Commercial arbitration is growing in importance in the modern world. People often use arbitration to ensure adjudication by an expert in the field and although arbitration may not always be quicker, its importance continues to grow especially in international commercial disputes.1 Effective arbitration procedures will have positive consequences for the economical and political relationships between countries.2 The Arbitration Act 42 of 1965 might have sufficed in the past, but as international commercial arbitration is ever increasing and changing, this act has become out–dated. It does not effectively facilitate international commercial arbitration. The Act was primarily designed with domestic commercial arbitration in mind and therefore it is of limited assistance in the international commercial arbitration sphere. The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law3 has developed the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration.4 This Model Law or variations thereof can be adopted by a country to regulate international commercial arbitration.5 Many countries choose to adopt the Model Law. The reasons vary but some are that the country’s own arbitration laws were out–dated and needed replacement. The Model Law has proved to be effective and it has become a benchmark for good arbitration legislation.6 Some countries have even adopted the Model Law for use in domestic commercial arbitration disputes. The South African Law Commission7 published a report in 1998 dealing with the possible application of the Model Law on international commercial arbitration in South Africa. It drafted a Draft Bill on International Arbitration (not as of yet promulgated) based on the Model Law.9 One of the points of discussion in the report of the Commission was whether the Model Law should also be made applicable to domestic commercial arbitration in South Africa. The conclusion was that domestic and international arbitration should be dealt with separately and that the present Act regulating domestic arbitration should be amended but not replaced by the Model Law. This implies two arbitration regimes: the International Arbitration Act (dealing only with international commercial arbitration); and the Arbitration Act (dealing only with domestic commercial arbitration) After the Commission’s report had been studied and South Africa’s legal position had been compared with Australia’s legal position, it is conlcuded that Australia is a good example to follow in regard to arbitration practices. It is, however, important to keep South Africa’s own background in mind. A good point made by Australia, is the fact that international commercial arbitration legislation and domestic commercial arbitration legislation, should be kept separate. This will bring about effectiveness and clarity for the users of the said legislation. Furthermore, as end conclusion, the Commission’s view is not favoured in regard to the fact that South Africa’s domestic arbitration legislation should not be based on the UNCITRAL Model Law. It would be a good idea to follow suit with Australia and base both South Africa’s international and domestic commercial arbitration legislation on the UNCITRAL Model Law. / Thesis (LL.M. (Import and Export Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

No abstract available. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Private Law / unrestricted

This study investigates the consequences of domestic violence for the people who are subjected to this kind of abuse. South Africa has a high incidence of domestic abuse, along with a high crime rate in general. The study aims to contribute to pastoral counselling with people who have suffered domestic abuse. The approach of the study is to bring insights from the field of psychology into dialogue with insights from Scripture and spirituality in order to provide a counselling model for pastors who are often the first to be approached for help. The South African Domestic Violence Law is evaluated. The causes of domestic violence are analysed in order to clarify why it is specifically rampant in South Africa. Disturbances that result from domestic violence are described in order to provide a deeper understanding of the effects of domestic abuse that pastors will encounter in their practice. Two counselling models that are deemed useful to pastoral counselling with victims of domestic abuse are narrative therapy as developed by White and Epston and the Logotherapy of Victor Frankl. These models provide the counsellee with the prospect of hope and meaning of life for the future. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Practical Theology / MA / Unrestricted

AFRIKAANS: Die doel van die proefskrif is ‘n ondersoek van die verskynsel van voordeel-toerekening en die ontwikkeling van ‘n betroubare voordeeltoerekeningsleer. Gevolglik word ‘n ondersoek na die bestaan, die klassifikasie en die grondslag van die toerekenbaarheid van voordele teenoor die skadevergoedingsaanspraak gedoen. Hiermee saam word ook ‘n ondersoek na sekere vergelykbare aspekte in die Engelse, Nederlandse en Australiese reg onderneem. Voordeeltoerekening verwys in die breë na daardie beoordelingsproses waarby gunstige newewerkings, as gevolg van die skadestigtende gebeurtenis, ten aansien van moontlike inagneming daarvan by die bepaling van skadevergoeding beoordeel word. ‘n Voordeel kan gesien word as ‘n gunstige newewerking as gevolg van ‘n skade- of voordeelstigtende gebeurtenis wat die benadeelde se vermoë vermeerder of meebring dat die vermoë nie verder verminder nie. Daar kan vandag geredelik aanvaar word dat daar geen enkele teorie is om voordeeltoerekening te verklaar nie. By bepaling van skadevergoeding behoort daar altyd vir die bestaan van verrekenbare voordele getoets te word. As vertrekpunt moet die voordeel 'n feitelike kousale verband met die skadestigtende gebeurtenis vertoon. Sou die voordeel nie in hierdie feitelike kousale verband staan nie, is die gevolg daarvan dat die voordeel as res inter alios acta of as kollateraal beskou kan word. Voordele wat wel aan die feitelike kousaliteitstoets voldoen, word nie summier verreken nie. Hierdie voordele word aan 'n verdere norm beoordeel. Die toerekeningsnorm word in die algemeen in beginsels van openbare beleid gevind. Openbare beleid is uiteraard 'n vae begrip waaraan ‘n meer konkrete inhoud en betekenis verleen moet word. Openbare beleid kan gesien word as verteenwoordigend van elemente soos redelikheid, billikheid en regverdigheid. Hierdie elemente moet teen die agtergrond van die bestaan van die behoeftes van die eiser, die verweerder, die bron van die voordeel en die gemeenskap se belange toegepas word. Hiervolgens kan voordele toegereken word, indien die vereistes van redelikheid, billikheid en regverdigheid dit dikteer. Dit is nodig om die voordeeltoerekeningsleer van 'n vaste teoretiese fondament te voorsien ten einde aan die voordeeltoerekeningsleer betekenis en praktiese werking te verleen. In die praktyk het die teoretiese onderbou en die aard van die verskillende voordele meegebring dat kasuïstiese voordeelklasse ontstaan het. Hierdie voordeelklasse kan volgens die aard en die kenmerke daarvan weer in voordeelgroepe toegedeel word. Elke voordeelgroep besit sy eiesoortige teoretiese kenmerke waaraan die voordeel getoets kan word vir kategorisering en die moontlike toerekening daarvan teenoor die skadevergoedingsaanspraak. Vyf voordeelgroeperings kan vir doeleindes van voordeeltoerekening onderskei word. Eerstens is daar pseudovoordele. Hierdie voordele is nie egte toerekenbare voordele nie maar is deel van die skadeberekeningsproses. Tweedens is daar kwantifiseringsvoordele wat ook nie egte voordeeltoerekeningsvoordele is nie maar algemene faktore of elemente behorende tot die skadevergoedingsreg ten einde skade meer akkuraat te bereken. As sodanig vorm hierdie faktore ook deel van die skadeberekeningsmaatstaf. Derdens word aanpassingsvoordele as egte voordeel-toerekeningsvoordele onderskei. Dit is voordele waarmee die voorlopige skade-vergoedingsbedrag aangepas word, ten einde die finale skadevergoedingsbedrag te kan bereken. Vierdens word skadebeperkingsvoordele geïdentifiseer. Dit is voordele wat na die skadestigtende gebeurtenis ontstaan en wat meebring dat die omvang van die skade beperk word. Hierdie voordele kan of aanpassingsvoordele of voordele behorende tot die korrekte skadeberekeningsmaatstaf wees. Vyfdens word kollaterale voordele onderskei. Dit is voordele wat na oorweging van 'n moontlike toerekening, nie tot die skadevergoeding toegereken word nie. Hierdie groepering is 'n blote resultaat van die nie-toerekening van die voordeel. Hierdie groeperings neem nie die plek van die reeds geïdentifiseerde voordeel-klasse in nie maar bestaan oorhoofs daartoe. Ten einde die hedendaagse diversiteit van voordele binne die raamwerk van 'n voordeeltoerekeningsleer te kan akkommodeer, is dit noodsaaklik om voordele te kategoriseer. ’n Voordeel kan dualisties gekategoriseer word na aanleiding van die individuele aard of karakter van die spesifieke voordeel en ook na die oorhoofse groepering daarvan. Hierdie kategorisering het tot gevolg dat voordeelklasse ontwikkel het na aanleiding van die soortgelyke aard van die voordele. Daar kan aan die voordeelklasse 'n eiesoortige identiteit gegee word wat 'n bepaalde klas van 'n ander klas kan onderskei. Uit die klassifikasie van voordele word riglyne aan die praktyk verskaf wat as beoordelingsmaatstaf kan dien, waaraan voordele ten opsigte van die toereken-baarheid daarvan in die sfeer van die skadevergoedingsaanspraak beoordeel kan word. So word erkenning aan die behoefte en die bestaan van 'n selfstandige voordeeltoerekeningsleer verleen. ENGLISH: The purpose of this doctoral dissertation is the examination of the phenomena of collateral benefits and the development of a reliable collateral benefit doctrine. Hence the inquiry into the existence, the classification and the basis for accounting of benefits against a claim for damages. Simultaneously an investigation is also undertaken regarding certain comparable issues in the English, Dutch and Australian legal systems. Collateral benefits in a wide sense refer to an evaluating process whereby the positive side-effects, caused by a damage-causing event, are being evaluated in respect of a possible deduction thereof against a claim for damages. A benefit can be seen as a positive side-effect as result of a damage or benefit-causing event which produces an increase of the injured person’s patrimony or is the cause that there is no further reduction in the value of the person’s patrimony. It can readily be accepted these days that there is no single norm or theory that adequately defines the doctrine of collateral benefits. It is therefore necessary, whenever damages are to be determined to test for the presence of accountable benefits. As point of departure the benefit must have a factual causal nexus between the benefit and the damage-causing event. The benefit can be regarded as being res inter alios acta or as collateral if it does not comply with the requirements of factual causation. Benefits which do comply with factual causation are not set off forthwith. These benefits must be evaluated against a further norm. The accounting norm is generally to be found in principles of public policy. Public policy is naturally a vague concept which requires a more concrete content and meaning. Public policy can be seen as comprising elements such as reasonableness, equity and justice. These elements must be applied against the backdrop of the needs of the plaintiff, the defendant, the source of the benefit and the interests of the community at large. Benefits can therefore be set off if the requirements of reasonableness, equity and justice are met. It is necessary to support the doctrine of collateral benefits with a sound theoretical basis with a view of giving the doctrine content and practical functionality. The theoretical basis and the nature of the various benefits resulted in practicable casuistic classes of benefits. These benefit classes can, according to their nature and characteristics, be divided in benefit groupings. Each benefit group has its own theoretical features whereby the benefit can be tested for categorizing and the possible set off against a claim for damages. Five groups of benefits can be distinguished for purposes of benefit accounting. The first are pseudo-benefits and are not real accountable benefits but are part of the process of establishing the actual damage. Secondly, there are quantifying benefits which are also not proper accounting benefits but general factors or elements which generally belong to the area of the law of damages and which are relevant in quantifying damage more accurately. These factors also form part of the measure of quantifying damage. Thirdly, it is possible to distinguish adjustment benefits as real accounting benefits. These are the benefits that adjust the provisional amount of damages with a view to calculating the final amount. Mitigating benefits can, fourthly, be distinguished. These benefits originate after the damage-causing event and limit the damage. These benefits can either be adjusting benefits or benefits allied to the applicable measure of damage. Then, fifthly, there are collateral benefits. These are those benefits that, after due consideration of a possible set off, are not accounted against damages. This group is a mere result of the non-accounting of the benefits. These groupings do not replace the classes already identified but are present in a superior position. It is necessary to categorize benefits to accommodate the diversity of them at the present time within the framework of the doctrine of collateral benefits. A benefit can be categorised dualistically in terms of the basis of the individual nature or character of the specific benefit as well as to its overhead grouping. This classification arranges the various classes of benefits on the basis of their similarity regarding the nature of the benefits. Each benefit class can be given a distinctive identity which distinguishes it from the other classes. Due to the classification of benefits a guideline can be provided to the legal practice that can be used as a measure to evaluate benefits for accounting against a claim for damages. On this basis acknowledgement is furnished for the requirements and existence of an independant collateral benefits doctrine. / Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Private Law / unrestricted

This dissertation deals with the constitutionality of the onus of proof in cases where mental illness is averred. Insanity refers to the legally defined state of mind and not to a specific psychological disorder. Mental illness is one of the factors recognised by South African law which negates criminal responsibility. The law recognises that persons suffering from insanity cannot be sanctioned in the same way as sane offenders. The law applicable in South Africa today with regards to the insanity defence is contained in the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, which replaced the M’Naghten rules and irresistible impulse test that appeared in South African Law nearly a century before. Section 78(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act stipulates that in order to not be responsible for an alleged crime the accused must have committed an act which constitutes an offence and must at the time of said commission have suffered from a mental illness or mental defect which rendered him incapable of (a) appreciating the wrongfulness of his actions; or (b) acting in accordance with an appreciation of the wrongfulness of his actions. Due to legislative amendments any party who raises mental illness as a defence is supposed to prove on a balance of probabilities that the accused was mentally ill at the time of the commission of the offence. This constitutes a departure from the normal rules of evidence which requires the state to prove the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The test for insanity is therefore a mixed one in which expert testimony is vital. Psychologists as well as psychiatrists play an important role in assisting the court, by way of expert testimony, to determine the mental state of offenders. Lawyers and mental health professionals often don’t see eye to eye as a result of the differences in interpretation and application of mental illness in the respective professions. The various difficulties faced by the defence, as a dependant of the professions, is explored. A comparative study of the laws relating to the insanity defence in English Law and in the United States of America is conducted. These findings are contrasted to the current South African legal position. The selected jurisdictions share a common thread in that the insanity defence in these countries all originated from the M’Naghten rules and was subsequently modified by each. In the English law system, a general insanity defence is non-existent today. The strict M’Naghten rules are still applied as the test for insanity and seldom evoked by accused persons. In the United States of America the test for insanity differs from state to state but all have returned to the stricter English approach despite a number of different tests being developed and applied during the years since the defence’s existence. The presumption of innocence, which means that the burden of establishing the elements of criminal liability lies with the prosecution and is a fundamental aspect of the South African criminal justice system. In all three of the legal systems the burden of proof has always been placed on the defence to prove its case on a balance of probabilities. Following the legislative amendments in South African law, in section 78 (1) (A) and (B), this position has now changed to he who alleges must prove. Whether it constitutes unfair discrimination on the mentally ill accused to burden him with this higher onus than in normal defences, and whether it will survive constitutional scrutiny, concludes the study. Copyright / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Public Law / unrestricted

Thesis (LLM. (Labour Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / This mini-dissertation discusses the legal reform of the taxation of pension benefits under the South African law. This study also discusses how South African pension benefits are taxed in instances wherein the member exits the fund either as a result of resignation, death, dismissal, retrenchment, disability and retirement. It further discusses the comparative study between South Africa, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom

Hahlo and Khan have aptly described South African law as a ‘three-layered cake’. This dissertation is not so much concerned with the ingredients of the cake, but with the Cape Supreme Court which was used to ‘bake’ the third layer, and the judges who were employed to supervise the task. However, in order t wet the appetites of the legal gourmets, an attempt has been made to analyse the ingredient of judicial precedent, and to serve it up in the form of ‘icing’.

Thesis (LLM. (Development and Management Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Preservation occurs when money saved for retirement through pension, provident and preservation funds remains in those funds until the person retires, or is rolled over into another similar retirement savings vehicle without incurring taxes or penalties when a person changes jobs. This research focuses on legislative framework, preservation of pension benefits and retirement reforms. In future, retirement funds will be required to identify appropriate preservation funds for exiting members, who will be encouraged to preserve when changing jobs.

Doctor Legum - LLD / More than twenty years have passed since the Trust Property Control Act 57 of 1988 came into operation. Although the Act provided context, clarity and regulation in certain areas of trust law, it is apparent that there exists a pressing need to develop statutorily the law of trusts more extensively. To this end, the research has a dual objective: Firstly, to identify those areas of South African trust law that are not currently regulated statutorily but for which, by reason of extensive and, at times, controversial jurisprudential development, such regulation is now essential. Secondly, to analyse critically the Trust Property Control Act in its current form in order to determine the utility of its provisions, particularly in light of jurisprudential development since the Act’s commencement. The purpose of the study is to formulate comprehensive recommendations for legislative reform in the area of South African trust law.

The abolition of corporal punishment in S v Williams and Others 1995 (3) SA 632 (CC) provided the state with the impetus to consider alternative sentencing options. Unsystematic efforts by the government to reform the juvenile justice system have failed abysmally. The government was forced to review its policies on juvenile sentencing. An examination of international trends reveals the imposition of stricter measures of punishment for serious and violent juvenile offenders. Community-based sentencing options are used mainly for first-time offenders. The focus has also shifted from punishment and retribution to prevention and treatment. It is advocated that serious and violent juvenile offenders be incarcerated in secure-care facilities and/or juvenile prisons and that community-based sentencing options be utilised for first-time offenders. The government should also design programmes that deal with situations that lead to crime and delinquency / Criminal & Procedural Law / LL.M. (Law)