SUCCESSION BY CONTRACT

KONTRAKTUELE
ERFOPVOLGING
(pactum successorium)
Leereenheid / Study Unit 12

ADD THE SOURCES & DISCUSSION ON eFUNDI LESSONS ->

STUDY UNIT 12 -> FURTHER PRESCRIBED STUDY MATERIAL
Study outcomes / Leeruitkomste

 Define a ps and illustrate with examples / Definieer ps en illustreer

dmv voorbeelde
 What are the reasons for the prohibition against the ps / Wat is
die redes vir die verbod teen die ps?
 Discuss the tests that have been developed by the courts to
identify a ps and indicate which test enjoys preference /
Bespreek die toetse wat ontwikkel is deur die howe om ps te
identifiseer en dui aan watter toets voorkeur geniet
 Discuss the valid forms of a ps / Bespreek die geldige vorme van
ps
 Origin of / Oorsprong van pactum successorium

• Originates in common law

oorsprong id gemenereg
• Earliest Roman sources only mention
2 methods of succession
Vroegste Romeinse bronne meld slegs
2 metodes van erfopvolging:
• valid will / geldige testament
(succession ex testamento)
• Intestate / intestaat (succession ab
intestato)
• Succession by means of ps unknown
or not permitted – why?
Erfopvolging dmv ps onbekend of nie
toegelaat – hoekom?
Modern objections against / moderne besware teen
pactum successorium
Evasion of testamentary formalities under s 2(3)
of the Wills Act.
Vermyding van testamentêre formaliteite ing a Common law
& statutory
2(3) van Wet op Testamente.
Evasion of estate duty under the Estate Duty
Act.
Vermyding van boedelbelasting ing law
Boedelbelastingwet.
Oral evidence is not possible to determine a
dispute re ps because the one party is dead.
Mondelinge getuienis onmoontlik by dispuut tov
ps want een party is oorlede.
Gemenereg &
Restriction of testator’s freedom of testation.
Beperking van testateur se testeervryheid. statutêre reg
Why a / Hoekom `n pactum successorium?

An agreement or contract in Bilateral juridical act

which parties regulate the
devolution of their assets
Ooreenkoms of kontrak waar
partye die verdeling van hul
bates reël.
operating succession law
consequences inter vivos
Tweesydige regshandeling
wat erfopvolging inter vivos
reël

Testator commits to give someone

else the whole or a share of the
estate mortis causa
Testateur onderneem om aan
iemand anders `n gehele/deel van
die boedel mortis causa te gee.
Van Aardt v Van Aardt 2007 1 SA 53 E.

A pactum successorium is an ‘agreement which purports to limit a contracting party’s freedom of

testation by irrevocably binding him to post-mortem devolution of the right to an asset in his
estate. … If the term pactum successorium is used to describe a prohibited agreement which
seeks, directly or indirectly, to regulate succession on death, and if deprivation or restriction of
testamentary freedom is accepted as the basic criterion for the unlawfulness of such an
agreement, then the identifying characteristics of a pactum successorium are:
(a) that it purports to effect a post-mortem disposition of an asset in the estate of a contracting party by providing
for a devolution of the right to that asset from the party, after his death, to another person; and
(b) that it seeks to prevent the contracting party from revoking the disposition, either by testament or by act inter
vivos.

The former characteristic gives the agreement its testamentary nature, while the latter supplies
the ground for its invalidity.’
Exampes of / voorbeelde van pacta successoria

‘We hereby agree that the survivor will be the first-dying person’s only heir.’
Ons kom ooreen dat die langslewende die eerssterwende se enigste erfgenaam
sal wees.

‘I hereby agree that I will leave the residue of my estate to Maria.’

Ek kom ooreen dat ek die restant van my boedel aan Maria bemaak.

‘I hereby undertake to Rose that I will leave half my estate to my stepson, Carl.’
Ek onderneem aan Rose dat ek die helfte van my boedel aan my stiefseurn, Carl,
sal bemaak.

‘I promise that I will bequeath my racehorse to my neighbor Ben when I die’.

Ek belowe ek sal my wedrenperd aan my buurman Ben sal bemaak wanneer ek
sterf.
 Identifying / Identifiseer pactum successorium?

1 Absence of a
2 3 Restriction of freedom
of testation
4 Vesting test
Vestigingstoets
5 Intention test
Bedoelingstoets

counter Revocability test Beperking van Jubelius 1988 (C), Mc

Mc Alpine 1997 (A) -
minority
performance Herroepingstoets
testeervryheid Alpine 1997 (A) & Van
Bornman en de Vos v Aardt 2007 (E)
Afwesigheid van Varkevisser v Estate Potgietersrusse
teenprestasie Varkevisser 1959 Tabakkorporasie 1976
(SR) (A)
Schauer v
Schauer 1967
(W)
Valid forms of / Geldige vorme van pactum successorium

Donatia mortis causa

Exceptions?
Uitsonderings?

Antenuptial contract /
huweliksvoorwaardeskontrak
 Customary law / Gewoontereg

How does the principles of a pactum

successorium under the common law compare
with the deathbed wishes of a family head in
accordance with traditional customs?

Hoe vergelyk die beginsels van ʼn pactum

successorium in die gemenereg met die
sterfbedwense van ʼn familiehoof in
ooreenstemming met tradisionele
gewoonteregtelike gebruike?
 REMEMBER: ADD THE SOURCES & DISCUSSION ON eFUNDI
LESSONS -> STUDY UNIT 12 -> FURTHER PRESCRIBED STUDY
MATERIAL

THE END – DIE EINDE

Study chapter 14 in your textbook to learn more about the ps.
Bestudeer hoofstuk 14 in jou handboek vir meer inligting oor die ps.