THE CUSTOMARY LAW OF INTESTATE SUCCESSION By Isabel .
THE CUSTOMARY LAW OF INTESTATE SUCCESSIONbyIsabel Moodleysubmitted in accordance with the requirements for thedegree ofDOCTOR OF LAWSat theUNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICASUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR FPvanR WHELPTONNOVEMBER 2012
DECLARATIONStudent No: 33016275I declare that The Customary Law of Intestate Succession is my own work and thatall the sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by meansof complete references. .SignatureMiss I Moodley .Datei
SUMMARY OF THE THESISThe title of this thesis is: The Customary Law of Intestate Succession. The Africancustomary law relating to intestate succession has always been known to discriminateagainst women. The thesis therefore focuses on the customary law of intestatesuccession in the countries of South Africa, Ghana and Swaziland and the inroads theyhave made in improving the rights of women in this discriminatory field of Africancustomary law.This thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the topic of theresearch. It highlights the organisation of the intended research which comprises: astatement of the problem, the legal framework, research methodology and a summaryof the chapter. Chapter 2 defines the general terms and concepts used in thecustomary law of intestate succession. This facilitates an understanding of the generalprinciples comprising the body of law known as the customary law of intestatesuccession and lays the foundation for the country specific issues that are investigatedin the following chapters. Chapter 3 discusses the recognition, application anddevelopment of the customary law of intestate succession in the country of SouthAfrica. Chapter 4 considers the rules and laws of the customary law of intestatesuccession in the West African country of Ghana. Chapter 5 explains the current rulesand laws of the customary law of intestate succession prevailing in the Kingdom ofSwaziland.Finally, chapter 6 brings the thesis to a meaningful end, by criticizing the approachesadopted by the countries of South Africa, Ghana and Swaziland in improving the rightsof women as far as the customary law of intestate succession is concerned. Thechapter also presents various recommendations for improving the rights of women inthis discriminatory field of the law.KEY TERMS: African customary law; intestate succession; South Africa, Ghana,Swazilandii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONSACHPRAfrican Charter on Human and People’s RightsCEDAWConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination AgainstWomenCDCConstitution Drafting Committee (Swaziland)ContralesaCongress of Traditional Leaders of South AfricaCRCConstitutional Review Commission (Swaziland)ICCPRInternational Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSALRCSouth African Law Reform CommissionTRCTinkhundla Review Commission (Swaziland)UDHRUniversal Declaration of Human RightsWLSAWomen and the Law Southern Africaiii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI would like to firstly thank my heavenly Father, the Creator of the heavens and theearth, and the sovereign ruler of the universe for giving me the wisdom, knowledge, andmotivation to complete this study. Without You I am nothing and would never have beenable to accomplish this feat. Despite almost giving up and often losing hope, You gaveme the courage to persevere. Therefore all praise, honour and glory go solely to Youfor this achievement. The following persons also deserve a very special word of thanks: My mother, Priscilla Moodley for her unconditional love, unwavering support andencouragement and her many, many prayers. Mum, you will never know howmuch it has all meant to me. You are truly the virtuous women spoken of inProverbs 31 and I thank God everyday for giving me such a remarkable mother; My sisters Chezette and Rochelle, for their continuous care, love and support; My supervisor Prof FPvR Whelpton, for his competent and constructive guidance,for always taking the time to listen to me, for always availing himself to meet withme and for making the field research component of my thesis attainable; My mentor and colleague Prof Margaret Beukes, for being such an excellent‘sounding board’. I will always be grateful to you for taking the time to direct andto criticise my ideas or thoughts; Karen Breckon, for helping me with the compilation of the reading lists and withaccessing additional online resources; and finally Mrs Thea de Villiers, for assisting me with the formatting and editing of the thesis.This thesis is dedicated to my mother and is in loving memory of my grandparentsGengen Moonsamy Pillay and Sawubakium Pillay; my aunt Kamala Pillay; my cousinSheri-lynn Pillay; and my mentor and former colleague Prof LP Vorster.iv
TABLE OF CONTENTDECLARATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iSUMMARY OF THE THESIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiKEY TERMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiLIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiiAcknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ivCHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION, OBJECTIVES AND FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY1.1Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.1.1 Problem statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.1.2 Demarcation of the field of investigation and the reasons therefore. . . . . . . . . . 21.2The legal framework. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.2.1Sources of law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.2.2What is customary law?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.2.3The general characteristics of customary law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61.2.3.1The unwritten nature of customary law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61.2.3.2The customary nature of customary law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71.2.3.3Customary law as an expression of community values. . . . . . . . . 71.2.3.4The role of magico-religious conceptions in African customarylaw. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81.2.3.4.1 The belief in ancestral spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81.2.3.4.2 The belief in sorcery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.2.41.3Classification of customary law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Research methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.3.11.3.2Literature review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.3.1.1Primary sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111.3.1.2Secondary sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Field research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121.3.2.1Areas of field research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131.3.2.2Panel of experts in Swaziland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141.3.2.3Interviewing process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14v
1.3.3An analysis of international law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151.4Organisation of the thesis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161.5Summary of the chapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16CHAPTER 2INTESTATE SUCCESSION: GENERAL RULES, TERMS AND CONCEPTS2.1Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182.2The principle of male primogeniture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192.3Polygamy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192.4The family head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202.5Factors affecting the order of succession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212.5.1Sex or gender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212.5.2Rank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212.5.2.1Family rank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212.5.2.2House rank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212.5.2.2.1 When the house came into existence. . . . . . . . . . . . . 222.5.2.2.2 The descent group of the main or great wife. . . . . . . . 242.6General and special succession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242.7The powers and duties of the successors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252.8The order of succession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272.92.102.8.1Succession in monogamous families. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282.8.2Succession in polygynous families. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282.8.2.1Simple polygynous succession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282.8.2.2Complex polygynous succession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28The provision of a successor in a house in which there is no successor. . . . . . . . . 322.9.1Ukuvusa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332.9.2The marrying of seed-raisers (“sororate” custom). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342.9.3Ukungena (levirate custom) and ukuzalela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362.9.3.1Ukungena (levirate custom). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362.9.3.2Ukuzalela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Other methods used for the provision of a successor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392.10.1 The institution of a legitimate son in one house as successor in anotherhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392.10.2 The institution of an illegitimate son as successor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39vi
2.10.3 The adoption of a successor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402.11Disposition of assets by the family head before death (disposition inter vivos). . . . 402.11.1 Disposition of assets by means of a final disposition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.11.2 Disposition of assets according to customary law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412.12Disinheritance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422.12.1 Reasons for disinheritance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422.12.2 The prescribed formalities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432.12.3 Appeal and reinstitution or revocation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442.12.4 Consequences of disinheritance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442.13Summary of the chapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45CHAPTER 3THE RECOGNITION, APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CUSTOMARYLAW OF INTESTATE SUCCESSION IN SOUTH AFRICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463.1Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463.2Historical context. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463.3Legal dualism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 523.4Constitutional recognition of customary law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573.4.1The Interim Constitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573.4.2The final Constitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 603.4.2.1General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 603.4.2.2The right to culture as encapsulated in sections 30 and 31of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. . . . . . . 633.4.2.33.5Interpretation of fundamental rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71The role of the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) in thedevelopment of the customary law of intestate succession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753.63.5.1Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 733.5.2The Customary Law of Succession Amendment Bill, 1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . 733.5.3The Discussion Paper on Succession 1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753.5.4The Draft Bill for the Amendment of the Customary Law of Succession. . . 76The role of the judiciary in the development of the customary law of succession. . 793.6.1The rule of male primogeniture and the promotion of equality. . . . . . . . . . . 803.6.1.1Mthembu v Letsela. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80vii
3.6.1.2Bhe and Others v Magistrate, Khayelitsha, and Others(Commission for Gender Equality as Amicus Curiae; Shibiv Sithole and Others; South African Human Rights Commissionand Another v President of the Republic of South Africa andAnother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.6.1.33.6.292Shilubana and Others v Nwamitwa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108The choice of law rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1193.6.2.1Zondi v The President of the Republic of South Africa andOthers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1193.6.2.2Moseneke v The Master of the High Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1243.6.2.3Bhe and Others v Magistrate, Khayelitsha, and Others(Commission for Gender Equality as Amicus Curiae; Shibi vSithole and Others; South African Human Rights Commissionand Another v President of the Republic of South Africa andAnother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1293.7The role of the legislature in the development of the customary law ofintestate succession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1293.7.1The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1293.7.23.7.1.1Introduction and general provisions of the Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1293.7.1.2Specific provisions relating to the customary law of succession. 130Repeal of the Black Administration Act and Amendment of Certain LawsAct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1333.7.3Reform of Customary Law of Succession and Regulation of RelatedMatters Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1373.8Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1413.9Summary of chapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142CHAPTER 4INTESTATE SUCCESSION IN GHANA4.1Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1434.2Intestate succession under customary law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1434.2.1General principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1434.2.2Matrilineal and patrilineal succession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150viii
4.2.2.1The matrilineal family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1504.2.2.1.1 Succession to the property of a man in amatrilineal community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1514.2.2.1.2 Succession to the property of a woman in amatrilineal community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1524.2.2.2The patrilineal family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1534.2.2.2.1 Succession to the property of a man in apatrilineal community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1534.2.2.2.2 Succession to the property of a woman in apatrilineal community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1544.2.3The rights and responsibilities of the successor at customary law. . . . . . . 1554.2.3.1The nature of the successor’s interest at customary law. . . . . . 1554.2.3.2The successor’s responsibilities to the children of thedeceased. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1564.2.3.3The successor’s responsibilities to the surviving spouse ofthe deceased. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1564.2.3.44.3The successor’s liability for debts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1584.2.4The family head in Ghanaian customary law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1584.2.5Disinheritance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Legislation governing intestate succession in Ghana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1604.3.1Historical context. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1604.3.2Ghana’s Courts Acts and their effect on intestate succession. . . . . . . . . . 1634.3.3The Marriage Ordinance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1704.3.3.1General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1704.3.3.2The division of intestate property under the MarriageOrdinance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1714.3.3.34.4Criticisms of the Marriage Ordinance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178The Intestate Succession Law, 1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1794.4.1Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1794.4.2General provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1814.4.3Comments and criticisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1874.4.44.4.3.1General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1874.4.3.2Specific criticisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188Evaluating the Intestate Succession Law, 1985 through the Reportof the Joseph R Crowley Programme in International Human Rights . . . . 192ix
4.5The Intestate Succession Bill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The title of this thesis is: The Customary Law of Intestate Succession. The African customary law relating to intestate succession has always been known to discriminate against women. The thesis therefore focuses on the customary law of intestate succession in the countries
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On an exceptional basis, Member States may request UNESCO to provide thé candidates with access to thé platform so they can complète thé form by themselves. Thèse requests must be addressed to esd rize unesco. or by 15 A ril 2021 UNESCO will provide thé nomineewith accessto thé platform via their émail address.
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