2020
Private Law 171 NOTES
Sune-Mari Koekemoer
,Contents
LEGAL WORDS AND CONCEPTS.........................................................................................................1
WHAT IS A PERSON?..............................................................................................................................1
LEGAL SUBJECTS.........................................................................................................................................2
LEGAL OBJECTS..........................................................................................................................................2
STATUS...............................................................................................................................................3
CAPACITY............................................................................................................................................3
LIABILITY.............................................................................................................................................3
BEGINNING OF LEGAL PERSONALITY.................................................................................................5
PRESCRIBED CASES................................................................................................................................5
REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGAL SUBJECTIVITY....................................................................................................5
PROTECTION OF UNBORN FOETUS.............................................................................................................5
INTESTATE SUCCESSION..........................................................................................................................6
TESTATE SUCCESION..............................................................................................................................6
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY.................................................................................................................6
RIGHTS OF WOMEN....................................................................................................................................6
END OF LEGAL PERSONALITY............................................................................................................8
PRESCRIBED CASES................................................................................................................................8
PROOF OF DEATH..................................................................................................................................8
PRESUMPTION OF DEATH........................................................................................................................9
COMMON LAW PRESUMPTION OF DEATH.....................................................................................................10
CONSEQUENCES OF ORDER........................................................................................................................10
STATUTORY MEASURES.............................................................................................................................11
REBUTTABLE ACTION.................................................................................................................................11
COMMORIENTES.................................................................................................................................11
REGISTRATION OF DEATH......................................................................................................................11
AGE AS A STATUS-DETERMINING FACTOR......................................................................................13
i
,INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................13
PRESCRIBED CASES...................................................................................................................................13
THE INFANTS......................................................................................................................................14
LEGAL CAPACITY.......................................................................................................................................14
CAPACITY TO ACT.....................................................................................................................................14
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE...............................................................................................................................17
DELICTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.......................................................................................................................17
THE MINOR.......................................................................................................................................18
LEGAL CAPACITY.......................................................................................................................................19
CAPACITY TO ACT.....................................................................................................................................19
GUARDIAN’S ASSISTANCE...........................................................................................................................21
REMEDIES: ASSISTED CONTRACTS................................................................................................................23
REMEDIES: UNASSISTED CONTRACTS............................................................................................................26
UNASSISTED CONTRACT: THE FRAUDULENT MINOR........................................................................................28
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE...............................................................................................................................31
DELICTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.......................................................................................................................32
TERMINATION OF MINORITY.......................................................................................................................33
CONSENT OF MEDICAL TREATMENT OF A MINOR...........................................................................................34
SEX AND GENDER............................................................................................................................36
SEX V GENDER....................................................................................................................................36
LEGAL IMPORTANCE OF SEX...................................................................................................................36
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN LAW BASED ON SEX...........................................................................................37
GENDER REALIGNMENT........................................................................................................................37
BIRTH AS STATUS-DETERMINING FACTOR......................................................................................39
PRESCRIBED CASES..............................................................................................................................39
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD........................................................................39
BEST INTEREST OF CHILD.......................................................................................................................40
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS.................................................................................................41
GUARDIANSHIP........................................................................................................................................41
CARE......................................................................................................................................................42
CONTACT................................................................................................................................................42
ii
,MAINTENANCE.........................................................................................................................................42
PROOF OF PARENTAGE.........................................................................................................................43
MATERNITY.............................................................................................................................................43
PATERNITY: CHILD OF MARRIED MOTHER.....................................................................................................44
PATERNITY: CHILD OF UNMARRIED MOTHER...................................................................................................45
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.................................................................................................46
ACQUISITION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES...............................................................................46
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MOTHERS...................................................................................46
PRR’S OF MARRIED FATHERS.....................................................................................................................46
PRR’S OF UNMARRIED FATHERS.................................................................................................................46
CO-HOLDERS OF PRR’S........................................................................................................................47
TERMINATION, EXTENSION, SUSPENSION OR RESTRICTION OF PRR’S..............................................................49
DOMICILE........................................................................................................................................50
PRESCRIBED CASES..............................................................................................................................50
MEANING OF DOMICILE........................................................................................................................50
RELEVANCE OF DOMICILE......................................................................................................................50
STATUS...................................................................................................................................................50
MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEM...............................................................................................................51
SUCCESSION............................................................................................................................................51
JURISDICTION IN COURT.............................................................................................................................51
TYPE OF DOMICILE..............................................................................................................................52
DOMICILE OF CHOICE................................................................................................................................52
DOMICILE BY OPERATION OF LAW..........................................................................................................53
DOMICILE OF ORIGIN...........................................................................................................................54
PROVING DOMICILE.............................................................................................................................55
GOLDEN RULES OF DOMICILE.................................................................................................................55
OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING STATUS – MENTAL ILLNESS................................................................56
MENTAL ILLNESS (INCAPACITY)...............................................................................................................56
WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?........................................................................................................................56
HOW IS MENTAL ILLNESS PROVED?.............................................................................................................56
EFFECT OF CERTIFICATION BY COURT OR RECEPTION ORDER IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT......................57
iii
,THE MEANING OF MENTAL ILLNESS FOR PURPOSES OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT 17 OF 2002....................58
OTHER INCAPACITIES............................................................................................................................58
EFFECT ON STATUS..............................................................................................................................58
LEGAL CAPACITY.......................................................................................................................................58
CAPACITY TO ACT.....................................................................................................................................59
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE...............................................................................................................................59
DELICTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.......................................................................................................................59
INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY LAW....................................................................................................61
DEFINITION OF FAMILY LAW..................................................................................................................61
SOURCES OF FAMILY LAW..........................................................................................................................61
WHAT DO WE MEAN WITH A “FAMILY”?..................................................................................................61
FAMILY LAW IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2020..................................................................................................62
MARRIAGES.......................................................................................................................................63
CIVIL MARRIAGE......................................................................................................................................63
CIVIL UNION............................................................................................................................................63
CIVIL PARTNERSHIP...................................................................................................................................63
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES...........................................................................................................................64
COHABITATION / DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP.....................................................................................................64
RELIGIOUS MARRIAGES..............................................................................................................................64
MARRIAGE: SEX CHANGE............................................................................................................................65
FUTURE OF FAMILY LAW............................................................................................................................65
THE ENGAGEMENT.........................................................................................................................66
DEFINITION AND LEGAL NATURE OF THE ENGAGEMENT................................................................................66
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS..........................................................................................................................67
LAWFUL TERMINATION OF THE ENGAGEMENT............................................................................................68
UNILATERAL UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF ENGAGEMENT.............................................................................68
DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT OF ENGAGEMENT..............................................................................69
SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE............................................................................................................................69
DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT.........................................................................................................69
DELICTUAL DAMAGES: THE ACTION INIURIARUM.............................................................................................69
iv
,THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING A MARRIAGE...............................................................71
PRESCRIBED CASES...............................................................................................................................71
REQUIREMENTS FOR VALIDITY................................................................................................................71
1. CAPACITY TO ACT............................................................................................................................71
2. LAWFULNESS..................................................................................................................................73
ABSOLUTE INCAPACITY TO MARRIAGE..........................................................................................................73
RELATIVE INCAPACITY TO MARRY.................................................................................................................73
3. CONSENSUS....................................................................................................................................76
1 – MATERIAL MISTAKE (ERROR): EXCLUDES CONSENSUS................................................................................76
2 – MISREPRESENTATION..........................................................................................................................76
3 – DURESS OR INTIMIDATION (METUS)........................................................................................................77
4 – LACK OF CAPACITY TO GIVE CONSENT......................................................................................................77
PRESCRIBED FORMALITIES.....................................................................................................................77
1. MARRIAGE OFFICERS.............................................................................................................................77
2. OBJECTIONS........................................................................................................................................77
3. PROOF OF AGE AND IDENTITY..................................................................................................................78
4. MARRIAGE FORMULA............................................................................................................................78
5. WITNESS.............................................................................................................................................78
6. PLACE AND TIME..................................................................................................................................78
7. REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE..................................................................................................................78
VOID, VOIDABLE AND PUTATIVE MARRIAGES................................................................................79
VOID MARRIAGES...............................................................................................................................79
GROUNDS FOR NULLITY.............................................................................................................................79
VOIDABLE MARRIAGE..........................................................................................................................80
PUTATIVE MARRIAGES.........................................................................................................................81
PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES OF CIVIL MARRIAGE............................................................................83
PRESCRIBED CASES..............................................................................................................................83
INVARIABLE CONSEQUENCES..................................................................................................................83
GENERAL................................................................................................................................................83
STATUS...................................................................................................................................................83
v
,CONSORTIUM OMNIS VITAE........................................................................................................................83
RECIPROCAL DUTY OF SUPPORT..............................................................................................................84
DUTY OF SUPPORT....................................................................................................................................84
THE FAMILY NAME..............................................................................................................................85
MARITAL HOME..................................................................................................................................85
VARIABLE CONSEQUENCES OF A MARRIAGE..................................................................................86
MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEMS........................................................................................................86
MARRIAGE IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY.....................................................................................................86
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE WHEN MARRIED IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY.................................................................89
THE MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY.........................................................................................90
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY: THE ACCRUAL SYSTEM..............................................................91
VARIATION OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEM.................................................................................93
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES...............................................................................................................94
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................94
THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT......................................................................................94
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES DEFINITION..........................................................................................................94
BETROTHAL........................................................................................................................................94
REQUIREMENTS FOR CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES..........................................................................................95
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ENTERED INTO BEFORE THE ACT...............................................................................95
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ENTERED INTO AFTER THE ACT............................................................................96
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS..........................................................................................................................96
PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO BLOOD RELATIONS AND AFFINITY..........................................................................96
NEGOTIATIONS, CONCLUSION AND CELEBRATION ACCORDING TO CUSTOMARY LAW.............................................96
LOBOLO..................................................................................................................................................97
THE REGISTRATION OF A CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE......................................................................................97
PATRIMONIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE....................................................................99
TERMINOLOGY.........................................................................................................................................99
MONOGAMOUS CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES BEFORE THE ACT.............................................................................99
GUMEDE V PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 2009 (3) BCLR 24 (CC)..........................................99
POLYGYNOUS CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES BEFORE THE ACT..............................................................................101
RAMUHOVHI V PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 2017 (4) BCLR 431 (CC).................................102
vi
,MONOGAMOUS CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES AFTER THE ACT.............................................................................103
POLYGYNOUS MARRIAGES AFTER THE ACT..................................................................................................103
MAYELANE V NGWENYAMA 2013 (4) SA 415 (CC)....................................................................................104
SECTION 7(6) OF THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT............................................................104
SECTION 7(7) OF THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT............................................................105
SECTION 7(8) OF THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT............................................................105
LIL SUMMARY........................................................................................................................................106
ALTERATION OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEM............................................................................106
MARRIAGES BEFORE THE ACT...................................................................................................................106
MARRIAGES AFTER THE ACT.....................................................................................................................106
TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE BY DIVORCE..............................................................................................107
GROUNDS OF DIVORCE............................................................................................................................107
PATRIMONIAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIVORCE................................................................................................107
LOBOLO................................................................................................................................................108
CHILDREN.............................................................................................................................................109
TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE BY DEATH.................................................................................................111
CIVIL MARRIAGES AND CIVIL UNIONS....................................................................................................111
THE TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE................................................................................................113
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................113
DISSOLUTION THROUGH DEATH............................................................................................................113
MARRIAGE IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY...................................................................................................113
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY............................................................................................113
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY WITH THE ACCRUAL SYSTEM......................................................113
CLAIMS OF THE SURVIVING SPOUSES.....................................................................................................114
CLAIMS BASED ON INHERITANCE................................................................................................................114
CLAIMS BASED ON THE MAINTENANCE OF SURVIVING SPOUSES ACT................................................................114
DISSOLUTION THROUGH DIVORCE.........................................................................................................114
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................114
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE..........................................................................................................................115
DOES THE COURT HAVE DISCRETION TO REFUSE TO GRANT A DIVORCE?.............................................................116
MAINTENANCE AND THE PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIVORCE..............................................118
vii
,WHAT IS SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE?.......................................................................................................118
THE “CLEAN BREAK” MODEL................................................................................................................118
REASONS TO AWARD MAINTENANCE......................................................................................................118
S 7(2) OF THE DIVORCE ACT...............................................................................................................118
CHANGING A SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE ORDER..........................................................................................119
MAINTENANCE.................................................................................................................................119
CHILDREN AND MAINTENANCE..................................................................................................................119
THE PATRIMONIAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIVORCE.........................................................................121
SETTLEMENT ARRANGEMENTS..............................................................................................................121
MARRIAGE IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY...............................................................................................121
FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS.........................................................................................................................121
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY........................................................................................121
TRANSFER ORDER...................................................................................................................................121
viii
, Legal Words and Concepts
What is a person?
Person: someone/something that can have legal rights and duties.
Subjective law: set of applications of objective principles unto a specific situation
o Legal personality = legal subjectivity = capable of having legal rights and
duties in a legal system
Objective law: network of legal relationship between legal subjects and legal objects.
Determines content and limits of every subjective right.
1
Private Law 171 NOTES
Sune-Mari Koekemoer
,Contents
LEGAL WORDS AND CONCEPTS.........................................................................................................1
WHAT IS A PERSON?..............................................................................................................................1
LEGAL SUBJECTS.........................................................................................................................................2
LEGAL OBJECTS..........................................................................................................................................2
STATUS...............................................................................................................................................3
CAPACITY............................................................................................................................................3
LIABILITY.............................................................................................................................................3
BEGINNING OF LEGAL PERSONALITY.................................................................................................5
PRESCRIBED CASES................................................................................................................................5
REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGAL SUBJECTIVITY....................................................................................................5
PROTECTION OF UNBORN FOETUS.............................................................................................................5
INTESTATE SUCCESSION..........................................................................................................................6
TESTATE SUCCESION..............................................................................................................................6
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY.................................................................................................................6
RIGHTS OF WOMEN....................................................................................................................................6
END OF LEGAL PERSONALITY............................................................................................................8
PRESCRIBED CASES................................................................................................................................8
PROOF OF DEATH..................................................................................................................................8
PRESUMPTION OF DEATH........................................................................................................................9
COMMON LAW PRESUMPTION OF DEATH.....................................................................................................10
CONSEQUENCES OF ORDER........................................................................................................................10
STATUTORY MEASURES.............................................................................................................................11
REBUTTABLE ACTION.................................................................................................................................11
COMMORIENTES.................................................................................................................................11
REGISTRATION OF DEATH......................................................................................................................11
AGE AS A STATUS-DETERMINING FACTOR......................................................................................13
i
,INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................13
PRESCRIBED CASES...................................................................................................................................13
THE INFANTS......................................................................................................................................14
LEGAL CAPACITY.......................................................................................................................................14
CAPACITY TO ACT.....................................................................................................................................14
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE...............................................................................................................................17
DELICTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.......................................................................................................................17
THE MINOR.......................................................................................................................................18
LEGAL CAPACITY.......................................................................................................................................19
CAPACITY TO ACT.....................................................................................................................................19
GUARDIAN’S ASSISTANCE...........................................................................................................................21
REMEDIES: ASSISTED CONTRACTS................................................................................................................23
REMEDIES: UNASSISTED CONTRACTS............................................................................................................26
UNASSISTED CONTRACT: THE FRAUDULENT MINOR........................................................................................28
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE...............................................................................................................................31
DELICTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.......................................................................................................................32
TERMINATION OF MINORITY.......................................................................................................................33
CONSENT OF MEDICAL TREATMENT OF A MINOR...........................................................................................34
SEX AND GENDER............................................................................................................................36
SEX V GENDER....................................................................................................................................36
LEGAL IMPORTANCE OF SEX...................................................................................................................36
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN LAW BASED ON SEX...........................................................................................37
GENDER REALIGNMENT........................................................................................................................37
BIRTH AS STATUS-DETERMINING FACTOR......................................................................................39
PRESCRIBED CASES..............................................................................................................................39
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD........................................................................39
BEST INTEREST OF CHILD.......................................................................................................................40
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS.................................................................................................41
GUARDIANSHIP........................................................................................................................................41
CARE......................................................................................................................................................42
CONTACT................................................................................................................................................42
ii
,MAINTENANCE.........................................................................................................................................42
PROOF OF PARENTAGE.........................................................................................................................43
MATERNITY.............................................................................................................................................43
PATERNITY: CHILD OF MARRIED MOTHER.....................................................................................................44
PATERNITY: CHILD OF UNMARRIED MOTHER...................................................................................................45
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.................................................................................................46
ACQUISITION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES...............................................................................46
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MOTHERS...................................................................................46
PRR’S OF MARRIED FATHERS.....................................................................................................................46
PRR’S OF UNMARRIED FATHERS.................................................................................................................46
CO-HOLDERS OF PRR’S........................................................................................................................47
TERMINATION, EXTENSION, SUSPENSION OR RESTRICTION OF PRR’S..............................................................49
DOMICILE........................................................................................................................................50
PRESCRIBED CASES..............................................................................................................................50
MEANING OF DOMICILE........................................................................................................................50
RELEVANCE OF DOMICILE......................................................................................................................50
STATUS...................................................................................................................................................50
MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEM...............................................................................................................51
SUCCESSION............................................................................................................................................51
JURISDICTION IN COURT.............................................................................................................................51
TYPE OF DOMICILE..............................................................................................................................52
DOMICILE OF CHOICE................................................................................................................................52
DOMICILE BY OPERATION OF LAW..........................................................................................................53
DOMICILE OF ORIGIN...........................................................................................................................54
PROVING DOMICILE.............................................................................................................................55
GOLDEN RULES OF DOMICILE.................................................................................................................55
OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING STATUS – MENTAL ILLNESS................................................................56
MENTAL ILLNESS (INCAPACITY)...............................................................................................................56
WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?........................................................................................................................56
HOW IS MENTAL ILLNESS PROVED?.............................................................................................................56
EFFECT OF CERTIFICATION BY COURT OR RECEPTION ORDER IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT......................57
iii
,THE MEANING OF MENTAL ILLNESS FOR PURPOSES OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT 17 OF 2002....................58
OTHER INCAPACITIES............................................................................................................................58
EFFECT ON STATUS..............................................................................................................................58
LEGAL CAPACITY.......................................................................................................................................58
CAPACITY TO ACT.....................................................................................................................................59
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE...............................................................................................................................59
DELICTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.......................................................................................................................59
INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY LAW....................................................................................................61
DEFINITION OF FAMILY LAW..................................................................................................................61
SOURCES OF FAMILY LAW..........................................................................................................................61
WHAT DO WE MEAN WITH A “FAMILY”?..................................................................................................61
FAMILY LAW IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2020..................................................................................................62
MARRIAGES.......................................................................................................................................63
CIVIL MARRIAGE......................................................................................................................................63
CIVIL UNION............................................................................................................................................63
CIVIL PARTNERSHIP...................................................................................................................................63
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES...........................................................................................................................64
COHABITATION / DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP.....................................................................................................64
RELIGIOUS MARRIAGES..............................................................................................................................64
MARRIAGE: SEX CHANGE............................................................................................................................65
FUTURE OF FAMILY LAW............................................................................................................................65
THE ENGAGEMENT.........................................................................................................................66
DEFINITION AND LEGAL NATURE OF THE ENGAGEMENT................................................................................66
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS..........................................................................................................................67
LAWFUL TERMINATION OF THE ENGAGEMENT............................................................................................68
UNILATERAL UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF ENGAGEMENT.............................................................................68
DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT OF ENGAGEMENT..............................................................................69
SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE............................................................................................................................69
DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT.........................................................................................................69
DELICTUAL DAMAGES: THE ACTION INIURIARUM.............................................................................................69
iv
,THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING A MARRIAGE...............................................................71
PRESCRIBED CASES...............................................................................................................................71
REQUIREMENTS FOR VALIDITY................................................................................................................71
1. CAPACITY TO ACT............................................................................................................................71
2. LAWFULNESS..................................................................................................................................73
ABSOLUTE INCAPACITY TO MARRIAGE..........................................................................................................73
RELATIVE INCAPACITY TO MARRY.................................................................................................................73
3. CONSENSUS....................................................................................................................................76
1 – MATERIAL MISTAKE (ERROR): EXCLUDES CONSENSUS................................................................................76
2 – MISREPRESENTATION..........................................................................................................................76
3 – DURESS OR INTIMIDATION (METUS)........................................................................................................77
4 – LACK OF CAPACITY TO GIVE CONSENT......................................................................................................77
PRESCRIBED FORMALITIES.....................................................................................................................77
1. MARRIAGE OFFICERS.............................................................................................................................77
2. OBJECTIONS........................................................................................................................................77
3. PROOF OF AGE AND IDENTITY..................................................................................................................78
4. MARRIAGE FORMULA............................................................................................................................78
5. WITNESS.............................................................................................................................................78
6. PLACE AND TIME..................................................................................................................................78
7. REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE..................................................................................................................78
VOID, VOIDABLE AND PUTATIVE MARRIAGES................................................................................79
VOID MARRIAGES...............................................................................................................................79
GROUNDS FOR NULLITY.............................................................................................................................79
VOIDABLE MARRIAGE..........................................................................................................................80
PUTATIVE MARRIAGES.........................................................................................................................81
PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES OF CIVIL MARRIAGE............................................................................83
PRESCRIBED CASES..............................................................................................................................83
INVARIABLE CONSEQUENCES..................................................................................................................83
GENERAL................................................................................................................................................83
STATUS...................................................................................................................................................83
v
,CONSORTIUM OMNIS VITAE........................................................................................................................83
RECIPROCAL DUTY OF SUPPORT..............................................................................................................84
DUTY OF SUPPORT....................................................................................................................................84
THE FAMILY NAME..............................................................................................................................85
MARITAL HOME..................................................................................................................................85
VARIABLE CONSEQUENCES OF A MARRIAGE..................................................................................86
MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEMS........................................................................................................86
MARRIAGE IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY.....................................................................................................86
CAPACITY TO LITIGATE WHEN MARRIED IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY.................................................................89
THE MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY.........................................................................................90
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY: THE ACCRUAL SYSTEM..............................................................91
VARIATION OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEM.................................................................................93
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES...............................................................................................................94
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................94
THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT......................................................................................94
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES DEFINITION..........................................................................................................94
BETROTHAL........................................................................................................................................94
REQUIREMENTS FOR CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES..........................................................................................95
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ENTERED INTO BEFORE THE ACT...............................................................................95
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ENTERED INTO AFTER THE ACT............................................................................96
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS..........................................................................................................................96
PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO BLOOD RELATIONS AND AFFINITY..........................................................................96
NEGOTIATIONS, CONCLUSION AND CELEBRATION ACCORDING TO CUSTOMARY LAW.............................................96
LOBOLO..................................................................................................................................................97
THE REGISTRATION OF A CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE......................................................................................97
PATRIMONIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE....................................................................99
TERMINOLOGY.........................................................................................................................................99
MONOGAMOUS CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES BEFORE THE ACT.............................................................................99
GUMEDE V PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 2009 (3) BCLR 24 (CC)..........................................99
POLYGYNOUS CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES BEFORE THE ACT..............................................................................101
RAMUHOVHI V PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 2017 (4) BCLR 431 (CC).................................102
vi
,MONOGAMOUS CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES AFTER THE ACT.............................................................................103
POLYGYNOUS MARRIAGES AFTER THE ACT..................................................................................................103
MAYELANE V NGWENYAMA 2013 (4) SA 415 (CC)....................................................................................104
SECTION 7(6) OF THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT............................................................104
SECTION 7(7) OF THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT............................................................105
SECTION 7(8) OF THE RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES ACT............................................................105
LIL SUMMARY........................................................................................................................................106
ALTERATION OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY SYSTEM............................................................................106
MARRIAGES BEFORE THE ACT...................................................................................................................106
MARRIAGES AFTER THE ACT.....................................................................................................................106
TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE BY DIVORCE..............................................................................................107
GROUNDS OF DIVORCE............................................................................................................................107
PATRIMONIAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIVORCE................................................................................................107
LOBOLO................................................................................................................................................108
CHILDREN.............................................................................................................................................109
TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE BY DEATH.................................................................................................111
CIVIL MARRIAGES AND CIVIL UNIONS....................................................................................................111
THE TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE................................................................................................113
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................113
DISSOLUTION THROUGH DEATH............................................................................................................113
MARRIAGE IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY...................................................................................................113
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY............................................................................................113
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY WITH THE ACCRUAL SYSTEM......................................................113
CLAIMS OF THE SURVIVING SPOUSES.....................................................................................................114
CLAIMS BASED ON INHERITANCE................................................................................................................114
CLAIMS BASED ON THE MAINTENANCE OF SURVIVING SPOUSES ACT................................................................114
DISSOLUTION THROUGH DIVORCE.........................................................................................................114
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................114
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE..........................................................................................................................115
DOES THE COURT HAVE DISCRETION TO REFUSE TO GRANT A DIVORCE?.............................................................116
MAINTENANCE AND THE PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIVORCE..............................................118
vii
,WHAT IS SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE?.......................................................................................................118
THE “CLEAN BREAK” MODEL................................................................................................................118
REASONS TO AWARD MAINTENANCE......................................................................................................118
S 7(2) OF THE DIVORCE ACT...............................................................................................................118
CHANGING A SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE ORDER..........................................................................................119
MAINTENANCE.................................................................................................................................119
CHILDREN AND MAINTENANCE..................................................................................................................119
THE PATRIMONIAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIVORCE.........................................................................121
SETTLEMENT ARRANGEMENTS..............................................................................................................121
MARRIAGE IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY...............................................................................................121
FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS.........................................................................................................................121
MARRIAGE OUT OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY........................................................................................121
TRANSFER ORDER...................................................................................................................................121
viii
, Legal Words and Concepts
What is a person?
Person: someone/something that can have legal rights and duties.
Subjective law: set of applications of objective principles unto a specific situation
o Legal personality = legal subjectivity = capable of having legal rights and
duties in a legal system
Objective law: network of legal relationship between legal subjects and legal objects.
Determines content and limits of every subjective right.
1
