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ALIENATION OF LAND ACT 68 OF 19811

[ASSENTED TO 28 AUGUST 1981] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 19 OCTOBER 1982]

(Except s. 26: 6 December 1983)

You are currently viewing the full Act.

(English text signed by the State President)

as amended by
Alienation of Land Amendment Act 51 of 1983
Regional and Land Affairs Second General Amendment Act 170 of 1993
Development Facilitation Act 67 of 1995
Abolition of Restrictions on the Jurisdiction of Courts Act 88 of 1996
Alienation of Land Amendment Act 103 of 1998

Legislation Judicially Considered

ACT
To regulate the alienation of land in certain circumstances and to provide for matters connected therewith.
1 Rule concerning conflicting legislation: The whole of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 prevails to the extent that there is any conflict with Chapter II of this
Act with effect from 1 June 2006. See Schedule 1 (s. 172 (1)) to the National Credit Act 34 of 2005.

1 Definitions
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates­
'agricultural land' in paragraph (d) (ii) of the definition of 'land' means any land used or intended to be used mainly for commercial
farming operations;
[Definition of 'agricultural land' inserted by s. 1 (a) of Act 103 of 1998.]
'alienate', in relation to land, means sell, exchange or donate, irrespective of whether such sale, exchange or donation is subject to a
suspensive or resolutive condition, and 'alienation' has a corresponding meaning;
'consideration', in relation to a sale of land under any deed of alienation, means the purchase price and interest thereon, excluding rent
or occupational interest constituting a reasonable compensation for the use and enjoyment of the land by the purchaser;
[Definition of 'consideration' inserted by s. 1 (a) of Act 51 of 1983.]
'contract'­
(a) means a deed of alienation under which land is sold against payment by the purchaser to, or to any person on behalf of, the seller of
an amount of money in more than two instalments over a period exceeding one year 2 ;
(b) includes any agreement or agreements which together have the same import, whatever form the agreement or agreements may
take;
'deed of alienation' means a document or documents under which land is alienated;
[Definition of 'deed of alienation' substituted by s. 1 (b) of Act 51 of 1983.]
'Deeds Registries Act' means the Deeds Registries Act, 1937 (Act 47 of 1937);
'deeds registry' means a deeds registry as defined in section 102 of the Deeds Registries Act, including the office of the registrar of Rand
townships;
'erf' means an erf as defined in section 102 of the Deeds Registries Act;
'estate agent' means an estate agent as defined in section 1 of the Estate Agents Act, 1976 (Act 112 of 1976);
'insolvent' means­
(a) any person whose estate is under sequestration in terms of the Insolvency Act, 1936 (Act 24 of 1936);
(b) any insolvent deceased estate which is dealt with in terms of the provisions of section 34 (5) of the Administration of Estates Act,
1965 (Act 66 of 1965);
(c) any juristic person in liquidation which is unable to pay its debts;
(d) any person whose estate is dealt with in terms of section 28 (5) of the Agricultural Credit Act, 1966 (Act 28 of 1966);
'intermediary' means­
(a) any person who sells land to a remote purchaser; or
(b) subject to the provisions of subsection (2), any person who has alienated land which, after such alienation, is sold by another
person to a remote purchaser and which, at the time of the sale, has yet to be transferred to such first­mentioned person;
'land'­
(a) includes­
(i) any unit;
(ii) any right to claim transfer of land;
(iii) any undivided share in land;
(iv) initial ownership referred to in section 62 of the Development Facilitation Act, 1995;
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 68 of Act 67 of 1995.]
(b) includes, in Chapters I and III, any interest in land, other than a right or interest registered or capable of being registered in terms of
the Mining Titles Registration Act, 1967 (Act 16 of 1967);
(c) in section 3 (2) and Chapter II­
(i) means any land used or intended to be used mainly for residential purposes;
(ii) excludes­
(aa) agricultural land as defined in section 1 of the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, 1970 (Act 70 of 1970);
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1936 (Act 18 of 1936), or of a released area contemplated in section 2 of the said Act;
 (c) in section 3 (2) and Chapter II­
(i) means any land used or intended to be used mainly for residential purposes;
(ii) excludes­
(aa) agricultural land as defined in section 1 of the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, 1970 (Act 70 of 1970);
(bb) land which forms part of any scheduled Black area as defined in section 49 of the Development Trust and Land Act,
1936 (Act 18 of 1936), or of a released area contemplated in section 2 of the said Act;
(cc) land to which the provisions of the Rural Coloured Areas Act, 1963 (Act 24 of 1963), apply;
(dd) land which is held in trust by the State or a Minister for any person;
[Para. (c) amended by s. 1 (c) of Act 51 of 1983.]
(d) in section 29A­
(i) includes­
(aa) land, whether or not registrable, used or intended to be used mainly for residential purposes;
(bb) any housing interest as defined in section 1 of the Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act, 1988 (Act
65 of 1988), and any proposed housing interest;
(cc) any share in a share block company as defined in section 1 of the Share Blocks Control Act, 1980 (Act 59 of 1980),
and any proposed share, which confers on the holder of such share the right to occupy land owned or leased by the
share block company and which is used or intended to be used mainly for residential purposes;
(dd) any unit as defined in section 1 of the Sectional Titles Act, 1986 (Act 95 of 1986), and includes any proposed unit;
(ii) excludes agricultural land;
[Para. (d) added by s. 1 (b) of Act 103 of 1998.]
'local authority' means any institution or body contemplated in section 84 (1) (f) of the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1961
(Act 32 of 1961), which has been established or constituted by or under any ordinance of a provincial council or in relation to which a
provincial council may make ordinances;
'Minister' means the Minister of Industries, Commerce and Tourism;
'owner', in relation to land, means the person in whose name that land is registered in the deeds office concerned, and also any
successor in title of such person;
'practitioner' means a practitioner as defined in section 1 of the Attorneys Act, 1979 (Act 53 of 1979);
'prescribe' means prescribe by regulation;
'purchaser', in Chapter II, means any person to whom land is alienated under a contract;
'registrable', in relation to land, means capable of being registered as the subject of a separate title deed in a deeds registry in that the
requirements of any law relating to such registration have been complied with, and includes capable of being transferred in initial ownership
as contemplated in section 62 of the Development Facilitation Act, 1995;
[Definition of 'registrable' substituted by s. 1 (d) of Act 51 of 1983 and by s. 68 of Act 67 of 1995.]
'regulation' means a regulation made under this Act;
'remote purchaser', in relation to land, means, subject to the provisions of subsection (3), any person who purchases land in terms of a
contract from another person who is not the owner of that land;
'repealed Act' means the Sale of Land on Instalments Act, 1971 (Act 72 of 1971);
'Sectional Titles Act' means the Sectional Titles Act, 1971 (Act 66 of 1971);
'seller' means, in Chapter II, any person who alienates land in terms of a contract or any other person to whom the obligation of that
person to give transfer of land in terms of a contract has passed;
'this Act' includes any regulation or notice in terms of this Act;
'township' includes any land which is subject to a town planning scheme in operation or binding under any law or an amendment thereof;
'unit' means a unit as defined in section 1 of the Sectional Titles Act and includes any proposed unit;
3
'vulnerable purchaser' ......
(2) Any person who is an intermediary in terms of paragraph (b) of the definition of 'intermediary' in subsection (1), ceases to be such when
the land referred to in that paragraph is registered in his name.
(3) Any person who is a remote purchaser in terms of the definition of 'remote purchaser' in subsection (1), ceases to be such when the land
referred to in that definition is registered in the name of the other person mentioned in that definition.
2 In Sarrahwitz v Maritz NO and Another 2015 (4) SA 491 (CC), it was ordered that from 4 June 2015 the words 'including residential property paid for in full
within one year of the contract, by a vulnerable purchaser' are to be read into the definition of 'contract' at the end of para. (a). This order applies only to a
seller's insolvent estate that has not been finalised.
3 In Sarrahwitz v Maritz NO and Another 2015 (4) SA 491 (CC), it was ordered that from 4 June 2015 the following definition be added to s. 1:
'"vulnerable purchaser" means a purchaser who runs the risk of being rendered homeless by a seller's insolvency'.
This order applies only to a seller's insolvent estate that has not been finalised.

CHAPTER I
FORMALITIES IN RESPECT OF DEEDS OF ALIENATION (ss 2­3)

2 Formalities in respect of alienation of land

(1) No alienation of land after the commencement of this section shall, subject to the provisions of section 28, be of any force or effect
unless it is contained in a deed of alienation signed by the parties thereto or by their agents acting on their written authority.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) relating to signature by the agent of a party acting on the written authority of the party, shall not
derogate from the provisions of any law relating to the making of a contract in writing by a person professing to act as agent or trustee for a
company not yet formed, incorporated or registered.
(2A) The deed of alienation shall contain the right of a purchaser or prospective purchaser to revoke the offer or terminate the deed of
alienation in terms of section 29A.
[Sub­s. (2A) inserted by s. 2 of Act 103 of 1998.]

3 Application of Act to sales of land by public auction

(1) The provisions of section 2 do not apply to the sale of land by public auction.
(2) If in terms of a sale of land by public auction the purchase price or any other charges is or are payable by the purchaser in more than
two instalments over a period exceeding one year­
(a) the provisions of this Act apply to that sale as if it were a sale under a contract;
(b) in such application of section 6, the conditions of sale determined in terms thereof shall be read in public immediately before the
auction; and
(c) the seller shall forthwith after the auction furnish the purchaser with a copy of the contract, failing which the purchaser may cancel
the sale.
[Sub­s. (2) amended by s. 2 of Act 51 of 1983.]
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CHAPTER II
 (b) in such application of section 6, the conditions of sale determined in terms thereof shall be read in public immediately before the
auction; and
(c) the seller shall forthwith after the auction furnish the purchaser with a copy of the contract, failing which the purchaser may cancel
the sale.
[Sub­s. (2) amended by s. 2 of Act 51 of 1983.]

CHAPTER II
45
SALE OF LAND ON INSTALMENTS (ss 4­25)
4 In Sarrahwitz v Maritz NO and Another 2015 (4) SA 491 (CC), it was ordered that from 4 June 2015 the words 'ON INSTALMENTS' in the title of Chapter II be
severed. This order applies only to a seller's insolvent estate that has not been finalised.
5 Rule concerning conflicting legislation: The whole of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 prevails to the extent that there is any conflict with Chapter II of this
Act with effect from 1 June 2006. See Schedule 1 (s. 172 (1)) to the National Credit Act 34 of 2005.

4 Application of Chapter 6

This Chapter shall not apply in respect of a contract in terms of which the State, the Community Development Board established by section 2
of the Community Development Act, 1966 (Act 3 of 1966), the National Housing Commission mentioned in section 5 of the Housing Act, 1966
(Act 4 of 1966), or a local authority is the seller.
6 In Sarrahwitz v Maritz NO and Another 2015 (4) SA 491 (CC), it was ordered that from 4 June 2015 s. 4 should read as follows:
'(1) This Chapter shall not apply in respect of a contract in terms of which the State, the Community Development Board established by section 2 of the
Community Development Act, 1966 (Act 3 of 1966), the National Housing Commission mentioned in section 5 of the Housing Act, 1966 (Act 4 of 1966), or a local
authority is the seller.
(2) Sections 21 (2) and 22 shall, however, apply, with the necessary changes, to a deed of alienation in terms of which a vulnerable purchaser of a residential
property paid the full purchase price within one year of the contract, before the seller's insolvency.'
This order applies only to a seller's insolvent estate that has not been finalised.
'(1) This Chapter shall not apply in respect of a contract in terms of which the State, the Community Development Board established by section
2 of the Community Development Act, 1966 (Act 3 of 1966), the National Housing Commission mentioned in section 5 of the Housing Act, 1966
(Act 4 of 1966), or a local authority is the seller.
(2) Sections 21 (2) and 22 shall, however, apply, with the necessary changes, to a deed of alienation in terms of which a vulnerable purchaser
of a residential property paid the full purchase price within one year of the contract, before the seller's insolvency.'

5 Language in which contract shall be drawn up

The purchaser in relation to a contract is entitled to choose the official language in which the contract shall be drawn up.

6 Contents of contract
(1) A contract shall contain­
(a) the names of the purchaser and the seller and their residential or business addresses in the Republic;
(b) the description and extent of the land which is the subject of the contract;
(c) if the seller is not the owner of the land, the name and address of that owner;
(d) if the land is encumbered by a mortgage bond, the name and address of the person, or his representative or, in the case of a
participation bond, the name and address of the nominee company, or its representative, in favour of whom the mortgage bond over
the land is registered at the time the contract is concluded;
(e) the amount of the purchase price;
(f) the annual rate at which interest, if any, is to be paid on the balance of the purchase price;
(g) the amount of each instalment payable under the contract in reduction or settlement of the purchase price and interest (if any);
(h) the due date or the method of determining the due date of each instalment;
(i) if the land is sold by an intermediary, the name and address of every other intermediary who alienated the land prior to the date the
contract is concluded;
(j) the amount or amounts of any transfer duty (if any) payable in terms of the Transfer Duty Act, 1949 (Act 40 of 1949), in respect of
the land, and the name of the person or persons by whom such duty is to be paid;
(k) the dates on which and the conditions on which the purchaser shall be entitled to take possession and occupation of the land;
(l) the place where the payments shall be made;
(m) the date on which the risk, profit and loss of the land shall pass to the purchaser;
(n) a statement of the obligation (if any) of the purchaser to insure the subject matter of the contract;
(o) a statement­
(i) of any amount which in terms of any law is payable in respect of the land as endowment, betterment or enhancement levy,
a development contribution or any similar imposition and an indication of the person to and the person by whom it is so
payable; and
(ii) that no amount contemplated in subparagraph (i) is payable in respect of the land, if such is the case;
[Para. (o) substituted by s. 3 of Act 51 of 1983.]
(p) an indication of the party who shall be liable for the payment of the costs of­
(i) the drafting of the contract;
(ii) the recording thereof in terms of section 20; and
(iii) the transfer of the land;
(q) if the land is not the subject of a separate title deed at the time the contract is concluded, the latest date at which the land shall
be registrable in the name of the purchaser;
(r) if the seller is the owner of the land, an undertaking by him that the land shall not be encumbered or further encumbered by a
mortgage bond on or before the date on which the contract is recorded in terms of section 20;
(s) the period within which the purchaser is obliged or may be compelled to take transfer of the land against simultaneous payment of all
amounts owed by him in terms of the contract;
(t) a reference to­
(i) the right of a purchaser under section 11 to perform the obligations of the owner or an intermediary;
(ii) the right of the purchaser under section 17 to accelerate payments in terms of the contract and to claim transfer of the
land against simultaneous payment of all the amounts payable by him to the seller in terms of the contract;
(iii) the right of the purchaser under section 20 to have the contract recorded;
(iv) the rights and remedies of the purchaser under sections 13 (2), 16 (3), 23 and 27;
(v) the obligation of the purchaser­
(aa) in terms of section 9 to give the information referred to in that section to any mortgagee;
(bb) in terms of section 15 (2) to accept a mortgage bond arranged in terms of that section on his behalf;
(cc) in terms of section 21 (1) to give the information referred to in that section to the owner of the land;
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 (v) the obligation of the purchaser­
(aa) in terms of section 9 to give the information referred to in that section to any mortgagee;
(bb) in terms of section 15 (2) to accept a mortgage bond arranged in terms of that section on his behalf;
(cc) in terms of section 21 (1) to give the information referred to in that section to the owner of the land;
(vi) the limitation in terms of section 19 of the right of the seller to take action by reason of any breach of contract on the part
of the purchaser.
(2) The date which is stated in a contract in terms of subsection (1) (m), shall not be earlier than the date which is stated therein in terms
of subsection (1) (k) as the date on which the purchaser shall be entitled to take possession of the land.
(3) The aggregate amount of the instalments referred to in subsection (1) (g) which are to be paid during any of successive periods of 12
months following on the date of the contract, shall not be less than the interest which, in terms of the contract, would become payable during
that period if all instalments were paid timeously.
(4) The date stated in a contract in terms of subsection (1) (q), shall not be later than five years from the date of the contract.
(5) If for whatever reason the seller is unable, after the date referred to in subsection (4), to tender transfer of the land against
simultaneous payment of all the amounts payable to him by the purchaser in terms of the contract, the purchaser may cancel the contract, in
which event the parties shall be entitled to the relief provided for in section 28 (1), or the purchaser may abide by the contract, in which event
no interest shall be payable by him in terms of the contract as from the date in question until such time as such transfer is tendered: Provided
that this subsection shall not detract from any additional claim for damages which the purchaser may have.

7 Sale of land encumbered by mortgage bond

(1) If the land sold in terms of a contract is encumbered by one or more than one mortgage bond, the seller shall within 30 days after the
conclusion of the contract hand to the purchaser or send to him by registered post a certificate, drawn up and dated not more than four
months before the conclusion of the contract, by each mortgagee, in which is indicated the amount the mortgagee requires to be paid in terms
of section 9 for the discharge of his mortgage bond or for the release of the land from his mortgage bond, as the case may be, as well as the
rate or rates at which interest shall be levied as from the date of the certificate.
(2) Any certificate contemplated in subsection (1) shall irrevocably bind the mortgagee concerned and any successor in title of him for a
period of four months as from the date of such certificate, and shall operate in favour of any person to whom the land is or has been alienated.
(3) If­
(a) a seller fails to furnish the purchaser with a certificate as provided in subsection (1) within the period referred to in that subsection;
or
(b) the amount or aggregate amounts indicated in the certificate or certificates contemplated in subsection (1) exceed the amount
stated in the contract in terms of section 6 (1) (e),
the purchaser is entitled within 14 days after the period referred to in paragraph (a) has expired, or after receipt of the certificate or
certificates referred to in paragraph (b), as the case may be, to cancel the contract, in which case the parties are entitled to the relief
provided for in section 28 (1).
(4) A mortgagee shall, within 21 days of being requested thereto by a seller, furnish him with the certificate referred to in subsection (1), and
if he fails to do so, he shall be liable to such person as if he were obliged by contract to furnish him with such certificate and failed to do so.
[Sub­s. (4) added by s. 4 of Act 51 of 1983.]

8 Sale of land by intermediary

(1) If land is sold by an intermediary, that intermediary shall within 30 days after the date of the contract hand or send to the purchaser by
registered post a certificate bearing a date and furnished not more than 30 days before the conclusion of the contract by­
(a) the person who alienated the land to that intermediary; and
(b) every other person who alienated that land to an intermediary prior to the conclusion of the contract.
(2) The certificate referred to in subsection (1) shall indicate the amount owed at the date of the certificate in respect of the land to the
person who furnished it and shall be signed by that person in the presence of two witnesses, who shall attest to that signature on the
certificate.
(3) If­
(a) the seller fails to furnish the purchaser with a certificate as provided in subsection (1) within the period referred to in that
subsection; or
(b) the amount of such certificate exceeds the amount stated in the contract in terms of section 6 (1) (e),
the purchaser is entitled within 14 days after the period referred to in subsection (1) has expired, or after receipt of the certificate, as the case
may be, to cancel the contract, in which case the parties are entitled to the relief provided for in section 28 (1).

9 Disclosure to purchaser of release figure in respect of land encumbered by mortgage bond

(1) When land encumbered by a mortgage bond is sold in terms of a contract, the purchaser shall forthwith notify the mortgagee of­
(a) the conclusion of that contract;
(b) his address contemplated in section 23 and any change of that address; and
(c) such other particulars in respect of the contract as the mortgagee may reasonably require to be furnished to him.
(2) (a) A mortgagee who has been notified by a purchaser in terms of subsection (1) shall, at least 21 days before instituting legal
proceedings against the mortgagor on the mortgage bond, inform the purchaser, by written notice sent to him by registered post at his address
referred to in subsection (1) (b), of his intention to do so.
(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), proceedings are deemed to be instituted on the date on which summons is issued or the notice of
motion is filed, as the case may be.
(c) Any mortgagee who fails to comply with the provisions of paragraph (a) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), at no
time require the purchaser to pay the costs of any legal proceedings contemplated in that paragraph, for the discharge of or release of the land
from the mortgage bond concerned: Provided that if the mortgagee who failed to give notice in terms of paragraph (a) should subsequently give
such notice, the amount of such costs incurred after expiry of 21 days from the date of the last­mentioned notice may be included in the
amount required for the discharge of or the release of the land from the mortgage bond, as the case may be.
(3) Any purchaser may, if the land in question is­
(a) encumbered by a mortgage bond but not together with other land, require the mortgagee to furnish him with a certificate bearing a
date and in which are stated the amount required by the mortgagee for the discharge of his mortgage bond, and the rate or rates at
which interest is to be paid thereon; or
(b) encumbered by a mortgage bond together with other land, require the mortgagee to furnish him with a certificate bearing a date and
in which are stated the amount required by the mortgagee for the release of the land from his mortgage bond, and the rate or rates
at which interest is to be paid thereon,
which amount shall, in either case, not exceed the amount contemplated in section 7 (1) together with interest and the amounts, or if the land
is encumbered together with other land by the same mortgage bond, a proportionate share of the amounts, which a building society may
recover in terms of section 48 of the Building Societies Act, 1965 (Act 24 of 1965), less­
(i) in a case referred to in paragraph (a), any amount paid by or on behalf of the purchaser or mortgagor in redemption of the mortgage
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bond; or
 at which interest is to be paid thereon,
which amount shall, in either case, not exceed the amount contemplated in section 7 (1) together with interest and the amounts, or if the land
is encumbered together with other land by the same mortgage bond, a proportionate share of the amounts, which a building society may
recover in terms of section 48 of the Building Societies Act, 1965 (Act 24 of 1965), less­
(i) in a case referred to in paragraph (a), any amount paid by or on behalf of the purchaser or mortgagor in redemption of the mortgage
bond; or
(ii) in a case referred to in paragraph (b), a proportionate share of any amount paid by or on behalf of the mortgagor in redemption of
the mortgage bond as well as any amount paid by the purchaser to the mortgagee or mortgagees in terms of section 11 (1) (a) (i)
and (iii).
[Sub­para. (ii) substituted by s. 5 of Act 51 of 1983.]

(4) The proportionate share referred to in subsection (3) shall be determined in accordance with the ratio which the amount required to be
paid for the release of the land from the mortgage bond mentioned in the certificate referred to in section 7 (1) bears to the balance
outstanding under that mortgage bond at the time when the certificate was issued.
(5) A request for a certificate referred to in subsection (3) shall be addressed to the mortgagee in writing and shall be accompanied by the
fee prescribed from time to time in respect of mortgage bonds of the class to which the mortgage bond concerned belongs.
(6) Any mortgagee who receives any such request, shall within 21 days from the date of that request furnish the purchaser concerned with
such a certificate, but shall not be obliged to do so more often than three times in any calendar year.
(7) Any such certificate shall irrevocably bind the mortgagee concerned and his successor or successors in title for a period of four months
from the date of such certificate, and shall operate in favour of any person to whom the land is or has been alienated.
(8) If a contract has been recorded in terms of section 20, a mortgagee in whose favour a mortgage bond over the land concerned is
registered subsequent to such recording, is deemed to have consented irrevocably and unconditionally in favour of the purchaser whose
contract was so recorded or any person to whom such land is subsequently alienated, to the discharge of his mortgage bond or the release of
the land from his mortgage bond.

10 Certificates and information to be furnished by intermediaries and owners

(1) A remote purchaser may by written notice require the owner or any intermediary who alienated the land in question prior to the date the
contract concerned was concluded, to furnish him with the particulars of the outstanding balance under the deed of alienation in terms of which
the owner or that intermediary alienated the land and with particulars as to any amount which in terms of the deed of alienation is due and
unpaid.
(2) Any owner or intermediary receiving a written notice referred to in subsection (1), shall, within 30 days of the date of that notice, furnish
the remote purchaser concerned with the outstanding balance and the particulars referred to in that subsection, but shall not be obliged to do
so more often than three times in one calendar year.
(3) The owner of land alienated in terms of a contract and any intermediary who has alienated that land shall furnish any subsequent
intermediary or remote purchaser, as the case may be­
(a) in regard to any intermediary who alienated the land prior to him, with the information referred to in section 6 (1) (i);
(b) in regard to the deed of alienation under which he alienated the land with­
(i) the certificate referred to in section 8 (1);
(ii) the certificate referred to in subsection (1) of this section; and
(iii) the information referred to in section 16 (2) (f),
and if he fails to do so, he shall be liable to such intermediary or purchaser as if he were obliged by contract to do so and failed to do so.

11 Purchaser or remote purchaser may fulfil obligations of owner or intermediary

(1) When land has been sold in terms of a contract­
(a) the purchaser or remote purchaser may, if­
(i) the owner fails to fulfil his obligations to a mortgagee or mortgagees; or
(ii) any intermediary fails to fulfil his obligations to the person who alienated the land to him; or
(iii) any payment to be made by him to the person who alienated the land to him, would reduce the amount owed by him to that
person to an amount less than the amount or amounts in aggregate which in terms of section 9 (3) the mortgagee or
mortgagees referred to in subparagraph (i) may at that time require for the discharge of the mortgage bond or bonds or the
release of the land from the mortgage bond or bonds, as the case may be, or the amount owed by any intermediary to the
person referred to in subparagraph (ii),
[Sub­para. (iii) substituted by s. 6 of Act 51 of 1983.]
fulfil the obligations of that owner or of that intermediary, or make such payment to the mortgagee or mortgagees or the person
concerned to the extent of such failure or difference, as the case may be, and such fulfilment or payment shall be accompanied by
the prescribed particulars;
(b) fulfilment in terms of paragraph (a) shall be deemed to be fulfilment to the same extent by the purchaser or remote purchaser of his
obligations to his seller, and at the same time fulfilment by a remote purchaser shall be deemed to be fulfilment to the same extent of
the obligations of each intermediary between the remote purchaser and the owner or intermediary, as the case may be, whose
obligations the remote purchaser fulfils;
(c) the owner or intermediary is not entitled to recover again from a purchaser or remote purchaser, as the case may be, any payment
made in good faith by the purchaser or remote purchaser on behalf of the owner or intermediary to any mortgagee or mortgagees or
person who alienated the land to that intermediary.
(2) Any purchaser or remote purchaser who has in terms of subsection (1) made any payment which exceeds the amount owing by him to his
seller, may recover the excess from the owner or intermediary, as the case may be, on whose behalf that payment was made.

12 Calculation of interest and limitation of amount recoverable from purchaser

(1) When interest is payable in terms of a contract, it shall be calculated, not more often than monthly and not less often than quarterly, on
the outstanding balance of the purchase price then owing in terms of the contract, and such interest shall not exceed the rate of interest
prescribed from time to time in respect of contracts of the class to which the contract concerned belongs.
(2) No seller shall in connection with a contract obtain judgment for or recover from a purchaser an amount exceeding the sum of­
(a) the purchase price and interest thereon owing to him by the purchaser in terms of the contract;
(b) the costs for the payment of which the purchaser is liable in terms of an express provision in the contract and which have actually
been incurred by the seller­
(i) in connection with the drafting of the contract;
(ii) in connection with the recording of the contract in terms of section 20;
(iii) in connection with the transfer of the land to the purchaser, provided such transfer has already taken place or is tendered
against payment by the purchaser of all amounts owing by him in terms of the contract;
(iv) after the date stated in the contract in terms of section 6 (1) (m), in respect of­
(aa) maintenance and repair of;
© 2018 Juta and Company(bb) rates and taxes on; and
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(cc) premiums on an insurance policy relating to,
 against payment by the purchaser of all amounts owing by him in terms of the contract;
(iv) after the date stated in the contract in terms of section 6 (1) (m), in respect of­
(aa) maintenance and repair of;
(bb) rates and taxes on; and
(cc) premiums on an insurance policy relating to,
the land and improvements thereon;
(v) in respect of moneys referred to in section 11 (4) (b) of the Sectional Titles Act;
(vi) in respect of any endowment payable on the difference between the purchase price and the amount on which the
endowment is payable in terms of any law to any person in respect of the land;
(c) all costs which are actually incurred by him in connection with the recovery of the amount referred to in this subsection and are in
terms of the provisions of any law recoverable from the purchaser; and
(d) interest payable by the purchaser on account of any failure on his part.
(3) When the purchaser has paid in full the purchase price and interest, no further interest, other than interest referred to in subsection (2)
(d), shall be payable by the purchaser.
(4) The provisions of subsection (2) shall not affect any right which a seller may have in the event of cancellation of the contract.
(5) Any rouwkoop stipulation in a contract in terms of which the purchaser is deemed to have terminated the contract on account of any act
or omission on his part and he, in consequence thereof, is liable to any forfeiture or for the payment of a penalty or damages or for the delivery
or performance of anything, or any other stipulation of like import, is subject to the Conventional Penalties Act, 1962 (Act 15 of 1962), as if
that stipulation were a penalty stipulation contemplated in that Act.

13 Copy of contract to purchaser and default of seller to furnish copy

(1) Within 30 days after the conclusion of a contract, the seller shall hand to the purchaser or send to him by registered post to his address
referred to in section 23, a copy thereof and the seller is not entitled to make any charge for the making of such copy or for complying with the
provisions of this subsection.
(2) If the seller fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) and if he remains in default for more than 14 days to furnish the
purchaser with a copy of the contract after the purchaser has requested him therefor in a letter sent to him by registered post to his address
referred to in section 23, the purchaser is not liable for the payment of interest in terms of the contract from the date of the conclusion thereof
to the date upon which the purchaser receives a copy of the contract from the seller.

14 Cession of right to, and authority to collect, periodical income

(1) (a) A cession of a right to payment of an amount payable periodically under a contract of service or towards the maintenance of any
person, to secure any payment in terms of a contract, shall be null and void.
(b) An authority to receive or collect an amount referred to in paragraph (a) or any portion of such an amount, to secure payment in
terms of a contract, shall at all times be revocable.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to any cession or authority by an employee to or in favour of his employer to secure
payments in respect of housing which is provided by the employer to the employee.

15 Invalidity of certain provisions

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), an agreement whereby­
(a) any person who acted on behalf of the seller in connection with the conclusion of a contract or the negotiations which preceded the
conclusion of the contract, is appointed or deemed to have been appointed as the agent of the purchaser;
(b) a purchaser forfeits any claim in respect of­
(i) necessary expenditure he has incurred with or without the authority of the owner or seller of the land concerned, in regard
to the preservation of the land or any improvement thereon;
(ii) any improvement which enhances the market value of the land and was effected by him on the land with the express or
implied consent of the said owner or seller;
(c) the liability of a seller to indemnify the purchaser against eviction is restricted or excluded;
(d) the purchaser binds himself in advance to agree to an assignment by the seller of his obligations in terms of a contract;
(e) a purchaser is obliged to accept a loan secured by a mortgage bond arranged on his behalf by the seller or his agent for payment of
all the amounts owed by him in terms of the contract; or
(f) a purchaser, if he elects to accelerate the discharge of his obligations in terms of the contract, may not claim that transfer of the
land shall be effected against payment of all amounts owing in terms of the contract,
or any other agreement of like import, shall be of no force or effect.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3), the purchaser shall, if the seller at any time arranges on behalf of the purchaser a loan
secured by a mortgage bond over the land­
(a) within 14 days after he has been requested by written notice sent to his address contemplated in section 23, complete an
application and provide all necessary information required by the intended mortgagee for purposes of the loan and furnish the seller
with the completed application and the information; and
(b) in the event of the loan being granted, forthwith sign all documents required for the purposes of the registration of the mortgage
bond.
(3) A loan referred to in subsection (2)­
(a) shall be arranged for payment of all amounts owed by the purchaser to the seller in terms of the contract as well as the costs of
transfer and the costs of registration of the mortgage bond; and
(b) shall, as to the rate of interest and redemption, not be more onerous than the terms which at the time of transfer apply in respect
of a loan secured by a first mortgage bond over land granted by a building society for the amount in question and on security of the
same kind or class of property.
(4) If the purchaser fails to comply with any of the provisions of subsection (2), the seller is entitled to cancel the contract, in which case
the parties are entitled to the relief provided for in section 28 (1): Provided that nothing contained in this subsection shall detract from any
additional claim for damages which the seller may have.

16 Statements of account
(1) While a contract is in force, the seller shall free of charge hand to the purchaser a statement of account or send such statement by
registered post to him at his address referred to in section 23, not later than 12 months from the date of the contract and thereafter within 30
days of the end of each successive period of 12 months following on the date of the first statement of account.
(2) In the first said statement there shall be indicated the purchase price and other costs separately which were owing in terms of the
contract at the date of the contract or, in any other statement, the outstanding balance which was owing in terms of the contract at the date
of the previous statement and, in all statements­
(a) the interest and other costs which accrued in terms of the contract during the period covered by the statement;
(b)
© 2018 Juta and the allocation,
Company in respect of capital interest and other costs separately,
(Pty) Ltd. of amounts
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(c) the balance of the purchase price and other costs owing in terms of the contract at the end of that period;
 (2) In the first said statement there shall be indicated the purchase price and other costs separately which were owing in terms of the
contract at the date of the contract or, in any other statement, the outstanding balance which was owing in terms of the contract at the date
of the previous statement and, in all statements­
(a) the interest and other costs which accrued in terms of the contract during the period covered by the statement;
(b) the allocation, in respect of capital interest and other costs separately, of amounts paid during that period in terms of the contract;
(c) the balance of the purchase price and other costs owing in terms of the contract at the end of that period;
(d) the amount, if any, payable in respect of any endowment, betterment or enhancement levy, a development contribution or any
similar imposition in terms of any law in relation to the land at the end of that period;
[Para. (d) substituted by s. 7 of Act 51 of 1983.]
(e) if the land is encumbered with a mortgage bond or mortgage bonds­
(i) but not together with other land, the amount owing under that mortgage bond or those mortgage bonds at the end of that
period; or
(ii) together with other land, the proportionate amount, calculated in accordance with the provisions of section 9 (3) (b), owing
under that mortgage bond or those mortgage bonds in respect of the land at the end of that period;
(f) the amount, if any, owing at the end of that period in terms of any alienation of the land in question before the time the contract
was concluded.
(3) If in respect of any statement of account the seller fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) or (2) and if he remains in
default for more than 30 days to furnish the purchaser with that statement of account after the purchaser has by letter, sent to him by
registered post at his address referred to in section 23, requested him therefor, the purchaser is not liable for the payment of interest in terms
of the contract from the date of the posting of that letter to the date upon which the purchaser receives the statement from the seller.

17 Right of purchaser to accelerate payments and claim transfer of land

The purchaser is at all times entitled­
(a) to make a payment before the due date on which it has to be made in terms of the contract; or
(b) to make larger payments than the payments for which the control provides; or
(c) if the land is registrable at that time, to tender payment of all amounts owing in terms of the contract to the seller and claim that
transfer of the land shall be effected to the purchaser against such payment.

18 Transfer of land to remote purchaser

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), any remote purchaser is entitled to claim transfer of land to himself, provided­
(a) he has fulfilled or tenders fulfilment of his obligations in terms of the contract under which he purchased the land;
(b) the obligations of every intermediary between the owner and the remote purchaser have been fulfilled or fulfilment thereof is
tendered; and
(c) the land is at that time registrable.
(2) If any intermediary contemplated in subsection (1) (b) is an insolvent at the time land is to be transferred under and by virtue of that
subsection, the land shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any rule of law but subject to the provisions of the Deeds
Registries Act, be transferred by the trustee or liquidator or executor concerned to the person to whom that intermediary alienated the land.
(3) A remote purchaser who, in order to obtain transfer of land, pays the transfer duty and transfer costs which are payable by an
intermediary, may recover the amounts so paid from that intermediary.
(4) If any seller assigns to any other person, hereinafter referred to as the assignee, his obligation to give transfer of the land in terms of a
contract, such assignment is deemed to be a power of attorney to the assignee to transfer the land in accordance with the conditions of the
contract to the purchaser, and the assignee may appoint a conveyancer to execute the deed of transfer.

19 Limitation of right of seller to take action

(1) No seller is, by reason of any breach of contract on the part of the purchaser, entitled­
(a) to enforce any provision of the contract for the acceleration of the payment of any instalment of the purchase price or any other
penalty stipulation in the contract;
(b) to terminate the contract; or
(c) to institute an action for damages,
unless he has by letter notified the purchaser of the breach of contract concerned and made demand to the purchaser to rectify the breach of
contract in question, and the purchaser has failed to comply with such demand.
[Sub­s. (1) amended by s. 8 (a) of Act 51 of 1983.]

(2) A notice referred to in subsection (1) shall be handed to the purchaser or shall be sent to him by registered post to his address referred
to in section 23 and shall contain­
(a) a description of the purchaser's alleged breach of contract;
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 8 (b) of Act 51 of 1983.]
(b) a demand that the purchaser rectify the alleged breach within a stated period, which, subject to the provisions of subsection (3),
shall not be less than 30 days calculated from the date on which the notice was handed to the purchaser or sent to him by
registered post, as the case may be; and
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 8 (b) of Act 51 of 1983.]
(c) an indication of the steps the seller intends to take if the alleged breach of contract is not rectified.
[Para. (c) substituted by s. 8 (b) of Act 51 of 1983.]

(3) If the seller in the same calendar year has so handed or sent to the purchaser two such notices at intervals of more than 30 days, he
may in any subsequent notice so handed or sent to the purchaser in such calendar year, make demand to the purchaser to carry out his
obligation within a period of not less than seven days calculated from the date on which the notice was so handed or sent to the purchaser, as
the case may be.
(4) Subsection (1) shall not be construed in such a manner as to prevent the seller from taking steps to protect the land and improvements
thereon or, without or after notice as required by the said subsection, from claiming specific performance.

20 Recording of contract
(1) (a) A seller, whether he is the owner of the land concerned or not, shall cause the contract to be recorded by the registrar concerned in
the prescribed manner provided a prior contract in force in respect of the land has not been recorded or is not required to be recorded in terms
of this section.
(b) If a period of 90 days from the date­
(i) of the contract, if the land is registrable; or
(ii) upon which the land becomes registrable; or
(iii) upon which the land is registered in the name of a purchaser in terms of a preceding contract which was or was required to be
recorded in terms of this section,
has expired without the seller having caused the contract to be recorded in terms of paragraph (a), the purchaser may­
© 2018 Juta and Company
(aa) (Pty)
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28 (1): Provided that nothing in this subparagraph contained shall detract from any additional claim for any damages which the
 (ii) upon which the land becomes registrable; or
(iii) upon which the land is registered in the name of a purchaser in terms of a preceding contract which was or was required to be
recorded in terms of this section,
has expired without the seller having caused the contract to be recorded in terms of paragraph (a), the purchaser may­
(aa) within 14 days after such expiry cancel the contract, in which case the parties shall be entitled to the relief provided for in section
28 (1): Provided that nothing in this subparagraph contained shall detract from any additional claim for any damages which the
purchaser may have; or
(bb) at any time thereafter, if he does not cancel the contract under subparagraph (aa), apply to the registrar concerned to record the
contract in the prescribed manner: Provided that should a purchaser exercise his right to cause a contract to be recorded in terms
of the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph, he shall not be liable for any wasted costs arising from the seller also having taken
steps or taking steps to have such contract recorded.
(c) If a contract recorded in terms of this section is terminated for whatever reason, such recording shall be cancelled in the prescribed
manner.
[Sub­s. (1) substituted by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1983.]

(2) The registrar concerned­

(a) may register a mortgage bond over land in respect of which a contract has been recorded;
(b) shall not register a transfer of land in respect of which a contract has been recorded, unless­
(i) the transferee is the purchaser under the contract; or
(ii) the transferee is an intermediary in relation to the purchaser; or
(iii) such recording has been cancelled.
[Sub­s. (2) substituted by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1983.]

(2A) The provisions of section 43 (5) (a) of the Deeds Registries Act shall not be applicable in respect of the recording of a contract in terms
of this section.
[Sub­s. (2A) inserted by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1983.]

(3) The owner of land and any person in possession of the owner's copy of the title deed concerned shall render all necessary assistance to
enable a seller or purchaser of that land to cause a contract to be recorded in terms of subsection (1), or to effect a cancellation of such
recording in terms of subsection (1) (c), and if he fails to do so he shall be liable to such seller or purchaser as if he were obliged by contract to
do so and failed to do so.
[Sub­s. (3) substituted by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1983.]

(4) A recording of a contract in terms of this section is subject to any pre­emptive right registered in a deeds registry in respect of the land
concerned on or before the date of the recording.
(5) When a contract has been recorded­
(a) the purchaser has, if the land concerned is sold in execution or because the owner of that land is an insolvent, a preferent claim in
respect of the proceeds of the sale, which claim, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law­
(i) ranks in preference immediately after any claim of a mortgagee whose mortgage bond over the land was registered prior to
or on the date of the recording of the contract; and
(ii) equals the amount the purchaser may recover from the seller under section 28 (1) in the event of a termination of that
contract or, if he is a remote purchaser, any amount he may have paid on behalf of the owner under section 11 (1); and
(b) the said claim of a mortgagee shall, in competition with any claim of a purchaser, not exceed the amounts referred to in section 9
(3).
(6) In this section 'registrar' means a registrar of deeds within the meaning of the Deeds Registries Act, and includes the registrar of Rand
townships referred to in section 2 of that Act.

21 Purchaser to be notified to take transfer of land when such land is attached or the owner becomes an insolvent
(1) Any remote purchaser shall forthwith notify the owner of the land of­
(a) the conclusion of the contract in question;
(b) his address referred to in section 23 and any change of that address; and
(c) the name and address of any intermediary who alienated the land prior to the date the said contract was concluded.
(2) When the owner of land sold under a contract becomes an insolvent, or a judgment creditor of that owner attaches such land by virtue
of a writ in execution­
(a) (i) the owner shall, within 14 days of the appointment of a trustee or liquidator or the attachment, inform the trustee or
liquidator or judgment creditor, as the case may be, of the name and address of any person of whose name and address he
was notified in terms of the provisions of subsection (1); and
(ii) a mortgagee shall, within ten days after he receives notice of the insolvency or attachment, inform the trustee, executor,
liquidator or judgment creditor, as the case may be, of the name and address of any purchaser who gave notice to him that
he had purchased the land in terms of a contract;
(b) the trustee, executor, liquidator or judgment creditor of that owner shall, if that land is registrable, as soon as may be practicable
notify every person who he has reason to believe purchased the land in terms of a contract or is an intermediary in relation to the
contract, of his right, subject to the provisions of section 22 (3), to take transfer of the land concerned.
(3) The notification contemplated in subsection (2) (b) shall be effected by notice in writing handed to the person concerned or sent to him
by registered post.
(4) Any trustee, executor, liquidator or judgment creditor contemplated in subsection (2) (b)­
(a) who fails without fault on his part to hand or send a notice referred to in subsection (3) to a purchaser or an intermediary in
accordance with that subsection, shall not merely by reason of such failure incur any liability towards the purchaser or intermediary
concerned; and
(b) shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed so to have failed through his fault if­
(i) due notice in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) (a) was given to him in respect of the purchaser concerned;
or
(ii) he did not take all reasonable steps appropriate to the circumstances of the case to obtain the name and address of the
purchaser or intermediary concerned, unless he is a mortgagee to whom notice was required to be given in terms of section
9 (1), and no such notice was given to him by the purchaser concerned.
(5) Any owner or mortgagee who wilfully or negligently fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (2) (a), shall be guilty of an offence
and upon conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R1 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such
imprisonment.

22 Transfer of land to purchaser when such land is attached or the owner becomes an insolvent
(1) When the owner of land alienated under a contract becomes an insolvent, or a judgment creditor of the owner attaches such land by
virtue of a writ of execution, that land shall, subject to the provisions of the Deeds Registries Act, be transferred to any person who purchased
that land in terms of a contract or who is an intermediary in relation to that contract and who, in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(2),Juta
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and Company for the payment of all costs in connection with the
(Pty) Ltd. transfer and
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(a) all amounts owing under the deed of alienation in terms of which that owner alienated the land; or
 22 Transfer of land to purchaser when such land is attached or the owner becomes an insolvent
(1) When the owner of land alienated under a contract becomes an insolvent, or a judgment creditor of the owner attaches such land by
virtue of a writ of execution, that land shall, subject to the provisions of the Deeds Registries Act, be transferred to any person who purchased
that land in terms of a contract or who is an intermediary in relation to that contract and who, in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(2), makes arrangements for the payment of all costs in connection with the transfer and of an amount equal to­
(a) all amounts owing under the deed of alienation in terms of which that owner alienated the land; or
(b) the sum of­
(i) the costs of attachment or, in the case of an insolvent, such sequestration and administration costs contemplated in
section 89 (1) of the Insolvency Act, 1936 (Act 24 of 1936), as relate to the land;
(ii) any amount payable in respect of any endowment, betterment or enhancement levy, a development contribution or any
similar imposition in terms of any law in relation to the land; and
[Sub­para. (ii) substituted by s. 10 (b) of Act 51 of 1983.]
(iii) if the land is encumbered by a mortgage bond and, in the case of an insolvent, subject to the provisions of the Insolvency
Act, 1936, the amounts required by the mortgagee in accordance with the provisions of section 9 (3) of this Act, including
interest to date of transfer,
whichever of the two amounts contemplated in paragraph (a) or (b) may be the larger, and also makes arrangements for the signing
of all documents required in connection with transfer.
[Sub­s. (1) amended by s. 10 (a) of Act 51 of 1983.]

(2) (a) The arrangements contemplated in subsection (1), shall be made by the person concerned­
(i) if the land was attached, before the land is sold in execution, to the satisfaction of the deputy sheriff or messenger of the court
concerned, as the case may be; and
(ii) if the owner of the land is an insolvent and, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b), within such period as his trustee, executor or
liquidator, as the case may be, may allow, which period shall not be less than 30 days, to the satisfaction of such trustee, executor
or liquidator, as the case may be.
(b) If a trustee, executor or liquidator refuses or fails to accept any offer by the person concerned in respect of arrangements
contemplated in subsection (1), that person may appeal to the Master of the Supreme Court under whose supervision the owner is being
liquidated or his or her estate is being sequestrated.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 90 of Act 88 of 1996.]

(3) If more than one person is prepared and able to take transfer in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1), the land shall be
transferred to the person to whom the land was first alienated.
(4) A transfer in terms of subsection (1) shall be effected by the deputy sheriff, messenger of the court, trustee, executor or liquidator, as
the case may be, as if it were a transfer mutatis mutandis by virtue of a sale in execution or the realization of an immovable asset of an
insolvent.
(5) When land is transferred in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) to a remote purchaser or an intermediary to whom the land
was alienated by a person other than the owner, the provisions of section 18 (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of the transfer of the
land to the remote purchaser or the intermediary.
(6) If any person has, by virtue of arrangements made by him in terms of subsection (1), paid a larger amount than the amounts referred to
in subsection (1) (a), he has, subject to any claim he may have in terms of section 11 (2) or 18 (3), a concurrent claim against the owner for
the difference.
(7) If no satisfactory arrangements are made in terms of subsection (1), the land and its proceeds shall be dealt with in accordance with the
rules of law relating to sales in execution or insolvency, as the case may be.

23 Addresses of purchaser and seller

The addresses stated in any contract in terms of section 6 (1) (a) shall serve as domicilium citandi et executandi of the parties for all
purposes of the contract, and notice of a change of such an address shall be given in writing and shall be delivered or sent by registered post
by one party to the other, in which case such changed address shall serve as such domicilium citandi et executandi of the party who has given
such notice.

24 Relief that court may grant in respect of contracts

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary but subject to any other powers that any court may have, if a contract does
not substantially comply with any one of the provisions of section 5 or 6, a court within whose area of jurisdiction the land referred to in the
contract is situated, is, if appropriate proceedings are instituted by the purchaser within a period of two years from the date upon which the
contract was concluded, competent­
(a) to reduce the rate of interest payable by the purchaser in terms of the contract to such rate as it may deem just and equitable in
the circumstances;
(b) to grant an order for rectification of the contract;
(c) to declare the contract to be void ab initio; or
(d) to grant such alternative relief as it may deem fit.
(2) A court within whose area of jurisdiction land sold under a contract is situated, may, on the application of the purchaser who, by reason
of the fact that any person failed to sign a document relating to the transfer of or the payment of transfer duty in respect of such land, is
unable to obtain transfer of such land, order the deputy sheriff or messenger of the court concerned, as the case may be, to sign on behalf of
any such person any such document, subject to such conditions as the court may determine.
(3) A magistrate's court shall, notwithstanding the value of the land or claim concerned, have jurisdiction to grant any relief contemplated in
subsection (1) or (2).
[Sub­s. (3) substituted by s. 11 of Act 51 of 1983.]

25 Evidence
If in any proceedings it is alleged that land sold under a contract is used or is intended to be used mainly for residential purposes, it shall be
presumed that the said land is so used or is intended to be so used until the contrary has been proved.

CHAPTER III
GENERAL PROVISIONS (ss 26­35)

26 Restriction on the receipt of consideration by virtue of certain deeds of alienation

(1) No person shall by virtue of a deed of alienation relating to an erf or a unit receive any consideration until­
(a) such erf or unit is registrable; and
(b) in case the deed of alienation is a contract required to be recorded in terms of section 20, such recording has been effected.
[Sub­s. (1) amended by s. 12 (a) of Act 51 of 1983.]

(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
R1 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to any amount paid by way of consideration which­
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benefit of the alienator in terms of that deed of alienation, in the trust account of the practitioner or estate agent; or
 [Sub­s. (1) amended by s. 12 (a) of Act 51 of 1983.]

(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
R1 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to any amount paid by way of consideration which­
(a) the alienee, by virtue of a deed of alienation, entrusts to a practitioner or an estate agent in his capacity as such, to keep, for the
benefit of the alienator in terms of that deed of alienation, in the trust account of the practitioner or estate agent; or
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 12 (b) of Act 51 of 1983.]
(b) by virtue of a deed of alienation is paid to the alienator if, before such payment, the alienee is furnished with an irrevocable and
unconditional guarantee by a banking institution registered otherwise than provisionally under the Banks Act, 1965 (Act 23 of 1965),
a building society registered otherwise than provisionally under the Building Societies Act, 1965 (Act 24 of 1965), or a registered
insurer as defined in section 1 of the Insurance Act, 1943 (Act 27 of 1943), in terms of which the said banking institution, building
society or insurer undertakes to repay the said amount to the alienee if the erf or unit is not registrable and, where applicable, a
recording is not effected within a period specified in the said guarantee.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 12 (b) of Act 51 of 1983.]

(4) If, in the circumstances contemplated in subsection (3), the alienator becomes an insolvent before the erf or unit has become registrable
or the relevant contract has been recorded in terms of section 20, any amount kept in a trust account in terms of paragraph (a) of that
subsection or the repayment of which was guaranteed in terms of paragraph (b) of that subsection, shall immediately become payable to the
alienee concerned by the practitioner, estate agent, banking institution, building society or insurer concerned.
[Sub­s. (4) substituted by s. 12 (c) of Act 51 of 1983.]
[Date of commencement of s. 26: 6 December 1983.]

27 Rights of purchaser who has partially paid the purchase price of land
(1) Any purchaser who in terms of a deed of alienation has undertaken to pay the purchase price of land in specified instalments over a
period in the future and who has paid to the seller in such instalments not less than 50 per cent of the purchase price, shall, if the land is
registrable, be entitled to demand from the seller transfer of the land on condition that simultaneously with the registration of the transfer there
shall be registered in favour of the seller a first mortgage bond over the land to secure the balance of the purchase price and interest in terms
of the deed of alienation.
(2) The conditions as to the rate of interest and redemption as well as other conditions of the mortgage bond contemplated in subsection
(1), shall not be more onerous than the conditions which applied in respect of the deed of alienation.
(3) If for whatever reason the seller is unable, fails or refuses to tender transfer within three months of the receipt of the demand referred to
in subsection (1), the purchaser may cancel the relevant deed of alienation, in which case the parties are entitled to the relief provided for in
section 28 (1): Provided that nothing contained in this subsection shall detract from any additional claim for damages which the purchaser may
have.
(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply in respect of a deed of alienation in terms of which the State or a local authority is the
seller.

28 Consequences of deeds of alienation which are void or are terminated

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), any person who has performed partially or in full in terms of an alienation of land which is of
no force or effect in terms of section 2 (1), or a contract which has been declared void in terms of the provisions of section 24 (1) (c), or has
been cancelled under this Act, is entitled to recover from the other party that which he has performed under the alienation or contract, and­
(a) the alienee may in addition recover from the alienator­
(i) interest at the prescribed rate on any payment that he made in terms of the deed of alienation or contract from the date of
the payment to the date of recovery;
(ii) a reasonable compensation for­
(aa) necessary expenditure he has incurred, with or without the authority of the owner or alienator of the land, in regard
to the preservation of the land or any improvement thereon; or
(bb) any improvement which enhances the market value of the land and was effected by him on the land with the express
or implied consent of the said owner or alienator; and
(b) the alienator may in addition recover from the alienee­
(i) a reasonable compensation for the occupation, use or enjoyment the alienee may have had of the land;
(ii) compensation for any damage caused intentionally or negligently to the land by the alienee or any person for the actions of
whom the alienee may be liable.
(2) Any alienation which does not comply with the provisions of section 2 (1) shall in all respects be valid ab initio if the alienee had
performed in full in terms of the deed of alienation or contract and the land in question has been transferred to the alienee.

29 Waiver of rights or powers by purchaser

The waiver by any person who has purchased land in terms of a deed of alienation, of any right conferred upon him by this Act, shall be null
and void.

29A Purchaser's right to revoke offer or terminate deed of alienation

(1) Subject to subsection (5), a purchaser or prospective purchaser of land may within five days after signature by him or her, or by his or
her agent acting on his or her written authority, of­
(a) an offer to purchase land; or
(b) a deed of alienation in respect of land,
revoke the offer or terminate the deed of alienation, as the case may be, by written notice delivered to the seller or his or her agent within that
period.
(2) The period of five days contemplated in subsection (1) shall be calculated with the exclusion of the day upon which the offer was made
or the deed of alienation was entered into, as the case may be, and of any Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.
(3) The written notice contemplated in subsection (1) shall be effective only if it­
(a) is signed by the purchaser or his or her agent acting on his or her written authority;
(b) identifies the offer or deed of alienation that is being revoked or terminated, as the case may be; and
(c) is unconditional.
(4) Where an offer is revoked or deed of alienation is terminated as contemplated in subsection (1), every person who received any amount
from the purchaser or prospective purchaser in respect of the offer or deed of alienation, as the case may be, shall refund the full amount of
such payment to the purchaser within 10 days of the date on which the notice referred to in subsection (1) was delivered to the seller or his or
her agent.
(5) Subsection (1) shall not apply if­
(a) the purchase price of the land, or the price offered for the land by the prospective purchaser contemplated in that subsection,
exceeds R250 000 or such higher amount as the Minister may prescribe in order to counter the effect of inflation;
(b) the purchaser or prospective purchaser contemplated in that subsection is a trust or a person other than a natural person;
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(c) the purchaser or agent contemplated in that subsection has purchased the land at a publicly advertised auction;
 (5) Subsection (1) shall not apply if­
(a) the purchase price of the land, or the price offered for the land by the prospective purchaser contemplated in that subsection,
exceeds R250 000 or such higher amount as the Minister may prescribe in order to counter the effect of inflation;
(b) the purchaser or prospective purchaser contemplated in that subsection is a trust or a person other than a natural person;
(c) the purchaser or agent contemplated in that subsection has purchased the land at a publicly advertised auction;
(d) the seller and purchaser contemplated in that subsection have previously entered into a deed of alienation of the same land on
substantially the same terms;
(e) the purchaser or prospective purchaser contemplated in that subsection has reserved the right in terms of the deed of alienation or
offer, as the case may be, to nominate or appoint another person to take over the rights and obligations of the purchaser as
stipulated in the offer or deed of alienation in question;
(f) the purchaser contemplated in that subsection purchases the land by the exercise of an option which was open for exercise for a
period of at least five days calculated mutatis mutandis in the manner prescribed in subsection (2).
(6) No person shall be entitled to any remuneration payable in respect of an offer or deed of alienation which the purchaser or prospective
purchaser has revoked or terminated, as the case may be, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) and no such person or agent shall be
entitled to claim damages from any person following such revocation of the offer or termination of the deed of alienation by the purchaser or
prospective purchaser.
(7) (a) Any provision in any document or in any agreement or undertaking entered into by the purchaser or prospective purchaser, in writing
or verbally, whereby a penalty or fee is directly or indirectly imposed or levied on the purchaser or prospective purchaser should he or she
exercise the rights contained in this section, shall be void.
(b) Any waiver by a purchaser or prospective purchaser of the rights conferred upon him or her in terms of this section shall be void.
(8) A purchaser or prospective purchaser who signs an offer to purchase land or a deed of alienation in respect of land (hereinafter referred
to as the later transaction) within five days (calculated in accordance with subsection (2)) after having signed an offer or a deed of alienation
in respect of other land (hereinafter referred to as the earlier transaction) and before he or she has exercised his or her right as contemplated in
subsection (1) in respect of the earlier transaction, shall­
(a) on signature of the later transaction be deemed to have exercised his or her right in terms of subsection (1) to revoke or terminate
the earlier transaction; and
(b) forthwith after signature of the later transaction in writing notify the seller of the earlier transaction of the revocation or
termination, as the case may be, of that transaction.
(9) (a) Any person who wilfully or negligently fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (8) (b), shall be guilty of an offence and upon
conviction liable to a fine, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) shall not in any way detract from any civil remedy which a seller may have against a purchaser who
failed to comply with the provisions of subsection (8) (b).
(10) Subsections (8) and (9) shall not apply to a purchaser or prospective purchaser who bona fide intends to purchase both the land to
which the earlier transaction and the land to which the later transaction referred to in subsection (8) relate.
[S. 29A inserted by s. 3 of Act 103 of 1998.]

30 Restriction of liability
The State, a conveyancer and any servant of the State shall not be liable in respect of anything done in good faith in the exercise or
performance of a power or duty conferred or imposed by or under this Act.
[S. 30 substituted by s. 13 of Act 51 of 1983.]

31 Regulations
(1) The Minister may make regulations­
(a) after consultation with the Minister of Community Development, prescribing the particulars which are required to be furnished to a
registrar referred to in section 20 in connection with the recording of a contract and the cancellation of such recording, and the
manner and form in which such particulars shall be furnished;
(b) after consultation with the Minister of Finance, prescribing the matters in respect of which fees, excluding the fees and charges of
conveyancers and notaries public, shall be payable and the tariff of such fees; and
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 8 of Act 170 of 1993.]
(c) as to any matter required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by regulation.
(2) (a) The Minister may by regulation or by written notice exempt any person or category of persons, on the conditions deemed fit by him
and set out in any such regulation or notice, from any provision of this Act.
(b) A notice contemplated in paragraph (a) directed to any person, shall be delivered to such person in the manner directed by the
Minister, and any such notice directed to a category of persons shall be published in the Government Gazette.
(c) The Minister may at any time amend or withdraw any notice contemplated in paragraph (a), and a notice relating to such amendment
or withdrawal shall be delivered or published as contemplated in paragraph (b).
[Sub­s. (2) added by s. 14 of Act 51 of 1983.]

32 Application of Act to existing deeds of alienation

(1) In respect of a contract concluded before the commencement of this section and which is still in force at that commencement­
(a) the provisions of section 9 shall mutatis mutandis apply: Provided that­
(i) in such application of subsection (1) of that section, that subsection shall be construed as if the notice contemplated in
that subsection shall be given forthwith after the said commencement; and
(ii) the reference in subsection (3) of that section to the amount contemplated in section 7 (1), shall be construed to be a
reference to the amount indicated in the first certificate given by a mortgagee to the purchaser in terms of section 9 (3);
(b) the provisions of sections 10 (1), (2) and (3) (b) (ii) and (iii), 11 and 12 shall mutatis mutandis apply: Provided that the date
referred to in section 12 (2) (b) (iv) shall be construed as a reference to the date referred to in section 4 (1) (m) of the repealed
Act;
(c) the provisions of sections 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall mutatis mutandis apply;
(d) the provisions of section 20 shall mutatis mutandis apply as from a date fixed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette: Provided
that the periods referred to in subsection (1) of that section shall be construed as a reference to a period of six months commencing
from that date;
(e) the provisions of section 21 shall mutatis mutandis apply: Provided that in such application of subsection (1) of that section, that
subsection shall be construed as if the notice contemplated in that subsection shall be given forthwith after the said
commencement;
(f) the provisions of sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 and 29 shall mutatis mutandis apply.
(2) Section 28 shall mutatis mutandis apply in respect of an alienation or alleged alienation of land entered into before the commencement of
this section: Provided that the reference in subsection (1) of that section to section 2 (1) shall be construed as a reference to section 1 (1) of
the Formalities in respect of Contracts of Sale of Land Act, 1969 (Act 71 of 1969).

33 Application of Act 73 of 1968

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No provision of the Limitation and Disclosure of Finance Charges Act, 1968 (Act 73 of 1968), shall apply to any contract which is subject to
the provisions of Chapter II of this Act.
 this section: Provided that the reference in subsection (1) of that section to section 2 (1) shall be construed as a reference to section 1 (1) of
the Formalities in respect of Contracts of Sale of Land Act, 1969 (Act 71 of 1969).

33 Application of Act 73 of 1968

No provision of the Limitation and Disclosure of Finance Charges Act, 1968 (Act 73 of 1968), shall apply to any contract which is subject to
the provisions of Chapter II of this Act.
[S. 33 substituted by s. 15 of Act 51 of 1983.]

34 Repeal of laws
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the laws specified in the Schedule are hereby repealed to the extent set out in the third
column of the Schedule.
(2) The provisions of section 10 (2) of the repealed Act shall apply in respect of any contract as defined in that Act concluded before the
commencement of this section and still in force at that commencement.
(3) As from a date fixed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, no purchaser shall be entitled to prove a claim in terms of section 14 (1) of
the repealed Act in respect of a contract concluded before and in force at the commencement of this section.

35 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act shall be called the Alienation of Land Act, 1981, and shall come into operation on a date fixed by the State President by
proclamation in the Gazette.
(2) Different dates may in terms of subsection (1) be fixed in respect of different provisions of this Act.

Schedule
LAWS REPEALED

Number and year Title Extent of repeal

of law

Act 29 of 1926 Insolvency Act, 1916, Amendment Act, 1926 So much as is unrepealed

Act 71 of 1969 Formalities in respect of Contracts of Sale of The whole

Land Act, 1969

Act 72 of 1971 Sale of Land on Instalments Act, 1971 The whole

Act 72 of 1972 Sale of Land on Instalments Amendment Act, The whole

1972

Act 49 of 1975 Sale of Land on Instalments Amendment Act, The whole

1975

Act 25 of 1976 Sale of Land on Instalments Amendment Act, The whole

1976

Act 74 of 1978 Sale of Land on Instalments Amendment Act, The whole

1978

ALIENATION OF LAND AMENDMENT ACT 51 OF 19831

[ASSENTED TO 21 APRIL 1983] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 27 APRIL 1983]

(see s. 16 of this Act)

(Afrikaans text signed by the State President)

published in
GG 8681 of 27 April 1983

ACT
To amend the Alienation of Land Act, 1981, regarding definitions; so as to further regulate the application of the said Act to sales of
land by public auction, the statement in any contract of certain amounts which are payable as endowments and levies in respect of
the land concerned, the furnishing by certain mortgagees of land sold under a contract of certain certificates regarding discharge
and release amounts, and the fulfilling by certain purchasers of certain obligations of owners or intermediaries; to effect certain
textual improvements to section 19; to regulate the recording of certain contracts in certain respects anew; to provide that the
transfer of land to a purchaser when such land is attached or the owner becomes an insolvent shall be effected subject to the
provisions of the Deeds Registries Act, 1937; to further regulate the powers of a magistrate's court in respect of relief contemplated
in section 24; to regulate the restriction on the receipt of consideration by virtue of certain deeds of alienation in certain respects
anew; to make the restriction of liability applicable only in respect of the State and its servants; and to provide for exemption by the
Minister from provisions of the said Act; and to provide for incidental matters.
BE IT ENACTED by the State President and the House of Assembly of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:­
1 This Act has been updated to include all available historical commencement details

1
Amends section 1 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981, as follows: paragraph (a) inserts the definition of 'consideration'; paragraph (b)
substitutes the definition of 'deed of alienation'; paragraph (c) substitutes in paragraph (c) of the definition of 'land' the words preceding
subparagraph (i); and paragraph (d) substitutes the definition of 'registrable'.

2
Amends section 3 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting the words preceding paragraph (a).
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3
 subparagraph (i); and paragraph (d) substitutes the definition of 'registrable'.

2
Amends section 3 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting the words preceding paragraph (a).

3
Amends section 6 (1) of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting paragraph (o).

4
Amends section 7 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by adding subsection (4).

5
Amends section 9 (3) (b) of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting subparagraph (ii).

6
Amends section 11 (1) (a) of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting subparagraph (iii).

7
Amends section 16 (2) of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting paragraph (d).

8
Amends section 19 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981, as follows: paragraph (a) substitutes in subsection (1) the word 'notified' for the
word 'informed'; and paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (2) (a), (b) and (c).

9
Amends section 20 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting subsections (1), (2), (2A) and (3) for subsections (1), (2) and
(3).

10
Amends section 22 (1) of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981, as follows: paragraph (a) substitutes the words preceding paragraph (a);
and paragraph (b) substitutes paragraph (b) (ii).

11
Amends section 24 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by substituting subsection (3).

12
Amends section 26 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981, as follows: paragraph (a) substitutes in subsection (1) the words preceding
paragraph (a); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (3) (a) and (b); and paragraph (c) substitutes subsection (4).

13
Substitutes section 30 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981.

14
Amends section 31 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by adding subsection (2), the existing section becoming subsection (1).

15
Substitutes section 33 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981.

16 Short title and commencement

This Act shall be called the Alienation of Land Amendment Act, 1983.

ALIENATION OF LAND AMENDMENT ACT 103 OF 19981

[ASSENTED TO 19 NOVEMBER 1998] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 27 NOVEMBER 1998]

(see s. 4 of this Act)

(English text signed by the President)

published in
GG 19517 of 27 November 1998

ACT
To amend the Alienation of Land Act, 1981, so as to confer on a purchaser or prospective purchaser of land the right to revoke an
offer to purchase or to terminate a deed of alienation in certain circumstances; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:­
1 This Act has been updated to include all available historical commencement details

1
Amends section 1 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981, as follows: paragraph (a) inserts the definition of 'agricultural land'; and
paragraph (b) adds paragraph (d) to the definition of 'land'.

2
Amends section 2 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by inserting subsection (2A).

3
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Inserts section 29A in the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981.
 2
Amends section 2 of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 by inserting subsection (2A).

3
Inserts section 29A in the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981.

4 Short title
This Act shall be called the Alienation of Land Amendment Act, 1998.

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