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commit.
Against this background consider the following set of facts:
Lerato owns a townhouse in Pretoria. Lerato’s best friend, Karen, has been renting a room in Lerato’s
townhouse since January 2024. Lerato has been interested in immigrating to the United Kingdom for
years. During April 2024 Lerato accepts a job offer in London. The immigration process gets finalised
swiftly and Lerato, being rushed to take up the job opportunity, leaves all her belongings behind. She
decides to come and sort out everything when she comes home to visit her family during December
2024. Karen takes Lerato to the airport. They are very emotional while saying goodbye. Lerato hands
the keys to her Mercedes vehicle and the townhouse to Karen and runs to the boarding gate. Months go
by and despite Karen regularly trying to communicate with Lerato on , Lerato seldomly responds.
Karen is sad and misses Lerato. One afternoon after taking a walk, one of Karen’s new neighbours
comes over for coffee. During their discussion, Karen mentions that she owns the Mercedes and the
townhouse. Examine the correctness of Karen’s statement. Fully substantiate your answer with
reference to the specific page(s) of your Study Guide that you consulted to answer this question.
Answer 1:
The question of property ownership and transfer is a crucial aspect of legal studies, particularly in the
realm of property law. In the given scenario, Lerato, who owns a townhouse in Pretoria and a
Mercedes vehicle, leaves these possessions in the care of her best friend Karen as she moves to the
United Kingdom for a job opportunity. Karen, after being left with the keys to both the townhouse
and the vehicle, eventually claims ownership of these assets. This discussion explores the accuracy
of Karen's claim, delving into the legal principles surrounding ownership, possession, and the
requirements for the transfer of both immovable and movable property under South African law. By
referencing the relevant pages of the study guide, this essay will argue that Karen's assertion of
ownership is legally incorrect and unsupported by the necessary legal processes.
The Legal Framework for Ownership of Immovable Property
Immovable property, such as land or buildings, is subject to strict legal processes when it comes to
the transfer of ownership. In South African law, the transfer of ownership for immovable property is
not a simple matter of handing over possession, but rather involves a formal process that must be
adhered to for the transfer to be legally recognized. According to the study guide, particularly on
Page 113, the transfer of ownership of immovable property requires the execution of a deed of sale,
which must be in writing and signed by both parties involved in the transaction. This deed must then
be registered at the Deeds Office, which serves as the formal record of ownership transfer.
The registration process is a critical step because it provides public notice of the change in ownership
and ensures that the new owner's rights are protected under the law. This process also helps prevent
fraudulent claims to property and ensures that all parties are aware of the legitimate owner. In the
scenario at hand, while Lerato handed over the keys to the townhouse to Karen, this act does not
fulfill the legal requirements for the transfer of ownership. Without a written deed of sale and the
subsequent registration at the Deeds Office, the legal title to the townhouse remains with Lerato.
Karen's possession of the keys and her occupation of the townhouse do not confer legal ownership,
making her claim to the property invalid under South African law.
