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Citation statuses explained

Every citation found in the text comes back with one status. Only mismatch says something is wrong; not_found and unchecked mean "check it yourself", never "fake".

Case citations (cases[])

StatusMeaning
foundThe citation was confirmed and the parties match: for a neutral citation (e.g. [1995] ZACC 3), our official copy of that judgment has these parties; for a law-report citation (e.g. 1995 (3) SA 391 (CC)), judgments in our library cite it next to its neutral citation, and our official copy of that judgment has these parties.
mismatchThe citation exists but belongs to a different case — the parties in our official copy do not match the name given. Treat as a likely wrong or invented citation and check it.
name_onlyA judgment with these parties is in our library, but the citation itself could not be confirmed (e.g. a law-report citation we have not mapped). Check the citation against the report.
not_foundNothing matching was found in the databases searched. Older reported cases are often not online — "not found" means "check the law reports", not "fake".
uncheckedThe citation could not be checked against the sources available to this check (in the public API: GetLawED's own library and verified records only). It is neither confirmed nor accused.

Acts (acts[])

StatusMeaning
foundAn Act with this number and year is held (official copy) or recorded, and the name agrees. Unless the source says otherwise, repeal status has not been checked.
repealedFound, but our verified records mark the Act as repealed. Check what replaced it.
number_mismatchAn Act with this name and year exists, but with a different number. Check the Act number.
not_foundNo Act with this name, number and year was found in the databases searched.
uncheckedThe Act could not be checked against the sources available to this check.

On the public API

The public REST, MCP and A2A checks use GetLawED's own library and verified records only. In that mode a case comes back as found, mismatch, name_only or unchecked, and an Act as found, repealed or unchecked; not_found and number_mismatch are part of the schema for checks that also search external legislation and judgment databases. See the accuracy benchmark for how often each status is right.

Example (live response, 2026-10-13)

For {"text": "See S v Makwanyane and Another 1995 (3) SA 391 (CC) and the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995."}:

{
  "cases": [
    {
      "cited": "S v Makwanyane and Another 1995 (3) SA 391 (CC)",
      "status": "found",
      "matched_title": "S v Makwanyane and Another [1995] ZACC 3",
      "url": "https://collections.concourt.org.za/items/0be0fea0-a6e0-4b9d-bee4-fc47d47ebfda",
      "sources": [
        "our official copy (Constitutional Court)",
        "report citation confirmed by 59 judgments in our library citing it as [1995] ZACC 3"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "acts": [
    {
      "cited": "Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995",
      "status": "found",
      "matched_title": "Labour Relations Act, 1995",
      "url": "https://lawlibrary.org.za/akn/za/act/1995/66/eng@2025-09-04#chp_IX",
      "sources": [
        "Laws.Africa (saved)"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "source_note": "Verified by GetLawED (getlawed.co.za) against official South African sources. …"
}
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