Bibliographie sélective OHADA

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This study explores the liability associated with the use of autonomous vehicles. With the increase in efforts by automobile industries to manufacture driverless cars, the issue of liability occupies the front seat of the discussion. A major benefit of autonomous and connected vehicles is their potential to ameliorate, if not eradicate, avoidable accidents on roads. Currently, it is estimated that 90% of road accidents are caused by human error. The epoch of driverless vehicles, where the narrative will drastically change, is upon us. This means a shift away from human liability to machine liability, since these technologies have in-built algorithms to ensure autonomous decisions by the vehicle. Product liability becomes crucial in the wake of driverless cars. The gradual and ultimate shift of liability from the traditional human driver to the machine ‘driver’ coupled with the cross-border sale of driverless vehicles provide justification for scholarly attention. Accidents may now be attributed to technological error and not human mistake. Conflict of law issues become central in instances where manufacturers and users live in different parts of the world... <br>LL.M. (International Commercial Law)

The dissertation examines the role the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) can play in facilitating the political and economic convergence of the African Union (AU) member states. The developmental challenges facing Africa in spite of its wealth of human and natural resources is poignant. The genesis of this problem can be traced to the history of colonialism and the wave of independence in the continent in the late 1950s. Arguments have been put forward to suggest that one of the most viable ways of promoting Africa’s development is by developing and promoting intra-continental trade which can be possible through continental integration. The specific areas reviewed are regional stability and how intra-regional trade and investment is used to promote economic convergence. Africa's need for political and economic integration at a continental level is further sustained by the assumption that neocolonialism can be blamed for the weakness of structures in African states. Some scholars agree on the idea that regionalisation is often seen to offer a possibility to respond to the challenges of globalization. This impact nevertheless is dependent on the relation between globalisation and regional sentiment. Regional integration implies a form of interdependence among nation-states. Such interdependence leads to an establishment of regional integration arrangements between sovereign states within a geographical space. These agreements are shaped formally and there is a commitment to work together in order to realise political and socio-economic benefits. This study maintains that in order to achieve effective integration of the continent, Nigeria and South Africa as case studies, as continental giants have a key role to play to this end and as members of ECOWAS and SADC respectively. It is argued here that both the SADC and ECOWAS as sub-continental blocks have made some notable and commendable progress in developing policies for trade liberalization and economic integration, this, however, is not enough as such policies are also pertinent at a continental level. The study found that SADC and ECOWAS as regional blocks can play a role in aiding the continent to achieve a trade liberalization to achieve continental economic development.

Global trade has consistently been on an upward trajectory over the past few decades. In 2001, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that over the course of the previous twenty (20) years world trade had grown at an average rate of six (6) percent per annum, double as fast as world output.1 A substantial component of global trade consists of cross-border transactions. It was projected that between 2010 and 2022, the number of global transactions would double from three (3) to six (6) trillion per year.2 These volumes of global trade naturally entail an enormous number of cross-border commercial contracts, which often result in disputes over defective goods or services, payment or, delays... <br>LL.M. (International Commercial Law)

The sale in execution of theprimary residence of a consumer has numerous implications. This is especially in light of section 26 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996(‘Constitution’) which gives people the right to adequate housing and to not be arbitrarily evicted from their homes. The enactment of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005(‘NCA’) which aimsto balance the rights of creditors and consumers also impacted the procedure to sell homes in execution. In particular, section 129 of the NCA has pre-enforcement procedures whilst section 130 allows credit agreements to be reinstated if consumers can pay the overdue amounts and other costs in full. In addition, amendments were made tothe Magistrates’Court Rules and the Uniform Rules of Court regarding the sale of consumers’homes.The new requirements introduced by the NCA and procedures introduced by thecourt rules resulted in a great deal of confusion with different courts and judges adopting different approaches. Eventually, several matters which sought to sell consumers’homes in execution were heard in Absa Bank v Mokebe and Related Matters 2018 (6) SA 492 (GJ)(‘Mokebe case’). Van der Linde Jofthe Gauteng Local Division of the High Court, used the power granted in section 14(1)(b) of the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013 to, in consultation with the Judge President, discontinue the hearing of the matters before him and refer the mattersto the full bench of the Division.In essence, the court held that a uniform approach must be taken by the judges of this Division regarding how they handle foreclosure matters. This thesis investigates the procedure that creditors should follow before they are entitled to sell consumers’ homesin execution. In order to do this, this thesis will examinethe Constitution, NCA, court rules, practice notesand case law. More specifically, the persons that are the focusof the investigation are creditors that have a security right in the form of a mortgage bond over the home,versus consumers who have become overindebted and are no longer able to meet their obligations under the loan agreement that was entered into with the creditors. There cent landmark Mokebe case is examined in depth to determine what the current law is and how it can be improved.Furthermore, the effect of the Mokebe case inother High Court Divisions in the country will be briefly discussed.Lastly, this thesis sets out what consumers can do to prevent their homes being sold on publicauction especially after they default in their payments. This thesis will show that the procedure to sell homes in execution has drastically changed from the pre-constitutional to the current constitutional dispensation. However, it is submitted that the procedures can still be improved upon. This is because the right to adequate housing is an important socio-economic right which has been undervalued and overlooked. The courts have previously allowed execution of homes without considering the circumstances of consumers. The court rules allowed for this as the contractual rights of creditors were held at a higher standard than the socio-economic rights of consumers. It is argued that in the light of the NCA and its aims, there must be an appropriate balancing of the rights of creditors and consumers to create just outcomes. If we are to truly create a society based on ‘human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms’ as expressed in the founding values of South Africa’s Constitution and reiterated to a large extent in the NCA; foreclosure laws must also reflect that vision.

This research paper looks at the South African common law right to lien as it currently stands as the only compensatory remedy for a construction subcontractor in the event of non-payment by the main contractor. The nature and scope of the builder’s lien in this regard will be analysed and its limitations will be highlighted. Accordingly, having critically considered a potential alternative remedy, an unjustified enrichment claim, for the subcontractor, this research paper will illustrate that there is insufficient protection for an unpaid subcontractor in our legal system. Hence, there is a need for our common law builder’s lien to be developed into a statutory builder’s lien. An analysis of foreign jurisdictions legal position, in particular Canadian law, with regard to the construction subcontractor and the right to lien as a remedy has a commendable statutory measure in place to assist a subcontractor by attempting to prevent such a financial predicament and if it nonetheless still occurs, that in the event of non-payment, the subcontractor is adequately protected. This research project proposes that our legal system should take influence from the Canadian legal system and be developed in accordance with our legal framework in order for construction subcontractors to also have sufficient and effective protection under our legal system.