Property Law and
the Constitution
Prof Hanri Mostert
Faculty of Law; University of Cape Town
Tel: +27 21 650 4122
Fax: +27 21 650 5770
Email: Hanri.Mostert@uct.ac.za
PROPERTY LAW IN A CONSTITUTIONAL
ORDER
Draft Course Outline and Readings
General Information
Course Aims: To promote an integrated approach to the study of property law, taking into account
its position within a constitutional order; to introduce students to the complexities of comparing
principles of property law from different jurisdictions and settings; to contextualise the principles of
property law within particular historical, constitutional and political settings; to examine the impact
of constitutional limitations and land reform on land law; to promote critical study of property law
through comparison of principles from various different contexts
Course Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to formulate informed
legal opinions on the constitutional limitations upon property, and the impact of reform upon existing
property law principles. Students should have an understanding of the differences and similarities
between various systems of property law, and be able to comment on these critically. Students should
be equipped to make recommendations for future law reform, based on their comparative study of the
topic.
Assessment: Examination counts 50 % and year mark counts 50 % of final grade. Year mark
based on the following % contributions: Projects 60% (7000 word Research Paper); Seminars 40%
(Oral Presentation)
3
Proposed seminar schedule:
12 x 3 hour seminars
First meeting: Introduction to Course and Ground Rules
Theme A: Principles of Property Law
Introduction to the basic principles of property law from a comparative perspective, with particular
focus on their origins and development
Readings:

J Watson Hamilton & N Bankes “Different Views of the Cathedral: The Literature on Property
Law Theory” in A McHarg, B Barton, A Bradbrook & L Godden (eds) Property and the Law in
Energy and Natural Resources, Oxford University Press, 2010, pp 19-59

S Coyle & K Morrow The Philosophical Foundations of Environmental Law: Property, Rights
and Nature, Hart Publishing, Oxford / Portland 2004, pp 9-105

L Underkuffler, The Idea of Property, Its Meaning and Power, Oxford University Press, 2003,
pp 11-102

R Barnes, Property Rights and Natural Resources, Hart Publishing, Oxford & Portland, Oregon
pp 21-162

G Alexander “Commodity & Propriety: Competing Visions of Property in American Legal
Thought 1776-1970” University of Chicago Press, 1997 pp 1 - tbc
Discussion Topics: Seminars 2, 3, 4 and 5




Property in Civil Law
Property in Anglo-American / Common Law
Property in Mixed Legal systems
Property in Customary Law
4
Theme B: Property Law in a Constitutional Order
Focus on property protection, regulation and infringement (i.e. deprivation, expropriation,
compensation) in various kinds of constitutional arrangements
Readings:




















Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996
Agri South Africa v Minister of Minerals and Energy 2013 4 SA 1 (CC)
National Credit Regulator v Opperman and Others 2013 (2) SA 1 (CC)
First National Bank of SA Ltd t/a Wesbank v Commissioner for the South African Revenue
Service 2002 (4) SA 768 (CC).
Law Society of South Africa and Others v Minister for Transport and Another (CCT 38/10)
2011 (1) SA 400 (CC) para 4, 81 ff
Mohunram and Another v National Director of Public Prosecutions and Another (Law Review
Project as Amicus Curiae) 2007 (4) SA 222 (CC)
Grobler v Msimanga and Others [2008] 3 All SA 549 (W)
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality v Blue Moonlight Properties 39 (Pty) Ltd and
Another 2012 (2) SA 104 (CC)
Erf 16 Bryntirion (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Public Works [2011] ZASCA 246.
Offit Enterprises (Pty) Ltd and Another v Coega Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd and
Others 2010 (4) SA 242 (SCA)
Harvey v Umhlatuze Municipality and Others 2011 (1) SA 601 (KZP)
Haffejee and Others NNO v eThekwini Municipality 2011 (6) SA 134 (CC)
United Reformed Church, De Doorns v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others
2013 (5) SA 205 (WCC)
Du Toit v Minister of Transport 2006 (1) SA 297 (CC)
Haakdoornbult Boerdery CC and Others v Mphela and Ohers 2008 (7) BCLR 704 (SCA)
Governing Body of the Juma Musjid Primary School & Others v Essay N.O. and Others 2011
(8) BCLR 761 (CC)
AJ van der Walt “Striving for the Better Interpretation - A Critical Reflection on the
Constitutional Court's Harksen and FNB Decisions on the Property Clause” 2004 (121) SALJ
854
AJ van der Walt Property and Constitution Pretoria University Law Press, 2012, pp 1-111
G Alexander The Global Debate over Constitutional Property: Lessons for American Takings
Jurisprudence, University of Chicago Press, 2006 pp tbc
AJ van der Walt Constitutional Property Law 3rd ed, Juta, 2011, pp 1279
5
6
Discussion Topics: Seminars 6, 7, 8 and 9




Property clauses in first-generation constitutions (including Due process and takings in US
Constitutional Law)
Property clauses in second-generation constitutions (including Constitutionalisation of the Social
Obligation of Ownership under the German Basic Law)
Property clauses in third-generation constitutions (including Constitutional protection and
limitation of property in South Africa)
Constitutions without property clauses (including Dealing with due process and takings in
Canadian / Australian Law)
7
Theme C: Property Law and Transformation
Closer analysis of the political and constitutional context in which Property Law functions, with
particular reference to societies in transition:
Readings:






J Waldron The Right to Private Property Oxford University Press pp 115-117; 423-445
AJ van der Walt Property and Constitution Pretoria University Law Press, 2012, pp 113-186
AJ van der Walt Constitutional Property Law 3rd ed, Juta, 2011, pp 521-528
R Teitl “Transitional Jurisprudence: The Role of Law in Political Transformation” 2009 (106)
Yale Law Journal 2009-2080
N Bohler-Muller ‘Some thoughts on the ubuntu jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court’ 2007
(28) 3 Obiter 590-599
C Himonga, M Taylor & A Pope ‘Reflections on judicial views of ubuntu’ 2013 (16) 5 PELJ
372-429
Discussion Topics: Seminars 10 and 11




Property law and economic transitions (including developments in post-socialist jurisdictions;
and developments pursuant to the global financial meltdown)
Property law and political transformation
Property Law and social engineering (including developments in post-colonial jurisdictions;
socio-economic rights and BEE)
Property Law and Ubuntu
Theme D: Towards New Theories Of Property Law: Comparative Evaluations
Critical evaluation of the foundations, principles and context of property law based on the
comparative study of property law in the constitutional order
Readings:

AJ van der Walt Property and Constitution Pretoria University Law Press, 2012, pp 113-186
Discussion Themes: Seminar 12


Rethinking the foundations, principles and context of property law
Comparing property law(s) and constitutional order(s)