Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg - Volume 2015, Issue 3, January 2015
The admissibility of data, data messages, and electronic documents at trial
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 461 –481 (2015)
The traditional rules and principles of the law of evidence require a certain degree of amendment in order to accommodate the rapidly evolving forms of electronic information technology which have revolutionised the business and social world over the last 12 years. The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (the act) is the most recent attempt at recognising this reality and contains a number of utilitarian rules on the admissibility and evaluation of digital electronic evidence ("e-evidence") which takes into account the evidentiary problems presented by the speedy generation of digital e-evidence; its instantaneous transmission from one device to another; the storage of e-evidence; and the downloading of e-evidence into conventionally recognisable formats for use in civil litigation and criminal proceedings. However, these utilitarian rules require amendment in order to accommodate the evolving six broad formats of e-evidence; (i) computer-generated and device- or cloud-stored data documents; (ii) internet and website data; (iii) e-mail data; (iv) search engines; (v) smartphone text messages; and the now ubiquitous (vi) Facebook, Twitter and other social interactive media networks. The digital nature of e-evidence and the ease by which e-evidence can be manufactured, accessed, manipulated and modified from anywhere in the world presents a major conceptual obstacle in the development of cogent evidentiary rules of e-admissibility and e-evaluation. This means that traditional categories of evidence, particularly documentary evidence; character; previous consistent statements; opinion and expert evidence; hearsay; privilege; judicial notice; rebuttable presumptions and the procedural rules of searches and seizures would need either minor tweaking or substantial redesign in order to accommodate new forms of e-evidence. The transition from analogue and celluloid to digital code for audio recordings, video, film, and photographs will also need to be accommodated. Trial presentation rules will need to make greater allowance for computer visual animation graphics and pictorials, such as powerpoint, as testimonial aids in examination-in-chief and cross-examination.
Prosedurele en praktiese vereistes vir elektroniese bewysstukke
Daar is nie &apos;n duidelike omskrywing in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg vir die prosedurele en praktiese vereistes waaraan elektroniese bewysmateriaal moet voldoen ten einde in &apos;n verhoor toelaatbaar te wees nie. Dit is grootliks as gevolg van &apos;n fundamentele graad van dubbelsinnigheid wat blyk uit hoofstuk 3, deel 1, van die Wet op Elektroniese Kommunikasie en Transaksies 25 van 2002. Die wet bevat &apos;n aantal reëls wat die toelaatbaarheid van elektroniese bewysmateriaal beheer, maar hierdie reëls behoef taamlik ingrypende wysigings ten einde te kan voldoen aan die eise van die vinnig groeiende formate waarin databoodskappe gelewer kan word soos elektroniese dokumente, elektroniese pleitstukke, elektroniese pos, teksboodskappe wat met slimfone versend word en die berigte wat op die sosiale media geplaas word.
Hoofstuk 3 van die wet verduidelik die toelaatbaarheid van elektroniese bewysmateriaal aan die hand van die leerstuk van funksionele gelykheid soos dit aanvanklik in UNCITRAL se Modelwet insake Elektroniese Handel met Gids tot Verordening (Model Law on Electronic Commerce with Guide to Enactment) (1996) omskryf is en wat deur die hooggeregshof in Ndlovu v Minister of Correctional Services (2006 4 All SA 165 (W)) uitgelê is om te beteken dat die toelaatbaarheid van &apos;n elektroniese dokument by &apos;n verhoor afhanklik is van die aanvanklike vereistes van toepaslikheid, oorspronklikheid en egtheid. Hierdie vereistes word krities bekyk. Hierdie artikel ondersoek ook die aard van &apos;n elektroniese dokument ten einde die teenstrydighede te kan verduidelik wat in die prosedurele toepassing voorkom van die aanvanklike vereistes wat in artikel 14 (oorspronklikheid), 15 (toelaatbaarheid), 17 (voorlegging) en die ander toepaslike artikels van hoofstuk 3, deel 1, van die wet, uiteengesit word.
Die artikel stel in besonder &apos;n nuwe en omvattende omskrywing van &apos;n elektroniese dokument in die vorm van &apos;n databoodskap voor wat in artikel 1 van die wet ingesluit moet word. Daarbenewens word die sleutelkriteria wat die oorspronklikheids- en egtheidskomponente van artikels 14 en 15 omvat, gewysig ten einde dit prosedureel samehangend te maak vir die gemiddelde praktiserende prokureur. Die uitsondering wat ten opsigte van besigheidsrekords in artikel 15(3) geskep is, word ontleed en &apos;n gewysigde uitsondering vir elektroniese besigheidsrekord word voorgestel.
Die artikel sluit af met &apos;n praktiese verduideliking van die verhouding tussen &apos;n elektroniese dokument in die vorm van &apos;n databoodskap en ander toepaslike bewysregtelike beginsels soos hoorsê, elektroniese privilegie, elektroniese vermoedens en geregtelike kennisname van elektroniese bewysmateriaal.
The right to a view reconsidered
Authors: A.J. Van der Walt and C.A. Kriek
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 482 –515 (2015)
Traditionally, an existing, unimpeded view over or across neighbouring properties is considered a mere incidental advantage, interference with which is generally not actionable. Contrary to popular belief, the advantage of enjoying a beautiful view from one&apos;s property is generally considered an "incidental" benefit and not as an incident of landownership. In that sense, there is no inherent right to a view. In one sense, this should not be surprising, since the view from one&apos;s property is not so much an incident or quality of that property as it is an advantage of a certain state of affairs, namely the absence of obstructive buildings or plants, on the adjoining property or properties over which the view is enjoyed. Insofar as it is legally interesting, a view from one property is always a view over other properties. In that sense, the view from one property is not an incident or quality of that property but rather an incidental benefit resulting from the quality of the adjoining properties. From first principles, this suggests that the notion of a right to a view is self-defeating, since ownership of one property does not automatically bring with it any entitlements with regard to the state or the qualities of adjoining land.
Die reg op uitsig heroorweeg
Die hedendaagse Suid-Afrikaanse reg erken nie &apos;n selfstandige reg op uitsig nie. Die eienaar van &apos;n grondstuk beskik dus nie sonder meer oor die reg om buureienaars te verhinder om só op hulle grond te bou vir behoud van eersgenoemde se bestaande uitsig nie. Dit is wel moontlik om &apos;n reg tot beperking van bouwerk of beplanting op buurgrond te verkry, byvoorbeeld by wyse van die registrasie van &apos;n serwituut of uit hoofde van &apos;n beperkende voorwaarde wat die gebruik van die dienende erf inperk. Die verstekposisie, naamlik dat daar geen selfstandige reg op uitsig is nie, kan ook deur wetgewing of stadsbeplannings- en bouregulering gewysig word. Soortgelyke beginsels geld in ander moderne regstelsels soos die Nederlandse en Engelse reg.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse regsbeginsel berus op &apos;n tradisie wat dateer uit die Romeinse reg, waarvolgens die voordeel van &apos;n onbelemmerde uitsig vanaf een grondstuk oor ander grondstukke &apos;n bloot toevallige voordeel is, wat nie genoeg gewig dra om sonder meer &apos;n saaklike beperking op die gebruik of ontwikkeling van naburige erwe te plaas nie. In die moderne reg berus hierdie benadering op die aanname dat die naburige grondeienaar se reg om te bou en sy eiendom te ontwikkel sterker is, en meer voordelig vir die algemene belang, as die toevallige genot wat die reg op &apos;n uitsig aan &apos;n enkele eienaar bied. Enige grondeienaar se reg om op sy eie grond te bou sal dus slegs in twee gevalle beperk word, naamlik: enersyds wanneer daar belangrike oorweging van openbare belange op die spel is (stadsbeplannings- en bouregulasies) en andersyds wanneer die enkele ander grondeienaar wat deur sodanige beperking bevoordeel word (die bevoordeelde van &apos;n uitsig) deur ooreenkoms &apos;n dienooreenkomstige reg verkry en geregistreer het. Dit sal bowendien prakties onmoontlik wees om, in die afwesigheid van &apos;n geregistreerde reg om &apos;n bestaande uitsig vanaf &apos;n spesifieke grondstuk te beskerm, te bepaal welke ander grondstukke presies deur die reg belas word, wat teenstrydig sal wees met die publisiteitsbeginsel. Die verstekposisie is dus in die openbare belang en in ooreenstemming met die publisiteitsbeginsel. Ten spyte van &apos;n mate van verwarring, veral in die openbare media, is die huidige regsposisie ten aansien van die reg op uitsig sowel in beginsel as prakties die bes moontlike oplossing.
Confidentiality in commercial mediation : a fine balance (part 1)
Author Ronan Feehily
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 516 –536 (2015)
Sameloop van &apos;n pactum de non cedendo, sessie in securitatem debiti en retensieregte (deel 2)
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 537 –550 (2015)
Die Suid-Afrikaanse gemenereg verleen in die vorm van die terughoudingsbevoegd-heid &apos;n magtige wapen in die hand van die skuldeiser teen sy skuldenaar in versuim indien ná die prestasie van die skuldeiser in &apos;n sinallagmatiese ooreenkoms sy teenparty in versuim bly om sy teenprestasie in die vorm van die ooreengekome vergoeding vir die gelewerde dienste na te kom. Die terughoudingsbevoegdheid is geen reg in die normale sin van die woord nie en kan nie selfstandig as aksiegrond dien nie. Die terughoudingsbevoegdheid vorm as sodanig ook nie &apos;n vermoënsbelang in die boedel van die retentor as vorderingsreghebbende naas sy vorderingsreg teen sy prestasieskuldenaar nie en verleen om die rede geen selfstandige sekerheidsobjek vir die skuldeisers (soos die bank in casu) van die retentor nie, maar het &apos;n buitengewoon effektiewe hinderwaarde in die sin dat die retentor met &apos;n beroep op die terughoudingsbevoegdheid onbepaald kan weier om die sake van die skuldenaar wat hy in sy eksklusiewe beheer het, vry te gee totdat die skuldenaar sy uitstaande prestasieverpligtinge ten volle vereffen het.
Default matrimonial property regimes and the principles of European family law - a European-South African comparison (part 2)
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 551 –566 (2015)
Pre-contractual duties of disclosure in the South African common law (part 2)
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 567 –582 (2015)
As discussed in the previous part of this contribution, the dominant view is that pre-contractual duties of disclosure are confined to situations of involuntary-reliance. The major criticism of the involuntary-reliance approach is that it reflects a very narrow view of the duties of prospective contractants towards one another. The explicit premise of such an approach is that a party who is reasonably capable of acquiring the information himself bears the sole responsibility to do so, regardless of any other circumstances. As such, the involuntary-reliance requirement appears to be merely an extension of the materiality requirement, insofar as the latter is aimed at excluding liability for misrepresentation where the misrepresentee was reasonably able to ascertain the true facts, but failed to do so through his own bad judgment, gullibility, lack of foresight or carelessness.
National Credit Act. Vanwaar Gehási? Quo vadit lex? And some reflections on the National Credit Amendment Act 2014 (part 1)
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 583 –601 (2015)
The National Credit Act shook South Africa&apos;s legal landscape on a level that has never been registered on the Richter scale. Like many countries, consumer credit legislation in this country in the old days was limited to usury acts and money lending acts. Whereas Germany had its first legislation dealing with instalment sales in 1893 and many other countries soon followed suit, South Africa introduced its first legislation in this regard only in 1942. The Usury Act of 1926 was replaced by the Limitation and Disclosure of Finance Charges Act in 1968. This act was comprehensively rewritten in 1980 and later renamed the Usury Act. The Hire-Purchase Act was replaced in 1980 by the Credit Agreements Act. For almost three decades the Usury Act and the Credit Agreements Act regulated the credit industry in South Africa. They were not codifications in the European sense of the word and the parties&apos; agreement and common-law principles applied to the large percentage of contracts that fell outside the ambit of the two pieces of legislation. It became clear soon that the two acts did not deal with consumer protection in the field of credit granting adequately or satisfactorily and needed to be replaced and overhauled. A research team of the South African Law Commission provided the commission with a lengthy report and draft legislation in 1993. Nothing came of these recommendations for reasons that are not relevant now. It took many years before the matter of consumer credit legislation received the attention of the authorities in South Africa again. The result was the National Credit Act. More about that below.
The limitation of more than one constitutional right by the same law or action : aantekeninge
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 602 –611 (2015)
Private or public action, or a legal rule often affects the protective ambit of more than one constitutional right, or viewed from the angle of obligations, a single law or action often does not comply with the constitutional obligations imposed by more than one right.
&apos;n Notariële verband op roerende goed en uitwissende verjaring : aantekeninge
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 611 –622 (2015)
In die Suid-Afrikaanse reg word met betrekking tot verjaring onderskei tussen verkrygende en uitwissende verjaring. Wat laasgenoemde betref, ken die Suid-Afrikaanse reg nie meer die onderskeid tussen swak en sterk verjaring nie sodat die gevolg van &apos;n suksesvolle beroep op uitwissende verjaring deurgaans sterk werking het. Dit bring mee dat die tersake vorderingsreg van die vorderingsreghebbende tenietgaan deur voldoening aan al die vereistes van uitwissende verjaring en dáárna nie meer sprake van &apos;n bestaande dog onafdwingbare skuld van die prestasieskuldige party is nie. (Sien oor die onderskeid in vergelykbare Vastelandse regstelsels tussen swak en sterk verjaring Zimmermann Comparative Foundations of European Law of Set-Off and Prescription (2010) 72-75.)
Middellike staatsaanspreeklikheid - mistastings oor gevestigde regsbeginsels : regspraak
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 623 –640 (2015)
Janse van der Walt v Minister of Safety and Security (26171/06, 26119/06) 2011 ZAGPJHC 15 (25 Jan 2011) (ongerapporteer)
Minister of Safety and Security v Van der Walt (1037/13) 2014 ZASCA 174 (19 Nov 2014) (ongerapporteer)
Die deliktereg is en bly &apos;n dinamiese gebied. Ontwikkelinge oor die afgelope paar jaar bied &apos;n beeld van &apos;n regsterrein waarin daar selfs oor die mees fundamentele grondbeginsels, waaroor daar dekades lank skynbaar algemene eenstemmigheid geheers het, geredekawel word. Twee tipiese voorbeelde van hierdie tendens vind mens in die debat oor die aard en wese van die onregmatigheidselement, asook die volgorde waarin die gewraakte optrede van die verweerder aan die delikselemente getoets word. Fagan het die spreekwoordelike klip in die bos gegooi met sy artikel oor hoe die korrekte toepassing van die onregmatigheidstoets daar moet uitsien ("Rethinking wrongfulness in the law of delict" 2005 SALJ 90), naamlik dat die toets vir onregmatigheid eenvoudig daarop neerkom dat &apos;n handeling onregmatig is wanneer dit billik sal wees om die dader aanspreeklik te hou vir die nadeel wat hy veroorsaak het.
Formulation of charges in a criminal trial : imprecision of language leads to imprecision of thought : regspraak
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 640 –652 (2015)
Essop v S 2014 2 SACR 495 (KZP); 2014 JOL 31934 (KZP)
Kok v S (14552) 2014 ZAWCHC 104 (02-07-2014)
In a criminal trial the charge forms the basis of the case that the prosecution alleges and sets out to prove against an accused person. It is therefore a document of crucial importance in the criminal process and it deserves to be treated as such. In the lower court the charge is contained in a charge sheet whilst it is referred to as an indictment in the high court. The fair trial right of an accused person to be informed of the charge against him with sufficient detail to answer it, is protected in section 35(3)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Diensbaarhede val nie uit die hemel nie : regspraak
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 653 –662 (2015)
Werner v Florauna Kwekery BK (224/14) 2015 ZASCA 46 (26 Maart 2015)
&apos;n Diensbaarheid is &apos;n beperkte saaklike reg wat aan die reghebbende beperk omskrewe bevoegdhede verleen om met die saak van &apos;n ander te mag handel of daaruit voordeel te mag geniet. Niemand kan diensbaarheidsreghebbende wees ten aansien van sy eie saak nie (nulli res sua servit). Die keersy van dié munt hou noodwendig in dat die eienaar van die belaste of dienende saak &apos;n ooreenstemmende beperking van sy inhoudsbevoegdhede as eienaar moet gedoog. Omdat &apos;n diensbaarheid &apos;n wesenlike inbreukmaking meebring op die ius utendi et fruendi van die eienaar word die bevoegdhede van &apos;n diensbaarheidsreghebbende nie alleen beperkend uitgelê onder die vaandel dat dit altoos civiliter modo uitgeoefen moet word nie, maar ontstaan diensbaarhede nie lukraak nie.
Where ignorance is bliss tis folly to arrest, or is it? : regspraak
Author Thulani Nkosi
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 662 –672 (2015)
Qunta v Minister of Police (CA114/2012) 2013 ZAECGHC 53 (5 June 2013)
Motabatshindi v Minister of Police case nr A 3017/2014 (unreported)
The hallmark of our constitutional democratic order is the high premium it places on the personal liberty of a person. This is evidenced in section 12(1)(a) of the constitution which entrenches every person&apos;s right to freedom and security, which includes the right not to be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or without just cause, and section 35(2)(d) which affords a detained person a right to challenge the lawfulness of his or her detention before a court of law. The protection of the right to personal liberty is, however, not something new in our law as personal liberty "has always been jealously guarded by our courts and our law has always regarded the deprivation of personal liberty as a serious injury" (Ochse v King William&apos;s Town Municipality 1990 2 SA 855 (E) 860F-G); Nkosi "Wrongful deprivation of liberty - it is not just about the warrant" 2015 SALJ 15). Because our law has always frowned upon unlawful deprivation of liberty our constitution, in constitutionally entrenching this right, has done no more than to ensure that the excesses and the encroachments of the past that often arbitrarily infringed on the right to liberty do not recur (Minister of Safety and Security v Seymour 2006 6 SA 320 (SCA) par 14).
Legal Terminology: Criminal Law, Procedure and Evidence / Regsterminologie: Straf-, Strafproses- en Bewysreg, M.W. Prinsloo, M. Alberts en N. Mollema : boekbespreking
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 673 –674 (2015)
Die destydse gebeure by Babel (Gen 11:1-9) het ook hier te lande &apos;n nadraai gehad deur die erkenning van elf amptelike tale in artikel 6(1) van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 1996 (die grondwet). Indien daarby ook ingereken word dat Suid-Afrika &apos;n gesogte bestemming geword het vir vele besoekers uit verskeie wêrelddele wat ywerig meeding om &apos;n porsie van die immergroeiend en lonende misdaadmark, moet howe in veral die groter stedelike gebiede dikwels &apos;n mengelmoes van tale akkommodeer. As deel van die reg op &apos;n billike verhoor verleen die grondwet aan elke beskuldigde persoon dan ook die reg "om verhoor te word in &apos;n taal wat die beskuldigde verstaan of, indien dit nie doenlik is nie, dat die verrigtinge in daardie taal getolk word" (a 35(3)(k)). Dit verg nie veel verbeeldingskrag om die wanhopige posisie in te dink van die beskuldigde persoon wat tereg staan in &apos;n hof waar geeneen van die rolspelers haar taal magtig is nie en die hoftolk eweneens twyfelagtig en al stotterend oorkom in die vertolking van die verrigtinge. Aan die keersy staan die voorsittende beampte wat as feitebeoordelaar uit dié geroesemoes &apos;n oordeel moet vel. Dit behoef daarom weinig betoog dat enige poging om hofverrigtinge sinvol aan beskuldigde persone in hul moedertaal oor te tolk, uiters welkom is. Benewens enige ander bestaande inhoudelike meriete is hierdie bydrae deur Prinsloo, Alberts en Mollema om dié rede alleen van onskatbare waarde as hulpmiddel om hofverrigtinge in verstaanbare terme aan hoftolke en uiteindelik aan beskuldigde persone oor te dra.
Perspectives on the Law of Partnership in South Africa, J.J. Henning : boekbespreking
Author Natania Locke
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 675 –676 (2015)
The key to avoiding disappointment is to manage expectations. Expect a collection of previously published work by Henning on the law of partnership in South Africa and you will not be disappointed. Expect a new contribution to the field and the same cannot be said.
To be fair, Henning never pretends otherwise. It is stated expressly in the preface that the book is based on works previously published, updated or extended or amended as necessary to fit into the style and nature of the publication. It is also never put forward to be a complete discussion of the law of partnership in South Africa, as the inclusion of the word "perspectives" in the title could imply (Henning seems to favour the inclusion of the word "perspectives" in his titles). The reader should be prepared for some repetition of material in the text of the book.
General Principles of Commercial Law, H. Schulze, R. Kelbrick, T. Manamela, P. Stoop, E. Manamela, E. Hurter, B. Masuku and C. Stoop : boekbespreking
Author Marlize Rostoll
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 676 –679 (2015)
This is the eighth edition of General Principles of Commercial Law and is a concise compendium written for non-law students. The aim of the text is to provide students with an introduction to the general principles underlying the main branches of commercial law. The format and content of the text are informed and influenced by the registration requirements of the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors. The eighth edition focused on updating recent statutory changes and other related developments in commercial law. The text is rather voluminous, as it sets out to cover numerous diverse and complex topics in a simplified and concise manner, which will be useful and informative to the intended student. The contents are arranged in four sections divided into 30 chapters. Section A provides an introductory discussion of the South African legal system and the science of law (ch 1-2). Section B deals with the general principles of the law of contract (ch 3-12). Section C discusses the most prominent specific contracts (ch 13-16), and the final section addresses miscellaneous aspects related to commercial law (ch 17-30).
The Law of Divorce and Dissolution of Life Partnerships in South Africa, Jacqueline Heaton (Ed.) : boekbespreking
Author Amanda Boniface
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2015, pp 679 –680 (2015)
This eight-hundred-page first edition of The Law of Divorce and Dissolution of Life Partnerships in South Africa is a welcome addition to the field of family law in South Africa. The book contains a discussion of the dissolution of civil marriages; customary marriages; Muslim marriages; Hindu marriages and life or domestic partnerships. The book addresses issues related not only to divorce but also to the dissolution of a life partnership, such as domestic violence; procedural and jurisdictional matters and conflict of laws and alternative dispute resolution. All of these aspects are of vital importance for practitioners dealing with divorce or the dissolution of life partnerships, and their inclusion in the book means that this book is a source of reference that is particularly suited to legal practitioners practising family law.