PVL3701 LAW OF PROPERTY
SUMMARY NOTES.
STUDY UNIT 1/CHAPTERS 1-2
INTRODUCTION TO LAW OF PROPERTY
Can be defined as that part of private law which relates to things. This includes all the rules
which relate to the relationship which legal subjects have in respect of things.
The constitutio...
,STUDY UNIT 1/CHAPTERS 1-2
INTRODUCTION TO LAW OF PROPERTY
Can be defined as that part of private law which relates to things. This includes all the rules
which relate to the relationship which legal subjects have in respect of things.
The constitution had a significant influence on property law, sec 25 of the
constitution protects property, including real rights, thus property enjoys
constitutional protection.
Definitions:
Thing – Is a specific category of property, which is defined with reference to its
characteristics:
i) A corporeal object outside the human body, and an independent entity
capable of being subjected to legal sovereignty by a legal subject for whom it
has use and value
Property – Is everything that can form part of a person’s estate including corporeal things
and incorporeal interests and rights.
Right – Is a legally recognised and valid claim by a subject to a certain object. Not all
relations between a person and an object are recognised and protected by law.
Remedy – Is a legal procedure provided by the legal system to protect a right against
infringement or to control the effects of an unlawful act or situation.
Claim or Action – is lawful when it is acknowledged and protected by existing legal principles
– is unlawful when it is in conflict with or not acknowledged by the law
Sources of Property Law
i) constitution
ii) legislation
iii) case law
iv) common law/customary law
2
,Chapter 2 Things as legal objects:
A thing can be defined, in terms of its characteristics, as a corporeal or tangible object
external to persons, which is an independent entity, subject to juridical control by a legal
subject, for whom it is of use and value.
Characteristics of a Thing:
a) Corporeality
b) External to Humans
c) Independence
d) Subject to juridical control
e) Useful and valuable to humans
Classification of things:
1. Negotiable and non negotiable things -
Negotiable things:
a) Things owned by a natural or legal person or thing in a deceased or insolvent estate
– res alicuius
b) Things capable of being owned but which are at a particular stage not owned by
anyone – res nullis i.e. wild animals, birds. Ownership of these things can be
acquired through appropriation
c) Things no longer in the physical control of an owner and which the owner no longer
has the intention to be owner – res derelictae
d) Things lost and no longer within the physical control of the owner but the owner has
not lost the intention to be owner – res deperditae
Not negotiable things:
a) Natural resources falling outside legal commerce and which are available to all
people i.e. air, running water – res communes omnium
b) Things owned by the state and used directly for the public’s benefit, i.e. public roads,
national parks – res publicae
2. Singular and composite things -
Singular Things exist independently without being composed of particular components - a
brick, a coffee mug or a tennis ball.
Composite Things are compositions of different components, consisting of independent
things in a new unit - motor bike, house, tennis racquet.
3
, Elements of composite things:
i) Principle thing; ii) Accessory thing; iii) Auxiliary thing; iv) Fruits.
a) Principle - exists independently and as such can be the object of real rights i.e.
motor car. It does not form part of another thing.
b) Accessory - can exist independently but which has merged with the principle thing to
such an extent that it has lost its independence i.e. a brick built into a house
c) Auxiliary thing – exists separately and independently of the principle thing, but
because of its economic value, destination or use, is no longer regarded as an
independent thing ie a key
d) Fruits – Natural Fruits - produced by the principle thing without that principle thing
being consumed or destroyed. Before separation fruits are accessory things which
renew themselves. Distinction between hanging fruits (fructus pendentes); separated
fruits (fructus separate) gathered fruits (fructus percepti)
Civil - rent, interest, profit and dividends.
3. Movable and Immovable things
Immovable things - Are units of land and everything permanently attached to it by means of
attachment (accessio) as well as sectional title units.
Movable things – things that can not be classified as immovable things.
Immovables can be classified as corporeal or incorporeal
Corporeal:
a) As indicated on a map, diagram or general plan as registered in the
deeds office
b) Everything attached permanently to the land by means of building or
planting
c) The minerals underground before they are mined
d) Things that can exist independently as accessory or auxiliary things, but
which form part of the piece of land or its permanent attachments
through physical attachment or purpose and use
e) A sectional title unit
Incorporeal:
a) Real and personal servitudes in respect of immovable things
b) Registered long-term leases in respect of land
c) A registered lease
Movables classified as corporeal or incorporeal
Corporeal:
a) All tangible things which are not immovable i.e. a car or a horse
Incorporeal:
a) Shares in a company
b) The goodwill of a business
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