Issue 1, 2016 Journal for Juridical Science - Volume 41,
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Practical challenges relating to the supervision of small estates
C. Muller-Van der Westhuizen and
Journal for Juridical Science 41, pp 1 –18 (2016)
Previously, the supervision of the administration of deceased estates was divided along racial lines. Law reform has, however, seen the establishment of a single system that is fair to all South Africans - or is it? Following a brief contextualisation of the legal position on the supervision of deceased estates prior to, and following the definitive Moseneke judgement of 6 December 2000, this article sets out to examine whether the equality envisaged by that judgement and recent legislation pertaining to the supervision of small estates is actually being achieved. The research reveals some practical challenges, including poor service delivery at service points; banks renouncing their nomination as executor of small estates for a lack of sufficient financial benefit; the non-registration of customary marriages; the poor protection currently afforded to vulnerable minor beneficiaries of deceased estates, and the lack of a more affordable, accessible way than lengthy and costly court procedures to challenge a decision of the Master of the High Court.
To address these challenges, it is recommended that service point infrastructure be strengthened; that banks be required to communicate more openly with their clients; that extensive awareness campaigns be launched on the urgent need for all customary marriages to be registered; that the agreement between government and Legal Aid South Africa, which is supposed to serve minor beneficiaries of deceased estates, be revisited, and that the possibility of an estate ombudsman be explored.
Praktiese uitdagings in verband met toesig oor klein boedels
Toesig oor die administrasie van bestorwe boedels is voorheen volgens rasselyne verdeel. Tog het regshervorming sedertdien &apos;n enkele stelsel tot stand gebring wat billik is teenoor alle Suid-Afrikaners - of is dit? Na &apos;n kort uiteensetting van die regstandpunt oor toesig oor bestorwe boedels voor en na die rigtinggewende Moseneke-uitspraak van 6 Desember 2000, ondersoek hierdie artikel of die gelykheid wat daardie uitspraak en onlangse wetgewing met betrekking tot toesig oor klein boedels beoog, werklik bereik word. Die navorsing bring sekere praktiese uitdagings aan die lig. Dit sluit in swak dienslewering by dienspunte; banke wat hul benoeming as eksekuteur van klein boedels laat vaar by gebrek aan voldoende finansiële voordeel; die nie-registrasie van gewoonteregtelike huwelike; die huidige swak beskerming van kwesbare minderjarige begunstigdes van bestorwe boedels, en die gebrek aan &apos;n meer bekostigbare, toeganklike metode as uitgerekte en duur hofverrigtinge om &apos;n besluit deur die Meester van die Hooggeregshof te betwis. Om hierdie uitdagings te hanteer, word daar aanbeveel dat die infrastruktuur van dienspunte versterk word; dat banke verplig word om meer openlik met hul kliënte te kommunikeer; dat uitgebreide bewusmakingsveldtogte van stapel gestuur word oor die dringende behoefte om alle gewoonteregtelike huwelike te registreer; dat die ooreenkoms tussen die regering en die Regshulpraad van Suid-Afrika, wat veronderstel is om minderjarige begunstigdes van bestorwe boedels te dien, hersien word, en dat die moontlikheid van &apos;n ombudsman vir boedels verken word.
Customs searches : past, present and future
Journal for Juridical Science 41, pp 19 –43 (2016)
The South African Revenue Service is afforded the power to conduct customs searches in order to verify compliance. This article deals with the development of this power, taking into consideration a taxpayer&apos;s constitutional rights. It discusses the customs search provisions prior to the Tax Administration Law Amendment Act, and thereafter, as well as the customs search provisions in terms of the Customs Control Act. The article addresses whether these developments can be considered constitutionally sound. In order to evaluate constitutionality, a constitutional search framework is developed within which searches should be conducted to pass constitutional muster. Comparing this framework with the present customs search provisions leads to the conclusion that the present customs search provisions are a substantial improvement on the previous provisions and that the provisions are constitutional. The same conclusion can, however, not be reached with regard to future customs search provisions in terms of the Customs Control Act.
Doeanesoektogte - Die verlede, hede en toekoms
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens het die mag om doeanesoektogte uit te voer ten einde nakoming te kontroleer. Hierdie artikel handel oor die ontwikkeling van hierdie mag deur die belastingbetaler se grondwetlike regte in ag te neem. Die doeanesoektog-bepalings voor die Wysigingswet Op Belastingadministrasiewette (Tax Administration Law Amendment Act) en daarna, sowel as die doeanesoektogbepalings kragtens die Wet op Doeanebeheer word bespreek. Hierdie artikel spreek die grondwetlikheid van hierdie ontwikkelinge aan. Ten einde die grondwetlikheid te evalueer, word &apos;n grondwetlike soektogte-raamwerk ontwikkel waaraan soektogte voldoen moet word ten einde grondwetlik geag te word. Met die vergelyking van hierdie raamwerk met die huidige doeanesoektog-bepalings word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat daar &apos;n aansienlike verbetering is in vergelyking met die vorige bepalings. Die huidige bepalings word as grondwetlik beskou. Dieselfde gevolgtrekking kan egter nie bereik word ten opsigte van die toekomstige doeanesoektogte kragtens die Wet op Doeanebeheer nie.
Journal for Juridical Science 41, pp 44 –64 (2016)
This article focuses on the engagement of prosecutors not in the employ of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute certain cases. Such prosecutors are appointed in terms of section 38 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998. The article starts by presenting a number of recent court decisions that dealt with the application of this section and contextualises the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Moussa v S. Given that it was in Moussa that the constitutionality of the section was challenged, the approach of the SCA and the reasons for its decision are discussed. It is submitted that the SCA&apos;s decision is a welcome step, in that the court has pronounced itself definitively on the constitutionality of the section and also outlined the approach to be used in determining which appointments of prosecutors, in terms of the section, are acceptable and which are not. In particular, the article explains the test to be used in making that decision.
Aanklaers aangestel van buite die geledere van die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag
Hierdie artikel fokus op die aanstelling van aanklaers van buite die geledere van die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag om as aanklaers op te tree in sekere sake ingevolge artikel 38 van die Wet op die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag 32 van 1998. Die artikel verwys na &apos;n aantal onlangse hofbeslissings wat gehandel het oor die toepassing van artikel 38 en toon aan dat regsonsekerheid geheers het tot en met die besluit in Moussa v S. Die benadering van die Hoogste Hof van Appèl (HHA) en die redes vir die beslissing word bespreek, omdat die grondwetlikheid van die artikel aangeval is in die Moussa-saak. Dit word geopper dat die besluit van die HHA &apos;n welkome stap is omdat die hof gesaghebbend uitspraak gelewer het oor die grondwetlikheid van die wetsartikel en ook die benadering uitgestip het wat gevolg behoort te word om die besluit te kan neem wanneer aanstellings van aanklaers in terme van artikel 38 aanvaarbaar is al dan nie. In besonder word die toets wat toepaslik is om hierdie besluite te neem uiteengesit.
Prosecuting "hate" : an overview of problem areas relating to hate crimes and challenges to criminal litigation
K. Naidoo and
Journal for Juridical Science 41, pp 65 –82 (2016)
Several calls, from a wide spectrum of sectors for the enactment of hate-crime legislation in South Africa, suggest that there is limited knowledge about the theoretical underpinnings of this area of criminal law and of the practical problems associated with the implementation of hate-crime laws. This submission briefly examines the origins of hate-crime laws and attempts, by using existing American sources, to provide a conceptual framework for hate crimes. The different models of hate-crime laws, definitional issues and the controversies associated with hate-crime laws are considered. These controversies include disagreements about the use of the term &apos;hate&apos;, the inclusion of victim categories, and the consideration of motive as a requirement of hate crimes. The article also considers practical problems associated with the implementation of hate-crime laws. These problems could commence at the complaint stage when evidence of bias has to be established by law-enforcement officers, and extend to the trial stage, when the role of victims must be considered, when plea bargaining is a possibility and when bias has to be proved in court.
"Haatvervolging" : &apos;n Oorsig van probleemareas wat betrekking het op haatmisdade en uitdagings tot straflitigasie
Verskeie beroepe wat vanuit &apos;n wye spektrum ontvang is vir die daarstelling van Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing op haatmisdaad veronderstel dat daar beperkte kennis is oor die teoretiese grondslae van hierdie area van strafreg, asook oor die praktiese probleme wat met die implementering van wetgewing op haatmisdaad verband hou. Hierdie bydrae ondersoek bondig die ontstaan en pogings van wetgewing op haatmisdaad deur gebruik te maak van bestaande Amerikaanse bronne ten einde &apos;n begripsgrondslag vir haatmisdade daar te stel. Die verskillende modelle van haatmisdaadwetgewing, omskrywingskwessies, asook die twispunte wat met hierdie wetgewing verband hou word oorweeg. Hierdie polemiek sluit verdeeldheid in oor die gebruik van die terminologie &apos;haat&apos;, die insluiting van kategorieë van slagoffers, asook die oorweging van motief as &apos;n vereiste vir haatmisdade. Hierdie artikel oorweeg ook praktiese probleme wat verband hou met die implementering van haatmisdaadwetgewing. Hierdie probleem mag ontstaan op die stadium waarop die aanklag aanhangig gemaak word wanneer wetstoepassers getuienis van vooroordeel moet vasstel. Dit kan ook uitgebrei word na die verhoorstadium wanneer die rol van die slagoffers oorweeg word, waar pleitonderhandelinge &apos;n moontlikheid is, asook wanneer vooroordeel in &apos;n hof bewys moet word.
Die strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid van regspersone : lesse uit Kanada
P.G. Du Toit
Journal for Juridical Science 41, pp 83 –98 (2016)
Hierdie bydrae ondersoek die grondslag vir die strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid van regspersone in Kanada in &apos;n poging om moontlike lesse vir die Suid-Afrikaanse reg daaruit te neem. Die Kanadese benadering gee erkenning aan die gefragmenteerde aard van korporatiewe besluitneming én aan die realiteit dat die kollektiewe gedrag van verskeie persone op verskillende vlakke van die korporatiewe hiërargie die misdadige gedrag kan veroorsaak. Voorts hoef die gedrags - en skuldelemente nie aan &apos;n enkeling toegeskryf te word nie. Die gedrag van die korporatiewe verteenwoordiger kan die handelingselement vorm, terwyl die skuldelement by die bestuur kan lê. Hierdie benadering, hoewel nie volkome &apos;realisties&apos; van aard nie, verreken tog die aard van moderne regspersone heelwat beter as tradisionele individualistiese benaderings tot die strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid van regspersone.
The criminal liability of juristic persons: Lessons from Canada
This contribution investigates the basis for the criminal liability of juristic persons in Canada in an attempt to gain lessons for South Africa. The Canadian position acknowledges both the fragmented nature of corporate decision-making and the reality that the collective efforts of a number of corporate role players may cause criminal conduct. Furthermore, the conduct and fault elements of corporate criminal misconduct do not have to be found in one individual. The conduct of a representative of the corporate entity may be regarded as the conduct of the corporation, whilst the fault requirement may be found to be the level of management. This approach, although not entirely &apos;realistic&apos;, takes into account the nature of modern corporate entities much better than traditional individualistic approaches to corporate criminal liability.
Die interpretasiereël in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg (Deel 1)
Journal for Juridical Science 41, pp 99 –129 (2016)
Die ekstrinsieke getuienis-reël in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg bestaan uit twee verskillende onderafdelings. Die een onderafdeling handel met die mate waarin &apos;n skriftelike kontrak as die enigste uiteensetting van sy bedinge ("sole memorial of its terms") beskou kan word, waarna daar in hierdie artikel as die "integrasiereël" verwys word. Nou verwant aan die integrasiereël is die sogenaamde "interpretasiereël". Die eng definisie van hierdie reël bepaal dat geen getuienis aangebied mag word om die duidelike en ondubbelsinnige betekenis van &apos;n ooreenkoms, hetsy mondeling of skriftelik, te verander nie. Daar is egter ook &apos;n wyer definisie wat aan die interpretasiereël toegedig kan word, naamlik dat dit bepaal wanneer en tot watter mate ekstrinsieke getuienis aangewend mag word om die bewoording van &apos;n kontrak te verduidelik of te verander. In die voorafgaande aantal dekades of so het daar &apos;n ontwikkeling plaasgevind in die toepassing van die interpretasiereël in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg vanaf &apos;n streng formalistiese tekstuele benadering tot en met &apos;n meer liberale kontekstuele benadering op grond waarvan meer ekstrinsieke getuienis toelaatbaar is om die skriftelike kontrak van die partye uit te lê. In die eerste deel van hierdie artikel sal die subjektiewe en objektiewe benaderings tot uitleg gekontrasteer word en sal daar &apos;n kortlikse bespreking wees van die geskiedkundige agtergrond van die interpretasiereël. Daar sal vervolgens &apos;n kritiese analise van die ontwikkeling, en die huidige toepassing van die interpretasiereël in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg plaasvind.
The interpretation rule in the South African law of contract (Part 1) The parol evidence rule in the South African law of contract consists of two different subrules. The one subrule deals with the extent to which a written contract may be regarded as the sole memorial of its terms and will be referred to as the "integration rule" in this article. Closely related to the integration rule is the so-called "interpretation rule". The narrow definition of this rule entails that no evidence may be adduced to alter the clear and unambigious meaning of a written or verbal agreement. There is, however, also a wider definition that may be attributed to the interpretation rule, namely that it entails when and to what extent extrinsic evidence may be adduced to explain or alter the wording of a contract. In the past decades, there has been a development in the application of the interpretation rule in the South African law of contract from a strict formalistic textual approach to a more liberal contextual approach in terms of which more extrinsic evidence is allowed in order to interpret the written contract between the parties. In the first part of this article, the subjective and objective approaches to interpretation will be contrasted and the historical background of the interpretation rule will be briefly discussed. There will also be a critical analysis of the development and current application of the interpretation rule in the South African law of contract.
Perspectives on the law of partnerships in South Africa, J.J. Henning : review
Barry Rider and
Journal for Juridical Science 41, pp 130 –133 (2016)
The last word (well almost) on partnership!
As Judge Frederick Brand observes in the preface to Perspectives on the law of partnership in South Africa, given the significance of partnership law, it is surprising that the contribution of scholars has been, with one very notable exception, somewhat limited. The exception being, as judge Brand points out, Professor Johan Henning. The learned judge also observes that Johan Henning&apos;s contribution to scholarly writing on the law of partnership, especially in southern Africa, but also internationally has been second to none. His most recent contribution follows a long and distinguished list of publications ranging from substantial practitioner-oriented works to perceptive focused treatises on particular aspects of the law. In many ways, the present work has the advantage of drawing together this vast array of informed comment and analysis refined over a long and highly distinguished academic career - in which Professor Henning has made significant contributions to far more than the law of partnership!