Mercantile Law
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Browsing Mercantile Law by Advisor "Henning, J. J."
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Item Open Access Gesamentlike en afsonderlike aanspreeklikheid as 'n statutere sanksie in die maatskappyereg en die beslote korporasiereg(University of the Free State, 1989-10) De Koker, Louis; Henning, J. J.Abstract not availableItem Open Access Internet related commercial crimes(University of the Free State, 2001-11) Ebersöhn, Gerhardus Johannes; Henning, J. J.; Verschoor, T.English: The purpose of this study was to determine whether these exists a need for legislation in South Africa criminalising Internet related commercial crimes and specifically computer-related crimes, which for all purposes refer to instances where computer experts (hackers) gain access to third parties' computers without authorisation or unlawfully interfere with the latter's computer systems as well as to instances where computer experts disseminate malicious computer programs that do the above. Collectively these instances are referred to as hacking and virus instances. The selling and/or distributing of hackers' tools (used to gain access to computer system or to interfere with the functioning of computer systems) and illegally obtained passwords are also examples of a computer-related crime, studied in this dissertation. In search for an answer to the above-mentioned question, this study assessed whether computer-related crimes can be accommodated by the current definitions of common law as well as statutory offences, with specific reference to the offences of theft, receiving stolen property knowing it to be stolen, fraud, theft by false pretences, malicious injury to property and crimen iniuria. After a thorough analysis of the current law obtaining in South Africa it was concluded that should local courts be willing to extend the application as well as the definitions of common law offences to computer-related crimes, then virtually all instances of computer-related crimes would be encompassed by the above-mentioned common law offences. Only the creation and possession of hackers' tools and illegally obtained passwords would not constitute offences in terms of the South African criminal law. It was further noted that should local courts refuse to extend the application of common law offences to computer-related crimes, then thirteen cyber-"transgression" have to be criminalised. Further note was taken of the South African Law Commission's draft bill, the Computer Misuse Bill, as a proposal to criminalise computer-related crimes. In order to assess whether such proposed legislation is in line with foreign legislation criminalising the above-mentioned aspects, this study also scrutinised the legislation of the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the Netherlands as well as the newly enacted European Convention on Cybercrime. Certain recommendations were also made to the South African Law Commission with regard to the type of conduct that should be criminalised to bring foreseen South African legislation, dealing with cyber-related crimes, in line with foreign legislation.Item Open Access Legal comparison between the South African Close Corporation and the German "Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung"(University of the Free State, 2006-05) Jaehne, Christoph; Henning, J. J.The GmbH and the close corporation within their respective legal contexts provide alternative legal options for small and medium sized business entities, giving them a simpler and less expensive legal form, thus satisfying the need for flexibility while guaranteeing liability limitations and continuity. While the maximum number of members in the GmbH is unlimited, the close corporation is restricted to ten members. Membership in the GmbH is open to natural and juristic persons alike. The close corporation is, generally speaking, only open to natural persons. Membership as such is expressed through shares in the GmbH and members' interests in the close corporation. The transfer of a share and a member’s interest is allowed. The regulations for transfer and restrictions vary. In both entities the members as such are the highest decision making organ. Regarding organs, the GmbH is more formally structured and has, as mandatory organs, the managing director and the shareholders' meeting. Such a strict distinction is not embodied in the CCA; and while the GmbH-members must appoint a managing director to represent the GmbH, the close corporation uses the partnership principle of mutua praepositio. Each member of the close corporation has the right to participate in the management of the affairs of the corporation. While for the GmbH articles of association are compulsory, in the close corporation it is up to the members whether they conclude an association agreement or refrain from doing so. The applicable legislative measures provide differently for the protection of the financial well-being of the entities. The GmbH as 'Kapitalgesellschaft' requires strict compliance with specific obligations imposed by its members regarding their share capital contribution, while for the close corporation various aspects of liability and external relations are equally important. The innovative liability solution found in the CCA is remarkable. Concerning transparency of financial matters the close corporation requires the position of an accounting officer, and through this achieves some kind of control with regard to the financial matters, which are otherwise an internal affair of the corporation. The GmbH is 'forced' to make its financial matters more transparent. Subject to specific conditions, companies are required to have their financial results audited and approved by a certified public accountant. In the African context it is noteworthy that the principal objectives of the African Union aim at accelerating political and socio-economic integration. Given the success of the close corporation this legal form, a Societas Africaea, utilized for smaller entrepreneurs, can play a role in achieving these goals. The reform process initiated through the SA DTI must take into account that the creation of wealth in South Africa is achieved by companies in which the close corporation plays an important part. Necessary reforms must therefore be pursued with precaution. A possible one-Act approach for South African company law is to be viewed critically as the differentiation between various types of enterprises should not easily be put aside. It will be interesting to see how the GmbH takes on the challenge of the new legal forms within Germany and the competition with similar foreign business forms now entering the German market as a consequence of the ECJ’s recent judgements and how the close corporation will develop within the context of a company law in the process of reform. It is also of relevance for the South African reform process to follow the developments in Britain. The close corporation has been commented on positively not only within South Africa. The recent discussion in the USA on the close corporation approach and its legal structure is of relevance here.Item Open Access Ontslag van maatskappydirekteure in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg(University of the Free State, 1986-01) Du Plessis, Jean Jacques; Henning, J. J.Afrikaans: Daar bestaan heelwat onsekerhede aangaande die ontslag van maatskappydirekteure in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg. Hierdie onsekerhede spruit hoofsaaklik voort uit die gebrek aan 'n konsekwente onderskeid tussen die verskillende hoedanighede waarin 'n enkele persoon teenoor die maatskappy kan staan en dié waarin hy kan staan teenoor ander individue wat by die intrakorporatiewe verhoudingstruktuur betrokke is. 'n Faktor wat gewis 'n verdere verwarrende invloed het, is die feit dat daar aan 'n begrip soos "besturende direkteur" tans geen vaste regsinhoud gekoppel kan word nie. Juis daarom word die regsposisie van die direkteur en besturende direkteur in die besonder oorweeg en word daar gewys op aspekte soos die begripsverwarring tussen die Engelse en Suid-Afrikaanse reg, probleme ten opsigte van die onderskeid tussen werknemerskap, direkteurskap en besturende direkteurskap, en word die nie-kontraktuele verhouding tussen die direkteur en die maatskappyook oorweeg. As gevolg van ontslag kan daar in sekere gevalle 'n reg op skadeloosstelling of skadevergoeding bestaan. Alhoewel die grondslag van die reg op skadevergoeding nie al tyd konsekwent verklaar word nie, kan die aanwending van gewone kontraktuele beginsels 'n belangrike rol speel in die oplossing van bestaande probleme rondom die reg op skadevergoeding. Indien kontraktuele beginsels suiwer toegepas word en die besondere posisie waarin die direkteur hom bevind, in ag geneem word is daar geen klaarblyklike rede waarom die ontwikkeling op hierdie gebied nie op 'n behoorlike beginselgrondslag geplaas kan word nie. Faktore wat egter ongetwyfeld in samehang met die kontraktuele oorwegings beskou moet word, is onder andere dat ontslag ingevolge bepalings in die maatskappykonstitusie of ingevolge die statutêre middel kan geskied, dat die reg op skadevergoeding die direkteur in bepaalde gevalle ontneem kan word en dat daar besondere oorwegings ter sprake kan kom in die geval van die besturende direkteur met 'n dienskontrak. Alhoewel die ontslag van direkteure 'n aangeleentheid is wat volledig in die maatskappykonstitusie gereël kan word, is 'n statutêre middel steeds nodig om die lede in die finale instansie beheer te gee oor die bestuur van die maatskappy. Enige statutêre middel wat die beskerming van die lede as oogmerk het en wat hierdie oogmerk wil bereik deur voorsiening daarvoor te maak dat 'n direkteur wat nie meer die belange van die maatskappy (en daarmee saam ook nie die belange van die lede nie) op die hart dra nie, ontslaanbaar moet wees, moet vir 'n verskeidenheid van gevalle voorsiening maak. Die huidige statutêre middel wat ontslag van maatskappydirekteure in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg reël (art 220 van die Maatskappywet 61 van 1973), voldoen wel aan sommige van die vereistes wat nodig is om gevolg aan die ware oogmerk van so 'n middel te gee. Daar bestaan egter ook heelwat leemtes wat vandag gebruik word en ook somtyds misbruik word om direkteure onontslaanbaar te maak. Hierdie gevalle het hoofsaaklik betrekking op ooreenkomste tussen die maatskappy en 'n derde, die feit dat langtermynkontrakte van direkteure nie noodwendig deur die algemene vergadering goedgekeur hoef te word nie en dat daar geen duidelikheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg bestaan oor die vraag of 'n belading van stemme wat net by ontslag-besluite ter sprake kom, geldig is nie. Gevolglik word wetswysigings voorgestelom hierdie leemtes uit die weg te ruim. Selfs al word die voorgestelde wetswysiging deurgevoer, sal gevalle van ex lege-beskerming teen ontslag steeds behoue bly (onder andere deur die ontslagprosedure soos vervat in die statutêre reëling en deur die feit dat die te ontslane direkteur die maatskappy met likwidasie ingevolge art 344(h) van die Wet kan dreig). Daar sal ook steeds maatreëls bestaan waardeur ontslag voorkom kan word (onder andere deur die aangaan van stemooreenkomste). Die ex lege-beskerming teen ontslag en maatreëls ter voorkoming van ontslag wat dan nog bestaan, sal egter ongetwyfeld wettig en geregverdig wees.Item Open Access The protection of minority shareholders in affected transactions: a comparative study(University of the Free State, 2000-11) Du Toit, Sandra; Henning, J. J.Item Open Access Verteenwoordiging in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappyregtelike verband: 'n regshistoriese en regsvergelykende ondersoek(University of the Free State, 2008-09) Rabie, Pierre Jacques; Henning, J. J.English: The general principles of the law of agency form the basis of representation in South African company law. A unique set of agency principles have however developed in company law as a result of specific needs that arose from the application of certain company law doctrines (for example the doctrine of constructive notice, ultra vires doctrine, doctrine of disclosure and the Turquand rule) in this field of study. An attempt is made to elucidate the contiguity of these doctrines. The common law position regarding agency was originally regulated by the Roman Dutch principle of direct agency. This was coupled with extensive regulations regarding the relationship between principal and agent. These regulations have not provided a solution to the questions regarding agency in a modern society. A very strong need for the development of South African agency law arose as a result of this. English law provided the source for the development of the South African law of agency. The result of the development is that the law of agency in South Africa has a Roman Dutch base, but is strongly influenced by English law principles in this regard. The hybridisation of the South African legal position has provided some solutions. It must however be noted that this process has also created numerous problems. The question can be posed whether the game is worth the candle. If the position regarding agency is considered in other jurisdictions as well as in the law of close corporations it is clear that the only solution seems to be that the legislature has to remedy the situation. This has however not been done in South Africa. The South African law of agency in a company context is plagued by many difficulties. Possible solutions for these problems are provided. The research has been done on a comparative basis. The legal positions in Australia, England and the USA have been selected for this purpose.