Principles of Evidence fifth edition 

• Provides invaluable assistance to students, academics and practitioners alike; 
• Introduces a decolonial approach to South Africa’s law of evidence; 
• Continues to assess the impact of the Constitution on the rules of evidence; 
• Analyses the bourgeoning body of case law dealing with the admissibility of evidence; 
• Considers recent amendments impacting the child witness as well as the presentation of oral evidence more generally; 
• Offers a separate discussion on statutory provisions regulating matters as diverse as, for example, sexual history evidence and the admissibility of electronic evidence; 
• Incorporates discussions about proof within the context of the global ‘New Evidence Scholarship’ movement; 
• Provides critical commentary and suggestions for law reform. 

DEDICATION TO SEVDM

PREFACE

MODE OF CITATION OF PRINCIPAL WORKS AND SOURCES

TABLE OF STATUTES

TABLE OF CASES

SECTION A

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LAW OF EVIDENCE

1 An Introduction to the Law of Evidence – T B Mosaka

2 Basic Concepts and Distinctions – T B Mosaka

3 Sources of the Law of Evidence and the Impact of Constitutional Provisions – J Visser

4 The law of evidence and substantive law – J Visser

SECTION B

THE ADMISSIBILITY OF RELEVANT EVIDENCE

5 Relevance and Admissibility – T B Mosaka

6 Character Evidence – P J Schwikkard

7 Similar fact evidence – P J Schwikkard

8 Opinion Evidence – P J Schwikkard

9 Previous Consistent Statements – P J Schwikkard

SECTION C

EXCLUSION OF RELEVANT EVIDENCE: PRIVILEGE

10 Private Privilege – P J Schwikkard

11 State Privilege (Public Interest Immunity) – P J Schwikkard

SECTION D

EXCLUSION OF RELEVANT EVIDENCE: UNCONSTITUTIONALLY OBTAINED EVIDENCE

12 Unconstitutionally Obtained Evidence – P J Schwikkard

SECTION E

HEARSAY

13 Hearsay – P J Schwikkard

14 A Selection of Common-Law Exceptions to the Hearsay Rule:

A brief Perspective – P J Schwikkard

15 Selected Statutory Exceptions to the Hearsay Rule – P J Schwikkard

SECTION F

THE ADMISSIBILITY AND PROOF OF THE CONTENTS OF RELEVANT DETRIMENTAL STATEMENTS

16 Informal Admissions – P J Schwikkard

17 Confessions in Criminal Trials – P J Schwikkard

SECTION G

KINDS OF EVIDENCE AND PRESENTATION THEREOF

18 Oral Evidence – N Whitear-Nel

19 Real Evidence – N Singh & P J Schwikkard

20 Documentary Evidence – P J Schwikkard & N Singh

21 Electronic Evidence – N Singh

SECTION H

WITNESSES

22 The Competence and Compellability of Witnesses – T B Mosaka

23 The Calling Of Witnesses – T B Mosaka

24 Refreshing The Memory Of A Witness – T B Mosaka

25 Impeaching The Credibility Of A Witness – T B Mosaka

25 Impeaching The Credibility Of A Witness – T B Mosaka

SECTION I

PROOF WITHOUT EVIDENCE

26 Formal Admissions – P J Schwikkard

27 Judicial Notice – P J Schwikkard

28 Rebuttable Presumptions of Law – P J Schwikkard

29 A Constitutional Perspective On Statutory Presumptions – P J Schwikkard

30 The Evaluation of Evidence – T B Mosaka

31 The Standard And Burden Of Proof And Evidentiary DutiesIn Criminal Trials – P J Schwikkard

32 The Standard And Burden Of Proof And Evidentiary DutiesIn Civil Trials – P J Schwikkard