FBE2604/101/3/2022
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2022
FORMS OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
FBE2604
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Mercantile Law
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE ............................................................................................ 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 4
3 LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS ..................................................................................... 5
3.1 Lecturers ....................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 5
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 5
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 6
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 6
4.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 6
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 6
4.4 Library services and resources ..................................................................................................... 7
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 7
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 9
7 PRACTICAL WORK ................................................................................................................... 10
8 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Assessment criteria ..................................................................................................................... 10
8.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 10
8.3 Assignments numbers ................................................................................................................ 11
8.3.1 General assignments numbers ................................................................................................... 11
8.3.2 Unique assignments numbers ..................................................................................................... 11
8.5 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 13
8.6 The assignments ........................................................................................................................ 13
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 16
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 16
9 ADDENDUMS ............................................................................................................................ 17
2
,1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE
Welcome to this module. We hope that you will find it both interesting and rewarding. We shall do
our best to make your study of this module successful. You will be well on your way to success if
you start studying early in the semester and resolve to do the assignments properly.
You will be able to access a number of tutorial letters on myUnisa under the official study material.
A tutorial letter is our way of communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.
Right from the start, we would like to point out that you must read this tutorial letter and all the
tutorial letters posted on myUnisa during the semester. Read these tutorial letters immediately
and carefully, as they always contain important and, sometimes, urgent information. Some of the
study material may not have been available when you registered. Study material that was not
available when you registered will be posted to you as soon as possible but will also be available
on myUnisa. Remember that tutorial letters are available on myUnisa long before they reach you
by mail.
This tutorial letter contains important information about the foundational study unit 0
scheme of work, resources and assignments for this module. We urge you to read it carefully and
to keep it at hand when working through the study material, completing the assignments,
preparing for the examination and addressing questions to your lecturers.
In this tutorial letter, you will find the assignments, information on assessment criteria as well as
instructions on the preparation and submission of the assignments. It also provides all the
information you need regarding the prescribed study material and other resources. Please study
this information carefully.
Please read Tutorial Letter 301 in combination with this tutorial letter as it provides important
information on studying at an open distance e-learning institution and within a particular college.
A study schedule to help you plan your study time for this module is provided at the end of this
tutorial letter. Bear in mind that this module is a semester module of 12 credits for second-year
students. This means that you need to spend at least 10 hours per week on this module. A
semester is 12 weeks long and, therefore, you need 120 hours to study for this module. The last
three to four weeks of the semester must be devoted to revision.
1.1 Transformative Constitutionalism Statement
As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a transformation
charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this charter, we have also
placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. For your information, curriculum
transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the
infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their principles will be
integrated at both the programme and module levels, as a phased-in approach. You will notice
the implementation thereof in your modules, and we encourage you to embrace these changes
during your studies.
The values and beliefs that govern the principles of the law of contract and commerce are based
on constitutional values and principles as depicted in the constitutional right to property and
3
, freedom of trade just to name a few. These values and principles often incorporate African values
including the concept of ubuntu. The Constitution of South Africa, 1996 encapsulates African
values, philosophies and principles imbued in the teaching and learning. Therefore, formative and
summative assessment will include African philosophies as discussed in tutorial material.
1.2 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa
Unisa’s first-year experience (FYE) initiative is designed to provide extended support to students
entering Unisa and Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) environment for the first time by increasing
communication between the institution and its students, and by also providing important
information during crucial points in the students journey. FYE is a collective effort to help first-
year students to adapt to ODeL environment. Through the FYE students will be provided with on-
time and helpful information about the services that the institution offers and how they can access
the services.
FYE initiatives
• FYE emails – are a tool to help first-year students to stay focused, and motivated.
• FYE broadcasts – various topics related to first-year studies are broadcasted with
academic and support staff from different colleges and departments.
• FYE mailbox – to help assist students with queries related to their first year of study.
• FYE website – to help bridge the gap between students and the institution.
• FYE MOOC – to help prepare, orientate and familiarise students with Unisa environment.
Visit our website:
www.unisa.ac.za/FYE
Participate in the FYE MOOC:
mooc.unisa.ac.za
Contact us:
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1 Purpose
This module is aimed at law students who are introduced to the different forms of enterprise in
South Africa for the first time. This module is useful if you wish to acquire general background
knowledge about the main characteristics of and the basic operations in partnerships, companies,
close corporations and business trusts.
Furthermore, this module introduces the regulatory framework within which these forms of
enterprise are set, with specific emphasis on the Companies Act 71 of 2008, which came into
operation on 1st of May 2011. In addition, it will expose you to case law and the practical
application of the law regarding these forms of enterprise.
2.2 Outcomes
After you have passed this module, you should be able to advise persons wishing to start their
own business on which form of enterprise would be the most suitable for the specific business
4
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2022
FORMS OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
FBE2604
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Mercantile Law
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE ............................................................................................ 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 4
3 LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS ..................................................................................... 5
3.1 Lecturers ....................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 5
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 5
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 6
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 6
4.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 6
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 6
4.4 Library services and resources ..................................................................................................... 7
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 7
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 9
7 PRACTICAL WORK ................................................................................................................... 10
8 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Assessment criteria ..................................................................................................................... 10
8.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 10
8.3 Assignments numbers ................................................................................................................ 11
8.3.1 General assignments numbers ................................................................................................... 11
8.3.2 Unique assignments numbers ..................................................................................................... 11
8.5 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 13
8.6 The assignments ........................................................................................................................ 13
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 16
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 16
9 ADDENDUMS ............................................................................................................................ 17
2
,1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE
Welcome to this module. We hope that you will find it both interesting and rewarding. We shall do
our best to make your study of this module successful. You will be well on your way to success if
you start studying early in the semester and resolve to do the assignments properly.
You will be able to access a number of tutorial letters on myUnisa under the official study material.
A tutorial letter is our way of communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.
Right from the start, we would like to point out that you must read this tutorial letter and all the
tutorial letters posted on myUnisa during the semester. Read these tutorial letters immediately
and carefully, as they always contain important and, sometimes, urgent information. Some of the
study material may not have been available when you registered. Study material that was not
available when you registered will be posted to you as soon as possible but will also be available
on myUnisa. Remember that tutorial letters are available on myUnisa long before they reach you
by mail.
This tutorial letter contains important information about the foundational study unit 0
scheme of work, resources and assignments for this module. We urge you to read it carefully and
to keep it at hand when working through the study material, completing the assignments,
preparing for the examination and addressing questions to your lecturers.
In this tutorial letter, you will find the assignments, information on assessment criteria as well as
instructions on the preparation and submission of the assignments. It also provides all the
information you need regarding the prescribed study material and other resources. Please study
this information carefully.
Please read Tutorial Letter 301 in combination with this tutorial letter as it provides important
information on studying at an open distance e-learning institution and within a particular college.
A study schedule to help you plan your study time for this module is provided at the end of this
tutorial letter. Bear in mind that this module is a semester module of 12 credits for second-year
students. This means that you need to spend at least 10 hours per week on this module. A
semester is 12 weeks long and, therefore, you need 120 hours to study for this module. The last
three to four weeks of the semester must be devoted to revision.
1.1 Transformative Constitutionalism Statement
As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a transformation
charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this charter, we have also
placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. For your information, curriculum
transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the
infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their principles will be
integrated at both the programme and module levels, as a phased-in approach. You will notice
the implementation thereof in your modules, and we encourage you to embrace these changes
during your studies.
The values and beliefs that govern the principles of the law of contract and commerce are based
on constitutional values and principles as depicted in the constitutional right to property and
3
, freedom of trade just to name a few. These values and principles often incorporate African values
including the concept of ubuntu. The Constitution of South Africa, 1996 encapsulates African
values, philosophies and principles imbued in the teaching and learning. Therefore, formative and
summative assessment will include African philosophies as discussed in tutorial material.
1.2 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa
Unisa’s first-year experience (FYE) initiative is designed to provide extended support to students
entering Unisa and Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) environment for the first time by increasing
communication between the institution and its students, and by also providing important
information during crucial points in the students journey. FYE is a collective effort to help first-
year students to adapt to ODeL environment. Through the FYE students will be provided with on-
time and helpful information about the services that the institution offers and how they can access
the services.
FYE initiatives
• FYE emails – are a tool to help first-year students to stay focused, and motivated.
• FYE broadcasts – various topics related to first-year studies are broadcasted with
academic and support staff from different colleges and departments.
• FYE mailbox – to help assist students with queries related to their first year of study.
• FYE website – to help bridge the gap between students and the institution.
• FYE MOOC – to help prepare, orientate and familiarise students with Unisa environment.
Visit our website:
www.unisa.ac.za/FYE
Participate in the FYE MOOC:
mooc.unisa.ac.za
Contact us:
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1 Purpose
This module is aimed at law students who are introduced to the different forms of enterprise in
South Africa for the first time. This module is useful if you wish to acquire general background
knowledge about the main characteristics of and the basic operations in partnerships, companies,
close corporations and business trusts.
Furthermore, this module introduces the regulatory framework within which these forms of
enterprise are set, with specific emphasis on the Companies Act 71 of 2008, which came into
operation on 1st of May 2011. In addition, it will expose you to case law and the practical
application of the law regarding these forms of enterprise.
2.2 Outcomes
After you have passed this module, you should be able to advise persons wishing to start their
own business on which form of enterprise would be the most suitable for the specific business
4
