CHAPTER 1
Question 1
Which ONE of the following is regarded in the South African law as a source of Roman-
Dutch law:
I. Law of the Twelve Tables
2. Institutions
3. Corpus Iuris Civilis
4. Commentarius ad Pandectas
Question 2
Which ONE of the following is a principle that CANNOT be associated with the doctrine
of stare decisis?
1. a High Court is bound by its own decisions until they are overruled by a superior court.
2. a High Court is bound by the decision of a court of concurrent status within its own
area of jurisdiction.
3. a High Court, depending on how it is constituted, is bound by a decision of the
Supreme Court of Appeal.
4. a High Court is not bound to follow the decision of a High Court of a different area of
jurisdiction.
Question 3
Belouxi is a coastal town situated on a deep bay. Whales migrate to Belouxi Bay
annually to breed. This natural phenomenon has become a major tourist attraction.
During the breeding season the whales are very sensitive to light and sound. The
Belouxi community has always taken care to keep the noise level down in the bay area
during the breeding season. Max decides to open a night club in the town. The
community wants to close down the night club because they are afraid that the night
club's pulsating music and flickering lights will discourage the whales from migrating to
Belouxi Bay. Max avers that no legislation exists which restricts "noisy" business
activities in the Belouxi Bay area.
Consider the following:
The court will acknowledge the validity of the Belouxi community's customs if it can,
amongst other things, indicate that the prohibition on noise ...
A. has existed for a long time.
B. has been put in writing.
C. will encourage the breeding of whales.
D. is certain and clear.
Which of the above is/are CORRECT?
1. only C and D are correct
2. only A, B and D are correct
3. only A and D are correct
4 all of the above are correct
Question 4
Which ONE of the following statements is CORRECT?
In Varvarigos v Fidelity Bank Ltd 1989 (4) SA 384 (W) ...
1. Fidelity Bank Ltd is the appellant.
2. Varvarigos is the defendant.
3. 1989 is the year in which the case was reported.
4. SA stands for the country in which the case was heard.
5. 384 is the number of the case.
Question 5
Indicate the INCORRECT statement:
1. The Supreme Court of Appeal, which usually sits in Bloemfontein, has unlimited
jurisdiction to hear appeals in civil and criminal proceedings.
2. A case relating to the interpretation of a will may be heard by a magistrate’s
court.
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3. The Constitutional Court has the final say in all matters relating to the interpretation,
protection and enforcement of the provisions of the Constitution.
4. The Supreme Court of Appeal is a court of appeal for the High Courts.
Question 6
Which ONE of the following legal systems is the basis of the South African legal system?
1. Dutch law.
2. Roman law.
3. English law.
4. Roman-Dutch law
Question 7
Which ONE of the following is NOT an authoritative source of South African Law:
1. South African case law.
2. Corpus Iuris Civilis.
3. English case law.
4. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996.
5. Judgments of the Dutch courts before 1652.
Question 8
Which ONE of the following statements regarding the stare decisis doctrine is
INCORRECT?
1. A High Court, whether it is a full bench consisting of three judges, a bench of two
judges or of only one, is bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
2. One High Court is not bound to follow the decisions of a High Court from another area
of jurisdiction.
3. Within the area of jurisdiction of one High Court, a bench of two judges is bound by a
decision of the full bench of the same Court.
4. If the judgments of the High Courts are conflicting, a magistrate’s court can
follow any decision he deems to be right irrespective of the jurisdiction in
which he falls.
Question 9
Which ONE of the following is NOT a requirement for a custom to be recognised as a
legal rule?
1. It must have existed for a long time and be reasonable.
2. It must be generally recognised and observed by the community.
3. The contents thereof must be certain and clear.
4. A court must have recognised the custom as a legal rule.
Question 10
Soon after the death of multimillionaire John Deer a dispute arises regarding the validity
and interpretation of his will.
Which ONE of the following courts should be approached to adjudicate the matter?
1. A magistrate's court.
2. A small claims court.
3. The Constitutional Court.
4. The Supreme Court of Appeal.
5. A High Court.
Question 11
Which ONE of the following officers is responsible for the issue of process, the
enrolment of cases, the maintenance of records and the issuing of orders of the High
Court?
1. The Clerk.
2. The Registrar.
3. The litigating parties themselves.
4. The Sheriff.
Question 12
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