Browsing by Author "Pienaar, J. M."

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    Duty to support and the dependant's claim: the struggle of women married in terms of customary and muslim law
    (Juta Law Publishing, 2006-02) Pienaar, J. M.
    INTRODUCTION: Although the economic empowerment and independence of widows are generally dependent on the enforcement of their inheritance rights (and concomitant protection of property rights), a dependant’s successful claim for loss of support in the case of a wrongful death of a husband also contributes significantly to the widow’s ability to provide for herself and her children. In South Africa, under the Roman-Dutch common law, the duty to support has traditionally only been acknowledged in certain circumstances: if imbedded in a valid marriage or resulting from blood relationship. Until 2000, valid marriages only included civil marriages entered into in terms of the Marriage Act. Potentially polygynous marriages were deemed to be against public policy and consequently not recognised. The plight of widows from customary and Muslim marriages was obvious: since the marriage was not recognised as valid, the duty to support was not recognised either. These women, already vulnerable after the death of a spouse, were—irrespective of the duration of the marriage or the number of children born therefrom — without remedy. Widows from civil marriages were, however, able to successfully claim maintenance in similar circumstances.
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    Farm land and tenure security : new policy and legislative developments
    (Juta, 2011-01) Pienaar, J. M.; Kamkuemah, A. N.
    On 24 December 2010 a new Draft Tenure Security Policy and concomitant Draft Land Tenure Security Bill were published for comment. These new measures focus on farm land in particular and have specific implications for the Extension of Security of Tenure Act 62 of 1997 (“ESTA”) and the Land Reform (Labour Tenant) Act 3 of 1996. This contribution briefly explores the reasons for the introduction of these new measures at this point in time, thereafter the Policy and Bill are analysed in detail. In light of our finding that the three main objectives of the tenure reform programme, namely (a) rationalisation; (b) increased security; and (c) the embodiment of constitutional imperatives, have not been achieved, some kind of intervention seventeen years after the tenure reform programme was embarked on, is to be expected. However, it is questionable whether the proposed Policy and Bill in their present formats will address the prevalent short-comings sufficiently. In this regard the contribution identifies two main problem areas: (a) a glaring lack of synergy between the Policy and the Bill; and (b) inherent flaws in the Bill itself. Regarding the first problem, various concepts and contructs identified in the Policy remain unattended to in the Bill. Accordingly, new initiatives proposed in the Policy, for example, the introduction of a permit system, have not been given effect to in the Bill. In fact, neither the acquisition, nor the recording or transfer of rights, have been dealt with in the Bill. The Bill is furthermore drafted poorly, thereby resulting in confusing and ambiguous provisions, for example, relating to the service of notice in eviction proceedings and matters surrounding resettlement areas. In this regard numerous questions remain unanswered. The conclusion is reached that, although intervention in the tenure programme is necessary, the most recent proposals do not embody an allencompassing approach, resulting in numerous lacunae leaving important issues unaddressed.
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    Reflections on the South African land reform programme : characteristics, dichotomies and tensions (part 1)
    (Juta Law, 2014-01) Pienaar, J. M.
    Although the South African land reform programme shares some similarities with other land reform programmes embarked upon internationally, it is in reality a very unusual programme. The sheer scope of the racially based approach to land reform under the previous political dispensation, the remnants of which are still prevalent today, necessitated an all-encompassing redress programme that encapsulated broadening access to land and redistribution, the upgrading of less secure rights (tenure reform) and restoring that which was taken, or restitution. To this end a particular South African land reform programme, which exhibited specific characteristics, and also impacted on the unlawful occupation of land and eviction, was sculpted. Given that South Africa has been grappling with land reform issues cursorily since 1991 and intensively since 1994, the question may be posed as to whether the land reform programme so developed has indeed achieved the objectives it set out to achieve. In this context some consideration of what "land reform" entails, as well as the (unique) characteristics of the programme conducted here, is also called for. In this light a two-pronged question is posed, namely (a) whether the mechanics of intervention have resulted in a sensible, aligned programme that, overall, achieves the objectives and aims it set out to achieve; and (b) whether a compelling argument can still be made for continuing with land reform - in general, but also with regard to the various sub-programmes. In this process of reflection the inherent dichotomies and resulting disconnects inevitably emerge. Reflecting on the South African land reform programme in order to address the two-pronged question posed above therefore embodies two "internal" processes. The first of these is to give some consideration to what land reform and the business of land reform entail, linked to the unique characteristics of the land reform programme overall, as well as the various sub-programmes. This process is followed by, secondly, an exposition of the emerging dichotomies and disconnects. In light of the disconnects and dichotomies the further two-pronged question is posed whether an aligned programme has indeed taken shape, so that an argument in favour of continued land reform can be advanced. Accordingly, the contribution is divided into two parts: part 1 encapsulates the business of land reform and the unique South African characteristics, while part 2 deals with the resultant dichotomies and disconnects.
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    Reflections on the South African land reform programme : characteristics, dichotomies and tensions (part 2)
    (Juta Law, 2014-01) Pienaar, J. M.
    South Africa has grappled with land reform issues – superficially since 1991 and in-depth since 1994. Inevitably, questions arise as to whether the mechanics of intervention over time have indeed resulted in an aligned, sensible programme and whether a compelling argument can still be made to continue with land reform. In order to answer these questions, the “business of land reform” and the characteristics of the South African land reform programme also come into play. Given that the business of land reform is extremely complex in principle and requires a very particular approach in South Africa specifically, part 1 of this contribution illustrated that the land reform programme crafted and conducted here in South Africa is a rather unusual programme with particular characteristics concerning its origin, structure, mechanics and nature. In the second part of the contribution the focus shifts to the dichotomies and tensions inherent in the programme. This analysis is necessary in order to answer the question posed above, namely whether an aligned programme has indeed been crafted and whether, in light of the analysis that follows below, a compelling argument can still be made for continued land reform.
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    Submission to Parliament on the review of section 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
    (2019) Slade, B. V.; Pienaar, J. M.; Boggenpoel, Z. T.; Kotze, T.
    On the 27th of February 2018, the National Assembly adopted a motion to review section 25 and other relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, to permit the state to expropriate land in the public interest without paying compensation. The Constitutional Review Committee, mandated by the National Assembly, has invited written submissions on this matter. We hereby submit our submission on the motion to review section 25 and other relevant provisions. We are also prepared to make oral representation if the need arises.
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    Uitsettings onder die Suid-Afrikaanse grondwet : die verhouding tussen artikel 25(1), artikel 26(3) en die uitsettingswet (deel 1)
    (Juta Law, 2006-01) Pienaar, J. M.; Mostert, H.
    Die beskerming van onroerende eiendomsreg het sedert Chetty v Naidoo twee belangrike ontwikkelings ondergaan. Enersyds is eienaarsbeskerming beïnvloed deur die inwerkingtreding van artikel 26(3) van die grondwet, waarin daar (binne die konteks van die reg op toegang tot behuising) bepaal word dat geen persoon vanuit sy/haar huis gesit mag word tensy dit deur 'n hofbevel gemagtig word nie en dan slegs nadat alle omringende omstandighede oorweeg is. Andersyds het die inwerkingtreding van die Wet op die Verbod op Onwettige Uitsetting en Onregmatige Okkupasie van Grond 19 van 1998 (uitsettingswet) die posisie met betrekking tot die uitsettingsremedie aansienlik aangepas. Artikel 4 van die uitsettingswet bepaal naamlik dat die wet se bepalings by uitsetting toegepas moet word en dat gemeenregtelike remedies gevolglik nie meer beskikbaar is vir die beskerming van onroerende eiendom wat vir behuisingsdoeleindes gebruik word nie.
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    Uitsettings onder die Suid-Afrikaanse grondwet: die verhouding tussen artikel 25(1), artikel 26(3) en die uitsettingswet (slot)
    (Juta Law, 2006-01) Pienaar, J. M.; Mostert, H.
    In President of the RSA v Modderklip Boerdery het die grondwetlike hof onder andere opgemerk dat grootskaalse grondbesetting potensieel ernstige implikasies vir stabiliteit en openbare vrede inhou. Regter Langa het verder geseˆ dat ontoereikende staatsoptrede wat daarop neerkom dat grondeienaars geen beskerming van die staat kan verwag nie, ’n resep vir anargie sal wees. Dit is dus van uiterste belang om die belange wat onderskeidelik deur artikels 25(1) en 26(3) van die grondwet beskerm word in sodanige samehang te plaas dat die beste moontlike oplossing in elke geval bewerkstellig kan word. Die res van hierdie ondersoek is daarop gemik om die samehang tussen die twee relevante grondwetlike bepalings aan die hand van regspraak te analiseer en die implikasie daarvan vir gevalle van uitsetting te verduidelik.