The matter was brought by the Premier of Limpopo Province to the Constitutional Court concerning the constitutional validity of various provincial legislative instruments that authorised provincial legislatures to manage their own financial affairs. Multiple respondents were joined, including the Speakers of national and provincial legislatures and Members of Executive Councils responsible for finance in several provinces. The proceedings arose in the context of a prior majority judgment of the Constitutional Court handed down on 11 August 2011, which raised constitutional concerns regarding such legislative instruments.