries).

 

South African legislation and court cases are available via the legal databases Jutastat and Lexis Nexis Butterworths. These are also available only to staff members and registered students of the University.

 

Africa-Wide : NiPAD (formerly South African Studies) is an index to journal articles and will provide access to a wider range of African and Southern African journals.

 

SAIRR database is the website of the South African Institute of Race Relations which is a valuable source of statistical information as well as research articles on government policies and economic trends. Some of the products are: the South African Development Index with development trends, the South Africa Survey with labour market, population, health and education trends, while comparing crime and living conditions surveys using their own research as well as statistics obtained from Statistics South Africa. The publication Fast Facts is an instant source of brand-new statistics.

South African Government Online
This website is being maintained by the Government Communications Information Service (GCIS) and is the official entry point to the South African government structure and functions. There are links to the official documents since 1994, such as acts, bills, policy papers (white and green papers), speeches by the State President and parliamentarians, links to the websites of the ministries and provincial departments as well as illustrations and detailed descriptions of the national flag and symbols with downloadable versions.

 

Alternative Government Webpage
This privately owned website is being maintained by Creamer Media which provides up-to-date parliamentary news and political opinions and commentaries.

 

Statistics South Africa
The official body responsible for collecting and disseminating statistics in South Africa.

Parliamentary Monitoring Group supplies the different stages of legislation, committee meetings reports, media briefings and access to the searchable Hansard (Debates of Parliament).

 

Western Cape Provincial Administration
Official publications of the Western Cape provincial government can be downloaded here as well as interesting information on tourism and environmental issues.

SADC (Southern African Development Community)
A group of Southern African countries with a common aim towards economic and regional co-operation. Publications can be downloaded here on a variety of subjects such as: treaties, food and security, water issues and SADC reports.  

Acts online and PMG as well as most of the websites mentioned above offer an updating service by means of mailing lists as well as online document delivery.