The majority of established legal systems are predisposed to the express recognition of good faith in contract. The apparent pressure for harmonisation of contract law arising from globalisation and political union will necessitate the Anglo-Commonwealth common law countries addressing their historical resistance to the observance of a general obligation of good faith. Accordingly this thesis appraises whether there is a requirement for a universal doctrine of good faith in New Zealand contractual relationships. The manuscript focuses on a prospective common law doctrine operating primarily as a rule of construction. It identifies the limits of such a judicial doctrine including its probable lack of application to non-contractual dealings and the likely need for a legislative duty if contracting parties are to be precluded from excluding the obligation. The characteristics of the subject doctrine are explored including the potential definition and uses of good faith. Whilst it is shown that good faith serves an important role in contract law, the analysis reveals that there is no current requirement for an express doctrine within New Zealand. The entrenched ‘piecemeal’ approach synonymous with Anglo-New Zealand contract law is not demonstrably deficient when gauged against the reasonable expectations of contracting parties. The current methodology is preferred to a general, unfamiliar and uncertain good faith principle which is likely to be reduced to equate with the existing New Zealand law in any event. Further, duties consonant with good faith may enhance economic efficiency but not in some instances. Good faith is therefore best imposed in specific circumstances rather than as a universal doctrine. Likewise, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that New Zealand is impaired in the international arena due to a lack of good faith despite pressure for New Zealand to accord with widespread overseas practice. The principle is of minimal utility in international trade where commercial certitude is paramount. Although an imperfect exemplar, the unresolved issues pertaining to contractual good faith in domestic American law confirms the identified reservations associated with the subject doctrine.

En s’interrogeant sur une sentence de Quintus Mucius rapportée par Cicéron(Off. 3.70), cette étude entend montrer qu’au-delà de leur diversité et des évolutions qu’elles ont subies, les actions de bonne foi (iudicia bonae fidei)ont été depuis l’époque républicaine invariablement considérées par la jurisprudence romaine comme des actions fondées sur le ius civile, et non sur le pouvoir de juridiction du préteur, malgré le défaut de prévision législative qui les caractérise ; qu’elles furent initialement, pour l’essentiel d’entre elles,secrétées par le droit propre des citoyens romains, dans le cadre de rapports marqués par une certaine intimité de vie (societas vitae), et non du fait d’exigences liées au commerce avec les pérégrins. Corrélativement, la mention de la bonne foi dans leur formule (clause ex fide bona), loin de représenter le fondement d’un devoir moral ou de l’obligation juridique qu’elles protègent,représente un standard de jugement destiné à amplifier les pouvoirs du juge pour la résolution de ces contentieux rendus délicats par les liens d’affinité sociale fréquents entre les parties au litige. De la vient l’étonnante modernité procédurale de ces formules rédigées de manière diplomatique et euphémique. Ainsi l’opposition romaine entre « droit strict » et bonne foi concerne non pas le fondement de l’action, mais les particularités de l’instance et les pouvoirs du juge. / Actions of good faith (iudicia bonae fidei) have for long been suspected of being initially praetorian actions, which were probably for most of them created by the peregrine praetorship to enforce contracts passed by the strangers (peregrine), so that their material source is good faith (fides bona),expressed in their formula by the clause “ex fide bona”. Our research is an attempt to prove that :a) these actions were already considered as civilian actions in the later Republic, despite the lack of a statutory ground b)their initial scope was to protect typically Roman relationships; c)Thus, the clausulaex fide bona was a simple standard that enlarged the power of the judge and overlapped some of the strict rules of Roman civil procedure, as well as it took place in an euphemistic and diplomatic way of writing formulas, in order to respect the social affinity (societas vitae) between the parties.

Apparently the existence of deepgoing antinomies in our system of contracts is an experience too painful to rise to the full level of our consciousnes. In the current transformative milieu, the South African law of contract continues its attempts to convey an image of contract as a coherent system of clear and neutral rules. These attempts stem from the belief that the rule-book, in and of itself, can offer us determinate answers in all contractual disputes. This study was borne out of a concern that in its commitments to sustain this image, the South African law of contract is not sufficiently concerned with transformation and the ideal of justice. In the seventies, Kennedy exposed the ambivalence of the contract system and argued that private law vividly reflected the fundamental contradiction; the irresolvable tension in and among us between acting purely out of self-interest or allowing our actions to be informed, influenced and curtailed by others. Kennedy asserted that the fundamental contradiction could be construed as a continuum with two opposing ‘ideal typical’ positions on both the level of form and substance. On the substance level he referred to this warring engagement as individualism and altruism. On the form level, the ideal typical commitments prefer law either in the form of rules or as open-ended standards. Kennedy’s most provocative claim was that individualism preferred law in the form of rules whereas altruism favoured the open-ended standard form. This claim reflected the understanding that form and substance are interdependent because it is impossible not to ask: ‘Form of what?’ Dalton later added more explicitly that form and substance would politically always generate a hierarchy within a legal system. Following Kennedy, this study engages with the South African law of contract in a similar way. It argues that the South African law of contract not only reflects the fundamental contradiction profoundly, but also privileges and works to sustain the individualism/rule position. This position is not sufficiently concerned with the ethical element of contract (good faith) and with the ideal of contractual justice. I consider whether and how the transition from a totalitarian state to a constitutional democracy affected this hierarchy. I arrive at disappointing but nevertheless hopeful conclusions in the sense that the bias inculcated in the law of contract cannot take anything away from the fact that it operates in the penumbra of a Constitution which is committed to openness, equality, dignity and freedom in all human relationships, including those of a contractual nature. In resisting the traditional representations of contract and in support of the above, I propose a re-emphasis on good faith as the ethical element of contract. Good faith cannot be contained in a neat and tidy legal definition. It realises that we are, in the community of contracting persons, each responsible for the other’s well-being and that we should ultimately remain concerned with the constitutive values of the supreme law under which the subordinated but indispensable law of contract must continue to operate. The difficulty and complexity of this exercise provides no alibi. Copyright 2005, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Barnard, AJ 2005, A critical legal argument for contractual justice in the South African law of contract, LLD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06192006-083839/ > / Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Jurisprudence / LLD / Unrestricted

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / In die skripsie word gekyk na die remedies van 'n versekeraar by wanvoorstelling (nie-openbaring) en waarborgbreuk deur 'n versekerde en veral die beperking van die versekeraar se kansellasiereg. Die klem sal egter val op die remedies by waarborgbreuk omdat versekeraars veel meer daarop steun. Die volgende voorstelle word gemaak. 'n Kansellasiereg behoort in die geval van wanvoorstelling (nie-openbaring) nie verleen te word as die versekeraar nogtans, met kennis van die ware feite, sou kontrakteer nie. By verbreking van bevestigende waarborge behoort 'n kansellasiereg toegestaan te word as die waarborgbreuk die betrokke versekeraar se berekening van die risiko redelikerwys geraak het maar nie as die versekeraar nogtans sou kontrakteer nie. By voortdurende waarborge behoort kansellasie beskikbaar te wees as die waarborgbreuk die skade redelikerwys veroorsaak het. 'n Skadevergoedingseis behoort beskikbaar te wees waar 'n versekeraar nie kan of wil kanselleer nie. / The remedies of an insurer, in the event of misrepresentation (non-disclosure) and breach of warranty by an insured are discussed, particularly limiting the insurer's right to cancel. The emphasis is on the remedies applicable to breach of warranty because insurers use these more frequently. The following solutions are suggested. An insurer should not be allowed to cancel in the event of misrepresentation (nondisclosure) if it would still have concluded the contract, knowing the truth. In the event of affirmative warranties a right to cancel should be available if breach of warranty reasonably affected the particular insurer's assessment of the risk, but not if the contract would still have been concluded. In the event of promissory warranties, cancellation should only be available if breach of warranty reasonably caused the loss. A claim for damages should be available if an insurer can not or does not wish to cancel. / Private Law / LL.M.

Harming the dignity of the learner; refusing to hear his side of the story; neglecting to help him retrieve his stolen property : such are the unfortunate occurrences at many South African schools, and such are the experiences that have led to this research. Dedicated educators sometimes default, leaving their wronged learners out m the cold. The questions are therefore: • What causes this conduct of educators and why does it recur? • Is it ignorance of their legal position? • Is it insensitivity to common law principles and statutory provisions? • Is it sheer carelessness? Mindful of the introduction of the South African Constitution Act 108 of 1996, wh1ch contains the long-awaited Bill of Fundamental Rights, this study has been undertaken to give an educational-juridical perspective of the educator-learner relationship 1n South African public schools by means of a literature study and an elementary legal comparative study. Various legal terms which influence the educator-learner relationship significantly are defined. In conjunction with the private law status of the learner, the position of the learner within the school system, and the fundamental rights of the learner in the context of the administration of justice are identified and dealt with in so far as they have any bearing on the educator-learner relationship, Moreover, the legal determinants of the educator-learner relationship and the educator's duty of care are pinpointed to determine their significance in an accountable, responsive and open educator-learner relationship, A comparative school law perspective of the sources of school law, the duties and responsibilities of educators, the fundamental rights and legal obligations of the learner, the educator's duty of care, discipline and legal liability in England and Wales, Canada, Japan, and South Africa is presented in terms of similarities and differences, Attention is paid to the necessity of informing educators and learners concerning their respective rights and duties, in order to develop accountable, responsive and open educator-learner relationships in South African schools, / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / In die skripsie word gekyk na die remedies van 'n versekeraar by wanvoorstelling (nie-openbaring) en waarborgbreuk deur 'n versekerde en veral die beperking van die versekeraar se kansellasiereg. Die klem sal egter val op die remedies by waarborgbreuk omdat versekeraars veel meer daarop steun. Die volgende voorstelle word gemaak. 'n Kansellasiereg behoort in die geval van wanvoorstelling (nie-openbaring) nie verleen te word as die versekeraar nogtans, met kennis van die ware feite, sou kontrakteer nie. By verbreking van bevestigende waarborge behoort 'n kansellasiereg toegestaan te word as die waarborgbreuk die betrokke versekeraar se berekening van die risiko redelikerwys geraak het maar nie as die versekeraar nogtans sou kontrakteer nie. By voortdurende waarborge behoort kansellasie beskikbaar te wees as die waarborgbreuk die skade redelikerwys veroorsaak het. 'n Skadevergoedingseis behoort beskikbaar te wees waar 'n versekeraar nie kan of wil kanselleer nie. / The remedies of an insurer, in the event of misrepresentation (non-disclosure) and breach of warranty by an insured are discussed, particularly limiting the insurer's right to cancel. The emphasis is on the remedies applicable to breach of warranty because insurers use these more frequently. The following solutions are suggested. An insurer should not be allowed to cancel in the event of misrepresentation (nondisclosure) if it would still have concluded the contract, knowing the truth. In the event of affirmative warranties a right to cancel should be available if breach of warranty reasonably affected the particular insurer's assessment of the risk, but not if the contract would still have been concluded. In the event of promissory warranties, cancellation should only be available if breach of warranty reasonably caused the loss. A claim for damages should be available if an insurer can not or does not wish to cancel. / Private Law / LL.M.

Harming the dignity of the learner; refusing to hear his side of the story; neglecting to help him retrieve his stolen property : such are the unfortunate occurrences at many South African schools, and such are the experiences that have led to this research. Dedicated educators sometimes default, leaving their wronged learners out m the cold. The questions are therefore: • What causes this conduct of educators and why does it recur? • Is it ignorance of their legal position? • Is it insensitivity to common law principles and statutory provisions? • Is it sheer carelessness? Mindful of the introduction of the South African Constitution Act 108 of 1996, wh1ch contains the long-awaited Bill of Fundamental Rights, this study has been undertaken to give an educational-juridical perspective of the educator-learner relationship 1n South African public schools by means of a literature study and an elementary legal comparative study. Various legal terms which influence the educator-learner relationship significantly are defined. In conjunction with the private law status of the learner, the position of the learner within the school system, and the fundamental rights of the learner in the context of the administration of justice are identified and dealt with in so far as they have any bearing on the educator-learner relationship, Moreover, the legal determinants of the educator-learner relationship and the educator's duty of care are pinpointed to determine their significance in an accountable, responsive and open educator-learner relationship, A comparative school law perspective of the sources of school law, the duties and responsibilities of educators, the fundamental rights and legal obligations of the learner, the educator's duty of care, discipline and legal liability in England and Wales, Canada, Japan, and South Africa is presented in terms of similarities and differences, Attention is paid to the necessity of informing educators and learners concerning their respective rights and duties, in order to develop accountable, responsive and open educator-learner relationships in South African schools, / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000

The legal historical development of fairness in the South African common law of contract is investigated in the context of the political, social and economic developments of the last four centuries. It emerges that the common law of contract is still dominated by the ideologies of individualism and economic liberalism which were imported from English law during the nineteenth century. Together with the theories of legal positivism and formalism which are closely related to parliamentary sovereignty and the classical rule of law, these ideals were transposed into the common law of contract through the classical model of contract law which emphasises freedom and sanctity of contract and promotes legal certainty. This approach resulted in the negation of the court’s equitable discretion and the limitation of good faith which sustain the social and economic inequalities that were created under colonialism and exacerbated under apartheid rule. In stark contrast, the modern human rights culture grounded in human dignity and aimed at the promotion of substantive equality led to the introduction of modern contract theory in other parts of the world. The introduction of the Constitution as grounded in human dignity and aimed at the achievement of substantive equality has resulted in a sophisticated jurisprudence on human dignity that reflects a harmonisation between its Western conception as based on Kantian dignity and ubuntu which provides an African understanding thereof. In this respect, ubuntu plays an important role in infusing the common law of contract with African values and in promoting substantive equality between contracting parties in line with modern contract theory. It is submitted that this approach to human dignity should result in the development of good faith into a substantive rule of the common law of contract which can be used to set aside an unfair contract term or the unfair enforcement thereof. / Private Law / LL. D.

De nos jours, la restructuration est une réalité incontournable qui contribue audéveloppement et à la compétitivité des sociétés in bonis. En général, elle résulte d’une décisionprise par les dirigeants sociaux. Toutefois, sa réalisation peut contrevenir à l’exécution des droits descréanciers antérieurs des sociétés concernées par l’opération. Pour préserver leurs droits, cescréanciers disposent de nombreuses mesures de protection issues aussi bien du droit commun quedu droit spécial. L’identification du fondement de cette protection, à savoir la force obligatoire desengagements pris avant la restructuration de la société débitrice, permet de vérifier l’efficacité decette protection. / Restructuring is a reality that contributes to the development and competitiveness ofcompanies in bonuses. It usually results from a decision taken by the companies executives. Itsimplementation, however, may undermine the enforcement of former creditors’ rights by thecompanies involved in the transaction. To preserve their claims, those creditors have manysafeguards from both the common law and the special law. The identification of the basis of suchprotection, namely the binding commitments made before the restructuring of the debtorcompanies, enable the verification of this protection’s effectiveness.

The legal historical development of fairness in the South African common law of contract is investigated in the context of the political, social and economic developments of the last four centuries. It emerges that the common law of contract is still dominated by the ideologies of individualism and economic liberalism which were imported from English law during the nineteenth century. Together with the theories of legal positivism and formalism which are closely related to parliamentary sovereignty and the classical rule of law, these ideals were transposed into the common law of contract through the classical model of contract law which emphasises freedom and sanctity of contract and promotes legal certainty. This approach resulted in the negation of the court’s equitable discretion and the limitation of good faith which sustain the social and economic inequalities that were created under colonialism and exacerbated under apartheid rule. In stark contrast, the modern human rights culture grounded in human dignity and aimed at the promotion of substantive equality led to the introduction of modern contract theory in other parts of the world. The introduction of the Constitution as grounded in human dignity and aimed at the achievement of substantive equality has resulted in a sophisticated jurisprudence on human dignity that reflects a harmonisation between its Western conception as based on Kantian dignity and ubuntu which provides an African understanding thereof. In this respect, ubuntu plays an important role in infusing the common law of contract with African values and in promoting substantive equality between contracting parties in line with modern contract theory. It is submitted that this approach to human dignity should result in the development of good faith into a substantive rule of the common law of contract which can be used to set aside an unfair contract term or the unfair enforcement thereof. / Private Law / LL. D.