The Finality Principle in Arbitration: A Historical Exploration
Publication: Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction
Volume 15, Issue 4
Abstract
South Africa maintains a robust pro-arbitration policy which emphasizes the principle of finality. Despite the fact that this principle is well advocated in construction, engineering, and other aligned sector arbitration case law, insight into the broader historical discourse on arbitration in South Africa is more limited. Subsequently, in order to develop valuable and comprehensive insight into not only the theoretical foundations surrounding the finality principle in South African arbitration but also its future, this paper undertakes a historical account of the development of the principle of finality in South African domestic arbitration law. The paper suggests that pro-arbitration attitudes toward the finality principle espoused by the judiciary represent a hallmark of early formalization of English legal traditions through legislative frameworks which predate modern-day South Africa. The value of this study comes from the valuable insight it provides into past and existing theoretical and judicial debates surrounding the robustness of domestic arbitration frameworks in South Africa and the potential opportunities for their further improvement.
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Data Availability Statement
No data, models, or codes were generated or used during the study.
References
List of Cases
Alexkor Ltd., v. Richtersveld Community 2003 12 BCLR 1301 (CC) [South Africa].
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union of South Africa v. Veldspun (Pty) Ltd. (97/92) [1993] ZASCA 158; 1994 (1) SA 162 (AD); [1994] 1 All SA 453 (A) (30 September 1993) [South Africa].
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality v. International Parking Management (Pty) Ltd. and Others (10548/2010) [2011] ZAGPJHC 5 (February 17, 2011) [South Africa].
Concor Holdings (Pty) Ltd., v. Minster of Water Affairs and Forestry and VKE Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd. [2006] 16947/2001 [South Africa].
Cool Ideas 1186 CC v. Hubbard and Another [2014] ZACC 16 (June 5, 2014) (also known as Cool Ideas 2) [South Africa].
Dickenson & Brown v. Fisher’s Executors 1915 AD 166 [South Africa].
Dutch Reformed Church v. Town Council of Cape Town [1898] ZACGHSCR Juta 27; (1898) 15 Juta 95 (March 12, 1898) [South Africa].
Hlophe v. Judicial Service Commission and Others (19006/09) [2009] ZAGPJHC 19; [2009] 4 All SA 67 (GSJ) (June 1, 2009) [South Africa].
Hlophe v. Premier of the Western Cape Province, Hlophe v. Freedom under Law and Other (CCT 41/11, CCT 46/11) [2012] ZACC 4; 2012 (6) SA 13 (CC); 2012 (6) BCLR 567 (CC) (March 30, 2012) [South Africa].
Hubbard v. Cool Ideas 1186 CC (580/12) [2013] ZASCA 71; 2013 (5) SA 112 (SCA); [2013] 3 All SA 387 (SCA) (May 28, 2013) (also known as Cool Ideas 1) [South Africa].
Lazarus v. Goldberg and Another 1920 CPD 154 [South Africa].
Lufuno Mphaphuli & Associates (Pty) Ltd., v. Nigel Athol Andrews and Bopanang Construction CC CCT 97107 [2009] ZACC [South Africa].
Sidumo and Another v. Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd. and Others (CCT 85/06) [2007] ZACC 22; [2007] 12 BLLR 1097 (CC); 2008 (2) SA 24 (CC); (2007) 28 ILJ 2405 (CC); 2008 (2) BCLR 158 (CC) (October 5, 2007) [South Africa].
Telcordia Technologies Inc., v. Telkom SA Ltd. [2006] ZASCA 112; [2006] 139 SCA (RSA); 2007 (3) SA 266 (SCA); [2007] 2 All SA 243 (SCA); 2007 (5) BCLR 503 (SCA) (November 22, 2006) [South Africa].
Theron en Andere v. Ring van Wellington van die NG Sendingkerk in Suid-Afrika en Andere 1976(2) SA 1 (A) [South Africa].
Zhongji Development Construction Engineering Company Limited v. Kamoto Copper Company Sarl (421/2013) [2014] ZASCA 160; 2015 (1) SA 345 (SCA); [2014] 4 All SA 617 (SCA) (October 1, 2014) [South Africa].
List of Statutes
Arbitration Act 1889 [United Kingdom].
Arbitration Act 1996 [United Kingdom].
Arbitration Act 24 of 1898 (Natal) [South Africa].
Arbitration Act 42 of 1965 [South Africa].
Arbitrations Act, 1898 (Act No. 29 of 1898) of the Cape of Good Hope [South Africa].
General Law Amendment Act 49 of 1996 [South Africa].
International Arbitration Act 15 of 2017 [South Africa].
Justice Laws Rationalisation Act 18 of 1996 [South Africa].
Natal Arbitration Act 24 of 1898 [South Africa].
Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 [South Africa].
South Africa Act 1909 [South Africa].
The Constitution of South Africa [South Africa].
Transvaal Ordinance Act 24 of 1904 [South Africa].
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Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction
Volume 15 • Issue 4 • November 2023
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Oct 25, 2022
Accepted: Apr 11, 2023
Published online: Jul 3, 2023
Published in print: Nov 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Dec 3, 2023
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