general affair, noun phrase

In historical contexts. In terms of the old Republic of South Africa Constitution Act of 1983: a parliamentary or administrative matter considered to affect the whole population of South Africa; usually in the plural. Also attributive, and transferred sense. Cf. own affair.
Note:
In terms of this Act, ‘general affairs’ (e.g. defence and foreign affairs matters) had to be debated by all three houses of the tricameral parliament, and administered by a single ministry.
1983 D.W. Watterson in Hansard 17 May 7225There should be affairs that are general affairs right from the word go in the constitution, for example foreign affairs, defence, strategic planning, justice, police, prisons, industrial development and so forth.
1983 Act 110 in Govt Gaz. Vol.219 No.8914, 12Matters which are not own affairs of a population group..are general affairs.
1984 Survey of Race Rel. 1983 (S.A.I.R.R.) 71With regard to ‘general affairs’..he (sc. the State President) acts in consultation with his cabinet, over which he presides.
1986 Race Rel. Survey 1985 (S.A.I.R.R.) 68The major general affairs portfolios handled by the provinces during 1985 were roads and traffic, and horse racing.
1987 E. Prov. Herald 22 Aug. 4Whatever tourists do abroad will no longer be an own affair but a general affair.
1987 Weekly Mail 23 Aug. 10The racially separate local authorities will each control their ‘own affairs’, while the multi-racial RSCs will exercise joint control of ‘general affairs’.
1989 Grocott’s Mail 27 Jan. 5Strategies to..improve skills training in technical fields...Options..: The transfer of tertiary institutions such as technikons and universities to the department of national education, whereby they would become a ‘general affair’.
1990 Weekend Post 10 Mar. 1The first crack in the wall of own and general affairs could come this session with a commitment in principle to scrap ‘own’ and ‘general’ health and have one overall department.
1993 W. Hartley in Weekend Post 12 June 8F W de Klerk announced that many own affairs functions, administered racially, would become general affairs.
In terms of the old Republic of South Africa Constitution Act of 1983: a parliamentary or administrative matter considered to affect the whole population of South Africa; usually in the plural. Also attributive, and transferred sense.
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