South Africa and the Law of the Sea Publications on Ocean Development Volume 69 A Series of Studies on the International, Legal, Institutional and Policy Aspects of Ocean Development General Editors: Vaughan Lowe and Robin Churchill The titles published in this series are listed at brill.nl/pood. South Africa and the Law of the Sea By Patrick H.G. Vrancken LEIDEN • BOSTON 2011 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Vrancken, P. H. G. South Africa and the law of the sea / by Patrick H.G. Vrancken. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-21005-9 (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Law of the sea—South Africa. 2. Territorial waters—South Africa. 3. Economic zones (Law of the sea)—South Africa. I. Title. KZA1146.S6V73 2011 341.4’50968—dc23 2011021165 ISBN: 978 90 04 21005 9 Copyright 2011 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. 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To Derry Contents Foreword ............................................................................................... xiii Preface .................................................................................................. xv Acknowledgments ................................................................................. xix Abbreviations ........................................................................................ xxi Chapter One Introduction ................................................................. 1 1.1. The Geographical and Historical Background .......................... 1 1.2. The Place of International Law in South African Law ............. 6 1.2.1. Treaties .......................................................................... 6 (a) International Level .................................................. 6 (b) Domestic Level ........................................................ 8 1.2.2. Customary International Law ........................................ 9 1.2.3. Decisions of International Organisations ....................... 10 1.2.4. Statutory Interpretation ................................................. 12 1.3. The Marine Component of the South African Territory .......... 14 1.3.1. Introduction ................................................................... 14 1.3.2. International Law ........................................................... 15 1.3.3. South African Law ......................................................... 17 (a) Introduction ............................................................ 17 (b) Narrow Approach .................................................... 19 (c) Broad Approach ...................................................... 26 1.3.4. Conclusion ..................................................................... 33 1.4. Territorial Jurisdiction .............................................................. 34 1.4.1. National Sphere of Government .................................... 34 1.4.2. Provincial Sphere of Government .................................. 38 (a) Provincial Territory ................................................. 38 (b) Legislative Jurisdiction ............................................. 39 (c) Executive Jurisdiction .............................................. 40 (d) Judicial Jurisdiction ................................................. 41 1.4.3. Local Sphere of Government ......................................... 42 (a) Municipal Territory ................................................. 42 (b) Legislative Jurisdiction ............................................. 43 (c) Executive Jurisdiction .............................................. 44 (d) Judicial Jurisdiction ................................................. 45 1.4.4. Cooperative Government ............................................... 47 viii Contents 1.5. Extraterritorial Jurisdiction ....................................................... 49 1.5.1. Legislative Jurisdiction ................................................... 49 1.5.2. Executive Jurisdiction .................................................... 50 1.5.3. Judicial Jurisdiction ....................................................... 51 Chapter Two Islands and Antarctica .................................................. 53 2.1. The South African Islands ......................................................... 53 2.1.1. Definition and Impact on Maritime Zones ................... 53 2.1.2. Robben Island ................................................................ 54 2.1.3. Other Islands Near the Mainland .................................. 60 2.1.4. The Prince Edward Islands ............................................ 66 (a) Introduction ............................................................ 66 (b) Acquisition .............................................................. 67 (c) Application of Law .................................................. 68 (d) Status ....................................................................... 69 2.2. Antarctica .................................................................................. 71 2.2.1. Introduction ................................................................... 71 2.2.2. South African Citizens in Antarctica Act, 1962 ............ 72 2.2.3. Sea Birds and Seals Protection Act, 1973 ...................... 73 2.2.4. Antarctic Treaties Act, 1996 .......................................... 74 Chapter Three Baselines ..................................................................... 83 3.1. Introduction .............................................................................. 83 3.2. Normal Baseline ....................................................................... 83 3.3. Special Baselines ........................................................................ 85 3.3.1. Straight Baselines ........................................................... 85 3.3.2. Harbours ........................................................................ 90 3.3.3. Bays ............................................................................... 91 3.3.4. River Mouths ................................................................. 93 3.3.5. Islands ............................................................................ 94 3.3.6. Low-Tide Elevations ...................................................... 95 3.3.7. Reefs .............................................................................. 95 3.4. Publicity .................................................................................... 96 3.5. Conclusion ................................................................................ 97 Chapter Four Internal Waters ............................................................ 99 4.1. Introduction .............................................................................. 99 4.2. Seashore .................................................................................... 99 4.3. Estuaries .................................................................................... 102 4.4. Harbours ................................................................................... 103 4.4.1. Introduction ................................................................... 103 4.4.2. Commercial Harbours ................................................... 105 Contents ix (a) National Ports Authority ......................................... 105 (b) Ports Regulator ........................................................ 107 (c) Port Consultative Committees ................................ 108 (d) Service Providers ...................................................... 109 (e) Development and Maintenance of Ports ................. 111 (f ) Commercial Matters ................................................ 111 (g) Operational Matters ................................................ 112 4.4.3. Fishing Harbours ........................................................... 119 4.5. Entry into Internal Waters ....................................................... 119 4.5.1. Introduction ................................................................... 119 4.5.2. Harbours ........................................................................ 120 4.5.3. Other Internal Waters ................................................... 125 4.6. Jurisdiction ............................................................................... 129 4.7. Departure from Internal Waters ............................................... 136 Chapter Five Territorial Sea ............................................................... 139 5.1. Introduction .............................................................................. 139 5.2. Innocent Passage ....................................................................... 140 5.3. Jurisdiction ............................................................................... 145 5.3.1. Introduction ................................................................... 145 5.3.2. Legislative Jurisdiction ................................................... 146 5.3.3. Executive Jurisdiction .................................................... 148 Chapter Six Contiguous Zone and Maritime Cultural Zone ............ 157 6.1. Introduction .............................................................................. 157 6.2. Customs and Fiscal Jurisdiction ............................................... 158 6.3. Immigration Jurisdiction .......................................................... 162 6.4. Sanitary Jurisdiction .................................................................. 169 6.5. Archaeological and Historical Objects ...................................... 172 Chapter Seven Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf ...... 177 7.1. Historical Development ............................................................ 177 7.2. Exclusive Economic Zone ......................................................... 178 7.2.1. Status ............................................................................. 178 7.2.2. Rights and Duties of South Africa ................................ 179 7.2.3. Rights and Duties of Other States ................................. 180 7.2.4. Artificial Islands, Installations, and Structures ............... 182 7.3. Continental Shelf ...................................................................... 187 7.3.1. Extent ............................................................................ 187 7.3.2. Rights of South Africa ................................................... 192 7.3.3. Duties of South Africa ................................................... 194