YEAR
CASE NAME
SUMMARY
Disclaimer notice – included at the bottom of a warehouse invoice exempting the shippers
from liability in respect of goods received and stored.
1
1950
Frocks Ltd v Dent and Goodwin (Pty) Ltd 1950
(2) SA 717 (C)
2
1958
George v Fairmead (Pty) Ltd 1958 (2) SA 465
(A)
Contractual disclaimer – signing of hotel register exempts hotelier from liabilities
3
1958
SAR & H v Lyle Shipping Company Limited
1958 (3) SA 416 (A)
Contractual disclaimer – exemption of liability for negligence
1963
Van Wyk v Otten 1963 (1) SA 415 (O)
Contractual disclaimer – seller of vehicle exempt from liability for latent defects
5
1973
Boshoff v Prinsloo 1973 (1) PH J 16
Oral disclaimer relying on words said to the plaintiff – “as daar ‘n balls-up is, is dit jou
worries” – defence not upheld
6
1973
Galloon v Modern Burglar Alarms (Pty) Ltd 1973
(3) SA 647 (C)
4
7
1973
Santam Insurance Co Ltd v Vorster [1973] 4 All
SA 558 (A)
8
1978
Government of the RSA v Fibre Spinners &
Weavers (Pty) Ltd 1978 (2) SA 794
9
1985
Cases - disclaimers indemnities
Lillicrap, Wassenaar and Partners v Pilkington
Brothers (SA) (Pty) Ltd 1985 (1) SA 475 (A)
Contractual disclaimer – burglar alarm company exempt from liability for damage resulting
from non-operation of the alarm
Verbal disclaimer – passenger’s knowledge and appreciation of the danger will ordinarily
suffice to establish the “consent” exempting driver from liability for damages resulting from
an accident
Contractual disclaimer – storage company absolved from all responsibility for loss of or
damage incurred while the goods are in their care or on their premises.
Contractual disclaimer – engineers exempt from liability for damage resulting from their
professional work
1
3 February 2016
10
1986
11
1986
12
1989
13
14
15
1989
1993
1994
16
1995
17
1995
Cases - disclaimers indemnities
Berman Brothers (Pty) Ltd v Sodastream Ltd
and Another [1986] 2 All SA 252 (A)
Disclaimer by conduct - where someone has used in relation to his goods the trade mark
of another, they can avoid liability for infringement on the ground that the public ,at the time
of purchase, became aware of the fact that the goods were those of the alleged infringer
and not those of the proprietor or registered user of the trade mark
South Eastern Auto Rental Services (Pty) Ltd t/a
Swans Rent a Car v Sank Bros Holdings (Pty)
Ltd t/a Market Toyota [1986] 4 All SA 88 (C)
Disclaimer notice – notice on invoice exempting repair garage from liability for damage to
client’s car
Lawrence v Kondotel Inns (Pty) Ltd 1989 (1) SA
44 (D)
Disclaimer notice – sign board at hotel stating that management exempt from liability for
accidents resulting from horse riding
Zietsman v Van Tonder en ‘n Ander [1989] 3 All
SA 124 (T)
Contractual disclaimer – entry permit exempting game reserve from liability for injury
Elgin Brown and Hamer v Industrial Machinery
Suppliers (Pty) Ltd 1993 (3) SA 424 (A)
Contractual disclaimer – exemption of liability for workmanship and materials
Dlovo v Brian Porter Motors Ltd t/a Port Motors
Newlands 1994 (2)
SA 518 (C)
Contractual disclaimer – Mechanic exempt from liability for damages
Minister of Education and Culture (House of
Delegates) v Azel and Another 1995 (1) SA 30
(A)
Indemnity – guardian of minor signing indemnity for minor on school tour
Payne v Minister of Transport 1995 (4) SA 153
(C)
Contractual disclaimer – visitor upon entering premises signs document exempting owner of
premises from liability for injuries sustained on premises
2
3 February 2016
18
19
1996
Booysen v Sun International Bophuthatswana
Ltd Case number 96/3261, unreported (W)
Disclaimer notice – sign board at hotel stating that you enter, ride or use the facilities at your
own risk
1996
Visagie v Transsun (Pty) Ltd [1996] 4 All SA 702
(Tk)
Contractual disclaimer – exemption clause stating that management exempt from liability for
accidents resulting from horse riding
20
1997
Goodman Brothers (Pty) Ltd v Rennies Group
Limited 1997 (4) SA 91
Contractual disclaimer - clause exempting the employer from liability employee’s theft from
which the employer would not benefit
21
1999
Durban’s Water Wonderland v Botha 1999 (1)
SA 982 (AD)
Disclaimer notice – sign board at ride at fun fair stating that management not liable for
injuries
Fourie v Hansen and another [2000] 1 All SA
510 (W)
Contractual disclaimer - clause in rental agreement excluding liability for damages for
breach of agreement
Stewart and another v Appleton Fund Managers
[2000] 3 All SA 545 (N)
Contractual disclaimer – Fund- and portfolio manager exempt from liability for any damage
suffered by client arising from mandate to manage investment portfolio
2001
Zeda Car Rental (Pty) Ltd t/a Avis Rent-A-Car v
Fourie (Curatrix ad Litem to De Waal) and
Another 2001 JDR 0684 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – clause exempting car rental company from liability to the injured
occupants of the vehicle for damages
2001
Sun Couriers (Pty) Ltd v Kimberley Diamond
Wholesalers [2001] 2 All SA 646 (NC)
Contractual disclaimer – Dispatch note of courier company containing disclaimer limiting
courier’s liability in case of loss of parcel
22
23
24
25
2000
2000
26
2001
First National Bank of SA Ltd v Rosenblum 2001
(4) SA 189 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – bank exempt from liability for theft by employees
27
2002
Van der Westhuizen v Arnold [2002] 4 All SA
331 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – seller of vehicle excluding implied warranties
Cases - disclaimers indemnities
3
3 February 2016
Afrox Healthcare (Pty) Ltd v Strydom 2002 (6)
SA 21 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – indemnity clause stating that private hospital not liable for
negligence of nursing staff
2003
ABSA Bank Ltd v Fouche 2003 (1) SA 176
(SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – exempting bank from liability for loss or damage to contents of a
safety deposit box
30
2003
Cape Group Construction (Pty) Ltd t/a Forbes
Waterproofing v Government of the United
Kingdom [2003] 3 All SA 496 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – exemption clause on faxed quotation exempts contractor form any
loss or damage suffered by employer
31
2004
Johannesburg Country Club v Stott 2004 (5) SA
511 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – rules of golf club exempts club from liability for member’s personal
injury or harm – not exempt of liability for widow’s loss of support
Consol Ltd t/a Consol Gass v Twee Jonge
Gezellen (Pty) Ltd and Another 2005 (6) SA 1
(SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – clause in supply agreement limiting manufacturer's liability for
defective goods
2005
Katzeff v Canal Walk Limited t/a Canal Walk and
Others (10293/03) [2005] ZAWCHC 58
Indemnity - third party signing indemnity on behalf of a minor
2006
Tsogo Sun Holdings (Pty) Ltd v Qing-He Shan
and Another 2006 (6) SA 537 (SCA)
Disclaimer notice – exempting Casino from damages (duty of care to protect patrons
against each other)
Drifters Adventure Tours CC v Hircock 2007 (2)
SA 83 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – passenger on tour bus signed indemnity form exempting operator’s
liability for driving
Walker v Redhouse 2007 (3) SA 514 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – indemnity signed by horse rider exempting owner of horse from
liability for injuries sustained by horse rider while riding
ER24 Holdings v Smith NO and another
[2007] 4 All SA 679 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – exemption clause exempting emergency service operator from
liability for loss, damage or injury of volunteer worker
28
29
32
33
34
2002
2005
35
2007
36
2007
37
2007
Cases - disclaimers indemnities
4
3 February 2016
38
2008
39
2008
40
2010
Mercurius Motors v Lopez 2008 (3) SA 572
(SCA)
Contractual disclaimer - Clause in contract of deposit exempting depositary from liability for
loss by theft
Masstores (Pty) Ltd v Murray & Roberts
Construction (Pty) Ltd and Another 2008 (6) SA
654 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – exemption clause indemnifying contractor against claims by third
parties
Jacobs v Imperial Group (Pty) Ltd [2010] 2 All
SA 540 (SCA)
Disclaimer notice – sign board at vehicle repair centre stating that vehicle left at owner’s risk
Viv’s Tippers (Edms) Bpk v PHA Phama Staff
Services (Edms) Bpk h/a PHA Phama Security
2010 (4) SA 455 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – security company exempt from liability for loss of owner of property
41
2010
42
2010
Swinburne v Newbee Investments (Pty) Ltd
2010 (5) SA 296 (KZD)
Contractual disclaimer – clause in lease agreement exempting landlord from liability for any
damage suffered by tenant
43
2011
Freddy Hirsch Group (Pty) Ltd v Chickenland
(Pty) Ltd 2011 (4) SA 276 (SCA)
Contractual disclaimer – exemption clause exempting supplier of product from liability for
defect in goods supplied
44
2011
Hanson v Liberty Group Ltd (4633/2009) [2011]
ZAGPJHC 195
Disclaimer notice – sign board at entrance of shopping mall stating that owner and operator
of mall exempt from liability for injuries of visitors
Niemand v Old Mutual Investment Group
property Investment (Pty) Ltd (35421/2009)
[2012] ZAGPPHC 87
Disclaimer notice – sign board at entrance of shopping mall stating that owner of mall
exempt from liability for injuries of visitors
45
2012
46
2012
Mercedes-Benz South Africa (Pty) Limited v
Buffalo City Municipality 2012 JDR 1770 (ECG)
Contractual disclaimer – indemnity clause sating that supplier of electricity not liable to
manufacturer for fluctuations in voltage
47
2012
Naidoo v Birchwood Hotel 2012 (6) SA 170
(GSJ)
Contractual disclaimer – Hotel registration card disclaiming liability for injury caused by
negligence of staff
Cases - disclaimers indemnities
5
3 February 2016
48
2013
49
2015
50
2015
Cases - disclaimers indemnities
M J Reinecke v Intercape Ferreira Mainliner
(Pty) Limited 2013 JDR 1045 (ECG)
Tallman v MV “Shark Team” 2015 JDR 0006
(WCC)
Klassen v Blue Lagoon Hotel and Conference
Centre [2015] 2 All SA 482 (ECG)
Contractual disclaimer – passenger on bus signed disclaimer that bus company not liable
for injuries of passenger
Contractual disclaimer – Indemnity form signed by tourist on shark-diving boat – Exclude
liability to dependant for death of breadwinner
Disclaimer notice – sign board at hotel stating that hotel would not be responsible for any
personal injury to guests
6