The Law of Succession (PL 214)

2025

TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION AND KEY CONCEPTS |

Inleiding en sleutelbegrippe

1.1 The aims and objectives of the Law of

Succession | Die doelwitte van Erfreg

Ms Caitlin Le Roith
INTRODUCTION | INLEIDING
1. What is the Law of Succession? | Wat is erfreg?
• Legal rules which regulate the devolution of a deceased
person’s estate upon one or more persons.

2. What are the Rules of Succession? | Wat is die Reëls van erfreg?
• Who is entitled to succeed the deceased? | Wie?
• Extent of the benefits they are to receive. | Wat?

3. Administrative process of deceased estates | boedelbereddering

Law of Succession – Sterile and Formalistic? | Erfreg –
Steriel en formalisties?
“Ten grondslag van die erfreg lê inderdaad belangrike sosiale
en ekonomiese oorwegings wat deur navorsing na die
oppervlak gebring kan word.”
MJ de Waal ‘The Social and Economic Foundations of the Law of
Succession’ (1997) 8 Stellenbosch Law Review 162
- Examine the influence of social and economic considerations on
the form and content of the law of succession
- Four questions:
(a)What is the basic function of the law of succession?
(b)What is the relationship between intestate and testate
succession?
(c)What are the basic principles underlying systems of intestate and
testate succession?
(d)What is the importance of the concept of freedom of testation in
the context of testate succession and how can restrictions on this
Basic function of the law of succession
- Rules ‘aimed at solving the problem of distributing
property over time, because the owners of property
all eventually die.’ (p 163)

- BUT: this is just one option for “wealth

transmission”

- ‘one of the chief means in which the social order

carries on over time’

- ‘an incentive to stimulate creativity, hard work,

initiative and ultimately productivity which may
- ‘foster individual responsibility by encouraging those
who can to provide for dependents’

- ‘mechanism by which the individual can demonstrate

his or her own freedom from the state and society’

- ‘the continuation of economic life in spite of the

death of people’

- ‘support of the family, enabling it to fulfil its social

function’

- Customary law: ‘family must be perpetuated and the

Social factors influencing the law of
-succession
The Family

- Degree to which the law applies to or is used by people of

different societies and different groups in the same society

Economic factors influencing the law of

succession
- “gift” as an economic principle – a person is allowed to
dispose freely of their property by will

- ‘family wealth transmission’ has changed

- From land to financial assets and human capital
(education)
- Enhancement of life expectancy
Freedom of testation
‘most obvious manifestation of private autonomy in the
sphere of the law of succession’ (p 169)

Devices to protect freedom of testation:

a. Formalities for wills

b. Contractual restrictions on freedom of testation
c. Protecting free testamentary expression
d. The delegation of testamentary power
e. Revocation possible until death
f. Rectification and interpretation
Restrictions on freedom of testation:

Social considerations:

- Support and maintain the family

- Rule against testamentary conditions which would be illegal,
immoral or against public policy to fulfil

Economic considerations:

- Prevent ‘reigning from the grave’

- Prevent ‘unproductive tying up of capital in a trust’
- Prevent the ‘uneconomic subdivision’ of agricultural land and
mineral rights
Intestate succession:
- ‘natural heirs’ (broader social consideration)

- South African Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987

- Seeks to ‘draw the circle of potential intestate heirs as small

as possible’

- A “spouse” in a cohabiting and divorcing society?

- Intestate succession and customary law; differences; potential

for harmonization?

- NOTE: article was published in 1997. Quite a lot has happened

since then.
How does the law of succession affect the following?

• Extended family?
• Persons who choose not to marry?
• Same-Sex couples?
• Extramarital children?
• Adopted children?
• More than one spouse?
AF 1 | AV 1 – Assessment Further 1
Instructions
AF 1 | AV 1 – Assessment Further 1
Instructions
MAIN SOURCES OF LAW | REGSBRONNE
• Wills Act 7 of 1953 | Wet op Testamente

• Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987 | Wet op Intestate Erfopvolging

• Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act 27 of 1990 | Wet op Onderhoud

van Langslewende Gades

• Trust Property Control Act 57 of 1988 | Wet op Beheer van Trustgoed

• Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 | Boedelwet

• Common law and case law | Gemene reg en hoofsake

• Customary law | Gewoontereg

SUCCESSION MAY TAKE PLACE IN 3
WAYS

1. Testate Succession | Testaat Erfreg

2. Intestate Succession | Intestaat Erfreg

3. Contract | Kontrak
The Difference between Testate and Intestate
Succession |
Die verskil tussen testaat en intestaat erfreg
TESTATE/ TESTAAT INTESTATE/ INTESTAAT
Valid will No will
OR OR
Invalid will but the will is Dies leaving an invalid will
condoned in terms of s 2(3) which cannot be condoned
of the Wills Act. in terms of section 2(3) of
the Wills Act.

Also: Partial intestacy

TESTAMENT

/REVOKASIE
 /REPUDIASIE

/INBRING
TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION AND KEY
CONCEPTS
1.2 Death & Survivorship | Dood &
Oorlewing
 DEATH | DOOD

Legal definition of death?

• Traditional Approach
• Modern Medical Approach

S v Williams 1986 (4) SA 1188 (A) = When a person is kept

alive by means of respirator, its eventual disconnection is
not, in legal terms, the act which causes death.
 DEATH | DOOD

GENERAL RULE & EXCEPTIONS |

ALGEMENE REËL EN UITSONDERINGS
• The person must have died | Die persoon moes gesterf het

• Exceptions | Uitsonderings

• Presumption of death order | bevel van vermoede van

dood

• Estate Massing | boedelsamesmelting

 Commorientes – “Simultaneous”
death
• Applies when a number of people are killed in the same disaster.
• Who died first?
• Common Law presumptions (no longer applicable)
• English Law presumption (no longer applicable)

• General rule today:

• If the sequence in which people died cannot be established, there
is no presumption of survival or simultaneous death. | As die
volgorde waarin mense gesterf het nie vasgestel kan word nie, is
daar geen vermoede van oorlewing of gelyktydige dood nie.
• In such an instance:
• The time of the death of the deceased is a question of fact
which is established without the help of presumptions.
 Ex Parte Graham 1963 (4) SA
145 (D)
• Facts: • Feite:
• Testator left her estate to her • Testatrise het haar boedel aan
adopted son. haar seun bemaak.
• Will provided – should the son • Testament – indien haar seun
predecease the testator then voor haar te sterwe sou kom
the whole estate was to go to moet die boedel na haar
her mother. moeder toe gaan.
• Testator and adopted son • Testatrise en seun is albei
were both killed in an dood in 'n vliegtuigongeluk
airplane crash in which all the waarin al die passasiers en die
passengers and the crew bemanning gesterf het.
died.
The Registrar of Deeds wanted an order of the court declaring that the
adopted son died before or simultaneously with the testator before the
immovable property could be transferred to the mother.
 Ex Parte Graham 1963 (4) SA 145
(D)
• Legal Issue: • Regsvraag:
• Application for a declaration • Aansoek vir ‘n hofbeval dat die
that the testator and her seun voor die testatrise of
adopted son died gelyktydig met haar te sterwe
simultaneously. gekom het.

• Finding: • Bevinding:
• The question of who died • Die vraag wie eerste
first is a question of fact gesterf het, is ‘n feitelike
depending on the vraag wat van die
circumstances of each case. omstandighede van elke
• The evidence was such that no geval afhang.
other conclusion than one
simultaneous death could be
reached.
 Greyling v Greyling 1978 (2) SA 114
(T)
Clause in a will dealing with simultaneous death | Klousule oor gelyktydige dood

• Facts: • Feite:
• Husband & wife died in a car • Man en vrou sterf in ’n
accident. motorongeluk
• Evidence? • Getuienis?
• Joint will: • Gesamentlike testament:
• If husband dies first – son A will • Indien die man eerste te sterwe
inherit all the property and kom… (klousule 3)
farming equipment and the wife
to receive the residue of the • Indien die vrou eerste te sterwe
estate. (clause 3) kom… (klousule 4)
• If wife dies first – husband will
inherit everything. (clause 4)
• Gelyktydig te sterwe kom…
• If husband & wife die
(klousule 6)
simultaneously – son A will
inherit all the property and
farming equipment, and the
 Greyling v Greyling 1978 (2) SA 114 (T)
Clause in a will dealing with simultaneous death | Klousule oor gelyktydige dood
• Legal Issue: • Regsvraag:
• Whether the estate should • Moet die boedel berreder
devolve in accordance with word asof die ma/vrou
the wife predeceasing the eerste gesterf het (klousule
husband (clause 4) or if it 4) of as of die man en vrou
should be treated as a (ma & pa) gelyktydig
simultaneous death. gesterf het? (klousule 6)
(clause 6)

• Bevinding:
• Finding:
• “gelyktydig te sterwe kom”
• “to die simultaneously” = to = beteken om as gevolg
die as a result of a single van die selfe ongeluk te
incident, irrespective of the sterf, ongeag die feit dat
exact time of death. daar ‘n verskil in die
Karl and Hannah are siblings. In his Will, Karl en Hannah is broer en suster. In Karl
Karl appointed his sister Hannah to inherit se testament het hy sy suster, Hannah,
his whole estate. In her Will, Hannah aangestel om sy hele boedel te erf. In
appointed her husband, Martin, to be her Hannah se testament het sy haar man,
heir. Hannah and Karl are killed in the Martin, as haar erfgenaam aangestel.
same car accident, and no evidence exists Hannah en Karl sterf in dieselfde
as to who died first. Karl leaves behind motorongeluk, en geen bewyse bestaan
both his parents. Hannah leaves behind oor wie eerste gesterf het nie. Karl laat
her parents and her husband. albei sy ouers agter. Hannah laat haar
ouers en haar man agter.
Having regard to the facts above as
well as the relevant legal sources: Met inagneming van die feite hierbo
sowel as die relevante regsbronne:
a) Who will inherit Karl and Hannah’s
respective estates? Explain. a) Wie sal Karl en Hannah se ondeskeie
boedels erf? Verduidelik.
b) Would it make a difference to your
answer if Karl had died at the scene b) Sou dit ‘n verskil aan jou antwoord maak
and Hannah had died two hours later in as Karl op die toneel gesterf het en
hospital? Explain your answer. Hannah twee ure later in die hospital
gesterf het? Verduidelik jou antwoord.
 SURVIVORSHIP | OORLEWING

GENERAL RULE & EXCEPTION |

ALGEMENE REËL EN UITSONDERING
• Survivorship is a precondition to inheriting.

• There must be somebody on whom the rights can devolve.

• Exception | Uitsondering:
• Nasciturus fiction
Ex parte Boedel Steenkamp 1962 (3) SA 954 (O)
1. The child must have been conceived at the time of devolution
of the benefit. | Die kind moet verwek wees ten tye van die
vererwing van die voordeel.
2. The inheritance must be to the advantage of the unborn child.
| Die erfenis moet tot die voordeel van die ongebore kind strek.
3. The child must be born alive. | Die kind moet uiteindelik lewend
gebore word.

Codified in section 2D(1)(c) of Wills Act | Wet op Testamente:

‘Any benefit allocated to the children of a person, or to the members of a
class of persons, mentioned in the will shall vest in the children of that
person or those members of the class of persons who are alive at the time of
the devolution of the benefit, or who have already been conceived at that
time and who are later born alive.’
‘Vestig ‘n voordeel wat toegeken is aan die kinders van ‘n persoon, of die
lede van ‘n klas van persone, in die testament genoem, in die kinders van
daardie persoon of daardie lede van die klas van personne wat op die tydstip
 TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION AND KEY
CONCEPTS
1.3 Adiation & Repudiation | Adiasie &
Repudiasie
ADIATION AND REPUDIATION | Adiasie & Repudiasie
A beneficiary is free to adiate or to repudiate any benefit.
‘n Begunstigde is vry om enige voordeel of te adieer of te repudieer.

Adiation |
Adiasie

The acceptance of a benefit from the

estate of a testator or deceased either
under testate succession or under
intestate succession.

Adiasie beteken die aanvaarding van ‘n

voordeel uit die boedel van ‘n testateur
of van ‘n oorledene ingevolge die
testate of intestate erfreg.
ADIATION AND REPUDIATION | Adiasie & Repudiasie
A beneficiary is free to adiate or to repudiate any benefit.
‘n Begunstigde is vry om enige voordeel of te adieer of te repudieer.
Repudiation |
Repudiasie

The rejection of a benefit or refusal to

inherit a benefit from the estate of a
testator or deceased either under
testate succession or under intestate
succession.

Repudiasie of afstanddoening beteken

die verwerping van ‘n voordeel of
weiering om ‘n voordeel uit ‘n testateur
of erflater se boedel te erf ingevolge die
Why would a person repudiate? Hoekom sou ‘n person
repudieer?
• Onerous condition attached to
• Personal reasons | Persoonlike redes inheritance | Beswarende
voorwaarde aan die erfenis verbonde
The effect of adiation and repudiation | Die effek van
adiasie en repudiasie

The effect of adiation | Die effek van adiasie:

• Beneficiary acquires a vested personal right to claim transfer of the benefit
• Irrevocable, regardless of whether there is an obligation attached
• Joint will: vesting at time of death of first-dying testator

The effect of repudiation | Die effek van repudiasie:

• Irrevocable, unless made ‘in excusable ignorance of their rights’
• Ultimately, effect is determined by the provisions of the will and the
circumstances of the case
The effect of repudiation:
May vary according to the provisions of the will and the particular circumstances.
• If the will expressly makes provision for substitutes to inherit – direct substitution
• Ex lege substitution in terms of section 2C(2) of the Wills Act
• Under certain circumstances accrual may take place. Benefit may be added to the
shares of the other testate heirs.
• Benefit may fall into the residue of the testator's estate to be inherited by the residual
heirs.
• May devolve in accordance with the rules of intestate succession if no residual heir was
Die effek van repudiasie:
appointed.
Mag verskil volgens die bepalings van die testament en die besondere omstandighede.
• Indien testament voorsiening maak vir plaasvervangers om te erf – sal direkte vervanging
plaasvind.
• Ex lege vervanging - artikel 2C(2) van die Wet op Testamente
• Onder sekere omstandighede kan aanwas plaasvind. Voordeel kan by die aandele van die ander
testate erfgename gevoeg word.
• Voordeel kan in die oorskot val van die erflater se boedel wat deur die oorblywende erfgename
geërf moet word.
• Mag oorgaan in ooreenstemming met die reëls van intestate erfopvolging indien geen
Example:

Jessica’s will contains the following provisions:

“I leave my house to my daughter, Lucy. If she does not want the

house, it must go to my son, Mark.”

“I leave my record collection to my lover, Rina.”

“I leave the residue of my estate to my mother, Bella.”

ADIATION AND REPUDIATION REQUIREMENTS
ADIASIE AND REPUDIASIE VEREISTES
Adiation:
Normally no formalities required for
Adiasie:
adiation. Executor will transfer the Gewoonlik geen vereiste vir adiasie nie.
benefit. • Afgelees uit die begunstigde se gedrag.
• Inferred from the beneficiary's • MAAR adiasie sal skriftelik vereis word
conduct. wanneer 'n verpligting aan die voordeel
• BUT Adiation will be required in verbonde is.
writing when an obligation is • “Ek los my huis aan my broer, Bob,
attached to the benefit. maar hy moet my suster, Amy, R100
• “I leave my house to my brother, 000 betaal.”
Bob, but he has to pay R100 000
to my sister, Amy.”
Repudiation: Repudiasie:
• Should be done in writing. • Moet skriftelik gedoen word.
• Not readily inferred from the • Nie noodwendig uit die begunstigde se
beneficiary’s conduct. optrede afgelei nie.
 The Doctrine of Election | Die Leerstuk van Eleksie
• Benefit holds some kind of burden/obligation.
• Beneficiary must elect/choose to accept the benefit that imposes a
burden.
• If beneficiary accepts the benefit = they must accept the
obligation.
• It is not possible for a beneficiary to adiate partially.
• If a beneficiary elects to repudiate = will receive nothing under the will.
Does not simply mean that a beneficiary must choose whether he wants to
inherit the benefit.
• ’n Verpligting aan die voordeel gekoppel is.
• Begunstigde moet kies om die voordeel wat 'n las oplê, te aanvaar.
• As die voordeel aanvaar = moet die verpligting aanvaar.
• Dit is nie moontlik vir 'n begunstigde om gedeeltelik te erf nie.
• As 'n begunstigde kies om te repudieer = sal niks ontvang nie.
Beteken nie dat die begunstigde moet kies of hy of sy die voordeel wil erf
nie.
 The Doctrine only applies if a burden has been placed on
the beneficiary by the testator.
Die leerstuk is slegs van toepassing indien 'n las deur die testateur
op die begunstigde gelê is.
Example:
Neo’s will contains the following clauses:

“I leave my apple farm, Apple Tree, to my sister, Thuli, on

condition that the orange farm, Orange Grove, of which Thuli and
I each own half a share, be transferred to my daughter, Sita.”

“I leave my house to my son, Zee, on condition that he pays my

daughter, Sita, R1 000 000 000.”

“I leave my art collection to my son, Zee.”

Partial or conditional repudiation
permissible?
Gedeeltelike of voorwaardelike repudiasie
toelaatbaar?
Not allowed if heir is put to an election on account of a condition and
there is no contrary intention in the will.
Clause 5: “I bequeath my factory to my son, John, but he must give his watch
to my daughter Anne.”
Clause 6: “I bequeath the residue of my estate to my children, John and Anne.”

Nie toegelaat as erfgenaam op grond van 'n voorwaarde tot 'n verkiesing
gestel word en daar geen teenstrydige bedoeling in die testament is nie.
Klousule 5: “Ek bemaak my fabriek aan my seun, John, maar hy moet sy
horlosie vir my dogter Anne gee.”
Klousule 6: “Ek bemaak die res van my boedel aan my kinders, John en Anne.”
Partial or conditional repudiation
permissible?
Gedeeltelike of voorwaardelike repudiasie
toelaatbaar?

Allowed if no condition and the will does not prohibit.

Clause 5: “I bequeath my factory to my son John.”
Clause 6: “I bequeath the residue of my estate to my children, John and Anne.”

Toegelaat indien geen voorwaarde en die testament verbied nie.

Klousule 5: “Ek bemaak my fabriek aan my seun John.”
Klousule 6: “Ek bemaak die res van my boedel aan my kinders, John en Anne.”
 [END OF TOPIC
1]

Please do the readings for

Topic 2.1 for Monday
And don’t forget to
complete the AF1!