HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS
OF SOUTH AFRICAN LAW
HFL1501
,Table of Contents
Definitions .................................................................................................................................... 3
Learning Unit 1........................................................................................................................... 12
Setting the Scene....................................................................................................................... 12
Learning Unit 2........................................................................................................................... 17
The African Component and Islamic Law ................................................................................... 17
Learning Unit 3........................................................................................................................... 20
The Western Component: Roman Legal History Until the 11th Century ...................................... 20
Learning Unit 4........................................................................................................................... 23
The Western Component: Legal Development in Europe from the 12th to the 19th Centuries ..... 23
Learning Unit 5........................................................................................................................... 27
The Development of the Western Component in South African Law before the 1990s’ .............. 27
Learning Unit 6........................................................................................................................... 30
The South African Liberation Movement and its Contribution to the Development of South African
Law and Constitutionalism ......................................................................................................... 30
Learning Unit 7........................................................................................................................... 34
The Universal Component: The History of Human Rights in South Africa .................................. 34
Learning Unit 8........................................................................................................................... 37
Historical Foundations and Development of the Law of Property and Obligations ...................... 37
Learning Unit 9........................................................................................................................... 39
Law of Property .......................................................................................................................... 39
Learning Unit 10......................................................................................................................... 51
Obligations: The Law of Contract ............................................................................................... 51
Learning Unit 11......................................................................................................................... 59
Obligations: The Law of Delict .................................................................................................... 59
Learning Unit 13......................................................................................................................... 66
The Supremacy of the South African Constitution ...................................................................... 66
Learning Unit 14......................................................................................................................... 68
Transformative Constitutionalism: The Duty to Transform Society Through Law ........................ 68
Learning Unit 15......................................................................................................................... 70
Ubuntu and the Transformation of South African Law ................................................................ 70
Learning Unit 16............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Conclusions .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2|Page
,Definitions
Ab Initio – Latin for "from the beginning." Refers to
something that is considered invalid or void from
the outset, e.g., a contract that was illegal when
created is void ab initio.
Accessio – A principle in property law where ownership of a
property extends to natural or artificial additions,
e.g., crops grown on a land belong to the
landowner.
Actio – A legal action or claim brought by a party in a
court to assert a right.
Actio Ad Exhibendum – A delictual action aimed at compelling a person to
present or exhibit property, often in the context of
showing possession or ownership.
Actio Doli – An action to claim damages arising from
fraudulent conduct; aimed at preventing unjust
enrichment through deceit.
Actio In Personam – A personal action enforceable against a specific
person, e.g., contractual obligations.
Actio In Rem – A real action enforceable against the world,
typically concerning property rights, e.g., rei
vindicatio.
Actio Iniuriarum – A delictual action for injury to personality, dignity,
or reputation; protects against insults, assault, or
defamation.
Actio Pro Socio – A legal action brought by a partner in a
partnership to enforce partnership rights or claims.
Actio Publiciana – A property action protecting a possessor in good
faith who has not yet acquired formal ownership
3|Page
, but would have a valid claim if ownership were
complete.
Actio Quanti Minoris – A contractual action allowing a buyer to claim a
reduction in purchase price due to defects in the
goods.
Actio Redhibitoria – A contractual remedy allowing the buyer to
rescind the contract due to serious defects in
goods.
Actio Utilis – A derivative or adapted action designed to provide
a remedy similar to one in Roman law, even if
formal requirements are not met.
Animus Domini – The intention to act as the owner of a property;
critical for establishing ownership or possession.
Animus Iniuriandi – The intention to injure or offend another person;
relevant in delictual liability.
Bona Fide Possessor – A person who possesses property in good faith,
believing they have legal ownership; may have
certain protective rights.
Bonus Paterfamilias – A standard of reasonable care, derived from
Roman law; the reasonable person against whom
conduct is measured.
Civiliter Modo – Acting in a civil, non-violent, and legally proper
manner.
Compos Mentis – Being of sound mind; legally competent to make
decisions or enter into contracts.
Condictio Indebiti – A claim to recover something paid or delivered by
mistake, e.g., money mistakenly paid to the wrong
person.
4|Page
OF SOUTH AFRICAN LAW
HFL1501
,Table of Contents
Definitions .................................................................................................................................... 3
Learning Unit 1........................................................................................................................... 12
Setting the Scene....................................................................................................................... 12
Learning Unit 2........................................................................................................................... 17
The African Component and Islamic Law ................................................................................... 17
Learning Unit 3........................................................................................................................... 20
The Western Component: Roman Legal History Until the 11th Century ...................................... 20
Learning Unit 4........................................................................................................................... 23
The Western Component: Legal Development in Europe from the 12th to the 19th Centuries ..... 23
Learning Unit 5........................................................................................................................... 27
The Development of the Western Component in South African Law before the 1990s’ .............. 27
Learning Unit 6........................................................................................................................... 30
The South African Liberation Movement and its Contribution to the Development of South African
Law and Constitutionalism ......................................................................................................... 30
Learning Unit 7........................................................................................................................... 34
The Universal Component: The History of Human Rights in South Africa .................................. 34
Learning Unit 8........................................................................................................................... 37
Historical Foundations and Development of the Law of Property and Obligations ...................... 37
Learning Unit 9........................................................................................................................... 39
Law of Property .......................................................................................................................... 39
Learning Unit 10......................................................................................................................... 51
Obligations: The Law of Contract ............................................................................................... 51
Learning Unit 11......................................................................................................................... 59
Obligations: The Law of Delict .................................................................................................... 59
Learning Unit 13......................................................................................................................... 66
The Supremacy of the South African Constitution ...................................................................... 66
Learning Unit 14......................................................................................................................... 68
Transformative Constitutionalism: The Duty to Transform Society Through Law ........................ 68
Learning Unit 15......................................................................................................................... 70
Ubuntu and the Transformation of South African Law ................................................................ 70
Learning Unit 16............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Conclusions .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2|Page
,Definitions
Ab Initio – Latin for "from the beginning." Refers to
something that is considered invalid or void from
the outset, e.g., a contract that was illegal when
created is void ab initio.
Accessio – A principle in property law where ownership of a
property extends to natural or artificial additions,
e.g., crops grown on a land belong to the
landowner.
Actio – A legal action or claim brought by a party in a
court to assert a right.
Actio Ad Exhibendum – A delictual action aimed at compelling a person to
present or exhibit property, often in the context of
showing possession or ownership.
Actio Doli – An action to claim damages arising from
fraudulent conduct; aimed at preventing unjust
enrichment through deceit.
Actio In Personam – A personal action enforceable against a specific
person, e.g., contractual obligations.
Actio In Rem – A real action enforceable against the world,
typically concerning property rights, e.g., rei
vindicatio.
Actio Iniuriarum – A delictual action for injury to personality, dignity,
or reputation; protects against insults, assault, or
defamation.
Actio Pro Socio – A legal action brought by a partner in a
partnership to enforce partnership rights or claims.
Actio Publiciana – A property action protecting a possessor in good
faith who has not yet acquired formal ownership
3|Page
, but would have a valid claim if ownership were
complete.
Actio Quanti Minoris – A contractual action allowing a buyer to claim a
reduction in purchase price due to defects in the
goods.
Actio Redhibitoria – A contractual remedy allowing the buyer to
rescind the contract due to serious defects in
goods.
Actio Utilis – A derivative or adapted action designed to provide
a remedy similar to one in Roman law, even if
formal requirements are not met.
Animus Domini – The intention to act as the owner of a property;
critical for establishing ownership or possession.
Animus Iniuriandi – The intention to injure or offend another person;
relevant in delictual liability.
Bona Fide Possessor – A person who possesses property in good faith,
believing they have legal ownership; may have
certain protective rights.
Bonus Paterfamilias – A standard of reasonable care, derived from
Roman law; the reasonable person against whom
conduct is measured.
Civiliter Modo – Acting in a civil, non-violent, and legally proper
manner.
Compos Mentis – Being of sound mind; legally competent to make
decisions or enter into contracts.
Condictio Indebiti – A claim to recover something paid or delivered by
mistake, e.g., money mistakenly paid to the wrong
person.
4|Page
