The Medium Neutral Citation (MNC) allows a resource such as a judgment to be cited irrespective of its publishing medium, namely, in print form or in electronic form. It is a unique and permanent identifier for documents that enables the citation of their electronic versions. The latter makes the MNC particularly useful in terms of citing judgments as soon as they are handed down. Judgments can be accurately referenced regardless of whether they have been, or will be published in any printed law reports series. The MNC serves as a permanent unique identifier assigned by the author of the judgment and should remain associated with the judgment wherever it is published in various media or publications. The MNC enhances the discoverability of judgments across printed and electronic publications. The adoption of the MNC contributes to reinforcing the public nature of case law.
The ULII citation complements the efforts of courts in the region in establishing a unique, permanent method for identifying judicial decisions. The citation has three components: the year of decision, a court or tribunal identifier and a sequential number, which together have the format: [2003] SZCA 2. The neutral citation assigned by the court or tribunal is prominently displayed in the decision's heading or cover page.
When a decision has a neutral citation assigned by the issuing court, the ULII citation is entirely based upon the neutral citation. Currently, only the South African Constitutional Court, the South African Supreme Court of Appeal and the Eastern Cape Division of the South African High Court assign some form of medium neutral citations at issuance of judgments.
Table of Court Designators for courts currently covered by ULII
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Court/Tribunal name |
Court identifier |
Example |
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Botswana |
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Court of Appeal of Botswana |
BWCA |
Majoro v Majoro [2006] BWCA 17 |
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High Court of Botswana |
BWHC |
Sekale v Ministry of Health [2006] BWHC 15 |
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Madagascar |
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La Haute Cour Constitutionelle du Madagascar |
MGHCC |
Décision n°08-HCC/D3 concernant la loi n°2005-046 portant création de l'Autorité Routière (Décision n°08-HCC/D3 ) [2006] MGHCC 8 |
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Malawi |
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High Court of Malawi |
MWHC |
Kafantayeni and Others v Attorney General [2007] MWHC 1 |
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Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal |
MWSCA |
Malawi Electoral Commission and Others v Republican Party [2004] MWSC 2 |
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Mozambique |
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Tribunal Supremo |
MZTS |
Solibombos, SARL v Machava [2007] MZTS 2 |
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Namibia |
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Supreme Court of Namibia |
NASC |
S v Luboyo and Another [2007] NASC 1 |
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High Court of Namibia |
NAHC |
S v Williams [2007] NAHC 26 |
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Labour Court of Namibia |
NALC |
Cymot (Pty) Limited v Cloete and Another [2007] NALC 2 |
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South Africa |
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Constitutional Court of South Africa |
ZACC |
Engelbrecht v Road Accident Fund and Another [2007] ZACC 1 |
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Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa |
ZASCA |
Lewis v S [2007] ZASCA 3 |
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High Court – Eastern Cape Division |
ZAECHC |
S v Mkase and Others [2007] ZAECHC 4 |
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High Court - Free State Division |
ZAFSHC |
S v Sefatsa [2007] ZAFSHC 4 |
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High Court – Gauteng Division (includes WLD) |
ZAGPHC |
S v Gala [2007] ZAGPHC 57 |
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High Court - Kwazulu Natal Division (includes DCLD) |
ZAKZHC |
Singh v Ramparsad [2007] ZAKZHC 1 |
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Labour Court of South Africa |
ZALC |
Clinix Private Hospital Soweto (Pty) Ltd [2007] ZALC 2 |
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Labour Appeal Court of South Africa |
ZALAC |
Wardlaw v Supreme Moulding (Pty) Limited [2007] ZALAC 2 |
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Land Claims Court of South Africa |
ZALCC |
Mbhense v Brown and Another [2006] ZALCC 1 |
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High Court - Northern Cape Division |
ZANCHC |
S v Magoulaane and Another [2007] ZANCHC 1 |
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High Court - North-West Division |
ZANWHC |
Unitrans Botswana (Pty) Ltd v North West Transport Investment (Pty) Ltd and Others [2005] ZANWHC 1 |
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High Court - Western Cape Division |
ZAWCHC |
Toich v Magistrate, Riversdale and Others [2007] ZAWCHC 26 |
| Competition Appeal Court | ZACAC | American Natural Soda Ash Corporation and Another v Botswana Ash (Pty) Ltd and Others [2007] ZACAC 2 | |
| Competition Tribunal | ZACT | Nationwide Poles and Sasol (Oil) Pty Ltd [2005] ZACT 17 | |
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Swaziland |
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Court of Appeal of Swaziland |
SZCA |
Bongani Mkhwanazi v Rex [2001] SZCA 2 |
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High Court of Swaziland |
SZHC |
Rex v Romao Sitoe [2001] SZHC 2 |
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Tanzania |
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Court of Appeal of Tanzania |
TZCA |
Lyamwiwe v Republic [2006] TZCA 1 |
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High Court of Tanzania |
TZHC |
Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) and Others v Attorney General (1) [2006] TZHC 1 |
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Uganda |
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Supreme Court of Uganda |
UGSC |
Enock v Uganda [2007] UGSC 3 |
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Court of Appeal of Uganda |
UGCA |
Obbo and Another v Attorney General [2004] UGCA 1 |
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Constitutional Court of Uganda |
UGCC |
Law Advocacy for Women in Uganda v Attorney General [2007] UGCC 1
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High Court of Uganda |
UGHC |
Asiimwe Edward v Rev. Canon Kakongoro [2003] UGHC 1 |
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Zambia |
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Supreme Court of Zambia |
ZMSC |
Phiri and Others v Lusaka Engineering Company Ltd [2007] ZMSC 1 |
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High Court of Zambia |
ZMHC |
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Industrial Relations Court of Zambia |
ZMIRC |
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Land Tribunal of Zambia |
ZMLT |
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Revenue Tribunal of Zambia |
ZMRT |
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Zimbabwe |
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Supreme Court of Zimbabwe |
ZWSC |
Makonye v Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited [2007] ZWSC 10 |
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High Court of Zimbabwe at Harare |
ZWHHC |
S v Ziwonde (CA 815/06) [2007] ZWHHC 18 |
| High Court of Zimbabwe at Bulawayo | ZWBHC | S v Moyo (HCB 205/06) [2007] ZWBHC 1 | |
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Administrative Court of Zimbabwe |
ZWAC |
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Fiscal Appeal Court of Zimbabwe |
ZWFAC |
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Labour Court of Zimbabwe |
ZWLC |
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