Bibliographie sélective OHADA

This research paper seeks to address the role that good faith plays in South African contract law by first discussing its origin and then chronologically tracing its position from pre-1994 to today. The judgements of both the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court will be unpacked, as a means to understand the development of good faith over the years. The position that good faith plays in foreign jurisdictions will also be discussed, for the sake of achieving a universal understanding of how good faith is perceived around the world. The research concludes by placing good faith in its current role and context in South Africa, and also proposing a way forward.

Abstract available in PDF.

This dissertation explores the concepts of non-disclosure and misrepresentation in South African law. The principal focus surrounds the effect non-disclosure as a form of misrepresentation has on the liability of contracting parties. In order to explore this effectively, the study explores the concept of duty of disclosure, and whether such a duty exists in South African law. Instances when a duty to disclose arises are explained, such as positive steps taken to conceal facts, the seller having sole knowledge of the material fact, an omission or misleading language, and a change in circumstances. Similarly to the English law duty of disclosure in relation to information in contracts uberrimae fidei, the similar South African law concept in insurance or agency contracts known as ‘utmost good faith’, is discussed and explored. The study determines whether such a concept should be a mandatory requirement in pre-contractual negotiations. Additionally, this study explores the various avenues of relief that are available to those who have fallen victim to misrepresentation. This results in an analysis of the effectiveness and success of the current traditional methods of claiming and quantifying damages that are adopted by South African legislature and the judiciary. The discussion then explores the proposed alternate method which aims to combine a claim into one of delict and that of contractual liability, or on the other hand institute a claim solely based on contractual liability. Lastly, this study explores the effect the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 has had on contractual agreements, remedies and penalties, and how this ground-breaking legislation has altered the approach previously adopted by the common law and whether it has done enough to protect consumers.

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Almost eight years after the enactment of the business rescue regime under the Companies Act 71 of 2008, and a plethora of judgments which have probed and prodded its provisions, it is an opportune time to ascertain whether the business rescue regime is an effective corporate rescue mechanism suitable to the modern day demands of the South African economy. In the current economic downturn, South Africa can ill afford a repeat show of the failed judicial management system. It requires a modern and effective corporate rescue mechanism that can be utilised in appropriate circumstances as a viable alternative and not merely a precursor to liquidation. This dissertation seeks to provide a critical analysis of the effectiveness of the business rescue regime to ascertain its worthiness as a corporate rescue mechanism.

Corporate law is based on the premise that directors are fiduciaries of their companies. This is an unbending duty which has to be adhered to at all cost by individuals appointed as directors of a company. Previously the director’s duties were governed by the common law which often relied on the interpretation of the courts on a case by case basis. Therefore the courts would often arrive at different conclusions based on a similar set of facts. The advent of the 2008 Companies Act (Act 71 of 2008)1 brought about a major evolution in South African company law by partially codifying the fiduciary duties of the directors. Understanding fiduciary duties of a director is of significant importance in the modern democracy based on the fact that directors engage on the international spectrum. Company directors have discretionary power which may be abused if they are not familiar with the fiduciary duties. This study seeks to comprehend fully the fiduciary duties of a director of a company. These are the duty to act bona fide, the duty to act for a proper purpose, the duty to avoid conflicts of interest and the duty not to use a corporate opportunity and information for personal profit. This task will be undertaken both in terms of the common law as well as statute (Companies Act 2008 Act). The study will delineate the fundamental consequences of partial codification of these duties and set out the current legal position of the common law which operates in tandem with the statute. In addition, it will deal with whether the common law provisions are still applicable side by side with the statutes. The duties of a company director represent a subject that is not merely academic in nature, but one that is of vital importance in our ever changing commercial world. More and more people are appointed as company directors every day and often they do not know or understand the implications of what they have agreed to.

Companies are constantly facing risks, including financial constraints, which may contribute to companies being unable to trade in the manner desired. Unfortunately, companies that find themselves in this predicament have, in reality, been without a remedy from as early as statutory provisions regulating company law were promulgated in 1926. Judicial management, as a remedy, is notorious for being an outright failure, but the current Companies Act 71 of 2008 introduced the remedy of business rescue for financially distressed companies. The scrutiny and spotlight on the new remedy turns on whether it can be truly accessible for the companies in question and what significant changes it has made to favour financially distressed companies. This mini dissertation will aim to discuss whether the remedy of business rescue has been a success or failure.

Upon the recognition that the implementation of the judicial management process would not be the success that it was anticipated it would be, it became apparent that there was need for a system of corporate rescue appropriate to the needs of a modern South African economy. The legislature then introduced a new business rescue regime when the Companies Act 71 of 20082 (the Act) came into effect in the South African law. This new Act remarkably changed corporate law. One of the central features of the Act is the introduction of business rescue- a procedure which provides for the rehabilitation of financially distressed companies in a manner that seeks to balance the rights of all stakeholders. These provisions are said to be the appropriate method for modern South African economy and they differently affect the stakeholders of a company. This thesis will be discussing the different rights given to affected persons in the new Companies Act and examine how the provisions of business rescue affect different stakeholders of the company and compare such effects with those experienced under judicial management, specifically in light of the improvements of the positions of the stakeholders. Although the new business rescue is a remarkable improvement from the old judicial management system, there is still room for improvement.