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Summary LAW OF DELICT DAMAGE
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Damage&is&the&detrimental&impact&upon&any&patrimonial&or&personality&interest&DAMAGE& ! deemed$worthy$of$protection$by$the$law
EXTENT%OF%THE%CONCEPT%OF%DAMGE& DAMAGE!INCLUDES!PATRIMONIAL!(PECUNIARY)!AS!WELL!AS!NON>PATRIMONIAL!
• Damage!only!relates!to!a!loss!(a! (NON>PECUNIARY)!LOSS!
reduction!in!utility)!brought!about! • Damage!is!a!broad!concept!which!consists!of!patrimonial!as!well!as!non>
by!an!uncertain!event! patrimonial!loss!(injury!to!personality)!
• A!reduction!in!utility!which!is! • Damage!is!thus!a!comprehensive!concept!with!patrimonial!and!non>patrimonial!
certain!to!take!place!i.e.!wear>and> loss!as!its!2!mutually!exclusive!concepts!
tear,!illness!due!to!natural!causes,! • Some!writers!prefer!to!use!the!term!damage!to!cover!only!patrimonial!loss!
death!cannot!be!regarded!as! • Neethling!et!al!say!that!it!is!a!broad!concept!which!covers!both!kinds!of!loss,!for!
damage! the!following!reasons:!
• Prospective!loss!(lucrum!cessans)!–! !
the!expectation!that!the!utility!of!
someone’s!patrimony!or! !!!!
personality!interests!will!be! ! ! • The!action!for!pain!and!suffering!has!made!it!possible!
reduced!or!will!not!increase!in! to!recover!a!form!of!imperfect!compensation!on!
account!of!physical!injuries!(non>patrimonial!loss)!
value!is!also!!regarded!as!damage!
• The!word!‘imperfect’!is!used!since!full!and!actual!
! restitution!is!impossible!in!a!case!of!physical!injuries,!
although!the!law!nevertheless!attempts!to!achieve!a!
compensatory!object!
• The!conclusion!to!be!drawn!from!the!development!of!
the!action!for!pain!and!suffering!is!that!since!certain!
forms!of!injury!to!personality!have!become!the!object!
of!(imperfect)!compensation,!injury!to!personality!
must!necessarily!be!seen!as!damage!
1. Both!kinds!of!loss!result!in!the! 2. Legal!practice!uses!
• Once!it!is!accepted!that!injury!to!the!personality!is!
‘dimunition!in!the!utility!of!any! a!wide!concept!of!
also!compensable!damage,!there!is!no!reason!why!all!
(patrimonial!or!personality)!interest! damage!
form!of!iniuria!actionable!under!the!action!
which!the!law!deems!worthy!of! • When!the!courts! 3. The!action!for!pain!and! iniuriarum!should!not!be!classified!as!non>
protection.’! interpret!the!terms! suffering!which!compensates! patrimonial!loss!covered!by!the!comprehensive!
• this!is!the!true!nature!of!damage!which! ‘damage’!and!‘loss’! for!injury!to!personality!in!cases! concept!of!damage!
shows!that!it!need!not!be!measured!in! when!used!in! of!physical!injuries,!has! • The!action!for!pain!and!suffering!shows!that!direct!
money!and!it!is!wrong!therefore!to!insist! legislation!they!are! developed!alongside!the!lex! commensurability!in!money!should!not!be!a!
on!measuring!every!form!of!damage!in! taken!to!cover!both! Aquillia!which!is!primarily! requirement!for!damage!
money,!as!we!do!patrimonial!loss! kinds!of!loss! intended!to!provide! • Not!all!damage!is!capable!of!compensation;!
• This!in!no!way!suggests!that!there!are!no! !
differences!between!patrimonial!and! compensation!(in!contrast! sometimes!satisfaction!is!required!to!make!
to!satisfaction!in!the!case! reparation!
non>patrimonial!loss!nor!that!
• One!should!therefore!start!with!a!wide!concept!of!
compensation!is!arrived!at!in!the!same!
©!Alda!Vorster! of!the!action!iniuriarum)!
! !
damage!as!a!starting!point!and!thereafter!consider!
way! !
which!forms!of!damage!are!capable!of!compensation!
!
and!in!which!forms!satisfaction!plays!a!dominant!role!
!
THE&WAYS&IN&WHICH&PATRIMONIAL&LOSS&IS&CAUSED:!
PATRIMONIAL*(PECUNIARY)*LOSS
! !
Loss&of&a&patrimonial&element!
• When!property!of!destroyed,!a!patrimonial!right!in!respect!thereof!
• Patrimonial*loss*is*the*detrimental*impact!on#any#patrimonial# (i.e.!ownership)!is!lost!and!a!person’s!patrimony!diminished!in!value!
interest'deemed'worthy'of'protection'by'the'law • Loss!of!possession!of!something!also!means!that!the!power!to!use!this!
• It#involves#the#reduction*in*value*of*a*person’s"estate,"either"by"the" ! object!is!lost!
reduction%in%value%of%a%patrimonial*asset,"or"by"the"creation)of)a) ! • Loss!of!an!expectancy!occurs!when!the!expectation!can!no!longer!be!
! realised!(i.e.!X’s!vehicle!which!he!uses!in!his!taxi!business!is!damaged!
patrimonial*debt and!his!expectation!of!profit!cannot!materialize.)!
!
A"PERSON’S"PATRIMONY"(ESTATE):"& !
• In!terms!of!the!juridical!concept!of!patrimony,!patrimony!consists!of! ! Reduction&&in&value&of&a&patrimonial&interest!
a!person’s!patrimonial!rights!(subjective!rights!with!a!monetary! ! • Where!the!object!of!a!patrimonial!right!(like!a!thing!or!someone’s!
value),!a!person’s!expectation!to!acquire!patrimonial!rights!and!all! earning!capacity)!is!infringed,!the!utility!value!of!the!right!is!reduced.!
! • The!reduction!in!value!of!an!expectancy!of!a!benefit!takes!place!when!
legally!enforceable!obligations!or!expectations!with!a!monetary! ! !
the!expectation!to!make!a!profit!is!partially!frustrated!(i.e.!the!
value.! ! machinery!in!X’s!factory!is!damaged!and!he!is!likely!to!make!less!profit!
• Van!der!Walt!defines!patrimony!as!everything!a!person!possesses! ! than!before.)!
which!has!a!monetary!value! ! !
• In!Union&Government&(Minister&of&Railways&and&Harbours)&v& ! !
Warneke&1911&patrimony!was!defined!as!a!universitas*of*rights*and* !!! The&creation&or&increase&of&a&debt&(expense)&and&the&creation&or&
duties! ! !
acceleration&of&an&expectation&of&debt!
• The!following!patrimonial!elements:!! • If!a!delict!causes!an!injured!person!to!incur!reasonable!medical!
expenses!such!expenses!constitute!damage!
• the!increase!of!an!existing!debt!constitutes!damage!i.e.!where!X’s!duty!
of!support!vis>à>vis!his!child!is!increased!when!the!child!is!injured!–!in!
this!case!the!child!needs!more!support!in!the!form!of!medical!
expenses!
• The!mere!creation!of!a!debt!immediately!constitutes!damage!even!
Negative&elements&of!someone’s! Positive&elements&of!someone’s!
before!the!debt!has!to!be!satisfied!
patrimony! patrimony!
• The!creation!or!acceleration!of!an!expectation!of!debt!similarly!
• Obvious!i.e.!is!a!debt!which! • This!refers!to!all!a!person’s!
amounts!to!damage!i.e.!after!having!been!injured!there!is!a!50%!
someone!incurs! patrimonial!rights,!such!as!real!
possibility!that!X!will!have!to!undergo!an!operation!and!thus!incur!
• This!is!when!!someone’s! rights,!immaterial!property!
medical!expenses!
patrimony!is!reduced!by!the! rights,!and!personal!rights!(!i.e.!
• Damage!is!also!caused!if!an!existing!debt!or!expenses!already!incurred!
creation!or!increase!of!a!! to!contractual!performance)!
are!rendered!useless!
monetary&debt&of&liability! • The!money!value!of!a!right!is!
!
• The!creation!of!a!debt! determined!by!the!market!value!
constitutes!damage!even!if!the! of!the!object!in!question!and!by!
debtor!has!no!assets!to!!pay!it! any!limitation!on!such!rights!
• Sometimes!!the!delict!can!result! • Expectations!of!patrimonial!
in!the!expectation!of!a!debt! benefits!to!be!acquired!in!the!
which!is!also!part!of!a!person's! future!also!form!part!of!a!
©!Alda!Vorster!
patrimony,!such!as!future! person’s!!estate.!!i.e.!a!person’s! ! !
medical!treatment!as!a!result!of! future!earning!capacity!
bodily!injuries! !
!
, Damage&to&property&and&pure&economic&loss!
! • There!is!a!distinction!between!damage!and!physical!
damage!to!property!
• Damage&to&property&refers!to!the!impairment&of&the&
Damnum&emergens&and&lucrum&cessans! physical&object&of&a&real&right&while!damage!is!a!
• Expression!lucrum&cessans&means!loss&of& ! much!broader&concept!
profit&and!prospective!loss!and!the!loss!of!a! !!! • Damage!to!property!is!but!one!way!in!which!damage!is!
patrimonial!expectancy! ! ! caused!
• Damnum&emergens!refers!to!all&other&kinds& • Pure&economic&loss!does!not&result&from&the&
of&damage&in!particular!damage!suffered!up! physical&damage&to&an&object&or&personality&right,!
till!that!date!of!trial! or!where!it!does,!it!is!not!the!plaintiff’s!property!or!
! personality!right!that!has!been!harmed,!or!it!is!not!the!
defendant!who!caused!the!damage!
!
FORMS&OF&PATRIMONIAL&LOSS:
General&(intrinsic)&and&special&(extrinsic)&damage!
• General&damage&is!damage!which!is!presumed!to!flow&from&an&
unlawful&act&and!which!need!only!be!pleaded&generally!
Direct&and&consequential&loss!
• Special&damage&means!loss!in!respect!of!which!such!a!presumption&
• The!distinction!is!made!for!the!purpose!
does¬&apply&and!which!Has!to!be!specially!pleaded&and&proved!
of!limiting!liability!(legal!causation!or! • Term!general!damage!is!also!used!to!describe!non>patrimonial!loss!and!
remoteness!of!damage)!
even!sometimes!patrimonial!loss!
• Direct&loss&is!the!immediate&or&direct&
• In!the!field!of!delictual!liability!for!bodily!injuries,!all!non>patrimonial!
loss&resulting&from!the!damageR
loss!(pain,!suffering,!etc.)!as!well!as!prospective!patrimonial!damage!(!
causing&event!
such!as!future!medical!expenses,!loss!of!earning!capacity!and!support)!
• Consequential!damages!flow&from&
amounts!to!general!damage!
the&direct&loss&i.e.!where!X’s!care!is!
• Monetary!loss!sustained!!up!to!date!of!trial!(medical!expenses!already!
used!as!a!taxi!to!earn!a!living,!the!
incurred,!loss!of!income)!are!seen!as!special!damages!
damage!to!the!vehicle!is!the!direct!loss! • Neethling!et!al!are!of!the!opinion!that!the!distinction!between!general!
and!the!loss!of!profit!is!a!consequential!
and!special!damage!is!confusing!and!not!very!useful!
loss!
!
!
©!Alda!Vorster! ! !
ASSESSMENT'OF'PATRIMONIAL'DAMAGE
!
CONCRETE'CONCEPT'OF'DAMAGE:!
THE$SUM>FORMULA(APPROACH:! • It!appears!that!our!law!does!not!always! TIME!FOR!ASSESSMENT!OF!DAMAGE:!!
• This%comparative%test!is#defined#as# accept!sum>formula!exactly!as!stated! • an!important!practical!question!is!time!
follows:! above! with!reference!to!which!proper!
According)to)the)sum>formula(doctrine( • The!AD!has!used!the!following!method!of! comparative!method!of!assessing!damage!
damage&consists&in&the&negative&difference& differentiation:! should!be!used!
between&the&person’s¤t&patrimonial& “the*difference*between*the*patrimonial*position*of* • According!to!current!authority,!date&of&
position'(after'the'event'complained'of)'and' the*prejudiced*person*before*the*wrongful*at*and* commission&of&a&delict,!is!generally!the!
what%the%hypothetical%patrimonial%position% thereafter…Damage*is*the*unfavourable*difference* decisive!moment!for!assessing!damage!
would&have&been&had&the"event"not"taken" caused*by*the*wrongful*act.”! (and!this!includes!future!loss)!
place.''This'entails'comparing'an'actual' • This!is!not!class!formulation!of!sum> • Date!of!commission!of!a!delict!is!earliest!
current'patrimonial'sum'with'a'hypothetical' formula!since!there!is!no!mention!of!a! date!on!which!all!elements!of!a!delict!are!
current'patrimonial'sum'–!hence%the%name:% hypothetical!patrimonial!position!–!this!is! present!
“sum>formula(doctrine”! more!in!accordance!with!the!concept!of! • As!far!as!damage!is!concerned,!this!does!
• The$test$is$recognized$by$the$SCA$in$ damage!suggested!by!Van!der!Walt.!!He! not!mean!that!the!full!extent!of!the!damage!
Transnet(Ltd(v(Sechaba(Photoscan( states:! should!have!occurred:!if!all!other!
(Pty)Ltd(2005(1(SA!299#SCA! ! The!concept!of!damage!logically!relates!to! requirements!of!a!delict!are!present,!date!
• The$reason$why$a$hypothetical$ a!comparative!method!–!the!real!question! on!which!first!damage!is!manifested,!is!
(potential)+patrimonial+position+of+the+ is!what!is!compared!and!how!comparison! used!(if!there!is!a!series!of!harmful!
plaintiff(is(used(is(to(provide(for( takes!place! consequences!caused!by!delict)!
prospective*damage! ! What!was&(position!before!delict)!must!be! • Although!date!of!delict!is!relevant!time,!
!! compared!with!what&is&(position!after! events!between!this!date!and!date!of!trial!
! commission!of!delict)! are!also!considered!in!assessment!of!
!!! ! Current!position!must!not!be!compared! damage!
! ! with!hypothetical!position!which!would! !
have!existed!had!delict!not!been!
committed!–!this!is!in!accordance!with!
actual!legal!practice!
! Neethling!et!al!suggest!that!our!law!should!
adopt!and!follow!concrete!concept!of!
damage!expect!in!instances!of!prospective!
loss,!liability!for!misrepresentation!and!
loss!of!profit!(i.e.!all!instances!where!use!of!
©!Alda!Vorster! a!test!with!a!hypothetical!element!is!
! !
necessary)!
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