South African Human Rights Yearbook (Followers: 4)
ISSN (Print) 0258-252X
Authors: C. Muller-Van der Westhuizen; Z. Nhlapo
Abstract: 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 boedelsToesig oor die administrasie van bestorwe boedels is voorheen volgens rasselyne verdeel. Tog het regshervorming sedertdien 'n enkele stelsel tot stand gebring wat billik is teenoor alle Suid-Afrikaners - of is dit? Na '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 'n meer bekostigbare, toeganklike metode as uitgerekte en duur hofverrigtinge om '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 'n ombudsman vir boedels verken word.
Authors: C. Fritz
Abstract: 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'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 toekomsDie 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 '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 '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.
Engagement of prosecutors not in the employ of the National Prosecuting
Authors: B. Tshehla
Abstract: 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'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 VervolgingsgesagHierdie 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 '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 '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
Authors: K. Naidoo; M.G. Karels
Abstract: 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 'hate', 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" : 'n Oorsig van probleemareas wat betrekking het op haatmisdade en uitdagings tot straflitigasie Verskeie beroepe wat vanuit '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 '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 'haat', die insluiting van kategorieë van slagoffers, asook die oorweging van motief as '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 'n moontlikheid is, asook wanneer vooroordeel in 'n hof bewys moet word.
Authors: P.G. Du Toit
Abstract: Hierdie bydrae ondersoek die grondslag vir die strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid van regspersone in Kanada in '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 '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 'realisties' 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 CanadaThis 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 'realistic', takes into account the nature of modern corporate entities much better than traditional individualistic approaches to corporate criminal liability.
Authors: T. Bekker
Abstract: Die ekstrinsieke getuienis-reël in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg bestaan uit twee verskillende onderafdelings. Die een onderafdeling handel met die mate waarin '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 'n ooreenkoms, hetsy mondeling of skriftelik, te verander nie. Daar is egter ook '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 'n kontrak te verduidelik of te verander. In die voorafgaande aantal dekades of so het daar 'n ontwikkeling plaasgevind in die toepassing van die interpretasiereël in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg vanaf 'n streng formalistiese tekstuele benadering tot en met '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 'n kortlikse bespreking wees van die geskiedkundige agtergrond van die interpretasiereël. Daar sal vervolgens '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 :
Authors: Barry Rider; Barry Rider, Barry Rider, Barry Rider Barry Rider
Abstract: 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'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!
Abstract: The Journal for Juridical Science is an IBSS accredited national professional journal which publishes original research articles in law in Afrikaans and English. Multi- and interdisciplinary contributions which bridge the gap between legal scholarship and other pertinent academic disciplines, are welcomed. All published contributions were submitted for refereeing by peers and successful articles qualify for subsidy by the National Department of Higher Education and Training. The Journal is published two times per year by the Faculty of Law, University of the Free State. For purposes of reference the title of the Journal may be abbreviated to JJS. Die Tydskrif vir Regswetenskap is 'n IBSS geakkrediteerde nasionale tydskrif wat oorspronklike navorsingsartikels in die regsgeleerdheid in Afrikaans en Engels publiseer. Multi- en interdissiplinêre bydraes van regswetenskaplike belang, word ook verwelkom. Alle gepubliseerde artikels is deur vakgenote gekeur en beoordeel. Artikels wat in die tydskrif verskyn, kwalifiseer vir subsidiedoeleindes by die Departement Hoëronderwys en Opleiding. Die Tydskrif word twee keer per jaar deur die Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat uitgegee. Vir verwysing kan die titel van die Tydskrif tot TRW afgekort word.
Authors: S. Pete
Abstract: During recent years, various South African universities have fallen victim to student protest. The degree of violence involved in, as well as the frequency and duration of such protest action have varied from university to university. This article focuses on student protest action at the University of KwaZulu-Natal between 2012 and2014. It examines such protest action through the lens of Plato's text Crito, which describes the events leading up to the death of Socrates. The question at the core of this article is whether or not the opinions of the ancient Greeks - Socrates, in particular - on the issue of obedience to law are in any way useful to South African law students when considering this issue in the context of the society in which they live. The article is divided into two parts. Part One examines the attitudes of the ancient Greeks to the issue of obedience to law and highlights points of possible relevance to the politics of protest in post-apartheid South Africa. Part Two of the article examines student protests between 2012 and 2014 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It also analyses two competing narratives about the nature of law in post-apartheid South Africa, which may assist in explaining the intimidatory tone of much of the protest action examined.
Identifying the structure envisioned for closely held incorporated
business entities under the new statutory dispensation
Authors: J.J. Henning
Abstract: In the process of company law reform, the official belief was expressed that the regime provided in the new Companies Act 71 of 2008 for forming and maintaining a structure that reflects the characteristics of a close corporation had been sufficiently simplified so as to obviate the need to retain the Close Corporations Act 69 of 1984 as an avenue for new incorporations. The question arises as to whether such a structure is indeed provided for under the new Companies Act and, if so, what its salient features are. This contribution briefly addresses these questions.
The series limited liability company : innovative, flexible...and
Authors: M. Hauman; E. Snyman-Van Deventer
Abstract: Since the introduction of the limited liability company (LLC) in the United States of America, various states have recognised the need to experiment with ways of improving the limited liability this structure offers. Of particular interest in this regard is the development of the series LLC. The series LLC was intended to provide a more flexible manner for businesses to conduct their activities, while preventing the risks of liability from affecting the entire LLC enterprise. However, uptake of the series LLC has been slow. This can allegedly be ascribed to uncertainty about how this structure may be utilised for commercial purposes, as its relation to business law remains, to a large extent, unresolved. This article examines these uncertainties, including the "separateness" of the series LLC, the recognition of the limited liability it affords, the application of bankruptcy law, taxation, as well as the fiduciary duties attached to the structure. Certain recommendations are made to ease the way forward, while further legal development is awaited. First, series LLC statutes need to specifically provide for all the rights of each series as well as the rights reserved for the master LLC. Secondly, these statutes must specify a default rule for the measure of "separateness" between the master LLC and each series. Finally, series statutes ought to provide for notice of the limited liability of each series to creditors of the LLC.
Waiver of counsel in South African child justice : an autonomous exercise
Authors: M Karels
Abstract: The Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 created many unique procedural mechanisms for the processing of children in conflict with the law. One such procedure relates to mandatory legal representation, and the appointment of such to assist the court in terms of regulation 48, where the child refuses to co-operate with the appointed representative. This submission is a theoretical evaluation of section 35(3)(f) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, juxtaposed against section 83 of the Child Justice Act and its associated regulations. It posits that obligatory legal representation is an infringement of a child offender's constitutional right to choose to be represented, and to select a representative of choice. The submission concedes that the focus of the Act is the protection of child offenders. It, however, argues that the insertion of a legal hearing phase into the current preliminary inquiry stage of the child justice process would be an improved response to rights protection than mandatory representation. The author uses waiver processes applicable in selected American states to demonstrate the suggested alternative. The author concludes that waiver is an issue deserving of attention at the pre-trial stage and that therein a child offender is guaranteed both the protection of the best interest standard and the autonomy to exercise the constitutional right to choose to be represented at trial.
South Africa's obligation as member state of the International Criminal
Court : the Al-Bashir controversy
Authors: C.F. Swanepoel
Abstract: This article is a commentary on the judgement of the North Gauteng High Court on 24 June 2015 in the matter of The Southern Africa Litigation Centre v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, which dealt with the recent controversy surrounding the South African government's failure to arrest Mr Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, president of the Republic of Sudan, to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This judgement will be analysed with particular reference to the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber Decision on the Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Regarding Omar Al Bashir's Arrest and Surrender to the Court, to which the North Gauteng court referred. The judgement of 24 June was preceded by an order of the court on 14 June, which declared the state's conduct constitutionally invalid, having failed to take steps to arrest and/or detain Mr Bashir. The state was ordered to take all reasonable steps to "prepare to arrest President Bashir without a warrant in terms of section 40 (1) (k) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977 and detain him, pending a formal request for his surrender from the International Criminal Court". The judgement under discussion is the court's reasons for this order.
Authors: M.A. Du Plessis
Abstract: Clinical legal education is mainly a practical course, although it includes training in the substantive law. University law clinics generally have to satisfy two main objectives, namely teaching of students and service to the community. Clinical teaching methods can make distinctive contributions to student learning. Clinical pedagogy consists of three main categories, namely the clinic experience, classroom instruction and tutorial sessions. These, as well as specialised clinical units, are discussed. Clinic duties expose students to real consultations with live clients posing with real problems, ensuring a sustainable platform for teaching and learning. Classroom instructions are required for substantive law review and teaching in fields such as professionalism and ethics. Tutorials are the most focused form of instruction, where the clinical experiences and classroom instructions are transferred into legal practice.
The law of divorce and dissolution of life partnerships in South Africa,
Jacqueline Heaton : book review
Authors: Helen Kruuse
Abstract: Jackie Heaton's latest contribution to the family law domain is formidable - 777 pages of carefully crafted opinions and discussions of the law affecting divorce and dissolution of life partnerships. Given the range, diversity and depth of issues in this area, it is no wonder that she calls on those being among the best in their field to assist her in writing up the book. The book consists of five parts. Part 1 deals with the dissolution of a civil marriage or civil union by divorce (with contributions by JA Robinson, JC Sonnekus, J Heaton, T Boezaart and M de Jong). Parts 2 and 3 explore the dissolution of a customary marriage and religious (Muslim and Hindu) marriages by divorce written by C Himonga (Part 2) and N Moosa and C Rautenbach (Part 3), respectively. In Part 4, B Smith discusses the dissolution of a life or domestic partnership, and Part 5 covers a miscellany of issues from domestic violence (E Bonthuys) to jurisdiction, procedure and costs (A Catto) to mediation and other appropriate forms of alternative dispute resolution upon divorce (M de Jong) and conflict of laws (C Schulze).
School discipline and the delictual negligence test for teachers - a case
Authors: J.M. Potgieter
Abstract: Peet Gouws v Laerskool Lynnwood & MEC for Education, Gauteng case no. 3223/11(24 October 2012) (GP)