Two horses do not need to be from the same stable: a critical evaluation of the Polo case

by | Oct 23, 2022 | TSAR, TSAR 2022 I4

Two horses do not need to be from the same stable: a critical evaluation of the Polo case

Author: S Karjiker

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Anton Mostert Chair of Intellectual Property Law, Professor in the Department of Mercantile Law, Stellenbosch University
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2022, p. 640-659
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2022/i4a2

Abstract

Die eerste saak wat riglyne verskaf oor die interpretasie van artikel 10(13) van die Wet op Handelsmerke van 1993 is onlangs in die hoogste hof van appél in LA Group (Pty) Ltd v Stable Brands (Pty) Ltd beslis. Die beslissing het ook ’n mate van duidelikheid verskaf oor die tipe gebruik van ’n handelsmerk wat as aanvaarbare bewys van gebruik beskou sal word wanneer die geldigheid van ’n handelsmerk betwis word op grond van nie-gebruik. Wat die Polo-saak hoogs ongewoon maak, indien nie uniek nie, is dat dit nie die eienaar van die handelsmerk, naamlik Ralph Lauren, was wat sy reputasie in die POLO-merke wou bevestig nie, maar ’n derde party, naamlik die respondent in die saak. Dit is na alle waarskynlikheid die eerste keer dat ’n derde party poog om die reputasie van ’n beweerde buitelandse, bekende, ongeregistreerde handelsmerk te beskerm.
Daar was twee uitsprake wat artikel 10(13) verskillend geïnterpreteer het, en dus tot verskillende gevolgtrekkings oor die feite gekom het. Hierdie artikel sal beide die minderheids- en meerderheidsuitsprake krities bespreek. ’n Aspek van die uitspraak wat kommer wek by beide die minderheids- en meerderheidsuitspraak is die oënskynlik doelbewuste vermyding van enige bespreking van die territorialiteit van handelsmerke, meer spesifiek enige vermelding van artikels 35 en 36(2) van die Wet op Handelsmerke van 1993. Op ’n letterlike interpretasie blyk die minderheid korrek te wees dat artikel 10(13) van wye belang kan wees, maar dit het nie daarin geslaag om duidelikheid te verskaf oor die moontlike wisselwerking tussen artikels 10(13) en 35, aan een kant, en artikel 36(2), aan die ander kant nie. Die versuim om die interpretasie van artikel 10(13) van die Wet op Handelsmerke van 1993 te versoen met artikel 35 (en a 36(2)) kan ernstige kommer oor die omvang van artikel 35 in die toekoms laat ontstaan. Aangesien dit nie die eienaar van die beweerd geskonde handelsmerk was wat die klaer was nie, laat die saak ook kwessies ontstaan oor die bewyslas in die vestiging van die vereiste reputasie in hierdie tipe gevalle.
Gegewe die leerstuk van die territorialiteit van handelsmerke, is ’n sekere vlak van verbruikersverwarring onvermydelik.

Die matigende rol van die waardes onderliggend aan die grondwet in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg

by | Oct 23, 2022 | TSAR, TSAR 2022 I4

Die matigende rol van die waardes onderliggend aan die grondwet in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg

Author: S Cornelius

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Hoogleraar in en hoof van die Departement van Privaatreg, Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid, Universiteit van Pretoria
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2022, p. 660-671
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2022/i4a3

Abstract

With the adoption of the interim constitution in 1993, much was made of the transformative function which the new constitution, and more particularly, the bill of rights, would fulfil. There were calls to reform the law of contract, whether by means of codification, piecemeal legislation or judicial reform. This contribution focuses on judicial reform of the law of contract and the apparent lack of change since the advent of the new constitutional dispensation.
The search for a means to mitigate the strict application of the law of contract is not new. The Romans found that strict application of the law of contract could sometimes lead to unfair results. Eventually, Roman law developed a remedy, known as the exceptio doli, to mitigate the strict application of the law of contract. The courts in South Africa, from the outset, had to deal with instances where strict application of the law of contract would apparently lead to harsh results. To this end, the courts also turned to the Roman exceptio doli, but eventually, the appellate division ruled in Bank of Lisbon and South Africa Ltd v De Ornelas (1988 3 SA 580 (A)) that the exceptio doli is not part of the South African law of contract. Since then, and particularly since the advent of the new constitutional dispensation, parties have sought to rely on the values underlying the constitution, good faith, reasonableness and equity, in an attempt to seek redress from what they viewed as the harsh effects of the law of contract.
Some trends began to develop: firstly, in some instances, judges displayed a shocking lack of knowledge of the law of contract; secondly, parties or the courts sometimes unnecessarily invoked the constitution when the common law of contract would have produced the same result; thirdly, a clear pattern of conservative majority and liberal minority opinions emerged in judgments of the courts; and lastly, the courts have tended to follow an all-or-nothing approach to matters dealing with contracts. However, in a minority opinion in Beadica 231 CC v Trustees, Oregon Trust (2020 5 SA 247 (CC)), Froneman J proposed a more nuanced approach in terms of which contractual matters can be resolved by proportionate adjustment of the contract. This kind of approach has been followed in Germany and it is proposed that the German concept of ergänzende Vertragsauslegung can guide the courts in South Africa to give greater effect to the values underlying the constitution, good faith, reasonableness and equity.

Combating money-laundering through currency control: do Exchange Control Regulations 3(3) and 19(1) limit a traveller’s right to privacy?

by | Oct 23, 2022 | TSAR, TSAR 2022 I4

Combating money-laundering through currency control: do Exchange Control Regulations 3(3) and 19(1) limit a traveller’s right to privacy?

Author: F Moosa

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Associate Professor in the Department of Mercantile and Labour Law, University of the Western Cape
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2022, p. 672-688
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2022/i4a4

Abstract

Geldwassery is ’n transnasionale misdaad waarteen Suid-Afrika nie immuun is nie. Geldwassery word makliker gemaak deur die wegval van geografiese grense en tegnologiese ontwikkelings, asook die gebruik van virtuele geldeenhede as ’n betaalmiddel vir goedere en dienste. Anders as die Suid-Afrikaanse Rand, gesteun deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank, is virtuele geldeenhede (soos Bitcoin) tans ongereguleerd en nie amptelik ingevolge die Wet op die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank nie. Die aard van kripto-geldeenhede as ontasbare bates wat in elektroniese vorm binne ’n gerekenariseerde netwerk bestaan, stel die benutters daarvan in staat om dit onmiddellik oor die grenslose internet oor te dra met die klik van ’n knoppie op ’n elektroniese toestel (soos, ’n rekenaar, skootrekenaar of selfoon).
Die wêreldwye web is ’n ongereguleerde elektroniese omgewing. In hierdie ekosisteem is daar verbeterde anonimiteit en die vrye vloei van gedigitaliseerde eiendom is byna onnaspeurbaar. Hierdie kenmerke is aantreklik vir sindikate, bendes en individue wie se optrede daarop gemik is om die opbrengs van misdaad transnasionaal, en buite die formeel gereguleerde finansiële stelsels te verskuif. Om sy internasionale verpligtinge na te kom, het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering wette gepromulgeer wat daarop gemik is om die plaag van geldwassery te bekamp.
In hierdie artikel toon die outeur dat die magte wat regulasies 3(3) en 19(1) van die Deviesebeheerregulasies, 1961 uitgevaardig ingevolge die Wet op Betaalmiddels en Wisselkoerse 9 van 1933 toeken, belangrike wapens is in die arsenaal van wetstoepassingsagentskappe wat as funksie het om geldwassery en ander ekonomiese misdade te bekamp. Hierdie magte maak egter inbreuk op regte van privaatheid en op die belange wat in artikel 14 van die grondwet verskans is. Die privaatheid van ’n persoon, sy huis- en sake omgewing moet deur agente van die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens gerespekteer word wanneer hul die magte tot wetstoepassing onder die regulasies uitoefen. Hoewel inkomste uit belasting deurslaggewend is vir die bereiking van grondwetlike doelwitte, moet die toepassing van wette wat ontwerp is om Suid-Afrika se belastingbasis te beskerm, binne die orde van die grondwet plaasvind. Gevolglik toon hierdie artikel dat op die reg op privaatheid, soos beskerm in artikel 14 van die grondwet, inbreuk gemaak word deur regulasies 3(3) en 19(1). Indien korrek, maak dit dié bepalings prima facie onwettig. Enige staatsinstelling wat op die beperking staatmaak moet die beperking regverdig. Dit is ’n besondere onus. Daarom bly die vraag of op ’n proporsionele beoordeling van mededingende belange die beperkings op privaatheid wat deur regulasies 3(3) en 19(1) toegelaat word, die grondwetlikheidstoets slaag, met inagneming van alle tersaaklike faktore wat in artikel 36(1) van die grondwet vervat is. Dit is ’n verdere grondwetlike aangeleentheid wat deeglike ontleding in ’n toekomstige artikel vereis.

Aantekeninge: Environmental judgments in the last year – a barometer of the state of environmental democracy?

by | Oct 23, 2022 | TSAR, TSAR 2022 I4

Aantekeninge: Environmental judgments in the last year – a barometer of the state of environmental democracy?

Author: J Hall

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: University of Johannesburg
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2022, p. 689-716
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2022/i4a5

Abstract

It is not uncommon for environmental judgments to be dominated by a particular theme at certain periods of time. Sometimes there are clear reasons. For example, after an understandable lag between the trigger for litigation and the litigation itself, between 2005 to 2008 many judgments related to the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 1998, as lengthy application processes were finalised. However, sometimes clusters of judgments occur which do not seem to be capable of being traced to a single trigger and suggest either more symptomatic dynamics at play or a coincidental congruence.
This is the case for environmental judgments that were handed down between June 2021 and May 2022. The judgments cover a variety of issues ranging from law-making to bureaucratic decision-making and implementation responses. Nevertheless, one has a sense when reading them that many of the judgments are characterised by discontent with government’s approach to environmental management. Apart from the odd private dispute, one cannot help but gain the impression that a thread running through many of the judgments is a frustration at the purported failure of government to take the views and needs of ordinary people into account when they make decisions that impact on the environment – and a willingness to take such grievances to court. The theme of the judgments in the last year might well be described as “the year of pushing back”.
When viewed as a cluster the judgments may be disconcerting in one respect and raise questions as to whether the environmental justice project is alive and well, or not. However, it is precisely these types of challenges that test the robustness of the transformative approach envisaged by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; provide an opportunity for jurisprudential development; and shed light on the extent to which the courts are willing to safeguard the realisation of the environmental right. In the overview of key environmental judgments which were handed down in the last year below, whether public or private, the disputes may accordingly also be reframed as having another common denominator – and that is that they all bear some importance for the realisation of the democratic environmental rule of law.

Aantekeninge: An update of recent labour law developments from South African courts 2022

by | Oct 23, 2022 | TSAR, TSAR 2022 I4

Aantekeninge: An update of recent labour law developments from South African courts 2022

Author: MJ Van Staden

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: University of Johannesburg
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2022, p. 717-753
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2022/i4a6

Abstract

This contribution summarises and considers recent South African labour law cases from June 2021 to May 2022. It focuses on several important decisions handed down by South African courts on a range of labour law matters. The cases addressed here were chosen because they establish new standards, expand on existing ones or establish new legal tests. These judgments have a notable effect on labour law and the employment relationship. They are anticipated to be particularly influential in future cases. Although facts have been shortened where possible, findings of reasonableness and fairness are often dependent on the specific circumstances and relevant facts have therefore been set out where necessary. As in the previous update, the labour courts were again tasked to deal with several cases involving Covid-19 related facts, particularly mandatory vaccinations. There was also a significant increase in constitutional court judgments in labour-related matters.