Thesis (LLM (Public Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The first part of this thesis deals with the right of lateral and subjacent support
and explains how it should be applied in South African law. The thesis
illustrates how the neighbour law principles of lateral support were incorrectly
extended to govern conflicts pertaining to subjacent support that arose in
South African mining law. From 1911 right up to 2007, these two clearly
distinguishable concepts were treated as synonymous principles in both
academic writing and case law. The thesis plots the historical development of
this extension of lateral support principles to subjacent support conflicts. In
doing so, it examines the main source of South Africa’s law of support,
namely English law. The thesis then shows how the Supreme Court of Appeal
in Anglo Operations Ltd v Sandhurst Estates (Pty) Ltd 2007 (2) SA 363 (SCA)
illustrated how the English law doctrine of subjacent support, with all its
attendant ramifications, could not be useful in resolving disputes that arise
between a land surface owner and a mineral rights holder in South African
mining law.
The second of half of the thesis investigates the constitutional implications of
the Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision in Anglo Operations in light of the
systemic changes introduced by the Minerals and Petroleum Resources
Development Act 28 of 2002. In terms of this new Act, all the mineral and
petroleum resources of South Africa are the common heritage of the people of
South Africa, and the state is the custodian thereof. This means that
landowners are no longer involved in the granting of mineral rights to
subsequent holders. In light of the Anglo Operations decision, landowners in
the new dispensation of mineral exploitation face the danger of losing the use
and enjoyment of some/all their land. The thesis therefore examines the
implications of the statutory provisions in South African legislation (new and
old) that have/had an impact on the relationship between landowners and
mineral right holders with regard to the question of subjacent support, as well
as the implications of the Anglo Operations decision for cases where mineral
rights have been granted under the statutory framework. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die eerste deel van die tesis handel oor die reg op sydelingse en
oppervlakstut en hoe dit in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg toegepas behoort te word.
Die tesis wys hoe die bureregbeginsels rakende sydelingse stut verkeerdelik
uitgebrei is na konflikte rakende oppervlakstut wat in die Suid-Afrikaanse
mynreg ontstaan het. Vanaf 1911 en tot in 2007 is hierdie twee duidelik
verskillende konsepte in sowel akademiese geskrifte en in die regspraak as
sinonieme behandel. Die tesis sit die historiese ontwikkeling van die
uitbreiding van laterale stut-beginsels na oppervlakstut-konflikte uiteen. In die
proses word die hoofbron van die Suid-Afrikaanse reg ten aansien van steun,
naamlik die Engelse reg, ondersoek. Die tesis wys uit hoe die Hoogste Hof
van Appèl in Anglo Operations Ltd v Sandhurst Estates (Pty) Ltd 2007 (2) SA
363 (SCA) beslis het dat die Engelse leerstuk van oppervlakstut met al sy
meegaande implikasies nie in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg sinvol aangewend kan
word om dispute wat tussen die oppervlakeienaar van grond en die
mineraalreghouer ontstaan, op te los nie.
Die tweede helfte van die tesis ondersoek die grondwetlike implikasies van
die Hoogste Hof van Appèl se beslissing in Anglo Operations in die lig van die
sistemiese wysigings wat deur die Wet op Ontwikkeling van Minerale en
Petroleumhulpbronne 28 van 2002 tot stand gebring is. Ingevolge die nuwe
Wet is alle mineraal- en petroleumhulpbronne die gemeenskaplike erfenis van
alle mense van Suid-Afrika en die staat is die bewaarder daarvan. Dit beteken
dat grondeienaars nie meer betrokke is by die toekenning van mineraalregte
aan houers daarvan nie. In die lig van die Anglo Operations-beslissing loop
grondeienaars die gevaar om die voordeel en gebruik van al of dele van hulle
grond te verloor. Die tesis ondersoek daarom die implikasies van verskillende
bepalings in Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing (oud en nuut) wat ‘n impak op die
verhouding tussen die grondeienaar en die houer van die mineraalregte het,
sowel as die implikasies van Anglo Operations vir gevalle waar mineraalregte
onder die nuwe statutêre raamwerk en toegeken is.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2763 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Boyd, Kudakwashe |
| Contributors | University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Public Law. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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