Law of Delict Notes - 2022
Table of Contents
Theme 1: Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 8
1. Development................................................................................................................................................. 8
2. Definition....................................................................................................................................................... 8
3. Nature and premise....................................................................................................................................... 9
4. Functions..................................................................................................................................................... 11
5. Remedies and protected interests............................................................................................................... 11
5.1 Remedies.............................................................................................................................................. 11
6. Elements of a delict..................................................................................................................................... 15
6.1 Elements of fault-based liability in delict................................................................................................ 15
6.2 Elements of strict liability (faultless liability)........................................................................................... 15
6.3 General principles modified for specific actions.....................................................................................15
6.4 Systematic approach to delictual problem solving.................................................................................18
7. Interaction with other areas of the law......................................................................................................... 19
Theme 2: Harm................................................................................................................................................... 21
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 21
1.1 What is harm?....................................................................................................................................... 21
1.2 Normative component........................................................................................................................... 21
2. Patrimonial and non-patrimonial loss.......................................................................................................... 21
2.1 Patrimonial harm................................................................................................................................... 21
2.2 Non-patrimonial harm............................................................................................................................ 22
2.3 Distinction between patrimonial and non-patrimonial loss.....................................................................22
2.4 How do we measure harm?................................................................................................................... 22
3. Pain and suffering....................................................................................................................................... 22
3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 22
3.2 Pain and suffering.................................................................................................................................. 23
3.3 Loss of amenities of life......................................................................................................................... 23
3.4 Problem cases....................................................................................................................................... 23
4. Infringement of a personality interest........................................................................................................... 23
4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 23
4.2 Corpus................................................................................................................................................... 24
4.3 Dignitas................................................................................................................................................. 24
4.4 Privacy................................................................................................................................................... 24
4.5 Identity................................................................................................................................................... 25
4.6 Fama..................................................................................................................................................... 25
, 5. Personality rights and the Constitution........................................................................................................ 25
6. Conclusion................................................................................................................................................... 26
Theme 3: Conduct.............................................................................................................................................. 27
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 27
1.1 Element of a delict................................................................................................................................. 27
1.2 Fault based v strict liability..................................................................................................................... 27
1.3 Definition............................................................................................................................................... 27
1.4 Factual question.................................................................................................................................... 27
1.5 Forms of conduct................................................................................................................................... 27
1.6 Why are the different forms important?................................................................................................. 28
1.7 Requirements for conduct..................................................................................................................... 28
2. Human conduct........................................................................................................................................... 28
3. Voluntary conduct and the defence of automatism......................................................................................28
3.1 Voluntary conduct.................................................................................................................................. 28
3.2 Defence of automatism.......................................................................................................................... 29
4. Commission and Omission.......................................................................................................................... 30
4.1 Distinction.............................................................................................................................................. 30
4.2 Overlap.................................................................................................................................................. 30
5. Animal behaviour......................................................................................................................................... 30
Theme 4: Factual Causation............................................................................................................................. 32
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 32
2. Conditio sine qua non.................................................................................................................................. 33
2.1 What is the conditio sine qua non test?................................................................................................. 33
2.2 Positive conduct.................................................................................................................................... 33
2.3 Failure to act.......................................................................................................................................... 33
3. Determining factual causation..................................................................................................................... 35
4. Critique of conditio sine qua non................................................................................................................. 37
5. Alternative approaches................................................................................................................................ 37
5.1 Material contribution.............................................................................................................................. 37
5.2 Common sense approach..................................................................................................................... 38
5.3 Human experience and knowledge....................................................................................................... 38
5.4 Increasing risk....................................................................................................................................... 38
5.6 The NESS-test....................................................................................................................................... 38
6. Appropriate test for factual causation.......................................................................................................... 38
Theme 5: Legal Causation................................................................................................................................. 41
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 42
1
, 2. General test – The Flexible Approach......................................................................................................... 42
3. Subsidiary Tests.......................................................................................................................................... 43
4. Talem qualem rule....................................................................................................................................... 43
5. Novus Actus Interveniens............................................................................................................................ 43
Theme 6: Fault.................................................................................................................................................... 44
6.1 Accountability............................................................................................................................................ 44
6.2 Intent......................................................................................................................................................... 44
6.3 Negligence................................................................................................................................................ 44
Theme 7: Wrongfulness.................................................................................................................................... 44
Theme 8: Grounds of Justification................................................................................................................... 44
Theme 9: Concurrence of Remedies and Actions........................................................................................... 44
Theme 10: The relationship between the law of delict and the Constitution................................................44
Theme 11: Liability for an Omission................................................................................................................. 45
11.1 Context.................................................................................................................................................... 45
11.2 Historical Development............................................................................................................................ 45
Roman law.................................................................................................................................................. 45
Roman-Dutch law........................................................................................................................................ 45
Modern South African Law.......................................................................................................................... 45
Constitutional era........................................................................................................................................ 47
New approach............................................................................................................................................. 47
11.3 Wrongfulness: policy considerations....................................................................................................... 48
Fear of unlimited liability.............................................................................................................................. 48
Additional burden on defendant................................................................................................................... 48
Vulnerability of plaintiff concern................................................................................................................... 49
Prior conduct that creates risk or danger..................................................................................................... 49
Control over dangerous object.................................................................................................................... 49
State departments, public bodies and officials that promote public interest................................................49
Accountability.............................................................................................................................................. 49
Common law or statutory obligation on the defendant.................................................................................49
Special relationship: Is there a special relationship between the defendant and plaintiff?...........................49
Defendant’s knowledge............................................................................................................................... 50
Practical measures to avoid harm............................................................................................................... 50
Whether the defendants conduct created an expectation to protect the plaintiff’s interests and rights........50
11.4 Practical Problem Question..................................................................................................................... 50
2
, Framework for answering:............................................................................................................................... 50
Summary......................................................................................................................................................... 51
Theme 12: Negligent misstatement and liability for pure economic loss.....................................................52
12.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 52
Negligent misstatement............................................................................................................................... 52
Pure economic loss..................................................................................................................................... 53
Pure economic loss v Consequential loss................................................................................................... 53
Other forms of causation of pure economic loss......................................................................................... 53
12.2 Historical Development............................................................................................................................ 53
Important comment...................................................................................................................................... 53
Philosophical foundation and policy considerations....................................................................................54
Modern South African Law.......................................................................................................................... 54
12.3 Thought process...................................................................................................................................... 54
Harm............................................................................................................................................................ 54
Conduct....................................................................................................................................................... 54
Causation.................................................................................................................................................... 54
Fault............................................................................................................................................................ 54
Wrongfulness.............................................................................................................................................. 54
12.4 Wrongfulness: Policy considerations....................................................................................................... 55
Unlimited liability / considerations re the socio-economic effect of liability..................................................55
Plaintiff’s ability to protect – vulnerability..................................................................................................... 55
Additional burden........................................................................................................................................ 55
Public office................................................................................................................................................. 55
Professional knowledge and competence................................................................................................... 55
Knowledge or foreseeability........................................................................................................................ 55
Special relationship..................................................................................................................................... 55
Statutory duty.............................................................................................................................................. 56
Control......................................................................................................................................................... 56
Practical measures to prevent harm re the defendant.................................................................................56
State of mind of the defendant: Intent (fraud/dishonesty)............................................................................56
12.5 Practical Problem Question..................................................................................................................... 56
Framework for answering................................................................................................................................ 57
Answer............................................................................................................................................................ 57
Theme 13: Interference with Contractual Relationships................................................................................59
Overview......................................................................................................................................................... 59
Summary......................................................................................................................................................... 60
1. Introduction: Context................................................................................................................................... 60
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Table of Contents
Theme 1: Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 8
1. Development................................................................................................................................................. 8
2. Definition....................................................................................................................................................... 8
3. Nature and premise....................................................................................................................................... 9
4. Functions..................................................................................................................................................... 11
5. Remedies and protected interests............................................................................................................... 11
5.1 Remedies.............................................................................................................................................. 11
6. Elements of a delict..................................................................................................................................... 15
6.1 Elements of fault-based liability in delict................................................................................................ 15
6.2 Elements of strict liability (faultless liability)........................................................................................... 15
6.3 General principles modified for specific actions.....................................................................................15
6.4 Systematic approach to delictual problem solving.................................................................................18
7. Interaction with other areas of the law......................................................................................................... 19
Theme 2: Harm................................................................................................................................................... 21
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 21
1.1 What is harm?....................................................................................................................................... 21
1.2 Normative component........................................................................................................................... 21
2. Patrimonial and non-patrimonial loss.......................................................................................................... 21
2.1 Patrimonial harm................................................................................................................................... 21
2.2 Non-patrimonial harm............................................................................................................................ 22
2.3 Distinction between patrimonial and non-patrimonial loss.....................................................................22
2.4 How do we measure harm?................................................................................................................... 22
3. Pain and suffering....................................................................................................................................... 22
3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 22
3.2 Pain and suffering.................................................................................................................................. 23
3.3 Loss of amenities of life......................................................................................................................... 23
3.4 Problem cases....................................................................................................................................... 23
4. Infringement of a personality interest........................................................................................................... 23
4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 23
4.2 Corpus................................................................................................................................................... 24
4.3 Dignitas................................................................................................................................................. 24
4.4 Privacy................................................................................................................................................... 24
4.5 Identity................................................................................................................................................... 25
4.6 Fama..................................................................................................................................................... 25
, 5. Personality rights and the Constitution........................................................................................................ 25
6. Conclusion................................................................................................................................................... 26
Theme 3: Conduct.............................................................................................................................................. 27
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 27
1.1 Element of a delict................................................................................................................................. 27
1.2 Fault based v strict liability..................................................................................................................... 27
1.3 Definition............................................................................................................................................... 27
1.4 Factual question.................................................................................................................................... 27
1.5 Forms of conduct................................................................................................................................... 27
1.6 Why are the different forms important?................................................................................................. 28
1.7 Requirements for conduct..................................................................................................................... 28
2. Human conduct........................................................................................................................................... 28
3. Voluntary conduct and the defence of automatism......................................................................................28
3.1 Voluntary conduct.................................................................................................................................. 28
3.2 Defence of automatism.......................................................................................................................... 29
4. Commission and Omission.......................................................................................................................... 30
4.1 Distinction.............................................................................................................................................. 30
4.2 Overlap.................................................................................................................................................. 30
5. Animal behaviour......................................................................................................................................... 30
Theme 4: Factual Causation............................................................................................................................. 32
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 32
2. Conditio sine qua non.................................................................................................................................. 33
2.1 What is the conditio sine qua non test?................................................................................................. 33
2.2 Positive conduct.................................................................................................................................... 33
2.3 Failure to act.......................................................................................................................................... 33
3. Determining factual causation..................................................................................................................... 35
4. Critique of conditio sine qua non................................................................................................................. 37
5. Alternative approaches................................................................................................................................ 37
5.1 Material contribution.............................................................................................................................. 37
5.2 Common sense approach..................................................................................................................... 38
5.3 Human experience and knowledge....................................................................................................... 38
5.4 Increasing risk....................................................................................................................................... 38
5.6 The NESS-test....................................................................................................................................... 38
6. Appropriate test for factual causation.......................................................................................................... 38
Theme 5: Legal Causation................................................................................................................................. 41
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 42
1
, 2. General test – The Flexible Approach......................................................................................................... 42
3. Subsidiary Tests.......................................................................................................................................... 43
4. Talem qualem rule....................................................................................................................................... 43
5. Novus Actus Interveniens............................................................................................................................ 43
Theme 6: Fault.................................................................................................................................................... 44
6.1 Accountability............................................................................................................................................ 44
6.2 Intent......................................................................................................................................................... 44
6.3 Negligence................................................................................................................................................ 44
Theme 7: Wrongfulness.................................................................................................................................... 44
Theme 8: Grounds of Justification................................................................................................................... 44
Theme 9: Concurrence of Remedies and Actions........................................................................................... 44
Theme 10: The relationship between the law of delict and the Constitution................................................44
Theme 11: Liability for an Omission................................................................................................................. 45
11.1 Context.................................................................................................................................................... 45
11.2 Historical Development............................................................................................................................ 45
Roman law.................................................................................................................................................. 45
Roman-Dutch law........................................................................................................................................ 45
Modern South African Law.......................................................................................................................... 45
Constitutional era........................................................................................................................................ 47
New approach............................................................................................................................................. 47
11.3 Wrongfulness: policy considerations....................................................................................................... 48
Fear of unlimited liability.............................................................................................................................. 48
Additional burden on defendant................................................................................................................... 48
Vulnerability of plaintiff concern................................................................................................................... 49
Prior conduct that creates risk or danger..................................................................................................... 49
Control over dangerous object.................................................................................................................... 49
State departments, public bodies and officials that promote public interest................................................49
Accountability.............................................................................................................................................. 49
Common law or statutory obligation on the defendant.................................................................................49
Special relationship: Is there a special relationship between the defendant and plaintiff?...........................49
Defendant’s knowledge............................................................................................................................... 50
Practical measures to avoid harm............................................................................................................... 50
Whether the defendants conduct created an expectation to protect the plaintiff’s interests and rights........50
11.4 Practical Problem Question..................................................................................................................... 50
2
, Framework for answering:............................................................................................................................... 50
Summary......................................................................................................................................................... 51
Theme 12: Negligent misstatement and liability for pure economic loss.....................................................52
12.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 52
Negligent misstatement............................................................................................................................... 52
Pure economic loss..................................................................................................................................... 53
Pure economic loss v Consequential loss................................................................................................... 53
Other forms of causation of pure economic loss......................................................................................... 53
12.2 Historical Development............................................................................................................................ 53
Important comment...................................................................................................................................... 53
Philosophical foundation and policy considerations....................................................................................54
Modern South African Law.......................................................................................................................... 54
12.3 Thought process...................................................................................................................................... 54
Harm............................................................................................................................................................ 54
Conduct....................................................................................................................................................... 54
Causation.................................................................................................................................................... 54
Fault............................................................................................................................................................ 54
Wrongfulness.............................................................................................................................................. 54
12.4 Wrongfulness: Policy considerations....................................................................................................... 55
Unlimited liability / considerations re the socio-economic effect of liability..................................................55
Plaintiff’s ability to protect – vulnerability..................................................................................................... 55
Additional burden........................................................................................................................................ 55
Public office................................................................................................................................................. 55
Professional knowledge and competence................................................................................................... 55
Knowledge or foreseeability........................................................................................................................ 55
Special relationship..................................................................................................................................... 55
Statutory duty.............................................................................................................................................. 56
Control......................................................................................................................................................... 56
Practical measures to prevent harm re the defendant.................................................................................56
State of mind of the defendant: Intent (fraud/dishonesty)............................................................................56
12.5 Practical Problem Question..................................................................................................................... 56
Framework for answering................................................................................................................................ 57
Answer............................................................................................................................................................ 57
Theme 13: Interference with Contractual Relationships................................................................................59
Overview......................................................................................................................................................... 59
Summary......................................................................................................................................................... 60
1. Introduction: Context................................................................................................................................... 60
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