Summary
Summary LAW OF DELICT FAULT
- Course
- LDEL3714 (LDEL3714)
- Institution
- University Of The Freestate (UFS)
This summaries are very helpful when it comes to studying the subject. It makes it a lot easier to understand the work.
[Show more]
Content preview
!FAULT!
• With%fault%the%focus%shifts%more%to%the%participation%or%role%of%the%defendant% !!!
–!can$he$be$legally$blamed$$2!in#this#sense#fault#is#subjective!(it$is$concerned$
with%the$persons$attitude$or$disposition)!
• The$law$blames$him$if$he$directed'his'will'at#the#damage#caused,#
conscious'of'the'wrongfulness'of'his'conduct!(i.e.%if%he%acted%
intentionally)(dolus)),)or)where)he)caused)the)damage)by)negligent'
conduct'(i.e.%something%for$which$a$person$can$be$blamed$for$(culpa))$–!
These%2%forms%of%fault%generally%
NOTE%that%test$for$negligence$is#objective!
refer$to$the$legal$blameworthiness$
• Two$forms$of$fault$=$ INTENTION!and$NEGLIGENCE! or#the#reprehensible#state#of#mind#of#
conduct'of'someone'who'has'acted'
wrongfully
• A"controversial"issue"is"whether"wrongfulness"or"negligence"should"be"determined!first!
• There%are%2%opposing%schools%of%thought:!
SUPPORT'FOR'VIEW'THAT' SUPPORT'FOR'VIEW'THAT'
WRONGFULNESS+DETERMINED+ NEGLIGENCE'CAN'BE'DEALT'
FIRST: WITH%BEFORE%WRONGFULNESS
• Fault&can&only&be&present&if&a&person& • The$inquiry$into$negligence$can$be$dealt$with$before$
has$acted$wrongfully$since$it$would$ the$wrongfulness$issue,$either$because$the$inquiry$
be#illogical#to#blame#someone#(find# into%negligence%is%“the$logical$starting$point$to$any$
fault&on&their&part)&when&they&have& enquiry(into(the(defendant's(liability”!or#because#it#is#
not$acted$for$the"purposes"of"delict" convenient(to(focus(on(negligence(first&–!in#the#
©!Alda!Vorster!
or#they#act#lawfully.! absence'of'negligence'the'issue'of'wrongfulness'does'
! !
not$arise.!
Gouda&Boerdery&Bk&v&Transnet&
FACTS:!
!
• Plaintiff!(appellant)!was!owner!of!a!farm,!bisected!by!a!20m!wide!railway!reserve!along!the!center!of!which!a!railway!line!runs.!
• A!fire,!the!cause!of!which!could!not!be!established,!had!started!on!the!reserve!and!was!fanned!by!a!stiff!wind.!
• It!spread!beyond!the!reserve!and!jumped!several!firebreaks,!causing!considerable!damage.!
• The!plaintiff!claimed!damages!from!the!defendant!(respondent)!in!the!Cape!High!Court.!!
• One!of!the!causes!of!action!was!the!defendant’s!negligence,!which!was!allegedly!constituted!by!its!failure!to!keep!the!reserve!free!from!
combustible!vegetation,!to!take!reasonable!steps!to!prevent!a!fire!from!breading!out!in!the!reserve!and!to!establish!and!maintain!firebreaks!on!
the!edge!of!the!reserve!
• To!alleviate!its!burden!of!proof,!the!plaintiff!alleged!that!the!fire!in!question!constituted!a!‘veldfire’!in!terms!of!the!National!Veld!and!Forest!Fire!
Act!and!that!s34(1)!applied,!placing!a!reverse!onus!on!the!defendant!to!prove!that!it!had!not!been!negligent!
COURT!HELD:!
• Trial!court!held!that!the!plaintiff!had!failed!to!establish!negligence!on!the!defendant’s!part,!mainly!because!it!rejected!the!argument!!that!the!fire!
constituted!a!veldfire.!
• The!reverse!onus!was!therefore!not!applicable!
• The!SCA!upheld!the!trial!court’s!judgment!in!full!
• Scott!JA!opined!that!“it#is#equally#so#that#without#negligence#the#issue#of#wrongfulness#does#not#arise#for#conduct#will#not#be#wrongful#if#
there#is#no#negligence.”!
• Can!conclude!from!this!judgment!that!since!certain!factors!relevant!in!ascertaining!negligence,!in!particular!foreseeability!and!preventability!of!
harm!may!also!be!relevant!in!determining!wrongfulness,!a!degree!of!conflation!(blending)!of!wrongfulness!and!negligence!is!inevitable!
• This!however!should!not!negate!that!fact!that!negligence!and!wrongfulness!are!distinct!elements!
!
!
• In#First&National&Bank&of&South&Africa&Ltd&v&Duvenhage&2006&5&SA&319&(SCA),&Nugent&JA&explained&the&approach&as&follows:&
“whatever(sequence(doctrinal(logic(dictates,(the(human(mind(is(sufficiently(flexible(to(be(capable(of(enquiring(into(each(element$separately,$
in#any#order,#with#appropriate#assumptions#being#made#in#relation#to#the#others,#and"that"is"often"done"in"practice"to"avoid"prolonging"
litigation(for(though(the(elements(are(naturally(interrelated,(each(involving(a(distinct(enquiry.”!
• The$existence$of$either$intent$or$negligence$on$the$part$of$the$defendant$is$sufficient$to$blame$him$i.e.$to$find$
reprehensible*attitude*or*reprehensible*conduct*on*his*part.!
• Remember%for%the%Actio&Legis&Aqiliae&and$Action'for'Pain'and'Suffering,"either"intention&or&negligence&suffices'
(negligence(is(the(lessor(form(of(fault(and(easier(to(prove)(for(liability(but(for(the(Actio(Iniuriarum((generally(intention(
required'–!NOTE%generally$required$because$there$are$exceptions$where$the$action$iniuriarum$can$be$instituted$without$
having'to'prove'intent'i.e.'liability'of'the'press'for'defamation!
NOTE:&&No&person&can&be&said&to&have%fault,"that"is"to"be"legally&blameworthy!unless&he&has&the$
mental'ability'to'distinguish'between'right'and'wrong'and'the'ability'to'act'in'accordance'
with%such%appreciation%–!such%a%person%is%said%to%be%accountable.
ACCOUNTABILITY++therefore'a'prerequisite'for'fault'in'either'of'its'2'forms
©!Alda!Vorster! ! !
, • Person'is'accountable'if'he'has'the'
! necessary(mental'ability!to#distinguish)
between&right&and&wrong&and$if$he$can$
ACCOUNTABILITY! also%act$in$accordance$with$such$
appreciation*!
(CULPAE%CAPAX) • He#must#have#the#required#mental#ability#
!
! at#the#time#of#the#commission#of#the#act!
! !
• If#person#lacks#accountability#at#the#
relevant(time(=(NO(FAULT(on(his(part!
• Accountability,therefore,the,basis%of%
fault!
FACTORS(AFFECTING(ACCOUNTABILITY(
(Factors)that)affect)mental)capacity):
1. YOUTH!
2. MENTAL'DISEASE'OR'ILLNESS!
3. INTOXICATION(OR(A(SIMILAR"CONDITION"INDUCED"BY"
DRUGS!
4. ANGER&DUE&TO&PROVOCATION!
• Accountability,plays,a,less,prominent,role,in,the,law,of,delict,than,in,criminal,law.!
• In#criminal#law#great#importance#is#placed#on#extenuating#circumstances#which#are#related#to#diminished#accountability%–!this%
concept'unknown'to'law'of'delict!
• Where%a%person%is%not%accountable,%he%cannot%have%fault%and%therefore%not%delictually%liable!
• The$only$role$of$diminished$accountability$may$perhaps$play$in$delictual!liability'is'to'reduce'the'quantum'of'satisfaction'
(damages))claimable)in)terms)of)the)action)iniuriarum!
• Van$der$Merwe$and$Olivier$submit$diminished$accountability$may$reduce$the$extent$of$blame$in$the$case$of$contributory$
negligence'of'children!
©!Alda!Vorster! ! !
1. YOUTH#
• Child!Justice!Act!changed!the!
! FACTORS!INFLUENCING!ACCOUNTABILITY!
common!law!position!re!
accountability!of!children!
• Our!law!distinguishes! 2.##MENTAL#ILLNESS#
!
between!3!different!age! • Where!because!of!mental!
groups:! 4.##PROVOCATION#
disease!of!illness!a!
1. 0!–!7!!(infans)!=!child!who! • Where a person who is provoked loses his
person!cannot! temper and becomes angry he may lack
has!not!completed!his!ninth! distinguish!between!
year!is!culpae!incapax! accountability and therefore not be blamed for
right!and!wrong!or!he! his conduct.
(lacks!capacity).!It!is!an! can!make!distinction!but!
irrebuttable#presumption# • Also remember: provocation is often regarded
not!exercise!restraint!!=! as ground of justification
that#child#is# culpae!incapax!and!
unaccountable;! therefore!no!delictual!
2. 7!–!14!(impubes)!=! liability!
rebuttable#presumption# !
that!child!over!the!age!of!9!
but!under!14!lacks# 3.##INTOXICATION#
accountability.##It!is! • A!person!under!influence!of!drugs!and!or!alcohol!may!be!
presumed!that!a!child!is! culpae!incapax!
culpae!incapax!until!the! • NOTE:!the!consumption!of!alcohol!or!drugs!may!be!a!
contrary!is!proved! negligent!act!for!which!defendant!could!be!held!liable!i.e.!
3. 14!–!18!=!considered!to!be! driver!of!vehicle!consumes!alcohol!before!he!commences!his!
adults!for!the!purpose!of! journey!but!the!alcohol!only!takes!effect!after!the!journey!
accountability! has!started!and!he!then!causes!damage!while!in!a!state!
! where!he!is!no!longer!able!to!distinguish!between!right!and!
wrong!or!between!safe!or!unsafe!conduct!or!to!act!in!
accordance!with!such!appreciation.!!He!may!be!liable!=!
©!Alda!Vorster!
reason!=!consuming!alcohol!may!be!seen!as!negligent!act!
! !
performed!at!a!time!when!he!was!accountable!
#
, !
1. YOUTH!
!
2.##MENTAL#ILLNESS
FACTORS#AFFECTING#ACCOUNTABILITY!
3.##INTOXICATION
4.##PROVOCATION
©!Alda!Vorster! ! !
1.#DIRECTION#OF#WILL!
INTENT
!
This!element!refers!to!direction!of!wrongdoer’s!will!to!a!result!which!was!
! either!his!principal#object#or!one!which!he!foresaw!might!follow!from!his!
conduct.!
DEFINITION:! Consists!of!3!forms:!
• An accountable person acts intentionally if his will is directed at 1. DOLUS#DIRECTUS#(DIRECT#INTENTION);!
a result which he causes while conscious of the wrongfulness of
his conduct
2. DOLUS#INDIRECTUS#(INDIRECT#INTENTIO);!
3. DOLUS#EVENTUALIS!
Intention (animus iniuriandi dolus) therefore has 2 elements: !
1. Direction of will NOTE:!where!wrongdoer!foresees!possibility!that!he!
2. Conscious (knowledge) of wrongfulness may!cause!result!but!for!some!reason!(even!
unreasonable!one)!comes!to!the!conclusion!that!result!
will!not!happen!=!there!is!no!dolus!eventualis!but!rather!
conscious#negligence#(luxuria)
1. DOLUS&DIRECTUS:&! 2.##DOLUS&INDIRECTUS:& 3.##DOLUS&EVENTUALIS:
• causing!a!particular!result!is!not!the!wrongdoers!main!aim!but!he!
• A"wrongdoer"directs"his"will" • A!wrongdoer!directs!his!will!at!a!
foresees#it#as#a#possibility#and!reconciles!himself!to!that!fact.!
at#a#particular#result#or# particular!consequence!but!in!
• Sometimes!this!form!of!intent!is!defined!by!stating!wrongdoer!foresees!a!
consequence.))Wrongdoer) achieving!that!consequence!
consequence!but!“recklessly”!carries!on!with!conduct!–!use!of!!“reckless”!
actually'desires&a& another!result#or#consequence#
should!be!avoided!because!recklessness!refers!to!serious!degree!of!
particular)consequence!of# must#necessarily#happen#i.e.!X!
negligence!so!confusion!between!gross!negligence!and!dolus!eventualis!
his$conduct$i.e.$X$shoots$Y$to$ shoots!at!Y!through!glass!window.!
may!occur!
take%this%money.%It%is%X’s%plan% X’s!main!goal!is!to!kill!Y!–!in!this!
• Distinction!between!dolus!eventualis!and!negligence!explained!as!
that$Y$should$die! regard!he!has!direct!intention!re!Y’s!
follows:!in!negligence!!QUESTION!=!whether!the!consequence!
!! death!but!X!did!not!intend!to!break!
objectively#seen,!was!reasonably!foreseeable!whereas!in!dolus!
the!window!but!in!achieving!his!
eventualis!QUESTION!=!whether!wrongdoer!actually!subjectively#
main!aim!the!window!must!
foresaw#possibility!of!consequence!
necessarily!shatter.!!X!has!dolus!
• Fact!that!a!particular!result!was!reasonably!foreseeable,!may!be!of!
indirectus!re!the!shattered!window!
importance!in!deciding!whether!actor!actually!foresaw!the!result!–!i.e.!
!
objective!foreseeability!test!may!provide!evidentiary!material!for!
determining!what!was!actually!foreseen!by!the!wrongdoer!–!where!
wrongdoer!alleges!that!he!did!not!foresee!consequences!that!are!
©!Alda!Vorster! ! !
reasonably!foreseeable,!he!must!demonstrate!factual!circumstances!that!
make!his!version!reasonably!acceptable!
!
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller aldavorster. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R150,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
62890 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now