Doctoral Degrees (Private Law)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Private Law) by browse.metadata.advisor "Du Plessis, Jacques"

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    A comparative evaluation of the judicial discretion to refuse specific performance
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-12) Van der Merwe, Su-Anne; Du Plessis, Jacques; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Department of Private Law.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines the contractual remedy of specific performance in South African law. It looks closely and critically at the discretionary power of the courts to refuse to order specific performance. The focus is on the considerations relevant to the exercise of the judicial discretion. First, it emphasises the tension between the right and the discretion. It is argued that it is problematical for our courts to refuse to order specific performance in the exercise of their discretion. The underlying difficulty is that the discretion of the court to refuse specific performance is fundamentally in conflict with the supposed right of the plaintiff to claim specific performance. The thesis investigates the tenability of this open-ended discretionary approach to the availability of specific performance as a remedy for breach of contract. To this end, the thesis examines less complex, more streamlined approaches embodied in different international instruments. Comparison between different legal systems is also used in order to highlight particular problems in the South African approach, and to see whether a better solution may be borrowed from elsewhere. An investigation of the availability of this remedy in other legal systems and international instruments reveals that the South African approach is incoherent and unduly complex. In order to illustrate this point, the thesis examines four of the grounds on which our courts have refused to order specific performance. In the first two instances, namely, when damages provide adequate relief, and when it will be difficult for the court to oversee the execution of the order, we see that the courts gradually attach less or even no weight to these factors when deciding whether or not to order specific performance. In the third instance, namely, personal service contracts, the courts have at times been willing to grant specific performance, but have also refused it in respect of highly personal obligations, which is understandable insofar as the law wishes to avoid forced labour and sub-standard performances. The analysis of the fourth example, namely, undue hardship, demonstrates that the courts continue to take account of the interests of defendants and third parties when deciding whether or not to order specific performance. This study found that there are certain circumstances in which the courts invariably refuse to order specific performance and where the discretionary power that courts have to refuse specific performance is actually illusory. It is argued that our law relating to specific performance could be discredited if this reality is not reflected in legal doctrine. Given this prospect, possible solutions to the problem are evaluated, and an argument is made in favour of a simpler concrete approach that recognises more clearly-defined rules with regard to when specific performance should be refused in order to provide coherency and certainty in the law. This study concludes that a limited right to be awarded specific performance may be preferable to a right which is subject to an open-ended discretion to refuse it, and that an exception-based approach could provide a basis for the simplification of our law governing specific performance of contracts.
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    Developing a structure for the adjudication of class actions in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12) Broodryk, Theo; Du Plessis, Jacques; De Vos, Wouter
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This dissertation is concerned with class actions within the context of South African civil procedural law. There is currently no South African statute or court rule that provides a procedural framework for the institution and regulation of class actions. Our courts have been required to develop the appropriate class action procedural rules using their inherent jurisdiction as entrenched in section 173 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. This was done in Trustees for the time being of the Children’s Resource Centre Trust v Pioneer Food (Pty) Ltd (Legal Resources Centre as amicus curiae) 2013 1 All SA 648 (SCA), which effectively details key aspects of the law relating to class actions in South Africa. However, various ambiguities, inconsistencies and problems remain. In this regard, South African case law on class action procedure has not yet been subjected to a comprehensive and critical analysis in order to provide answers to a number of vital questions. These include the following: i) when is a class action, as opposed to joinder, the appropriate procedural device to beutilised to adjudicate a claim and when is it appropriate to use the opt-in, as opposedto the opt-out, class action regime? , ii) when, if ever, should notice of a class action be given to class members and whenwould individual notice to each class member be required, or would some form ofgeneral notice to the class suffice?; iii) what is the approach that our courts should follow and what are the devices that theycould utilise to determine damages in personal injury class actions?; and, iv) how should a class action be managed and what should the role of the courts be inthis regard? Ultimately, the purpose of the dissertation is to assist in developing a structure that could facilitate the adjudication of class actions in South Africa. This inevitably entails interpreting the South African class action procedure as expounded by our courts and, given the novelty of the procedure, constantly seeking guidance from the class action regimes of prominent foreign jurisdictions, most notably Australia, Ontario and the United States.
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    Developing the South African law of delict: the creation of a statutory compensation fund for crime victims
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Wessels, Albertus Bernardus; Loubser, Max; Du Plessis, Jacques; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Department of Private Law.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The dissertation evaluates the compensatory relief South African law currently provides to victims of crime. To obtain compensation for the harm arising from crime, a victim may institute a common-law delictual claim against the perpetrator of the crime. Because the perpetrator is unlikely to be in a financial position to compensate the victim’s harm, crime victims frequently frame actions against the state, not only on the basis of vicarious liability for positive wrongdoing by state employees, but increasingly on the basis of failure by the state or its employees to prevent crime. This dissertation describes the expanding delictual liability of the state for harm caused by crime and concludes that this development of the law of delict is both theoretically and practically undesirable. The dissertation further argues that the existing statutory mechanisms to claim compensation for harm arising from crime is unsatisfactory and provides little assistance to crime victims. Within this framework the dissertation considers whether there is an alternative method to secure compensation for the hundreds of thousands of South Africans who fall victim to crime each year. The most common solution adopted in foreign jurisdictions is the establishment of a statutory compensation fund for crime victims. The dissertation seeks to establish whether the legislative reform of the South African law of delict through the creation of such a fund is justified and appropriate. To do so, the dissertation analyses the historical background and policy bases of other significant instances of legislative reform of the South African law of delict. In the process, a general theoretical framework is developed that may provide an outline for statutory reform of the law of delict to provide compensation for specific categories of victims. The dissertation thereafter examines whether the establishment of a statutory crime victim compensation fund could fit within this proposed theoretical framework. It is concluded that the proposed fund is justifiable and, when compared to the solutions offered by the current developments within the common-law of delict and existing legislation, it seems, in principle, to be a more desirable solution to improve the legal position regarding compensation of crime victims. To be successful, the proposed statutory compensation scheme must be theoretically sound and practically workable. The dissertation therefore concludes by focusing on several practical questions and considerations which the South African legislature should take into account, if it were to enact such a scheme.
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    Regulating the form and substance of online contracts : South African and foreign perspectives
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Van Deventer, Susanna Maria; Du Plessis, Jacques; Myburgh, Franziska; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Private Law.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation focuses on the procedural and substantive problems which arise in the context of online contracts, i.e. standard form contracts appearing in electronic form. Although standard form contracts are not a new phenomenon, the study identifies certain attributes of online contracts which justify specific consideration of this contracting form. The aims of this dissertation are two-fold: it first determines how online contracting fits into existing legal principles in South African law, and secondly analyses and evaluates this outcome from a comparative perspective. It is argued that the unique characteristics of online contracts – such as their length and ubiquity – render it more difficult to establish assent to these contracts. This concern has featured prominently in American jurisprudence. Central to this issue is the fact that it is not reasonable for consumers to study online contracts, because the cost of reading (in the form of time spent) outweighs the potential benefit. Consequently, the dissertation analyses the formation of online contracts in the South African context. A comparative evaluation with primarily the American legal system – which draws on case law, the provisions of the Draft Restatement of the Law, Consumer Contracts and criticism by American jurists – is used to assess this outcome. It is found that both legal systems subscribe to fairly lenient formation requirements. The possibility of recognising more stringent assent-related requirements, such as imposing specific disclosure requirements, is investigated. The conclusion is reached that there is little to be gained by insisting on stricter formation requirements for online contracts in general, because consumers rationally choose not to read these contracts. A possible exception in the form of voluntary, opt-in consent, as recognised in the European General Data Protection Regulation, is examined and found advisable for specific clauses. It is further argued that, in the South African context, the unexpected terms doctrine can provide important protection to consumers’ reasonable expectations, and can encourage suppliers to identify surprising terms and bring them to the attention of consumers. This requires courts to recognise that consumers reasonably decide not to read online contracts, and that consumers’mistakes about surprising terms in online contracts must almost always be reasonable. The dissertation further identifies and considers specific substantive problems that are affected by uniquely online risks. These include clauses relating to the use of personal information and consumer-generated content, clauses affected by the ongoing nature of online contracts (such as unilateral variation and unilateral termination clauses) and clauses affected by the global nature of online contracts (such as choice-of-law and choice-of-forum clauses). These clauses are evaluated in the light of current measures of substantive control recognised in South African law. The discussion also includes a consideration of procedural issues which could impact the evaluation of the substantive fairness of terms, such as the inequality of bargaining power and possibility of deception. It is found that current measures are inadequate to ensure proper protection for online consumers. Taking guidance from European law, the dissertation suggests legislative amendments to address these issues.
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    Statutory formalities in South African law
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Myburgh, Franziska; Du Plessis, Jacques; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Private Law.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation examines the approach to statutory formalities in South African law. It focuses primarily on formal requirements which result in nullity in the event of non-compliance, and in particular, on those prescribed for alienations of land (section 2(1) of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981) and suretyships (section 6 of the General Law Amendment Act 50 of 1956). To provide context, the study commences with a general historical overview of the development of formal requirements. It also considers the advantages and disadvantages of formalities. The conclusion is reached that an awareness of both is required if a court is to succeed in dealing with the challenges posed by statutory formalities. The dissertation then considers more specific aspects of the topic of formal requirements, including the difference between material and non-material terms. It also reveals that the current interpretation of statutory formalities is quite flexible and tends towards a conclusion of validity if reasonably possible. However, cases involving unnamed or undisclosed principals present particular challenges in this context, and the possibility of greater consistency, without the loss of theoretical soundness, is investigated. A discussion of what should be in writing, and with what exactitude, necessarily involves a consideration of the extent to which extrinsic evidence is admissible. The interaction between formal requirements and the parol evidence rule is therefore investigated. Special attention is paid to incorporation by reference. After an examination of the common-law approach to this topic, the conclusion is reached that room exists for developing this area of South African law, especially where a sufficient reference to another document is concerned. Rectification also enjoys detailed examination, due to the unique approach adopted in South African law. Where formalities are constitutive, a South African court first satisfies itself that a recordal complies with these requirements ex facie the document, before it will consider whether rectification may be appropriate. An analysis of both civilian and common-law judgments suggests that the South African approach is based on a misconception of the purpose of rectification. This leads to the further conclusion that the requirement of ex facie compliance should be abolished as a separate step and that a court should rather consider whether awarding a claim for rectification would defeat the objects of formalities in general. Finally, the remedies available to a party who performs in terms of an agreement void for formal non-compliance and the effect of full performance in terms of such an agreement, receive attention. An investigation of the remedies available in other legal systems reveals that the South African approach of limiting a party to an enrichment claim is unnecessarily restrictive. It is argued that local courts should reconsider their exclusion of estoppel in this context, particularly in cases where one party’s unconscionable conduct has led the other to rely on the formally defective agreement. In cases of full performance, no remedies are available, but it is argued that a distinction should be drawn between reciprocal and unilateral performances.