South Africa Case Law

Wahloo Sand CC and Others v Trustees of the Hambly Parker Trust and Others (85/2000)

Wahloo Sand CC and Others v Trustees of the Hambly Parker Trust and Others (85/2000) [2001] ZASCA 137; 2002 (2) SA 776 (SCA) (29 November 2001)

Court

Supreme Court of Appeal

Case number

85/2000

Judges

Vivier, Howie, Olivier, Cloete, Brand

The Supreme Court of Appeal held that the doctrine of notice, which protects a bona fide purchaser for value without notice of an unregistered servitude, applies only after transfer of ownership. Prior to transfer, both the purchaser and the holder of the servitude agreement have competing personal rights. The maxim qui prior est tempore potior est iure governs the preference between such rights, giving priority to the earlier right unless special circumstances justify otherwise. In this case, the appellants' right to registration of the servitude arose before the respondent's right to clean…

Source excerpt

• Registration Of Servitude
• Specific Performance
• Priority Of Personal Rights
• Doctrine Of Notice
• Qui Prior Est Tempore
• Interdict