UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

DEPARTMENT OF LAW

SEMESTER II 2011/2012

LAW543: PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW II

COURSE OUTLINE & SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: PROF J KIGGUNDU (Block 230/211)

TEL: 3552356 (OFFICE); 71620778 (CELL)

E-MAIL: [email protected]

CONSULTATION HOURS: Mon: 11.00 12.00

Wed: 11.00 12.00
Thurs: 11.00 12.00

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The course introduces students to the rules and principles that govern the
resolution of legal problems involving different legal systems. At this stage
the students have already examined several of the major branches of the law
of Botswana such as family law, contract, delict, and property law. The rules
and principles of law in the various subjects differ from country to country.
People move from one country to another. They incur obligations and get
involved in different relationships. When legal problems arise, the courts
have got to determine the law to be applied. This course gives the students a
chance to appreciate the rules and principles which the courts in Botswana
apply (or should apply) to resolve these problems. The course covers
jurisdiction and choice of law relating to persons in private international law;
contract and delict; the transfer of movable and immovable property;
succession; and the administration of estates. Students should also have a
firm grasp of the rules that govern the recognition and enforcement of
foreign judgments.
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2. TEACHING

These will be 3 lectures per week. The total number of lectures for the
entire semester will be 42 lectures.

3. ASSESSMENT

Students will be assessed by two pieces of Continuous Assessment and a

two-hour final examination. The ratio of the examination to the Continuous
Assessment will be 60:40. The two pieces of Continuous Assessment will
consist of one-hour tests. The examination paper will be divided into two
parts. Part A will include essay-type questions. Part B will include problem
questions. These will broadly reflect the content of the lecture programme.
You will be required to answer three questions (which carry equal marks)
with at least two from Part B.

4. READING

You are recommended to acquire a textbook and the relevant statutes.

Please do make sure you acquire the latest edition of the relevant work. If
you are in doubt, please ask me.

a) Prescribed Textbooks

**J. Kiggundu, Private International Law in Botswana: Cases and

Materials (Bay Publishing, Gaborone, 2002).

** J. Kiggundu, How to Study Law in Botswana (Morula Press,

2004)

b) Recommended Textbooks

JD McLean Morris: The Conflict of Laws (4 edn Sweet & Maxwell

1993)

JHC Morris, and JJ Fawcett Cases and Materials on Private

International Law (11 edn Butterworths 1987)

C F Forsyth, Private International Law (4th edn, Juta, 2003)

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PM North and JJ Fawcett Cheshire and Norths Private International

(12 edn Butterworths 1992)

E Kahn South African Law of Domicile of Natural Persons (Juta

1973)

HR Hahlo, The South African Law of Husband and Wife (4th edn Juta
1975) Appendix (Jurisdiction and Conflict of Laws in the South
African Law of Husband and Wife) (pp.531-675) by Ellison Kahn.

MM Corbett et al The Law of Succession in South Africa Juta, 2nd edn,

2001) Chapter 25 (The Conflict of Laws in the South African Law of
Succession) (pp 580-634) by Ellison Kahn.

E Spiro Conflict of Laws (Juta 1973)

D Pistorius Pollock on Jurisdiction (2nd edn Juta 1993)

E Spiro General Principles of the Conflict of Laws (Juta 1982)

5. LECTURE PROGRAMME

The following topics will be covered in the course. Please note that the
precise order and content of these topics may be subject to alteration and the
number of lectures per topic is only an estimate.

a) Persons in Private International Law (9)

Marriage
Matrimonial Causes
Children

TEST 1: 23 FEBRUARY 2012

b) Choice of Law in Contract and delict (9)

Contract
Delict
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c) The transfer of movable and immovable property (6)

The distinction between movable and immovable property

Corporeal property
Incorporeal property

d) Succession (4)

Intestate Succession
Testate Succession

TEST 2: 10 APRIL 2012

e) Administration of Estates (3)

f) The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments (7)

Rationale of enforcement and recognition

The distinction between recognition and enforcement
Conditions for recognition and enforcement
Foreign arbitral awards

g) Final and general considerations (3)

Renvoi
The time factor

SYLLABUS

I. PERSONS IN PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

Kiggundu Ch 4

Forsyth Ch 7

Morris Chaps 11 - 14
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A. MARRIAGE

1. Espousals

Guggenheim v Rosenbaum (2) 1964 (4) SA 21

2. The validity of marriage

** Friedman v Friedmans Executors and Ors (1922) 43 NLR 259

* Seedats Executors v The Master (Natal) 1917 AD 302

Ochberg v Ochbergs Estate and Anor 1941 CPD 16

Ngqobela v Sihele (1893) 10 SC 346

Exceptions to the general rule:

(a) Local form inappropriate or impossible

Stakowski v Ayt-Gen [1954] AC 155

Taczanoska v Taczanoski [1957] P 301

Kochanska v Kochanska [1958] P 147

(b) The doctrine of Fraus legis

Kassim v Ghumran & Anor 1981 (4) SA 79 (Z)

(c) The principle of public policy

Seedats Executors v The Master (Natal) 1917 AD 302

Ngqobela v Sihele (1893) 10 SC 346

Sperling v Sperling 1975 (3) 707

- Consanguinity and affinity

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Lack of age

Lack of parental consent

(a) Polygamous marriages

The approach to foreign polygamous marriages

(a) South Africa

Seedats Executors (1917)

**Daniels v Daniels (Case CCT50/03)

(b) Zimbabwe

**Estate Metha v Acting Master, High Court 1958 (4) SA

252

**Kader v Kader 1972 (3) SA 203

(c) United Kingdom

The Sinha Peerage Claim (1939) 171 Lords Journals 350; [1946] 1
All ER 348n

Srini Vasan v Srini Vasan [1945] 2 All ER 21

**Bandail v Bandail [1946] 1 All ER 342

Bamgbose v Daniel [1955] AC 107 (PC)

Colleman v Shang [1961] AC 481 (PC)

Iman Din v National Assistance Board [1967] 2 QB 213

Chaudry v Chaudry [1976] Fam 148

Re Sahota [1978] 3 All ER 385

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**Private International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995

(United Kingdom)

Kiggundu, The treatment of Foreign Polygamous Marriages in

Private International Law (2003) 17 Speculum Juris 214

3. The consequences of marriage

(a) Personal consequences

Powell v Powell 1953 (4) SA 380

Kent v Salmon 1910 TPD 637

(b) Proprietary Consequences

(i) Where there is no antenuptial contract

Brown v Brown 1921 AD 478

**Frankels Estate & Anor v The Master & Anor 1950

(1) SA 226

Sperling v Sperling (1975)

Ndzinge v Ndzinge (1990)

(ii) Where there is an express antenuptial contract

- The essential validity of antenuptial contract

- Construction of the antenuptial contract

- Capacity to enter an antenuptial contract

- Formalities

Van der Merwe v Mugeam NO and Packard 1906 ORC

13
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Natal Bank v Beukes (1909) 30 NLR 377

Way v Louw 1924 CPD 450

B. MATRIMONIAL CAUSES

1. Divorce

Kiggundu The Law of Domicile in Botswana: The Need

to Reform 1990 African Journal of International and
Comparative Law 626

(a) Jurisdiction of domestic courts

S7 Matrimonial Causes Act; see also the Abolition

of the Marital Power Act 2004, ss 4 and 16

Dance v Dance

Egner v Egner

Jeffreys v Jeffreys

Scarr v Scarr

Etherington v Etherington

Mtui v Mtui

(b) Choice of Law

The Lex domiciliee applies

*Holland v Holland 1973 (1) SA 897

Dance v Dance

(c) Recognition of Foreign divorces

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Kiggundu The Recognition of Foreign Divorces

in Botswana (1992) 25 CILSA 83

Le Mesurier v Le Mesurier (1895)

Guggenheim v Rosenbaum 1961 (4) SA 15

Armitage v Att-Gen [1906] P135

Ex parte Stern 1976 (2) 273

Mthethwa v Lebang Misc/App/F55/90. See

Kiggundu (1992) 25 CILSA 83

Travers v Holley [1953] 2 All ER 794

Indyka v Indyka [1967] 2 All ER 689

Mtui v Mtui

2. Nullity of Marriage

See s8 MCA

C. CHILDREN

1. Adoption

(a) Domestic Adoption

See Adoption of Children Act (Cap 28:01)

(i) Jurisdiction (s4)

(ii) Who can adopt? (s3)

Re B (S) (An infant) [1968] 1 Ch 204 See

The Hague Convention on the Adoption of
Children 1965. For comments see Lipstein
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[1965] Camb LJ 224; Unger; [1965] 28

MLR 463

(b) Recognition of foreign adoptions

Re Valentines Settlement [1965] Ch 831

Re Wilby [1965] 1 ALL ER 27

See the Hague Convention on the Adoption of

Children 1965

2. Guardianship

3. Custody

Kiggundu The Problem of Child Abduction in Private

International Law (1991) 3 The African Journal of
International and Comparative Law 399

(a) Definition

(b) Jurisdiction: s28 MCA

(c) Choice of Law

The problem of child abduction

Re P (GE) (an infant) [1964] 3 All ER 977

*McKee v McKee [1951] AC 352

**Martens v Martens 1991 (4) SA 287

***Sello v Sello (Misca No. 322/98) (Unreported)

Re E (D) (an infant) [1967] 2 All ER 881

Hubert v Hubert 1960 (3) SA 181

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Ferrers v Ferrers 1954 (1) SA 514

Riddle v Riddle 1956 (2) SA 739

*Re L (Minors) [1974] 1 All ER 913

*Righetti v Pinchen 1955 (3) SA 338

French v French 1971 (4) SA 298

Jargoe v Jargoe 1969 (4) SA 59

See the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of

International Child Abduction (1980)

See also: L Curtis The Hague Convention on the

Civil Aspects of Child Abduction: the Australian
Experience (1989) 15 CLB 62

B Clark Custody: The best interests of the Child

[1992] 109 SALJ 391

4. Legitimacy and Legitimation

See s26 Matrimonial Causes Act

Seedats Executors v The Master (1917)

Hamid v Minister of the Interior 1954 (4) SA 241

Righetti v Pinchen & Anor 1955 (3) SA 338

II. CHOICE OF LAW IN CONTRACT AND DELICT

Kiggundu Chaps 5 and 6

Forsyth

A. CONTRACT
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Kiggundu Ch 5

1. The doctrine of the proper law

The concept of party autonomy

****Guggenheim v Rosenbaum (2) 1961 (4) SA 21

Standard Bank of SA Ltd v Efroiken and Newman 1924

AD 171

Pretorious & Anor v Natal South Sea Investment Trust

1965 (3) SA 410

In re Ernestine (1895) 12 SC 27

Joffe v African Life Assurance Society Ltd 1933 TPD

189

Federal Development South Africa (Pty) Ltd v Fienberg

1967 (1) PHA 9 (1)

Commissioner of Inland Revenue v Estate Greenacre

1936 NPD 225

Premier Wire and Steel Co Ltd v Maersk Line 1969 (3)

SA 488

The Castle Mail Packets Co Ltd v Mitheram and Toteram

(1892) 13 NLR 199

2. Ascertainment of the proper law

(a) Express selection of the proper law

In re Ernestine (1895) 12 SC 27

(b) Implied choice of the proper law

Guggenheim v Rosenbaum (2) (1961)

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Sretton v Union Steamship Company Ltd (1881) 1

EDC 315

Mitchel, Cotts & Co v Commr of Railways Ltd

1905 TS 349

(c) Where there is no choice of law and a governing

law is assigned

Pretorious & Anor v Natal South Sea Investment

Trust Ltd (1965) (3) SA 410

*Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd v Efroiken

and Newman 1924 AD 17

Shacklock v Shacklock 1948 (2) SA 40

The Castle Mail Packets Co

De Wet v Browning 1930 TPD 409

Collisons (JW) Ltd v Kruger & Ors 1923 PH A78

*Improvair (Cape) (Pty) v Establissments Neu

1983 (2) SA 138

E Spiro The evolution of the closest (most

significant) connection in the conflict of laws
(1990) THRHR 74

*PB Carter Choice of Law in Tort and Contract

[199] 107 LQR 405

3. Scope of the proper law

(a) Capacity to contract

Ferraz v DInhaca 1904 TH 137

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Hulscher v Voorschotkas voor Zuid Afrika 1908

TS 542

Powell v Powell 1953 (4) SA 380

(b) Formalities of the contract

Mitchell, Cotts, & Co v Commr of Railways 1905

TS 349

Way v Louw 1924 CPD 450

Roux v Kuils River Land Syndicate 1912 TPD 547

(c) The problem of consensus

Albeko Schuhmaschienen v Kamborian Shoe

Machine Co Ltd (1961) 111 LJ 519

B. DELICT

Kiggundu Ch 6

1. The theories

(a) The lex fori theory

(b) The lex delicti commissi theory

(c) The proper law of the delict

2. The law

(a) The Roman-Dutch position

Rogaly v General Imports (Pty) Ltd 1948 (1) SA

1216

Mackay v Phillip (1830) Menz 455

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(b) The English approach

Phillip Eyre (1879) LR QB 1

MElroy v MAllister 1949 SC 110

*Boys v Chaplin [1971] AC 356

**Red Sea Insurance Co v Bougues SA & Ors

[1994] 3 WLR 926 (PC)

Briggs [1995] 111 LQR 18

Carter [1995] 54 CLJ 38

Statutory reform

Private International Law (Miscellaneous

Provisions) Act 1995, Part III

(c) The American approach

*Babcock v Jackson 191 NE 2d 279; (1963) 2

Lloyds Rep 286

Macey v Rozbicki 18 NY 2d 289

Tooker v Lopez 24 NY 2d 569

Neumier v Kuehmer 31 NY 2d 121

Kelly v Henderson 270 NYS 2d 552 (1966)

Rye v Colter 333 NYS 2d 96 (1972)

Bray v Cox 33 NY 2d 783 (1972)

(d) The ascendancy of the lex loci delicti commissi

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Kiggundu, Choice of Law in Delict: The Rise and

Rise of the lex loci delicti commissi [2006] 18
South African Mercantile Law Journal 97.

John Pffiffer (Pty) Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203

CLR 503

Regie Nationale des Usines Renault SA v Zhang

(2002) 18 ALR 433

Tolofson v Jensen [1994] 3 SCR 1022

(e) Further reading

AB Edwards Choice of law in delict: rules or

approach? (1979) 96 SALJ 48

JR Crawford The proper law of a delict (1965)

85 SALJ 314

E Kahn Delict in the Conflict of Law [1950] 67

SALJ 66

III. THE TRANSFER OF MOVABLE AND IMMOVABLE

PROPERTY

Kiggundu Ch 7

Forsyth Ch 9

A. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN MOVABLE AND

IMMOVABLES

Re Hoyles (1911) 1 Ch 179

B. CORPOREAL PROPERTY

1. Corporeal immovable property

The Mocambique rule

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2. Corporeal movable property

Trustee of Howse, Sons & Co. v Trustees of Howse, Sons

& Co (1884) 3 SC 14

C. INCORPOREAL PROPERTY

Reinhardt v Ricker and David 1905 TS 179

Union Government v Fischers Executrix 1921 TPD 328

Lief No v Dettman 1964 (2) 252

Cape Government v Liquidators of Balmoral Diamond Co ltd

108 TS 681

Rothschild v Lowndens 1908 TS 493

See P Kaye Situs of Debts and Jurisdiction to Make Orders of

Garnishee [1989] JBL 449

IV. SUCCESSION

Kiggundu Ch 8

Forsyth, Ch 9

A. INTESTATE SUCCESSION

Estate Baker & Ors v Estate Baker & Ors (1908) 25 SC 234

B. TESTATE SUCCCESSION

See Wills Act (Cap 31:04) Parts III

Law of Inheritance Act (Cap 31:02) Part II

1. The Formal validity of wills

Ex parte Peters Executors 1939 CPD 275

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Westminster Bank Ltd NO & ors v Zinn NO 1938 AD 57

Ex parte Blenner-Hassett 1931 NPD

In re McMillans Estate 1913 TPD 198

Ex parte Estate Abbott 1950 (3) SA 325

2. Capacity

3. Essential validity

David and Berlin NO v The Orphan Master (1897) 4 Off

Rep 326

4. Interpretation

Wynn NO and WB NO v Oppenheimer

Westminister Bank v Zinn (1938)

5. Powers of appointment

Westminister Bank Ltd NO v Zinn NO (1938)

Lindsays Estate v Mc Brides Curator: In re Cuthberts

Estate 1939 CPD 426

Ladies Christian Home v SA Association 1915 CPD 467

6. Revocation

V. ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES

Forsyth Ch 9

See Administration of Estate Act (Cap 31:01)

Jones NO v Borland NO
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VI. THE RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF

FOREIGN JUDGMENTS

Kiggundu Ch 9

Forsyth Ch 10

Morris Chaps 9 and 10

Cheshire and North Chaps 15 and 16

See the Judgments (International Enforcement) Act (Cap 31:01)

A. RATIONALE OF ENFORCEMENT AND

RECOGNITION

Laconian Maritime Enterprises Ltd Agromar 1986 (3) SA

509

B. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN RECOGNITION

AND ENFORCEMENT

McNaught v McNaught 1938 WLD 103

C. CONDITIONS FOR RECOGNITION AND

ENFORCEMENT

(a) Jurisdiction

See s7 (2) Judgments (IE) Act (above)

Reiss Engineering v Insamcor (Pty) Ltd 1983 (1)

SA 1033

Borough of Finsbury Permanent v Vogel 1910

NPD 402

Coluflandres Ltd v Scandia Marine Insurance Co.

(1882) 1 SC 402
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Duarte v Lissack 1973 (3) SA 615

Corona v Zimbabwe Iron & Steel 1985 (2) SA 423

Le Mesurier v Le Mesurier

Armitage v A.G.

Travers v Holley

Indyka v Indyka

Mthethwa v Lebang

Re Valentines Settlement

(b) Finality

Dale v Dale 1948 SA 741

Rosentrauch v Korbf 1931 6 WLD 102

(c) Public Policy

Jaffe v Salmon 1904 TS 317

Lissack v Duarte 1974 (4) SA 560

Rubie Haines 1948 (4) SA 998

Goodman v Goodman (1903) 20 SC 376

Taylor v Hollard (1886) 2 SAR 78

Muller v Behr 1915 OPD 81

D. FOREIGN ARBITRAL AWARDS

Laconia Maritime Enterprises Ltd v Agromar 1986 (3)

SA 500
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See the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral

Awards Act (Cap 6:02)

See also Judgements (International Enforcement) Act

Cap 11:04

VII. FINAL AND GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Forsyth Ch 3

Morris Chaps 27 32

Cheshire & North Part II

A. RENVOI

(a) Definition

(b) Types of renvoi

(i) Single renvoi

(ii) Double renvoi

(c) Illustrations

Re Annesley (1926)

Re Ross (1930)

(d) Objections to Renvoi

Re OKeefe [1940] Ch D 124

(e) Advantages of Renvoi

(f) Scope of Renvoi

Re United Railways of the Havana and Regla

Warehouse Ltd [1961] AC 1007
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Amin Rasheed Shipping Corpn v Kuwait

Insurance Co [1984] AC 50

B. THE TIME FACTOR

See Morris Ch 33

Spiro (1973) pp13 34

Starkowski v Att-Gen [1953] 2 All ER 1272

Phillips v Eyre

Sperling v Sperling 1975 SA 707 (A)

Ndzinge v Ndzinge (1990)

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
2012. John Kiggundu. All rights reserved.

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