Sabinet | Volume 2008, Issue 4
Volume 2008, Issue 4, 2008
Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg - Volume 2008, Issue 4, January 2008
Volume 2008, Issue 4, January 2008
Perfecta emptione periculum est emptoris : why all the fuss?
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 623 –644 (2008)
Perfecta emptione periculum est emptoris : waaroor gaan die bohaai?
Die voordele sowel as die risiko van skade, verlies of vernietiging van enige saak tref gewoonlik die eienaar van die betrokke saak. In die geval van &apos;n koopkontrak het die Romeine egter, waarskynlik as gevolg van die historiese agtergrond van die koopkontrak, die toepaslike reël as periculum est emptoris geformuleer. Ingevolge dié reël dra die koper die risiko vanaf die moment waarop die kontrak perfecta is. &apos;n Kontrak word as perfecta beskou sodra die partye oor die essentialia van die kontrak ooreengekom het. Dit sluit in sekerheid oor die koopsaak, die koopprys en die aard van die kontrak. Al wat dan nog ontbreek het, was betaling en lewering. In die Romeinse reg het die verkoper die risiko gedra tot op die stadium waarop die kontrak perfecta was.
Voorts is dit as vanselfsprekend aanvaar dat die koper die risiko dra vanaf die oomblik waarop eiendomsreg aan hom oorgedra is. Die probleem het opgeduik ten aansien van die dikwels aansienlike tydperk wat verloop het tussen perfecta-wording en oordrag van eiendomsreg, en ten einde daarvoor voorsiening te maak is die periculum est emptoris-reël geformuleer. Hierdie reël is ook onveranderd in die Romeins-Hollandse reg toegepas en is vandag nog, met enkele interessante uitbreidings, in die Suid-Afrikanse reg van toepassing. In hierdie artikel word die toepassing en regverdiging van die reël in die drie gemelde regstelsels nagevors en daar word ook heel kortliks na &apos;n aantal Europese regstelsels verwys. In sommige van dié stelsels word die reël nog steeds onveranderd toegepas, terwyl andere dit lank toegepas het en eers later verander het. Die toepassing van die reël wek egter taamlik opspraak en dit word dikwels in geen onsekere taal nie gekritiseer.
Die doel van hierdie artikel is om vas te stel of die hele bohaai oor die risiko-reëling by die koopkontrak geregverdig is al dan nie. Daar word na verskeie aspekte gekyk: Die betekenis en inhoud van die begrippe perfecta en periculum; die posisie in die geval van voorwaardelike, genusen ad mensuram-koopkontrakte; die moontlikheid dat partye tot die kontrak die reël uitdruklik of stilswyend mag wysig; en die remedies ter beskikking van die koper in die geval van skade, verlies of vernietiging van die koopsaak. In die slotsom word daar, met verwysing na bogenoemde aspekte, tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat indien al die relevante feite in aanmerking geneem word die reël inderdaad as verstandig en billik beskou kan word.
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 645 –668 (2008)
The right to identity and the commercial exploitation of the individual&apos;s public image
The outward image and physical attributes of the individual have become commodities. The advertising world has taken notice of the popularity enjoyed by the stars and has realised the value of associating merchandise or trade marks with superstars. On the one hand, this leads to a whole new source of income for the superstars themselves and greater profit for the enterprises that associate their products with the stars. But, on the other hand, it leads to difficulties when the attributes of a person are apparently used without consent. The purpose of this article is to determine firstly to what extent the individual should be protected against the unlawful use of his or her image. Secondly, the legal nature of such protection is investigated. Thirdly, it is argued that protection of the individual&apos;s right to identity must be weighed against the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
From an analysis of various legal systems, it is apparent that there are mainly two approaches to protection of the individual against unauthorised use of his or her image. In some systems, the matter is regulated by statute, while there are attempts in other systems to afford protection within the confines of existing common law measures of mainly the law of delict. There is, however, also a third category of systems where both statutory and common law measures are applied to protect the individual against unauthorised use of his or her image. In South Africa the common law approach has thus far been followed where the attributes of a person have been used without consent for commercial purposes. This position may be summarised as follows: everyone has a right to identity. Identity includes the collection of unique congenital and acquired attributes that are unique to the individual and that distinguish the individual from others.
When the attributes of a person are used without consent for commercial gain, the right to identity can be violated in one of two ways. Firstly, a person&apos;s right to identity can be infringed upon if the attributes of that person are used without permission in a way that cannot be reconciled with the true image of the individual concerned. Secondly, the right to identity is violated if the attributes of a person are used without consent by another person for commercial gain. Where the right to identity is violated, a personality right is infringed upon, to wit the right to dignity, and satisfaction may be claimed from the wrongdoer by means of the actio iniuriarum. Violation of the right to identity may also result in patrimonial loss, in which case damages may be claimed with the actio legis Aquiliae. The user can, in certain appropriate cases, justify the unauthorised use of a particular person&apos;s attributes on the basis of public interest if such use takes place mainly in connection with public interest reporting, jest or art.
The regulation of chemical and biological weapons in international law : preserving the paradox of "humane" war
Author K. Reddy
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 669 –695 (2008)
Die beheer van chemiese en biologiese wapens in die internasionale reg : die teenstrydigheid van &apos;n "menslike" oorlog
Hierdie artikel bied &apos;n oorsig van die ontwikkelende regsvoorskrifte van die afgelope eeu oor chemiese en biologiese wapens, die ontwikkeling van die relevante internasionale reg en verwys na die regsgeldigheid van die gebruik en besit van sodanige wapens.
Die bepalings van die 1925 Geneefse Protokol, die 1972 Verdrag oor Bakteriologiese Wapens en die 1993 Konvensie oor Chemiese Wapens asook die praktyk van state word ontleed. Skynbaar heers, anders as oor kernwapens, groter duidelikheid oor die regsposisie ten aansien van die besit en gebruik van sodanige wapens. Die afdwing van die regulasies, veral die wat bakteriologiese wapens betref, bly problematies. Dit word veroorsaak deur die toelaatbare vreedsame gebruik van moderne tegnologie. Omdat chemiese wapens al heelwat in oorlogstoestande gebruik is, is dit nodig dat daar &apos;n verbod moet wees op die produksie en besit van sulke wapens.
Die pad wat gevolg is met chemiese en bakteriologiese wapens skep &apos;n presedent wat vrugbaar aangewend kan word op die gebied van die nieproliferasie van kernwapens. Die bedreiging wat internasionale terrorisme deur die gebruik van chemiese en bakteriologiese wapens mag inhou, word ook bespreek.
Sub hasta-veilings en die onderskeid tussen oorspronklike en afgeleide wyses van regsverkryging
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 696 –727 (2008)
A judicial sale known as subhastatione and the typical consequences of an original versus a derivative acquisition of property
Although the law of property under the Roman-Dutch law knowingly differentiates between original and derivative modes of acquisition of property, the material consequences of such a classification may be lost in some everyday applications of the legal process. The crux of the classification of a mode of acquisition as "original" is the acknowledgment that the acquirer of the right acquires a "new" unlimited real right, because his acquisition is unfettered by the legal position of a previous owner. The nemo plus iuris principle only applies to derivative modes of acquisition, as does the qui prior in tempore principle. All original modes of acquisition are completed the second the last objective requirement has been met regardless of any additional administrative requirements. The registration of immovable property in the deeds register plays no role in the material change in ownership brought about, eg, by fulfilling the last second of the term for acquisitive prescription. As from that second the previous possessor is the new owner and any limited real right that previously limited the original owner&apos;s ownership has also lapsed with that ownership because there is no legal mode to justify any limitation to the new owner&apos;s ownership to which he had not by real agreement agreed to. The same outcome applies to any registered mortgage bond that used to limit the original owner&apos;s ownership.
A judicial sale subhastatione is another example of original acquisition of ownership. Since Roman times the sanctioning of the sale symbolised by the upright spear (hasta) under which the judicial auction was completed entails that the highest bidder acquires a new unfettered real right of ownership that may not be challenged by excussion by anybody claiming a better title to the property. The authority of the law vouches for the sanctity of the original acquisition.
At the latest, the instant the property has been allocated to the highest bidder, any previous claims or limited real rights that pressed on the original ownership are dissolved. As a consequence of this logical application of the well-known principles, the presumed requirements contained in section 70 of the Magistrates&apos; Courts Act 32 of 1944, which refers to registration in the case of immovable property that had been the subject of a judicial auction, have no material bearing on the change in the legal position: "A sale in execution by the messenger shall not, in the case of movable property after delivery thereof or in the case of immovable property after registration of transfer, be liable to be impeached as against a purchaser in good faith and without notice of any defect." The sanctity of the new acquisition should not be dependent on the registration, because there was no "transfer" of the ownership from the previous owner to the new owner due to the classification of this mode of acquisition as "original". At most, the new owner must comply with the registration requirements before he may transfer any real right or limited real right to the property. This is merely an administrative requirement - section 16 of the Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937 only governs "transfers" or "conveyance" of real rights from one person to another, and that is limited to derivative modes of acquisition.
Any previously registered limited real right still reflected in the deeds registry must be cancelled as a dead letter and no longer reflecting the true legal position. Any mortgagee who negligently neglects to rely on his limited real right and to complain timeously against the published judicial sale loses his limited real right and reverts to the position of a concurrent creditor against his debtor and can lay no claim to preferential treatment with regard to the proceeds of the judicial sale requested by another creditor.
The headlong rush to amoral activism - positivism or alternative adjudication?
Author Marius Smit
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 728 –743 (2008)
Die blindelingse gejaag na amorele aktivisme - positivisme of alternatiewe beregting?
Sedert die toepassing van konstitusionele waardes in uitsprake het die konflik tussen moraliteit en die regspositivistiese benadering van die regbank &apos;n krisis in waardes in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing teweeggebring. Vanweë die veranderende intellektuele klimaat van die een en twintigste eeu waarin postmodernisme die dominante paradigma geword het, behoort streng regspositivisme getemper te word aangesien dit selfweersprekend en deurtrek is met veronderstellings, vooroordele en ontoetsbare voorwetenskaplike gevolgtrekkings.
Die outeur ontleed van die regspraak en toon dat die aanwending van regspositivisme deur die Suid-Afrikaanse howe tot onsamehangende resultate lei. Die reg kan nakoming met mag afdwing, maar in &apos;n konstitusionele demokrasie is beredenering en regverdiging van morele besluite meer volhoubaar as die afdwinging van bevindings wat op positivistiese aktivisme gegrond word. Die outeur pleit dat die howe &apos;n meer omsigtige benadering volg, sodat sake met &apos;n morele grondslag volgens die koöperatiewe model bereg kan word.
Artikel 29A van die Wet op Vervreemding van Grond
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 744 –756 (2008)
Section 29A of the Alienation of Land Act
After a long time of uncertainty due to opposing court decisions in Sayers v Khan and Section Three Dolphin Coast v Gowar, the supreme court of appeal gave some clarity in the Gowar case on the effect of non-compliance with sections 2(2A) and 29A of the Alienation of Land Act and on who should be the protected by this act. The supreme court of appeal came to the conclusion that in the case of noncompliance with section 2(2A) the contract will be voidable and that the act only protects a specific group of consumers, which can be identified by referring to the definition of "land" in the act. Although the court clarified this issue, which was one of the major issues with regard to section 29A, there are still issues which have not been addressed. This includes, amongst others, the unsatisfactory position of buyers who buy "off plan". The legislator should also, in light of the supreme court of appeal&apos;s decision, make it clearer who should be protected when by this act. If the purpose of the act is to protect first-time buyers of low-cost housing, measures should be taken to limit the protection afforded by this act, to first-time buyers only.
Who "owns" the country&apos;s mineral resources? The possible incorporation of the public trust doctrine through the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act
Author Elmarie Van der Schyff
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 757 –768 (2008)
Wie is die eienaar van die land se minerale hulpbronne? Die moontlike inkorporering van die public trust-leerstuk deur die Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act
Die Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 van 2002 is gebaseer op die beginsel dat die land se onontginde minerale hulpbronne die natuurlike erfenis is van alle Suid-Afrikaners. Deur die bepalings van artikel 3 word nuwe konsepte in die Suid-Afrikaanse mineraalreg, wat voorheen op privaat eiendomsreg in die Romeins-Hollandse gemenereg gebaseer is, ingevoer. Die fidusiêre verpligting wat op die staat geplaas word, tesame met die feit dat die minerale hulpbronne aan die nasie as geheel toegeskryf word, vertoon ooreenkomste met die Amerikaanse public trust leerstuk. Ten einde te bepaal of hierdie leerstuk in die Suid-Afrikaanse mineraalreg neerslag gevind het, word &apos;n uiteensetting van die leerstuk gegee. Dit blyk uit die literatuurstudie dat hierdie leerstuk &apos;n regsfiguur is waardeur eiendomsreg van sekere bates in die staat, as beskermheer, vestig. Die staat moet hierdie bates uitsluitlik tot voordeel van die nasie en toekomstige generasies bestuur. Indien die Suid-Afrikaanse howe sal bevind dat hierdie leerstuk wel in die Suid-Afrikaanse mineraalreg geïnkorporeer is, sal dit beteken dat &apos;n genus van eiendomsreg wat sterk ooreenkomste vertoon met die gemeenregtelike res publicae-konsep hier te lande ontwikkel. Die inkorporering van die leerstuk hou implikasies in vir die Suid-Afrikaanse mineraalreg wat onder andere neerslag sal vind in die administrasie van die land se minerale hulpbronne en die regering se verpligting om as beskermheer op te tree.
Eiendomsagent : sonder getrouheidsfondssertifikaat dog nie sonder vergoeding? : aantekeninge
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 769 –776 (2008)
Die vraag of &apos;n eiendomsagent wat sonder &apos;n getrouheidsfondssertifikaat uitgereik ingevolge artikel 16 van die Wet op Eiendomsagentskapsaangeleenthede 112 van 1976 optree wel op vergoeding geregtig is, is nie heeltemal terra nova nie en het by verskillende geleenthede saam met verskeie verbandhoudende vrae die regbank se aandag geniet.
Sessieverbiedende ooreenkomste en die posisie van die kurator of likwidateur by insolvensie : aantekeninge
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 776 –785 (2008)
Die aard en effek van sessieverbiedende ooreenkomste (pacta de non cedendo) is &apos;n onderwerp wat oor die laaste jare in vele regstelsels weens kommersiële praktyksdruk opnuut onder die loep geneem is.
Giving children a voice in family separation issues : a case for mediation : aantekeninge
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 785 –793 (2008)
The emphasis in mediating with children should fall on determining and including their interests in final settlement agreements while limiting their involvement in ongoing conflict (Bracken 219). It is accordingly not necessary to include children in the mediation process from the beginning to the end. The mediator must decide which parts of the mediation the child should attend (Powell 85), although it appears that the best integration of children&apos;s input is achieved when it is obtained early in the process (Saposnek (2004) 162).
Goodbye arrest ad fundandam. Hello forum non conveniens? : aantekeninge
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 794 –800 (2008)
It was only a matter of time before the constitutionality of the common law jurisdictional relic of arresting foreign defendants (peregrini) to found jurisdiction (arrest ad fundandam jurisdictionem) would receive the judicial scrutiny of the supreme court of appeal considering the general trend regarding civil imprisonment. In Bid Industrial Holdings (Pty) Ltd v Strang (2008 3 SA 355 (SCA)) the supreme court of appeal got the opportunity to do just that. The decision is the third of a trilogy of supreme court of appeal decisions which has modernised important aspects of the South African law of jurisdiction in respect of foreign defendants and brought the law of jurisdiction more in line with accepted international practice.
Radikale wysiging van die inheemse reg betreffende opvolging tot stamhoofskap by die Valoyi : regspraak
Author M.W. Prinsloo
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 801 –809 (2008)
Toe hierdie saak voor die hoë hof in Pretoria gedien het, is die eerste, derde en vierde van die bogenoemde vrae ontkennend beantwoord (Nwamitwa v Phillia 2005 3 SA 536 (T)). Volgens regter Swart gaan die wesenlike geskil oor wie as stamhoof van die Valoyi-stam moet opvolg: die applikant, Sidwell Nwamitwa, wat die seun is van Richard, die voormalige stamhoof Fofoza se broer, wat intussen eweneens oorlede is, of die eerste respondent, Phillia Shilubana, wat die dogter en enigste kind van daardie voormalige stamhoof, Fofoza, is. Daar is spesiaal kennis geneem dat toe die voormalige stamhoof Fofoza Nwamitwa op 24 Februarie 1968 oorlede is, hy opgevolg is deur die applikant se vader Richard, die jonger broer van die oorlede stamhoof.
Die hoogste hof van appèl bevestig die onderskeid tussen en vereistes vir onregmatige arrestasie en kwaadwillige vervolging : regspraak
Author J. Neethling
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 809 –813 (2008)
Die verweerder (appellant) het &apos;n rekenaar ingevolge &apos;n huurkoopooreenkoms verkoop aan &apos;n persoon wat &apos;n vals identiteitsnommer en kontakbesonderhede verskaf het. Die persoon het besit van die rekenaar geneem maar nooit enige betaling gemaak nie.
The taxability of illegal income : regspraak
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 814 –819 (2008)
Recently, the supreme court of appeal was confronted, in MP Finance Group CC (In Liquidation) v CSARS (69 SATC 141), with the vexed question whether or not money obtained through an illegal pyramid scheme is, in fact, taxable. The question raises both legal and policy issues. In order to understand the issues underlying this question better, it is vital first to provide some background.
Duelling prospecting rights : a non-custodial second? : regspraak
Authors: P.J. Badenhorst and H. Mostert
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 819 –833 (2008)
This decision of the Northern Cape division dealt with competing "old order prospecting rights" and prospecting rights in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). The decision represents an important contribution to the resolution of tensions between the old mineral law order and the new regime of Act 28 of 2002.
Admissibility of extra-curial admissions as hearsay evidence against a co-accused : regspraak
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 834 –840 (2008)
The admissibility of extra-curial statements made by a co-accused to a magistrate or peace officer as hearsay evidence against an accused in terms of section 3 of the Law of Evidence Amendment Act 45 of 1988 (the act) received the attention of the constitutional court in the matter of S v Molimi. The judgment is of importance as it touched upon vital aspects relating to the interpretation and application of section 3(1) of the act in respect of criminal matters.
Perspectives on jurisdiction in terms of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 : regspraak
Author C.M. Van Heerden
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 840 –855 (2008)
The National Credit Act 34 of 2005, which has repealed the Usury Act 73 of 1968 and the Credit Agreements Act 75 of 1980, has been enacted in order to regulate consumer credit. It is an evolved piece of legislation which demands to be read in context and mainly aims at affording protection to the man in the street. To this end it contains various novel provisions, such as, for instance, the much publicised provisions on reckless credit and over-indebtedness.
Author L.G. Mpedi
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008, pp 856 –857 (2008)
The publishing of the ninth edition of Workplace Law confirms Grogan as one of the few labour law authors who religiously adhere to the two-year guideline. Workplace Law has, since its first appearance in 1996, been updated regularly - almost on an annual basis. The book comprises twenty four chapters. These chapters are categorised into seven parts. Part A of the book contains a chapter dealing with the origins and sources of labour law.
Corporate Law, Elizabeth Boros and John Duns : book review
Author C.G. Kilian
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 2008 (2008)
This text book is written for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in Australia and is divided into seven parts and twenty-two chapters. It is what any Australian reader expects from a corporate law text book. Corporate law is an area in which there is continual development in both jurisdictions, making this book very useful for both postgraduate and corporate practitioners in South Africa.