Delictual claims in South Africa

8/12/2019 Delictual claims in South Africa

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POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT

Seven

Sports Injuries/Accidents: Criminal Law and Delict

Andrew Breetzke


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SPORTS INJURIES/ACCIDENTS: CRIMINAL LAW

and DELICT

INTRODUCTION

Ronaldo Bo!!" Skinstad Andre Sn"man #onica Seles $ all e%amples o& at'letes t'at 'ave

su&&ered lon()term injuries as a conse*uence o& on t'e &ield and o&& t'e &ield pla"+ Injuries

are part o& sport+ So too are injuries to spectators $ normall" less in

occurrence !ut o&ten &atal and wit' more victims, one just 'as to

t'ink !ack to t'e -ills!orou(' disaster+ All t'ese incidents 'ave s

num!er o& possi!le le(al repurcussions+

As pla"ers !ecome more pro&essional and more mone" pours into

sport sports related liti(ation is !ecomin( more common+ In t'is

re(ard t'ere are . possi!le areas o& le(al action, pu!lic law actions

and private law actions+

CRIMINAL LAW

'e criminal law is an element o& t'e pu!lic law t'at (overns relations'ips !etween t'e State

and t'e citizen+ 'ere&ore just as criminal law would !e applica!le in t'e case o& 0oe Soap

assaultin( a &ellow citizen in t'e street, it would also !e applica!le in t'e case o& 0oe Soap

assaultin( 'is opposin( win( on t'e soccer &ield+

'e criminal law would onl" !e applica!le i& t'e at'lete commits an act t'at is not wit'in t'e

rules o& t'e (ame+ I& A was to walk down t'e street and !e viciousl" tackled !" B &rom

!e'ind $ causin( 'im to !reak 'is le(, t'is could !e re(arded as assault in terms o& criminal

law+ -owever I& A did t'e same vicious tackle as B was on 'is wa" to score a tr" it would

!e accepta!le as 'is act was wit'in t'e rules o& t'e (ame $ t'e !roken le( would !e an

un&ortunate conse*uence+

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'ere 'ave !een relativel" &ew criminal law cases in t'e arena o& sport one o& t'e most

interestin( isR v Billinghurst [1978] Crim LR 553+ In t'is matter t'e incident took place on

t'e ru(!" &ield+ 'e accused punc'ed an opposin( pla"er !reakin( 'is jaw in a num!er o&

places+ 1vidence was lead t'at punc'in( occurred as part o& t'e (ame o& ru(!" and t'at t'e

victim 'imsel& 'ad punc'ed in t'e past+ 'is was use o& &orce w'ic' went !e"ond t'e rules

o& t'e (ame+ 'e accused was convicted o& assault wit' intent to do (rievous !odil" 'arm+

Criminal law is normall" reserved &or incidents/crimes t'at pose a t'reat to mem!ers o&

societ"+ Societ" accepts t'at incidents o& misconduct on t'e &ield s'ould !e dealt wit' !" t'e

relevant sportin( aut'orit"+ Add to t'is t'e over!urdened criminal law s"stem in Sout'

A&rica t'e relevance o& criminal law in sport will continue to !e limited+

THE LAW OF DELICT

A: General

A delict is a culpa!le wron(&ul act !" a person w'ic' causes patrimonial loss to anot'er orw'ic' impairs 'is personalit"+ A delict is also known as a wron(&ul act+ 'e wron(doer is

t'en o!li(ed to compensate t'e victim &or t'e wron(&ul act+

Delict is part o& t'at law w'ic' (overns relations'ips !etween private individuals 2private

law3+ A delict (ives rise to a private law action w'ic' one person can institute a(ainst

anot'er+ 'e purpose o& a delictual action is to claim compensation &rom t'e wron(doer &or

t'e loss or injur" caused !" 'im+ 4'ere an individual commits a wron(&ul act a(ainst an

individual it can also !e a crime $ a 5u!lic law matter+ A crime is an ille(al culpa!le act+

'e State can prosecute a person &or a crime w'ic' 'e committed and punis' 'im &or 'is

violation o& 'is t'e pu!lic interest+ 'ese sanctions are o& a punitive nature+

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B: Elements of a Delict

1. General

A delict 'as 7 ke" elements t'at must !e present+ 'ese are:

2a3 An act,

2!3 4ron(&ulness,

2c3 8ault,

2d3 Dama(e/Loss

2e3 Causation+

1ac' o& t'ese elements must !e present !e&ore a person can !e 'eld lia!le in delict+ 'ese

elements are discussed in detail !elow+

2. The Act

'is re&ers to t'e will&ul action/conduct !" an individual+ 'e wron(doer t'ere&ore

makes a conscious decision to act in a certain wa"+ 4'ere a person acts w'ile 'e is not in

control o& 'is mental capa!ilities 2e(+ w'ile in a trance or durin( an epileptic &it3 t'e

resultin( conduct is not determined !" 'is will+ Suc' a person cannot !e 'eld lia!le &or

t'e conse*uences o& 'is actions+ 'ese acts can !e positive actions or actions !"

omission+ 'e (enerall" accepted omissions are t'e &ollowin(:

S v Dhlamini 1955 1 SA 120 (T);

S v Ramagaga 1965 4 SA 254 (O);

S v Erwin 1974 3 SA 438 ();

S v Smi! 1963 4 SA 824 (")

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2a3A person creates a potentially angerous situation an !ails to remove the anger+

'is is also known as an omissio per commissionem+ I& someone creates a potentiall"

dan(erous situation and t'en &ails to remove t'e dan(er w'ic' t'en results in loss or

dama(e !ein( caused to anot'er 'e will !e 'eld lia!le &or suc' loss or dama(e+ A

le(al dut" rests on t'e wron(doer to prevent t'e potential dan(er &rom !ecomin( a

real dan(er+ I& t'is le(al dut" is not &ul&illed loss or dama(e is caused to anot'er

person+

#alliwall v $%hann&'rg *ni+i,ali!- 1012 AD 659

8or e%ample a torrential downpour in ewlands causes a !locka(e in t'e draina(e o&

t'e ru(!" (round+ 'e (roundsta&& di( a 'ole near one o& t'e entrances to t'e (round

to assist wit' draina(e+ 'e 45R; will !e 'eld lia!le &or loss or dama(e on t'e

(rounds o& delict w'ere t'e" &ail to &ill up t'e 'ole properl" and someone w'o walks

past at ni('t &alls into t'e 'ole and !reaks 'is ankle+ 'e ;nion


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3. Wrongfulness

Certain su!jective ri('ts are reco(nised in private law 2e(+ real ri('ts 2suc' as

owners'ip3 personal ri('ts or le(al claims 2suc' as t'e ri('t to claim pa"ment in terms o&

a contract sale3 as well as personalit" ri('ts and immaterial propert" ri('ts+3 An"

in&rin(ement upon a person


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2!3 .ecessity+

In t'is instance t'ere is no attack &rom anot'er individual+ 'e individual is placed in

a position !" a (reater &orce t'e conse*uence o& w'ic' is t'at in order to protect

'is/'er interests t'e indivdual in&rin(es upon t'e interests o& anot'er+ 'e interests o&

anot'er person could t'ere&ore !e 'armed law&ull"+ 'e state o& necessit" can !e

caused !" 'uman conduct or !" &orces o& nature+ 'e re*uirements &or a success&ul

plea o& necessit" are t'e &ollowin(:

2a3 'e state o& necessit" must e%ist or !e imminent,

2!3 A person could protect 'is own ri('ts or t'e ri('ts o& anot'er durin( t'e state o&

necessit",

2c3 Conduct durin( a state o& necessit" will onl" !e justi&ied i& it is t'e onl" wa" in

w'ic' t'e t'reatened interest can !e protected+,

2d3 'e interest w'ic' is in&rin(ed upon in t'e state o& necessit" s'ould not !e (reater

t'an t'e interest w'ic' is protected+

1(+ 0oe Soap is watc'in( a matc' at ewlands+ -e is standin( in standin( room+

Durin( t'e course o& t'e matc' an advertisin( !oard &alls &rom t'e stadium roo& and

&alls on a pat' towards 0oe+ An ice cream vendor sees t'e advertisement &all and

!elievin( t'at it could seriousl" injure 0oe tackles 'im out o& t'e pat' o& t'e !oard+ In

!ein( tackled 0oe !reaks 'is arm+ 0oe would not !e a!le to claim compensation &rom

t'e vendor as t'e vendor acted in a state o& necessit" and did not act wron(&ull"+

S v r&!%ri' 1975 2 SA 85 (S"A);

S!%&rg v Elli%! 1923 .D

2c3 Consent to /n%ury+

A person wit' t'e capacit" to act ma" waive 'is ri('ts to !odil" inte(rit" and

consent to an injur" !ein( done to 'im+ 'e &ollowin( re*uirements 'ave to !e met:

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2a3 'e consent must !e (iven as a conscious e%pression o& t'e injured part"


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4. Fault

Be&ore someone can !e lia!le in delict t'e wron(&ul conduct must !e !lamewort'"

2culpa!le3+ 'is means t'at t'e person w'o committed t'e wron(doin( can le(all" !e

!lamed &or 'is conduct+ 'ere are two &orms o& &ault namel" intent or ne(li(ence+

2a3 Accounta$ility+

Accounta!ilit" is a re*uirement &or !lamewort'" conduct+ 'is means t'at t'e

wron(doer must !e accounta!le at t'e time o& 'is conduct to !e !lamed &or suc'

conduct+ -e must possess t'e necessar" mental capacit" to distin(uis' !etween ri('t

and wron( and !e a!le to act accordin(l"+ A su!jective test is applied eac' time in

t'at eac' case is jud(ed on its own &acts and merits and eac' person


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2c3 .egligence+

ot all wron(&ul acts are intentional+ 4'ere a person


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causin( e%tensive dama(e+ It is o!vious t'at Austin is ne(li(ent !ut 0oe is also

contri!utor" ne(li(ent in t'is matter+

5. Damage/oss

'e culpa!le wron(&ul act must cause patrimonial loss or t'e impairment o& personalit"+

A person can onl" !e 'eld lia!le in delict &or actual 'arm or dama(e caused !" 'is

conduct+ 'e o!jective o& a delictual claim is to ena!le prejudiced part" to claim

compensation &rom t'e wron(doer &or t'e 'arm caused+ 'e term GlossH re&ers to

patrimonial loss 2a reduction in t'e size o& t'e a((rieved part"


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e%ists !etween t'e act and t'e result+ 'is is &actual causation+ Le(al causation seeks to

limit t'e conse*uences o& t'e unlaw&ul act to w'at can !e re(arded as reasona!le+

S v *%g&!hi 1990 1 SA 32 (A)

C: Delictual Remeies

Sout' A&rican law reco(nises t'ree possi!le actions t'at t'e prejudiced part" can institute

a(ainst t'e wron(doer+ 'e" are t'e actio legis A)uiliae t'e actio iniuriarumand t'e action

&or pain and su&&erin(+

1. Actio legis A#uiliae

'is action can !e instituted to claim dama(es &or &inancial loss caused !" o& culpa!le

conduct+ 'e ri('t to claim &rom t'e wron(doer can !e trans&erred to anot'er person

ena!lin( 'im to recover t'e amount &rom t'e wron(doer+

2. Actio iniuriarum

'e actio iniuriarum is used to claim &or t'e impairment o& one


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DELICT AND SPORT

A: General

'e principles o& t'e law o& delict appl" to sport as t'e" would to an" ot'er scenario in

societ"+ 'is would relate to 6 possi!le areas namel" personal injur" violence and

spectator injur"+ 'ere 'ave alread" !een a num!er o& cases involvin( sport in Sout'

A&rican le(al 'istor"+

%oshoff & %oshoff 1'() 2 *A !'4 +,-

In t'is matter t'e claimant was 'it on t'e 'ead durin( a s*uas' (ame !" 'isopponent


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suc' open t'e door to a possi!le claim+ 'e courts would take a num!er o& &actors into

account to determine unlaw&ulness and &ault $ t'ese would include t'e nature o& t'e sport

w'et'er t'e act was deli!erate, t'e e%tent o& risk, t'e nature o& possi!le injur", alternative

precautions+

'ere are a num!er o& parties w'o could !e in t'e arena o& sport+ 'ese include

participants coac'es re&erees and matc' o&&icials or(anisers promoters stadia owners

sc'ool supervisors etc+

Re&erees/#atc' =&&icials:

In t'e well)known ;K case o& +molen v hit,orth [1997] 6LR 9 CA an

;F &ront row pla"er was injured w'en t'e scrum collapsed+ 'e re&eree was 'eld

lia!le as 'e 'ad not en&orced t'e proper manner o& en(a(ement w'en t'e scrums

were set+

Sc'ool Supervisors

'ere is alwa"s a dut" o& care on supervisors and teac'ers to e%ercise reasona!le

care over c'ildren+ 'ere&ore i& a teac'er were to allow pupils to pla" a (ame o&

touc' ru(!" w'ilst a lawnmower is !ein( used on an adjacent &ield $ 'e/s'e ma"

!e &ailin( to e%ercise due care i& a pupil were to run onto t'e &ield and !e 'it !"

t'e mower :nou,s v Aministrator' Cape 1981 1 CM+ 4'ere c'ildren

are involved 'owever it must !e accepted t'at t'e" also act on impulse and t'eir

actions are o&ten not predicta!le+

Stadia =wners/5romoters

Stadia owners and promoters are e%pected to provide spectators wit' appropriate

sa&et" measures to minimise risk+ 'ere are speci&ic risks t'at are uni*ue to

di&&erent sportin( events e( motor racin( ) or(anisers must take reasona!le

precautions to limit t'e risks t'at t'ese events mi('t pose+ -owever an injur"

w'ic' occurs in t'e natural course o& a (ame e( a cricket !all 'ittin( a spectator

would not (ive rise to lia!ilit"+

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Coac'es

Coac'es too must e%ercise due care in trainin( 'is/'er at'letes+ A num!er o&

&actors would !e relevant in t'is re(ard $ t'e nature o& t'e sport a(e and maturit"

o& t'e at'letes level o& e%pertise o& t'e at'letes etc+ see Broom v Aministrator.atal 19;; 3 +A 5


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parkin( area at Stokers+ Durin( a one)da" international a(ainst Australia Darr"l

Calla('an 'ooks S'ane 4au(' over s*uare le( &or si%+ 'e !all clears t'e !oundar" and

sails into t'e parkin( area o& Stokers 'ittin( a patron on t'e 'ead $ killin( 'im instantl"+

iven t'at !alls were re(ularl" 'it over t'e railwa" line s'ould t'e aut'orities 'ave take

precautions In t'ere &ailure to do so ne(li(ent

2c3 Ru(!"

Ru(!" !" its nature is a p'"sical sport+ Durin( ever" ru(!" (ame t'ere are a num!er o&

injuries t'at occur $ some minor man" o&ten serious+ 4'ere injuries occur durin( t'e

normal course o& t'e (ame t'ere are no (rounds &or action $ 'owever i& an injur" occurs

as a conse*uence o& pla" outside t'e rules o& t'e (ame t'e ma" !e an action &or dama(es+

In t'e Australian matter o&=ye v Agar' orsley v Australian "oot$all 2nion Lt 1998

5 .+LR . ru(!" pla"ers were rendered paral"sed due to collapsin( scrums+ 'e

incidents occurred w'en t'e packs en(a(ed !ut were not *uite read" to do so+ Dama(es

were claimed &rom t'e opposin( clu!s matc' re&erees t'e re&eree


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Discussion Scenarios

Scenario "

.7 0une .EEF ewlands Ru(!" (round Cape own: Sprin(!oks v All Blacks+

'is (ame will decide t'e outcome o& t'e ri)ations rop'" &or t'e "ear+#illions o& viewers worldwide

watc' a (ame t'at is e%tremel"

p'"sical wit' numerous "ellow

cards !ein( dis'ed out !" t'e

re&eree+ Durin( t'e matc' t'e All

Blacks made a num!er o& late

tackles on t'e Sprin(!ok ri('t

win( 5re"ton Baulse w'o was

causin( serious pro!lems &or t'em+

'e Sprin(!ok captain complained

to t'e re&eree t'at 'e must act

!e&ore t'in(s (et out o& 'and+ -al&wa" t'rou(' t'e second 'al& t'e All Black

win( Lona' 0oma las'es out wit' 'is &ist at Baulse+ Baulse is knocked

unconcious and su&&ers a severe !roken jaw+ Baulse approac'es "ou &or

advice on w'at le(al action can !e taken+

Can 5B sue

Discuss t'e delictual principles+

4'o can 'e sue

4'at will 'e claim

Scenario #

Su!se*uent to t'e Baulse incident t'e matc' reac'es &ever pitc' intensit"+ In

t'e last ten minutes Lona' 0oma 2w'o 'as returned &rom FE minutes in t'e sin

!in3 is sprintin( down t'e touc'line to score t'e winnin( tr"+ -owever 7

metres &rom t'e tr")line Korne Cri(e tackles 'im at &ull speed+ 'e tackle is

per&ectl" timed and 0oma is sent &l"in( towards t'e &irst row o& t'e Railwa"

stand+ -is !oot catc'es a spectator on t'e 'ead and 'e is instantl" killed+ 'e

spectator leaves a wi&e and . c'ildren !e'ind+

4'o are t'e potential de&endants in t'is case

4'o will claim and w'at will t'e" claim

Discuss t'e delictual principles+

4'at de&ences are availa!le to t'e

de&endants

4'at are t'e c'ances o& success

Scenario $

At t'is sta(e o& t'e (ame t'e crowd is on

t'eir &eet and t'e tension is intense+ 'escore is .F)F to t'e All Blacks and t'ere

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are 6 minutes o& injur" time le&t+ Rieter 5ossouw t'e Sprin(!ok le&t win(

starts a move &rom inside 'is 'al& and to t'e delirious jo" o& t'e crowd 'e

scores in t'e corner to win t'e matc'+ As t'e crowd cele!rate wit' un!ridled

jo" a standin( room support pole !reaks and 0oe Soap &alls and !reaks 'is

arm+ 0oe reads 'is ticket w'ic' sa"s t'at t'at t'e stadium will not !e lia!le &or

an" injuries or loss su&&ered !" spectators w'et'er due to ne(li(ence o& t'estadium or not+ 0oe 'as a num!er o& medical costs to !ear a result o& 'is

injur"+

4'at are 0oe


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REFERENCES

F+ Basson and Lou!ser 2ed3 Sport and Law in Sout' A&rica.EEE Butterwort's

.+ a(el et al Commercial Law .nd1dition

.EEE Butterwort's

6+ ardiner et al Sports Law

F? Cavendis' 5u!lis'in(

9+ eet'lin( et al 'e law o& Delict

F. Butterwort's

Documents

Delictual claims in South Africa