PVL1501/102/3/2021

Tutorial Letter 102/3/2021

Law of Persons
PVL1501

Semesters 1 and 2

Department or Private Law

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

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 CONTENTS
1 LATIN – ENGLISH – ISIZULU ...................................................................................................... 3
2 LATIN – ENGLISH – NORTHERN SOTHO .................................................................................. 8
3 LATIN – ENGLISH – AFRIKAANS ............................................................................................. 11

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 PVL1501/102

Dear Student

Since we are committed to promote multilingualism we compiled a list of legal terms (mostly
Latin) and translated them into English, IsiZulu, Northern Sotho and Afrikaans. Please note that
this glossary is not exhaustive - you will learn more legal terms as you progress with your legal
studies. It consists of the legal terms that are used in your textbook, as well as a couple of
commonly used legal terms. Some of the explanations are very simplistic so that the meaning is
clear for the non-informed reader.

Please note that this glossary is a reference tool only and you need not study these terms
and/or their translations for examination purposes. You will never be tested on the translation of
these terms.

We trust that you will find this glossary useful in your present and future studies.

1 Latin – English – IsiZulu

The first list consists of three columns. The legal terms appear in the first column, followed by
the English translation in the second column and the IsiZulu translation in the third column.

Latin terminology English translation IsiZulu

a quo from which (The judgment Lokho/lapho okususelwa
from the court a quo means a kukhona (Isinqumo esivela ku-
judgment of a court of first court a quo yisinqumo esivela
instance or an inferior court or enkantolo yokuqala noma
the court appealed from, that inkantolo engaphansi
is the court before which the ngokwamandla namagunya
matter served before it was kunenkantolo okudluliselwe
brought before the present kuyona isinqumo ukuze
court.) sibuyekezwe, okusho inkantolo
elithethwe kuyona icala
ngaphambilini, ngaphambi
kokuthi lilethwe kule nkantolo
elisezithebeni zayo
njengamanje).
ab initio from the beginning kusukela ekuqaleni
actio action isenzo
actio de pauperie action due to damage or isenzo esibangelwe
injury caused by someone’s ngumonakalo noma ukulimala
domestic animal okubangelwe yisilwane
esifuyiwe somuntu othile
ad hoc for a specific purpose ngenhloso ethile; maqondana
nodaba oluthile olukhethekilead
ad idem agreed kuvunyelwene
ad infinitum to infinity unomphela; okungapheliyo
ad litem for the case or suit ngokwe cala
affidavit sworn statement isitatimende esifungelwe
bona fide in good faith gokwethembeka;
ngokweqiniso;
ngomoya omuhle
3
compos mentis sane; in his/her right mind usesimweni sengqondo
esikahle; uphelele ekhanda
condictio action with which property is isimangalo; sokubuyisa
recovered impahla;
isenzo sokubuyisa impahla
consensus consent; agreement imvume; ukuvumelana;
isivumelwano
contra bonos mores contrary to good morals ngokuphambene nokuziphatha
okuhle
curator ad litem a person appointed by the umuntu oqokwe yinkantolo
court to assist someone ukuthi alekelele omunye
(usually a minor or mentally ill (ngokuvamileyo okuyingane
person) in litigation noma umuntu ogula
ngengqondo ecaleni)
curator bonis a person appointed by the umuntu oqokwe yinkantolo
court to administer someone ukuthi alawule ifa; impahla
else’s estate/property yomunye umuntu
curator personae a person appointed to look umuntu oqokelwe ukulawula
after the personal and health izinto eziqondene noma
affairs in cases where zezempilo zomuntu othile uma
someone is unable to lowo muntu engakwazi
manage his or her own ukuzilawulela izindaba zakhe
personal affairs
cur ad vult = curia advisari the court wishes to consider inkantolo ifuna ukucubungula
vult its decision isinqumo sayo
de bonis propriis out of his or her own pocket umuntu kumele azithwale
ngokwakhe izindleko; umuntu
kumele akhokhe ngokwakhe
de facto in fact; judged according to ukuthathwa kwesinqumo
the factual position ngokubheka isimo
sobuqiniso/sangempela;
imininigwane; ukuthathwa
kesinqumo ngeminingwane
yesimo
de iure in law; judged according to ngokomthetho; ukwahlulelwa
the law ngokomthetho;
ukuthathwa kesinqumo
ngokomthetho
de minimis non curat lex the law is not concerned with umthetho awuzihluphi ngezinto
trivialities ezingabalulekile/ezingasholutho
doli capax / culpae capax accountable ukuba sesimweni sokwenza
ubulelesi
doli incapax / culpae incapax unaccountable ukungabi sesimweni sokwenza
ubulelesi
error mistake iphutha
(ex) mero motu spontaneously; of (his or her ngokuzenzekelayo;
or its) own accord ngokuzithandela kwakhe
exceptio exception isiphambuko; okwehlukile

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exceptio non adimpleti exception or defence of isiphambuko noma ukuzivikela

contractus unfulfilled contract because maqondana nesivumelwano
the plaintiff is also in default to esingafezekiswanga ngenxa
perform yokuthi ummangali naye
uhlulekile ukwenza okuthile
obekumele akwenze
ex parte as the only interested party njengomuntu okungukuphela
kwakhe onentshisekelo
ex post facto seen in retrospect; seen in uma kubhekwa emuva; uma
hindsight kubukwa osekwedlule
functus officio no longer functioning in an ongasasebenzi
official capacity ngokwesikhundla sakhe
esisemthethweni
ignorantia iuris haud excusat ignorance of the law is no ukungawazi umthetho ngeke
excuse kuthathwe njengesizathu
esizwakalayo futhi
esamukelekile
sokuzithethelela/sokuzivikela
infans (pl. infantes) a child(ren) below the age of ingane eneminyaka yobudala
7 years engaphansi kweyisikhombisa
(izingane ezineminyaka
yobudala engaphansi
kweyisikhombisa)
in fine at the end ekugcineni
infra below ngezansi
in limine at the beginning of the case ekuqaleni kwecala
in loco parentis in the position of a parent esikhundleni somzali
in re in the case of maqondana; ecaleni lika
inter alia among other things phakathi kokunye
interim in the meantime okwesikhashana
in utero in the womb ngaphakathi esibelethweni
in ventre matris in the mother’s womb ngaphakathi esibelethweni
sikamama
in vitro in a test tube (lit. “in glass”) ngaphakathi ku-test tube (lit.
ngaphakathi engilazini)
iusta causa just cause Isizathu; isisusa esinohlonze
noma esizwakalayo
lex statute or legal rule
umthetho noma imigomo
yomthetho
lex (loci) domicilii law of the place of domicile umthetho wendawo lapho
umuntu ahlalakhona

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litis contestatio moment when the suit is umzuzu lapho kuqaliswa
instituted between the parties;ukumangalelana kwabantu
the moment when the ecaleni lombango; noma-ke
pleadings are closed uma kungenjalo umzuzu lapho
kuphothulwa khona ukwethulwa
kwesitatimende
esisemthethweni phambi
kwenkantolo;
umzuzu lapho icala libhaliswa
phakathi kom’ngali
nom’mangalelwa; noma
umzuzu lapho kuphothulwa
amaphepha eziqelo
zasenkantolo.
locus standi in iudicio capacity to litigate amandla okumangalela
omunye umuntu
lucidum intervallum lucid interval isikhashana esincane lapho
umuntu ogula ngengqondo
elulama okwesikhashana
okumenza abe namandla
okuzenzela ngokwakhe
isivumelwano nokuzithathela
izinqumo eziphathelene
nomthetho
mala fide in bad faith ngezinhloso zenkohliso
maxim legal maxim; adage umgomo womthetho;
isiphakamiso somthetho
esamukelekile kubantu
naturalis obligatio natural or unenforceable isibopho esingenasisekelo
obligation somthetho futhi
esingenakuphoqelelwa
ngokusebenzisa isinyathelo
somthetho
negotiorum gestio taking care of someone else’s ukubhekelela izimfuno-sidingo
interests zomunye umuntu
NO (nomine officii; nomine in an official capacity umphatheli osemthethweni
officio)
non compos mentis not in full possession of his or ukungabi sesimweni
her faculties; mentally ill sengqondo esikahle futhi
esilawulekayo; ukugula
ngengqondo
obiter dictum passing remark ukuphawula; ukusika elijikayo
onus burden of proof umthwalo; isibopho
sokuhlinzeka ubufakazi
obuqanda ikhanda
per se in itself ngokwako; ngokwazo;
ngokwayo
postea afterwards ngemva kwalokho
prima facie at first sight ngokusobala
quasi as if sengathi
ratio reason; ground isizathu

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rei vindicatio the action with which an isinyathelo somthetho

owner may reclaim his or her esingasetshenziswa
property from any person if ngumnikazi wempahla
the property has been ukubuyisa impahla yakhe
unlawfully removed from the ebithathwe ngomunye umuntu
owner’s possession ngokungemthetho
res thing into
res ipsa loquitur the case speaks for itself into iyazikhulumela;
iyazifakazela ngokwayo
respondent the opposing party in an umuntu ongummangalelwa
application or appeal ecaleni elithile noma esicelweni
sokudluliswa kwecala
restitutio in integrum return to the previous ukubuyisela esimweni
condition sangaphambilini
sine without ngaphandle
spes expectation; hope okulindelekile; ithemba
stare to stand ukuqhubeka nokusebenza
ngokusemthethweni; ukuma
stare decisis decided cases remain isinqumo esikhishwe yinkantolo
authoritative esiphathelene necala
siyoqhubeka sisebenze
ngokusemthethweni
status quo ante the previous legal position isimo esisemthethweni
sangaphambilini
stipulatio alteri a contract for the benefit of a isivumelwano esizohlomulisa
third party umuntu ongaphandle kwalabo
ababili abenze leso
sivumelwano
sub iudice pending okusalindelwe
sui generis of its own kind ngokwako; ngokohlobo lwako
olwehlukile
sui iuris capable of performing juristic ukuba namandla wokungena
acts; having capacity to act kuzivumelwane
supra above ngenhla; ngaphezulu
venia aetatis release from tutelage ukukhululwa ngaphansi
kwesandla somlawuli;
umphatheli; umlondolozi
venia agendi permission to conduct imvume yokumangalela;
litigation yokuvula icala
vice versa conversely; the other way ngokuhlanakezelwe;
round ngokuphambene
vis force amandla
viva voce orally ngomlomo; ngamazwi

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2 Latin – English – Northern Sotho

This list consists of three columns. The legal terms appear in the first column, followed by the
English translation in the second column and the Northern Sotho translation in the third column.

Latin terminology English translation Northern Sotho

a quo from which (The judgment
from the court a quo means a
judgment of a court of first
instance or an inferior court or tiragalo ya mathomo goba
the court appealed from, that
is the court before which the
matter served before it was
brought before the present
court.)
ab initio from the beginning
actio action
actio de pauperie action due to damage or
injury caused by someone’s
domestic animal
ad hoc for a specific purpose
ad idem agreed
ad infinitum to infinity
ad litem for the case or suit
affidavit sworn statement
bona fide in good faith
compos mentis sane; in his/her right mind
condictio action with which property is tiro yeo ka yona thoto e
recovered
consensus consent; agreement
contra bonos mores contrary to good morals
curator ad litem a person appointed by the
court to assist someone
(usually a minor or mentally ill yo mongwe (gantši e ba
person) in litigation
curator bonis a person appointed by the
court to administer someone
else’s estate/property
go tšwa go(kahlolo go tšwa go
kgorotsheko seemo se šupa
kahlolo ya kgorotsheko ya
kgorotsheko ye potlana goba
kgorotsheko yeo kgopelo e
dirilwego go tšwa go yona, ke
gore kgorotsheko yeo taba e
tšweleditšwego go yona pele e
tlišwa pele ga kgorotsheko ya
bjalo).
go thoma mathomong
boipiletšo
boipiletšo ka lebaka la tshenyo
goba kgobadi yeo e hlotšwego
ke seruiwa sa motho yo
mongwe
ka morero wo itšego
dumetše
go ya ka go sa felego
ka lebaka la molato goba sello
setatamente seo se dirilwego
ka fase ga keno
ka moya wo mobotse
tšea gabotse; ke mogopolo wa
go tšea gabotse
tšewago morago
tumelelano; kwano
go fapana le maitshwaro a
mabotse
motho yo a thwetšwego ke
kgorotsheko go thuša motho
ngwana yo monnyane goba
motho yo a lwalago kgopolong)
yo a sekišwago
motho yo a thwetšwego ke
kgorotsheko go sepediša
merero ya dithoto tša motho yo
mongwe

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 PVL1501/102

curator personae a person appointed to look motho yo a thwetšwego go

after the personal and health hlokomela merero ya motho le
affairs in cases where tša bophelo bja gagwe ge
someone is unable to motho yo a sa kgone go laola
manage his or her own merero ya gagwe
personal affairs
cur ad vult = curia advisari the court wishes to consider kgorotsheko e duma go tšea
vult its decision sephetho sa yona
de bonis propriis out of his or her own pocket go tšwa ka potleng ya gagwe
de facto in fact; judged according to ka lebaka; ahlotšwe go ya ka
the factual position maemo a mabaka
de iure in law; judged according to ka molao; ahlotšwe go ya ka
the law molao
de minimis non curat lex the law is not concerned with molao ga go šale morago dilo
trivialities tša go hloka mohola
doli capax/culpae capax accountable go ba le maikarabelo
doli incapax/culpae incapax unaccountable go se be le maikarabelo
error mistake phošo
(ex) mero motu spontaneously; of (his or her ka noši; ya (gagwe goba yona)
or its) own accord boikgethelo bja gagwe
exceptio exception ntle le
exceptio non adimpleti exception or defence of ntle le goba tšhireletšo ya
contractus unfulfilled contract because kontraka yeo e sa
phethagatšwago ka lebaka la
the plaintiff is also in default to
perform gore molli le yena o šitilwe go
phethagatša
ex parte as the only interested party bjalo ka motho a noši yo a
nago le kgahlego
ex post facto seen in retrospect; seen in e bonagetše bjalo ka
hindsight segopotšo; e bonagetše ka
morago
functus officio no longer functioning in an ga e sa šoma maemong a
official capacity yona a semmušo
ignorantia iuris haud excusat ignorance of the law is no go hloka šedi ga molao ga se
excuse lebaka
infans (pl. infantes) a child(ren) below the age of 7 ngwana; bana ba ka fase ga
years mengwaga ye 7
in fine at the end mafelelong
infra below ka fase
in limine at the beginning of the case mathomong a molato
in loco parentis in the position of a parent maemong a motswadi
in re in the case of ka lebaka la
inter alia among other things gare ga tše dingwe
interim in the meantime ga lebakanyana
in utero in the womb ka popelong
in ventre matris in the mother’s womb ka gare ga popelo ya mmagwe
in vitro in a test tube (lit. “in glass”) ka gare ga tšhupu ya go dira
diteko (lit. ka gare ga galase)
iusta causa just cause ka lebaka la toka

9
lex statute or legal rule molawana goba taolo ya
semolao
lex (loci) domicilii law of the place of domicile molao goba lefelo la bodulo
litis contestatio moment when the suit is nako yeo molato o bulwa gare
instituted between the parties; ga baamegi; goba, nako yeo
the moment when the dikgopelo di tswalelwa
pleadings are closed
locus standi in iudicio capacity to litigate maemo a go kgona go ahlola
lucidum intervallum lucid interval paka ya go tšweletša
mala fide in bad faith ka moya wo mobe
maxim legal maxim; adage mmolelo wa semolao; mmolelo
naturalis obligatio natural or unenforceable tlhago goba tlamego yeo e sa
obligation phethagatšwego
negotiorum gestio taking care of someone else’s go hlokomela dikgahlego tša
interests motho yo mongwe
NO (nomine officii; nomine in an official capacity ka mokgwa wa semmušo
officio)
non compos mentis not in full possession of his or e se ka botlalo bja goba
her faculties; mentally ill mogopolo wa gagwe; go lwala
kgopolong
obiter dictum passing remark go bolela
onus burden of proof boima bja bohlatse
per se in itself ka boyona
postea afterwards ka morago
prima facie at first sight e bonala la mathomo
quasi as if bjalo ka ge eka
ratio reason; ground lebaka; mabaka
rei vindicatio the action with which an tiro yeo ka yona mong a ka
owner may reclaim his or her tšeago dithoto tša gagwe go
property from any person if tšwa go motho yo mongwe le
the property has been yo mongwe ge e le gore
unlawfully removed from the dithoto tšeo di tlišitšwe ntle le
owner’s possession tumelelo ya molao go tšwa go
mong wa tšona
res thing selo
res ipsa loquitur the case speaks for itself sehlopha sa badiragatši se a
ipolelela
respondent the opposing party in an moamegi yo a ganetšago
application or appeal kgopelo goba sello
restitutio in integrum return to the previous boela maemong a peleng
condition
sine without ntle le
spes expectation; hope tetelo; kholofelo
stare to stand go ema
stare decisis decided cases remain melato ye e ahlotšwego ga e
authoritative fetoge
status quo ante the previous legal position maemo ao a fetilego a
semolao
stipulatio alteri a contract for the benefit of a kontraka ya go hola motho wa
third party boraro
sub iudice pending e šaletšego
sui generis of its own kind ya mohuta wa yona
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 PVL1501/102

sui iuris capable of performing juristic go kgona go diragatša ditiro

acts; having capacity to act tša semolao; go ba le bokgoni
bja go diragatša
supra above godimo
venia aetatis release from tutelage lokolla go tlhahlo
venia agendi permission to conduct lokolla go tlhahlo
litigation
vice versa conversely; the other way go no swana; ka tsela ye
round nngwe
vis force maatla
viva voce orally ka molomo

3 Latin – English – Afrikaans

The last list consists of three columns. The legal terms appear in the first column, followed by
the English translation in the second column and the Afrikaans translation in the third column.

Latin terminology English translation Afrikaans

a quo from which (The judgment van waar (Die uitspraak van
from the court a quo means a die hof a quo beteken die
judgment of a court of first uitspraak van ʼn hof van eerste
instansie of ʼn laer hof of die
instance or an inferior court or
the court appealed from, that hof waarvandaan geappelleer
is the court before which the word; met ander woorde, die
matter served before it was hof waarvoor die saak gedien
brought before the present het voordat dit voor die huidige
court.) hof gebring is.)
ab initio from the beginning van die begin af
actio action aksie
actio de pauperie action due to damage or ʼn aksie weens skade of
injury caused by someone’s benadeling wat deur iemand se
domestic animal huisdier veroorsaak is
ad hoc for a specific purpose vir ʼn bepaalde doel
ad idem agreed van eenderse sienswyse;
eensgesind
ad infinitum to infinity tot in die oneindige
ad litem for the case or suit vir die hofsaak of regsgeding
affidavit sworn statement beëdigde verklaring
bona fide in good faith te goeder trou
compos mentis sane; in his/her right mind geestesgesond; by sy of haar
volle verstand
condictio action with which property is aksie waarmee goed
recovered teruggevorder word
consensus consent; agreement wilsooreenstemming
contra bonos mores contrary to good morals teen/strydig met die goeie
sedes

11
curator ad litem a person appointed by the ʼn persoon wat deur die hof
court to assist someone aangestel word om iemand
(usually a minor or mentally ill (meestal ʼn minderjarige of
person) in litigation geestesongestelde persoon) in
gedingvoering by te staan
curator bonis a person appointed by the ʼn persoon wat deur die hof
court to administer someone aangewys word om iemand
else’s estate/property anders se boedel te beredder
of goedere te bestuur
curator personae a person appointed to look ʼn persoon wat aangestel word
after the personal and health om die persoonlike en
affairs in cases where gesondheidsake te behartig
someone is unable to van iemand wat nie daartoe in
manage his or her own staat is nie
personal affairs
cur ad vult = curia advisari the court wishes to consider die hof wil sy beslissing
vult its decision oorweeg; uitspraak word
voorbehou (let. “die hof wil
geadviseer word”)
de bonis propriis out of his or her own pocket uit sy of haar eie sak/beurs
de facto in fact; judged according to feitelik; na die feitelike toestand
the factual position gereken
de iure in law; judged according to regtens; na die reg geoordeel
the law
de minimis non curat lex the law is not concerned with die reg bemoei hom nie met
trivialities beuselatighede nie
doli capax/culpae capax accountable toerekenbaar
doli incapax/culpae incapax unaccountable ontoerekenbaar
error mistake fout; dwaling
(ex) mero motu spontaneously; of (his or her spontaan; uit (sy of haar) eie
or its) own accord beweging
exceptio exception uitsondering
exceptio non adimpleti exception or defence of uitsondering of verweer van
contractus unfulfilled contract because onvervulde kontrak omdat die
the plaintiff is also in default to eiser ook in gebreke is om te
perform presteer
ex parte as the only interested party as enigste belanghebbende
ex post facto seen in retrospect; seen in uit wat daarna gebeur het; van
hindsight agterna gesien
functus officio no longer functioning in an nie meer in ʼn amptelike
official capacity hoedanigheid diensdoende nie
ignorantia iuris haud excusat ignorance of the law is no onkunde van die reg is geen
excuse verweer nie
infans (pl. infantes) a child(ren) below the age of 7 ʼn kind of kinders jonger as 7
years jaar
in fine at the end aan die einde
infra below hieronder
in limine at the beginning of the case in die aanvang-stadium van die
verhoor
in loco parentis in the position of a parent in die plek van ʼn ouer
in re in the case of in die saak van
inter alia among other things onder andere
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 PVL1501/102

interim in the meantime tussentyds

in utero in the womb in die baarmoeder
in ventre matris in the mother’s womb in die baarmoeder
in vitro in a test tube (lit. “in glass”) in ʼn proefbuis (let. “in glas”)
iusta causa just cause geoorloofde oorsaak
lex statute or legal rule wet of regsreël
lex (loci) domicilii law of the place of domicile reg van die plek waar die
persoon gedomisilieer is
litis contestatio moment when the suit is die tydstip waarop partye met
instituted between the parties; mekaar in geding tree; die
the moment when the tydstip waarop pleitstukke
pleadings are closed gesluit word
locus standi in iudicio capacity to litigate bevoegdheid om as
gedingvoerder erken te word
lucidum intervallum lucid interval helder oomblik
mala fide in bad faith te kwader trou
maxim legal maxim; adage regspreuk; stelreël
naturalis obligatio natural or unenforceable natuurlike of onafdwingbare
obligation verbintenis
negotiorum gestio taking care of someone else’s saakwaarneming; om iemand
interests anders se belange te behartig
NO (nomine officii; nomine in an official capacity in amptelike hoedanigheid
officio)
non compos mentis not in full possession of his or nie by sy of haar volle verstand
her faculties; mentally ill nie; geestesongesteld
obiter dictum passing remark terloopse opmerking
onus burden of proof bewyslas
per se in itself op sigself
postea afterwards daarna
prima facie at first sight met die eerste oogopslag; op
die oog af
quasi as if asof
ratio reason; ground rede; grond
rei vindicatio the action with which an die aksie waarmee ʼn eienaar
owner may reclaim his or her sy of haar eiendom van enige
property from any person if ander persoon terugeis as die
the property has been eiendom onregmatig uit die
unlawfully removed from the eienaar se besit verwyder is
owner’s possession
res thing ʼn saak; goed
res ipsa loquitur the case speaks for itself die feite spreek vanself
respondent the opposing party in an die teenparty in ʼn aansoek of
application or appeal appèl
restitutio in integrum return to the previous herstel na die vorige toestand
condition
sine without sonder
spes expectation; hope hoop; verwagting
stare to stand om te staan

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stare decisis decided cases remain gegewe beslissings bly staan
authoritative
status quo ante the previous legal position die vorige regstoestand
stipulatio alteri a contract for the benefit of a ʼn kontrak ten behoewe van ʼn
third party derde party
sub iudice pending hangend
sui generis of its own kind enig in sy soort; eiesoortig
sui iuris capable of performing juristic bevoeg om regshandelinge uit
acts; having capacity to act te voer; handelingsbevoeg
supra above hierbo
venia aetatis release from tutelage ontslag uit voogdy
venia agendi permission to conduct vergunning om te litigeer
litigation
vice versa conversely; the other way omgekeerd
round
vis force dwang
viva voce orally mondeling

We hope that you enjoy this module and we wish you every success with your studies.

MR MT SKOSANA Telephone number: 012 429-8430

DR CS VAN DER WESTHUIZEN 012 429-8525
PROF S FERREIRA 012 429 8717
PROF JM KRUGER 012 429-8502
UNISA

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