Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif - Volume 18, Issue 3, January 2007
Volume 18, Issue 3, January 2007
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 1 –9 (2007)
Titles of articles - Titels van artikels
Contributors - Medewerkers
Books reviewed - boeke bespreek
Subject index - onderwerpregister
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18 (2007)
Forum of Editors of Academic Law Journals in South Africa
Second Congress of the World Society of Mixed Jurisdiction Jurists - Congress Papers
Liability for the mass publication of private information in South African law : NM v Smith (Freedom of Expression Institute as Amicus Curiae)
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 387 –404 (2007)
The action in respect of the mass publication of private information in South African law was first recognised by Watermeyer J in O&apos;Keeffe v Argus Printing and Publishing Co Ltd in 1954. Here a photograph of a female journalist firing a pistol had been published by the first defendant&apos;s newspaper, The Argus, in the context of an advertisement for guns and ammunition placed by the second defendant: she had given her consent to the use of the image as an illustration for an article in The Argus newspaper, but she had not consented to its use for advertising purposes; neither had she consented to the publication of her name. O&apos;Keeffe brought an actio iniuriarum against the first and second defendants. She alleged that in the circumstances the publication of her photograph and name had constituted a violation of her dignity. The defendants excepted to the plaintiff&apos;s claim on the grounds that it disclosed no harm actionable under the actio iniuriarum. However, Watermeyer J dismissed the exception. The actio iniuriarum protected person, dignity and reputation, and the unauthorised publication of a person&apos;s photograph and name for advertising purposes was capable of constituting an aggression upon that person&apos;s dignity where this was understood to incorporate a wide range of personality interests, including her interest in privacy.
Die onderwerp van hierdie artikel is deliktuele aanspreeklikheid weens die massa-publikasie van privaatinligting in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg met besondere klem op die beslissing van die Grondwetlike Hof in NM v Smith (Freedom of Expression Institute as Amicus Curiae) 2007 5 SA 250 (CC). Die beslissing word in historiese konteks geplaas en die hoofbevindinge word uiteengesit en geëvalueer. Daar word bevind dat die resultaat van die uitspraak aanvaarbaar mag wees, maar dat die uitsprake van veral Langa HR en O&apos;Regan en Sachs RR sekere gebreke openbaar wat tot onaanvaarbare gevolge kan lei. Die analogie wat getref word tussen laster en inbreuk op privaatheid is analities onaanvaarbaar, die beskouing dat nalatigheid die gepaste standaard vir skuld is in sake wat handel oor privaatheid is onvoldoende begrond, en die standaard vir nalatigheid wat deur hoofregter Langa HR en Sachs R aangehang word kom onnodig streng voor. Dit lyk veral nie of steun vir hierdie standaard in die resente Engelse reg oor vertrouensbreuk gevind kan word nie, aangesien daardie stelsel &apos;n meer genaakbare benadering tot skuld voorstaan. In die Smith saak is eerder op die klaers se reputasie as hul waardigheid inbreuk gemaak. Die beslissing van die drie regters handel ongelukkig slegs op indirekte wyse met die kernkonflik tussen wat mense werklik dink oor persone wat HIV positief is, teenoor wat mense veronderstel is om oor sulke persone te dink. Dit is jammer dat hierdie konflik nie direk aangespreek is nie, en daar eerder besluit is om die reg oor privaatheid te wysig ten einde die klaers se grondwetlike regte te beskerm.
The publicity right in Israel : an example of mixed origins, values, rules, interests and branches of law
Author Tamar Gidron
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 405 –424 (2007)
Personality rights are gaining force in Israeli law. The cluster of these rights, namely the right to reputation, privacy, the traditional moral right and the publicity right, which rests on a mixture of origins, interests and values, poses some very interesting questions. Some of these questions will be analysed in this paper in light of a recent decision by Israel&apos;s Supreme Court on the publicity right which will serve as a helpful case study.
Hierdie artikel handel met insiggewende ontwikkelinge op die gebied van persoonlikheidsregte in Israel en fokus veral krities op die uitspraak van die Israelse Hooggeregshof in McDonald v McDonald (Alonial) Ltd (no 1) 2004 IsrSC 58(4) 314. Daar word aangetoon hoe sowel deliktuele en verrykingsgebaseerde remedies persone se regte op publisiteit en privaatheid beskerm. Die gevolgtreking word bereik dat die reg van Israel ver gevorder het, vanaf &apos;n hoofsaaklik Engelsregtelike basis tot &apos;n komplekse en genuanseerde benadering wat inheemse ervaring sowel as invloede van vergelykbare stelsels weerspieël.
Sexual harassment in the workplace : an overview of developments
Author Annali Basson
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 425 –450 (2007)
Harassment, and particularly sexual harassment, remains pervasive in workplaces around the world. Many studies of sexual harassment examine the reasons for this pervasiveness. Academic writers are fairly unanimous that the answer lies in the fact that harassment is about an abuse of power (rather than sex itself). This is particularly true where the harasser is in a supervisory position and thus able to exert "real" economic power over his victim (so-called quid pro quo harassment, where the victim faces loss of a tangible job benefit such as a promotion or salary increase if she does not comply sexually).
Seksuele teistering bly &apos;n ongelukkige en deurdringende probleem in die werksplek. Omdat hierdie ongewenste praktyk sulke verreikende emosionele en finansiële gevolge vir die slagoffer het, is dit nodig om hierdie onderwerp gereeld krities te herevalueer. Hierdie artikel bied &apos;n oorsig oor onlangse ontwikkelings op die gebied van seksuele teistering. Daar word gekyk na die definisie van seksuele teistering en na die remedies tot beskikking van die slagoffer. Elk van die moontlike remedies tot beskikking van die slagoffer word kortliks bespreek met verwysing na die Wet op Arbeidsverhoudinge 66 van 1995 en die Wet op Gelykheid in die Werksplek 55 van 1998. Die skakel tussen seksuele testering en diskriminasie word ook opnuut krities geëvalueer met verwysing na die regsposisie in die Verenigde State van Amerika.
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 451 –468 (2007)
The requirements for the vicarious liability of an employer are threefold : an employment relationship, the commission of a delict, and that the delict must have been committed within the scope (sometimes course and scope) of employment. The last requirement ensures that there is a measure of fairness towards the employer who is held strictly liable.
Hierdie artikel ondersoek die toets vir middellike aanspreeklikheid wat deur die Konstitusionele Hof in NK v Minister of Safety and Security ontwikkel is vir gevalle van opsetlike wangedrag deur &apos;n werknemer. In hierdie saak het drie polisiemanne &apos;n jong vrou verkrag terwyl hulle aan diens was. In die verlede was hierdie tipe gevalle problematies omdat sodanige gedrag as buite die diensbestek beskou is. Die hof hang egter nie &apos;n eng siening van diensbestek aan nie en steun op die noue verbandtoets (close connection test) wat onlangs in verskeie ander gemeenregtelike jurisdiksies toegepas is. Dis &apos;n objektiewe toets wat &apos;n noue verband tussen die gedrag van die werknemer en sy pligte vereis.
Die Konstitusionele Hof het egter in hierdie saak die noue verbandtoets ontwikkel om konstitusionele norme te reflekteer. In die NK saak is bevind dat die werkgewer aanspreeklik is omdat daar &apos;n noue verband tussen die dade van die polisiemanne en hulle konstitusionele pligte bestaan. Die probleem met hierdie toets is dat die hof &apos;n algemene toets vir middellike aanspreeklikheid by opsetlike wangedrag neergelê het, maar nie &apos;n aanduiding gegee het oor hoe dit aangewend moet word in gevalle waar konstitusionele regte en pligte minder prominent is nie. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat die opsetlike verbreking van &apos;n plig teenoor &apos;n sekere persoon of persone die noue verband tussen plig en daad daar sal stel. Om die noue verbandtoets deur &apos;n konstitusionele bril te beskou is verwarrend en bring nie noodwendig meer gewensde resultate mee nie.
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 469 –482 (2007)
In terms of the arrangement constitutive of a trust in the narrow sense as defined in section 1 of the Trust Property Control Act, the ownership in property is made over or bequeathed to either the trustee (the ownership trust) or the trust beneficiaries with the trustee assuming control over the property (the bewind trust). Under both the ownership trust and the bewind trust, the trustee, in terms of the aforementioned definition, is the pivotal functionary who is responsible for the administration or disposal of property according to the provisions of the trust instrument. Such administration or disposal does not occur for the trustee&apos;s own benefit, but for the benefit of the person or class of persons designated in the trust instrument, or for the achievement of the object stated in the trust instrument. The definition of "trust" in section 1 of the Act gives legislative expression to what Cameron JA in Land and Agricultural Development Bank of SA v Parker called the "core idea" of the trust, namely the functional separation of the trustee&apos;s ownership (or control) over trust property from the enjoyment derived from such ownership (or control) through the bestowal of trust benefits on the trust&apos;s beneficiaries or through the achievement of the trust&apos;s object.
Hierdie bydrae ondersoek die fidusiêre amp van trustee met spesifieke fokus op die aard en omvang van &apos;n trustee se algemene fidusiêre plig ten opsigte van trustadministrasie in belang van trustbegunstigdes. Daar word geargumenteer dat &apos;n trustee se algemene fidusiêre plig wesenlik &apos;n saamgestelde plig is wat uit &apos;n viertal spesifieke trustee-pligte bestaan. Daar word verder geargumenteer dat &apos;n trustee se fidusiêre plig &apos;n ooreenstemmende persoonlike reg tot behoorlike trustadministrasie aan trustbegunstigdes besorg, welke persoonlike reg ook begunstigdes toekom wat geen gevestigde regte nie, maar bloot voorwaardelike regte op trustvoordele geniet. Daar word voorts getoon dat die beskerming wat sodanige voorwaardelike trustbegunstigdes langs die weg van erkende regsremedies geniet, hoofsaaklik geskoei word op hul gevestigde belang in behoorlike trustadministrasie soos deur voorgenoemde persoonlike reg vergestalt. Tog is die remedies van trustbegunstigdes met voorwaardelike regte op trustvoordele teen trustees en derde partye relatief beperk en die vraag word aangespreek of die vernaamste begunstigde-remedie teen &apos;n trustee wat trustbreuk gepleeg het, naamlik die actio legis Aquiliae vir die verhaal van vermoënskade, nie, soos sommige kommentatore voorstel, tot sodanige begunstigdes uitgebrei kan word nie.
Calibrating the promise of the optional protocol to the Convention against Torture, and other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Author &apos;Dejo Olowu
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 483 –496 (2007)
At the close of the 57th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on 18 December 2002, this UN body adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), bringing to an end a decade of protracted diplomatic negotiations, debates and delay, in strengthening the international legal framework against torture and its related practices. This innovative treaty was opened for signature on 4 February 2003 and remained inoperative until it secured the 30th instrument of ratification. The treaty subsequently entered into force on 22 June 2006, pursuant to its own article 28(1). As of October 2007, a total of 60 States had merely signed the OPCAT while 34 are full State parties to it.
Ten einde die formele gebondenheid van VN-ledestate aan die verbod op marteling en ander wrede, onmenslike en vernederende behandeling of straf te versterk, het die Algemene Vergadering van die VN in Desember 2002 &apos;n opsionele protokol (OPCAT) tot die 1984 Konvensie teen Marteling en ander Wrede, Onmenslike en Vernederende Behandeling of Straf (CAT) aangeneem wat in Junie 2006 in werking getree het. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die doel en potensiaal van die OPCAT. Daar word gekyk na die agtergrond waarteen dit aangeneem is, asook die normatiewe bepalings en institusionele meganismes waarvoor voorsiening gemaak word ten einde die profiel van die CAT te verhoog. Die belang van die OPCAT word nie net vanuit filosofiese perspektief beskou nie, maar ook vanuit die breër konteks van die neerlê van standaarde in die internasionale reg, en die potensiaal om sodanige standaarde binne die VN-stelsel en Afrika te versterk. Daar word erken dat die praktiese uitdagings wat uit staatsoptrede voortvloei meer vereis as normativering, en die artikel identifiseer dan ook multi-dimensionele platforms waardeur die algehele effektiwiteit van die OPCAT versterk kan word.
The decision in Hartley v Pyramid Freight (Pty) Ltd : justice miscarried?
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 497 –507 (2007)
The above decision situates itself at the limits of excusable unilateral mistake in the South African law of contract. After some confusion in the past, the then Appellate Division held in the case of Sonap v Pappadogianis that "the decisive question" in the enquiry whether a unilateral mistake can excuse a party from the contract is :
"did the party whose actual intention did not conform to the common intention expressed, lead the other party, as a reasonable man, to believe that his declared intention represented his actual intention? To answer this question, a three-fold enquiry is usually necessary, namely, firstly, was there a misrepresentation as to one party&apos;s intention; secondly, who made that representation; and thirdly, was the other party misled thereby? ... The last question postulates two possibilities: Was he actually misled and would a reasonable person have been misled?"
Hierdie bydrae handel met die Hoogste Hof van Appèl se onlangse beslissing in Hartley v Pyramid Freight (Pty) Ltd 2007 2 SA 599 (SCA). Daar word geargumenteer dat hierdie beslissing - gegewe onlangse verwarring aangaande die kwessie - verdere helderheid bring betreffende die doktrinêre en beleidsoorwegings wanneer &apos;n hof gevra word om kontraktuele aanspreeklikheid op grond van die vertrouensteorie te oorweeg. Ten slotte word die teoretiese basis van die caveat subsciptor reël (aangestip in hierdie uitspraak) vanuit &apos;n kritiese perspektief in heroënskou geneem.
On rights, rules, relationships and refusals : a reply to Van Marle&apos;s "Jurisprudence of Generosity"
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 508 –525 (2007)
The varied pleasures of reading a Van Marle article - peppered with references to favourite philosophers (Arendt), movie directors (Eastwood), and authors (Auster) - work a spell that generally suppresses this reader&apos;s bemusement with her often aphoristic, sometimes kaleidoscopic prose. And so it is with her most recent work, "Laughter, Refusal, Friendship: Thoughts on a &apos;Jurisprudence of Generosity&apos;." Given that such pleasures qualify as decadent by the standards of your average law review article, it might make any criticism of "Jurisprudence of Generosity" seem almost churlish.
Die genot verskaf deur &apos;n Van Marle-artikel is so bekorend dat dit oor die algemeen die verbystering onderdruk wat teweeggebring word deur haar dikwels aforistiese en soms kaleidoskopiese prosa. So is dit ook met haar mees onlangse werk, "Laughter, Refusal, Friendship: Thoughts on a &apos;Jurisprudence of Generosity&apos;" 2007 Stell LR 194. Maar, selfs begaafde skrywers soos Van Marle bied "waarnemings" waarop geantwoord moet word. Die behoefte aan so &apos;n antwoord het inderdaad minder te doen met die waarnemings self as met die aanbiedingswyse - die gebrek aan &apos;n presiese en duidelike uiteensetting - van haar hoofoogmerke. Van Marle weier botweg om in &apos;n standaard - droë - akademiese styl te skryf. In die geval van hierdie artikel verberg haar styl egter belangrike inhoudelike kwessies. Dit is jammer, want haar "ethics of refusal" lei &apos;n nuwe era in Suid-Afrikaanse regsfilosofie in. Ten einde groter duidelikheid te bied oor die aard van Van Marle se werk, het die outeur sy antwoord in vier afsonderlike dele verdeel. In deel 2 knoop die outeur die stryd aan met Van Marle se oënskynlik refleksiewe en bykans holrug geryde afwys van menseregte as &apos;n medium vir transformasie, alhoewel die verskille uiteindelik nie so groot is as wat dit eers mag voorkom nie. In deel 3 voer die outeur aan dat Van Marle in haar kritiek op die "manlikheid" van Westerse filosofie haar aan &apos;n vorm van oppervlakkige essensialisme oorgee wat sy gewoonlik vermy. In deel 4 merk die outeur op dat Van Marle, nadat sy op tekortkominge in die mansgedomineerde tradisie van Westerse filosofie gewys het, vertroosting in Clint Eastwood se meer onlangse films vind. Haar kantaantekeninge oor Eastwood het wel sekere deugde, maar dit beteken nie dat Eastwood se werk besonder geskik is om Van Marle se metafisiese lading te dra nie. In deel 5 stel die outeur voor dat Van Marle en hy neig om in verskillende gildes te werk. Maar daar word nooit &apos;n hiërargie van gildes voorgestel nie - inteendeel. Net soos die outeur dink dat sy werk oor die grondwetlike reg besonder gebaat het by Van Marle en ander regsfilosowe wat gereeld poog om hom uit sy dogmatiese sluimer wakker te maak, sal Van Marle se werk baat deur die noulettende lees van die reg soos weerspieël in die werke van die beter akademici in die veld.
Admiralty Jurisdiction Law and Practice in South Africa, Gys Hofmeyr : book review
Author Hilton Staniland
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 526 –527 (2007)
Admiralty Jurisdiction Law and Practice in South Africa by Gys Hofmeyr is a most welcome addition to the publications in this specialised area of South African law. The book engaged my attention. It was interesting and enjoyable to read and I congratulate Hofmeyr.
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 527 –528 (2007)
Persons interested in South African labour law are indeed privileged to have John Grogan&apos;s Workplace Law at their disposal. A great advantage of this work is that it is regularly updated, a prerequisite for a book in this dynamic area of the law.
Administration of Estates and Drafting of Wills, L.A. Kernick : book review
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 528 –529 (2007)
This is the latest edition of a useful guide to the administration of deceased estates and drafting of wills. The author states in the preface that this field of law "can be a surprisingly satisfying and interesting occupation" but he warns that "(i)t can, however, also be a nightmare (for the heirs as well as for the executor) unless approached with a clear view of the road ahead ...". By setting out the subject matter in an orderly and systematic manner in a comprehensive package aimed at drafters of wills and executors of estates, this book provides the clear view referred to by the author.
Source: Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 18, pp 529 –530 (2007)
Badenhorst, PJ; Pienaar, JM & Mostert, H (2006) Silberberg and Schoeman&apos;s The Law of Property 5 ed LexisNexis Butterworths xxvii & 846 pp R536.94 ISBN 9780409053180