Assignment 1 Semester 1 2025
Detailed Solutions, References & Explanations
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Due Date: 28 March 2025
QUESTION 1 (3 DETAILED ANSWERS PROVIDED)
SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE APPROACHES TO PATRIMONIAL LOSS: A CRITICAL
DISCUSSION OF RUDMAN V ROAD ACCIDENT FUND 2003 (2) SA 234 (SCA)
1. INTRODUCTION
In the law of delict (and similarly in contract), damages generally serve to compensate the
injured party by placing them in the position they would have occupied had the delict (or
breach) not occurred. South African law usually employs an objective standard to ascertain
the financial prejudice a plaintiff has suffered. Yet, over the years, courts and commentators
have debated whether damages should sometimes be assessed through a subjective lens,
considering the specific circumstances and personal intentions of the plaintiff.
In Rudman v Road Accident Fund 2003 (2) SA 234 (SCA), the Supreme Court of Appeal had
to consider whether the plaintiff, Mr Rudman, had suffered a personal (subjective) patrimonial
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