PP Smit Attorneys

Die koper onderteken ’n koopooreenkoms met die verkoper. Die eiendom word oorgedra na die koper se naam. ’n Maand later is daar swaar reënbuie en die dak lek. Is die verkoper of die koper, as die nuwe eienaar, aanspreeklik om die dak te herstel?

Om te verstaan watter party aanspreeklik is, moet ’n mens die verskil tussen latente en patente gebreke verstaan. ’n Latente gebrek is nie sigbaar nie of kan nie ontdek word wanneer die eiendom geïnspekteer word nie. Hierdie tipe gebrek benadeel die gebruik en genot van die eiendom. Tipiese voorbeelde van latente gebreke is lekkende dakke, vog en/of strukturele gebreke in die fondament, om maar ’n paar te noem.

Aan die ander kant is ’n patente gebrek sigbaar wanneer die eiendom geïnspekteer word. Die partye het dus die opsie om te onderhandel, of dit nou die verkoper is wat die patente gebrek herstel of die koopsom verminder word sodat die koper dit kan herstel.

Geskille wat dus tussen kopers en verkopers ontstaan, is gewoonlik rondom latente gebreke. Die gewone regspunt is soos volg:

As die verkoper die koper ’n uitdruklike skriftelike waarborg gee dat die eiendom vry van enige gebreke is, en nadat die verkoop afgehandel is, bevestig die koper dat daar wel ’n gebrek is, kan die verkoper aanspreeklik gehou word vir die herstelwerk.

Byvoorbeeld, as die verkoper in die koopooreenkoms verklaar het dat die dak nie lek nie en nadat die verkoop plaasgevind het, ervaar die koper lekkasies in die dak, word die verkoper aanspreeklik gehou omdat daar ’n kontrakbreuk was. As die verkoper die koper oor die toestand van die eiendom mislei, kan die verkoper aanspreeklik gehou word. Byvoorbeeld, as die verkoper bewus is dat die dak lek en dit nie aan die koper openbaar nie, kan die verkoper aanspreeklik gehou word, en die verkoop kan gestop word of die koper kan voortgaan maar ’n vermindering in die prys vir die skade eis.

’n Mens mag vra, maar wat as die verkoper nie geweet het van die latente gebrek nie? Die antwoord is ja, die verkoper kan steeds aanspreeklik gehou word as die latente gebrek bestaan ​​het toe die eiendom verkoop was.

Maar waarom is daar ’n voetstoots klousule in die verkoopooreenkoms, wat veronderstel is om die verkoper te beskerm deur die koper in te lig dat hy/sy/hulle die eiendom soos dit is (voetstoots) aankoop? Die voetstoots klousule beskerm nie die verkoper nie en sluit nie die verkoper se aanspreeklikheid uit as die misleiding bewys is nie; dus as die verkoper bewus was van die latente gebrek en dit nie aan die koper openbaar het nie, kan die verkoper aanspreeklik gehou word.

Die Verbruikersbeskermingswet, wat op 1 April 2011 in werking getree het, bepaal dat die koper ingelig moet word van alle besonderhede met betrekking tot die eiendom wat hy/sy/hulle aankoop. Wanneer die verkoper uitdruklik verklaar in watter toestand die eiendom is en die koper uitdruklik die huidige toestand van die eiendom voor die aankoop aanvaar, val die stilswye waarborg van die eiendom se toestand weg. Die effek van die Verbruikersbeskermingswet is dat die voetstoots klousule min doen om die verkoper te beskerm wanneer dit kom by gebreke; dus word die verkoper aangemoedig om alle gebreke van die eiendom aan die koper te verklaar voordat ’n verkoopooreenkoms afgehandel word.

Hoewel alle redelike pogings aangewend word om die akkuraatheid van die inhoud van hierdie publikasie te verseker, sal nie die skrywers van die artikels of die uitgewer enige verantwoordelikheid dra vir die gevolge van enige aksies gebaseer op inligting of aanbevelings hierin vervat nie. Ons materiaal is vir inligtingsdoeleindes.

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Carla Cloete

Partner | Attorney, Conveyancer & Notary | LLB

Carla obtained her LLB at the North West University, Potchefstroom Campus in 2015. She completed her articles in 2017 with Brits Dreyer Inc in Bellville. She is an admitted Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer. After her articles she relocated to Kimberley where she worked as a professional assistant in the Conveyancing department of Van de Wall Inc. Coming back to her Western Cape roots, she now joins the PP Smit team as a professional assistant.

Carien Hamman

Attorney & Notary | LLB

Carien grew up and matriculated in the picturesque town of Ceres, whereafter she furthered her studies at the University of Stellenbosch and obtained her LLB degree in 2015. She completed her articles at VanderSpuy Cape Town in 2017 and stayed on as an associate litigant after being admitted as an attorney during early 2018. Carien loves the countryside and thus ventured back to Ceres where she joined Joubert Van Vuuren Inc. for a year. However, when she was presented with the opportunity to enjoy both the country- and the seaside, she couldn’t resist and joined PP Smit Attorneys at the beginning of 2022 as an avid litigator. When she is not at the office, Carien enjoys long walks, wine tasting, and exploring the area with her family and friends.

Harmann Potgieter

Attorney | LLB | NQF 7

Harmann graduated in 2018 with an LLB degree from the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus. He went on to study and grow in various fields, including doing a course on the Consumer Protection Act and a course at the University of South Africa where he obtained his NQF 7 Certificate in the Administration of Deceased Estates.

Harmann completed his articles of clerkship at Swemmer & Levin under the supervision of Mr Richard Phillips. After being admitted as an attorney in 2020, Harmann continued with PP Smit Attorneys as a professional assistant in the deceased estates department as well as the litigation department. He loves to study, possesses a deep curiosity about the world, and is dedicated to giving back to the community.

Andre van der Walt

Partner | Attorney | LLB

Andre graduated in 2015 with an LLB degree from the University of Pretoria. He later went on to obtain his NQF 7 Certificate in the Administration of Deceased Estates from the University of South Africa, which allowed him to further his career in deceased estates and the drafting of wills and trusts. Andre served his articles at Barnard & Patel Attorneys under the supervision of Mr YAS Patel. After being admitted as an attorney in 2016, he continued working at Barnard & Patel Attorneys as a professional assistant in the deceased estates department.

Andre joined Van Rensburg Attorneys in 2019 and was head of the deceased estates department until 2021. He then received the opportunity to move to the West Coast, where he joined Swemmer & Levin Attorneys, and not too long after that, he grabbed the opportunity to work at PP Smit Attorneys. Andre loves travelling and enjoys the beauty that our country has to offer with his friends, family, and loved ones.

Jandré Smith

Partner | Attorney | LLB

Jandré grew up and matriculated in the small Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. He furthered his studies at the North-West University in Potchefstroom, obtaining his LLB degree during 2015. He completed his articles at Swemmer & Levin in 2017 and was subsequently appointed as a professional assistant. In 2020, Jandré was promoted to the position of director of the firm, where he practices in the Litigation department. Jandré additionally joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys during the same year. When not practising law, Jandré is an avid sports fan. He has a passion for nature and enjoys camping, trail running, and mountain biking with his family.

Richard Phillips

Partner | Attorney | Bcom & BProc

After matriculating at Paarl Boys’ High School, Richard completed his BCom and BProc degrees at the University of Port Elizabeth. He served his articles with Van Wyk Fouchee in Paarl and quickly developed an affinity for litigation. Richard has always had a deep love for the ocean and when he was presented with an opportunity he joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys during 2006. Richard specialises in general litigation and divorces. When he is not in the office or with his family, he tries to spend as much time as possible in or on the water.

Johann Maree

Partner | Attorney | BA. LLB

Johann matriculated at Oudtshoorn High School and attended Stellenbosch University, where he obtained his BA Law and LLB degrees. Following his studies, he worked for three years as State Prosecutor at the Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town. Johann completed his legal training with the State Attorney in Pretoria and then moved to his hometown, Oudtshoorn, where he worked as a lawyer for a year. In 1983, he moved to Vredenburg and joined Swemmer & Levin, where after he joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys during 2006.. When he is not in the office, Johann enjoys cycling and in his earlier days, he used to be a long-distance junkie.

Pieter Smit

Partner | Attorney & Conveyancer | BA. LLB

Pieter obtained his BA Law degree from Stellenbosch University in 1995 and his LLB degree from the North-West University in Potchefstroom in 1998. He served his articles at Marais Muller Attorneys from 1998 to 1999 and was admitted as an attorney in 2000 and as a conveyancer in 2002. Pieter is the founder of PP Smit Attorneys, which opened its doors in 2004. He also became a director of Swemmer & Levin in 2006. Pieter loves the outdoors and participating in all forms of sport, including tennis, golf, fishing, spearfishing, scuba diving, and hiking.

Jan Fourie

Partner |  Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer | BA. LLB

Jan graduated in 1974 with a five-year BA LLB degree from the University of Stellenbosch, whereafter he was admitted as an advocate and prosecuted as such in the Cape Town and Wynberg Courts. In 1974, he joined Swemmer & Levin as the Candidate Attorney of Mr Levin (founding member) and was admitted as an attorney on 7 April 1976, as a conveyancer on 11 January 1978, and as a Notary on 19 December 1984. Since 1974, he has served in various committees, including the West Coast Chamber of Commerce, the Vredenburg School Committee, and the Malgas Lions Club. In 2004, he also joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys.

Furthermore, Jan was the author of the first bilingual law book, The New Debt Collecting Procedures (Die Nuwe Skuldinvorderingsprosedures), which was used by all the Magistrate Courts throughout South Africa. With the founding of the Small Claims Court in Vredenburg, Jan served as one of the first Commissioners.