Maryna holds the BA, LLB, LLM degrees and is an Executive Consultant at the Cape Town branch of STBB. She is an admitted Attorney, Notary Public, Conveyancer and Insolvency Practitioner with many years of experience in the fields of property law, conveyancing and the laws relating to corporate compliance (especially in respect of the FICA and POPIA laws). Up until 2018 she was also head of the firm’s national marketing portfolio. She is a seasoned public speaker and presenter, both in person and online. She prepares text for the majority of STBB’s internal and external publications and is editor and co-writer for two pivotal publications in the South African real estate industry – the ABC of Conveyancing (JUTA) and Delport’s South African Property Law and Practice (JUTA).

Property Law Update | Issue 5 – 2020

PAY OUT ON MY SIGNATURE’S SAY-SO IN THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION ERA

Global & Local Investments Advisors (Pty) Ltd v Fouché (71/2019) [2019] ZASCA 08 (18 March 2020)

This matter deals with a financial services provider that wrongly paid out client funds after it received an email, thought to be from the client, to this effect. The email appeared legitimate and the client “signed” it each time with “Regards Nick”, and other salutations to that effect. The question for determination was whether this constituted a “signature” as required in the mandate between the parties and as understood in the Electronic Transactions and Communications Act. The Court found that in these circumstances it did not. The reasoning why is important, to distinguish it from instances where similar email communications would be considered to bear the “signature” of each of the parties in the communication.

The Judgment can be viewed here.

Summary of the Judgment

COVID-19 AND SUPERVENING IMPOSSIBILITY

Much has been written in the past few weeks on the effect of unanticipated occurrences on contractual obligations to perform. Here follows a brief discussion of the principle of supervening impossibility and some of the important case law that are relevant in the context.

An overview

For the best legal advice and personalised service, let's talk
Subscribe to our monthly newsletters, subscribe