SAFLII [Home] [Databases] [WorldLII] [Search] [Feedback]

Namibia: High Court

You are here:  SAFLII >> Databases >> Namibia: High Court >> 2007 >> [2007] NAHC 49

[Database Search] [Name Search] [Recent Decisions] [Noteup] [Help]

Frans v Paschke and Others (PI1548/2005) [2007] NAHC 49 (11 July 2007)

.RTF of original document

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NAMIBIA
CASE NO: (P) I 1548/2005
In the matter between:

LOTTA FRANS      PLAINTIFF

and

INGE PASCHKE     FIRST DEFENDANT
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF NAMIBIA       SECOND DEFENDANT
THE MASTER OF THE HIGH COURT     THIRD DEFENDANT
MR C HATTINGH    FOURTH DEFENDANT        

CORAM:                     DAMASEB, J.P et
HEATHCOTE, A.J

Heard on:                          28 June 2007                      

Delivered on:                      11 July 2007    
________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT

HEATHCOTE, A.J:

[1]      Emperor Justiniun, who died in 565 AD, ordained:

“But those who are born of a union which is entirely odious to us, and therefore prohibited, shall not be called natural children and no indulgence whatever shall be extended to them. But this fact shall be punishment for the fathers, that they know that children who are the issue of their sinful passion will inherit nothing.” and that;
In the case where a mother of two children, one legitimate and the other illegitimate, died, the illegitimate one could not inherit, either through will or intestacy, if the legitimate child was still alive at her death. The reason for this rule was given as:
“for the preservation of chastity is the first duty of freedom of an illustrious woman” and because it would
“be unjust, and very oppressive and unworthy of the spirit of our age, for bastards to be acknowledged.”
        

[2]      It is debatable whether or not the above statements were only applicable to children born out of an incestuous relationship. Nevertheless, Dutch writers such as Voet, regarded adultery not a less heinous crime than incest. Accordingly, the sins of fathers who committed adultery were also visited upon their children. They could also not inherit intestate from their fathers.
[3]      The rule that an illegitimate child cannot inherit intestate from his father “the common law rule” was applied when the late Mr Jurgen Eichhorn (“the deceased”) died intestate at Windhoek on 30 May 1991. The plaintiff claims that the deceased was his father who did not marry his mother. It is common cause that the plaintiff did not inherit anything from the deceased as a result of the common law rule. Instead the deceased’s entire estate was awarded to the first defendant, who, according to plaintiff, is his sister.
[4]      Alleging that the common law rule was unconstitutional at the time of his father’s death, plaintiff instituted an enrichment claim against first defendant alternatively a claim for an award under Article 25 of the Constitution. The parties have agreed, that the issue as to the constitutionality of the common law rule should be heard as a separate issue under Rule 33(4) of the rules of this Court.
[5]      In the pleadings, (as was submitted by Mr Smuts SC, who appeared for the plaintiff) it is contended by the plaintiff that the common law rule has been unlawful and invalid since the inception of the Namibian Constitution in that it violates, abridges and/or infringes one or more of the following of plaintiffs’ right(s):
(i)     
not to be discriminated against on the ground of the plaintiff’s social status (Article 10(2) of the Namibian Constitution);
(ii)    
to equality before the law (Article 10(1) of the Constitution);
(iii)   
to dignity (Article 8(1) of the Constitution);
(iv)    
to know and to be cared for by both his parents (Article 15(1) of the Constitution);
(v)     
to acquire property (Article 16(1) of the Constitution).        



[6]      Defendant denied the alleged unconstitutionality of the common law rule and in amplification of this denial pleaded that:

“(a)      Plaintiff states that in terms of Article 66 of the Namibian Constitution the said common law rule shall remain valid to the extend that it does not conflict with the Constitution. First defendant states that since it does not conflict with the Constitution, it is and remains part of the law of Namibia. First defendant further states that despite the fact that Namibia has been governed by the said Constitution for now 15 years, the said rule has not in terms of Article 66(2) been repealed or modified by an Act of Parliament.

 (b)      First defendant further states that Article 140 of the Namibian Constitution expressly provides that all laws in force immediately before the date of independence – and on the said common law rule was in force in Namibia immediately before the date of independence – shall remain in force until repealed or amended by Act of Parliament or until they are declared unconstitutional by a competent court. The said rule has not been repealed by an Act of Parliament nor been declared unconstitutional by a competent court and was thus at the time when the distribution of assets was made by the fourth defendant still in force and binding on all parties as an existing and enforceable rule of law and the said rule still is an existing and enforceable rule of law.

        
[7]      The Roman law rule in terms of which children, whose fathers have “sinned”, were prohibited from inheriting intestate (and indeed testate) from their fathers was received in South Holland in a slightly different form. There, the maxim, een wyft maakt geen bastaard – “a mother procreates no bastard” was recognized. Nevertheless children born out of adulterous, incestuous or normal “out of wedlock” relationships, were hit by the maxim. No illegitimate child could inherit from his/her father, but in respect of all three categories, the child could always inherit from the mother (whether testate or intestate).

[8]      For purposes of this judgment, reference to an “illegitimate” child refers to a child whose father and mother were not legally married to each other at the time of the child’s conception or birth or at any subsequent time. No distinction is made between degrees of “illegitimacy”, such as incestuous, adulterous or mere “out of wedlock”- children. While I fully agree with the sentiments expressed by Langa, DCJ in BHE and Others v Magistrate, Khayelitsha and Others 2005(1) SA 580 (CC) @ 595, that the word illegitimate should be avoided in future, I use the concept merely to illustrate the stigma which attaches to the common law rule.

HOW DID THIS RULE OF HOLLAND BECOME PART OF NAMIBIAN LAW?       

[9]      In 1652 the Cape of Good Hope came into possession of the Vereenigde Geoctroyeerde Oost Indische Compagnie “the VOC”. It was one of the first companies,- in the structure of a modern company limited by shares,- in the world and was a subject of the Republic of the United Netherlands “the Republic”. This Republic consisted of seven provinces (including Holland, Zeeland and Friesland). The provinces were administered by the Estates General (which consisted of one representative from each province). This Estates General had no power to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Provinces, but did deal with the control of overseas possessions of the Republic.
[10]     The VOC operated under Charter (Octrooi) of the Estates General of 1602, putting the ownership of the Cape under that of the Estates General and the use of the land under that of the VOC. The Charter also granted a monopoly of trade to the VOC. The head quarters of the VOC were at Batavia, presided over by the Governor General and the “Council of India”. The Cape, as an out-station, was also subject to the Governor General and the Council of India. During March of 1621 already, the Estates General instructed the VOC to apply in its possessions, the laws and statutes of Holland including the Political Ordinance of 1 April 1580. Although the Estates General could pass legislation for its possessions, there is only one Octrooi which was passed and still survived by 1 January 1920, and that was the Octrooi of January 10, 1661, which regulated the law of intestate succession.
[11]     And so it happened that the law of South Holland became the law of the Cape Colony. But what was the law of Holland which became applicable in the Cape Colony? “In Raubenheimer v Executors of Van Breda, supra, Chief Justice de Villiers outlined the subject historically: He remarked, inter alia: “…The law bearing upon these questions, although complicated, is by no means obscure. The Charter granted by the States-General to the Dutch East India Company, on the 10th January, 1661, regulates the law of succession ab intestato in this Colony. That Charter adopted as the law of succession the provision of the Political Ordinance of 1580, as interpreted by and Edict of the States bearing the date 13th May, 1594, with one modification…” Prior to the enactment of the Political Ordinance of 1580, the law of North Holland was known as “Aasdoms,” and that of South Holland, as “Schependoms.” The two systems were by no means the same. When the Political Ordinance of 1580, and its interpretation were forced upon both North and South Holland, the former took objection to being subjected to the principles of the Schependoms law, the bulk of which was included in the Political Ordinance, to the exclusion of Aasdoms. Thereupon the Placaat of 1599 was promulgated, restoring to the North, part of the old law, whilst in the South, the Political Ordinance and the Interpretation of 1594 continued to rule.
[12]     In the Cape Colony, as was the case in Holland, the punishment for adultery was severe. In 1756 a couple was found guilty of adultery. The man was sentenced to imprisonment for a month, with bread and water only. The woman had to stand for three consecutive Sundays before one of the church doors with a card on her breast inscribed with the word “whore”.
[13]     This common law rule of South Holland found its way into Namibia by virtue of The Administration of Justice Proclamation, 1919, which provides that the common law of South West Africa shall be the Roman – Dutch law as “existing and applied” in the Province of the Cape of Good Hope. In Tittel v The Master of The High Court, 1921 (SWA) 58, Gutsche J, found that the words “existing and applied” meant any legislation enacted in the Cape of Good Hope immediately before 1 January, 1920 (i.e. the date the Proclamation became applicable) formed part of the Namibian Common law. The learned judge stated @ 60;
“The plain and natural meaning, it seems to me, of those words, the Roman-Dutch law “as existing and applied” in the Province of the Cape of Good Hope shall be the common law of this country, is that the law as “applied” there by the Courts, giving effect to customs and desuetude and other modifications, and as “existing” by reason of the modifications, that is by abrogations and fresh enactments introduced by statute, shall be the law of this country. That, to my mind, seems to be the natural meaning to give to that section and to the words “as existing and applied”. If it were not so, the result would be - for I see no reason for distinguishing in this respect between abrogating and enacting statutes – that the laws of this country would be thrown back many generations, and that the antiquated provisions of the law, such as, for instance, those which deal with the Palcidian and Trebellian portions, the Lex hac edictali or filial portion, the legitimate portion and other restrictions on the freedom of testation, as well as the law dealing with prescription, in regard to immovable property, the law dealing with maritime and shipping, fire, life and marine insurance, stoppage in transitu, bills of lading,letting and hiring, laesis enormis and many other modifications which occur to one, would be of force and effect here. A system would have been introduced which, in so far as it affects some of the most important and frequent transactions of daily life, is archaic and behind the requirements of the age. That seems to me to be against the intention of the Legislature as indicated by this section, and further indicated by legislation which has been introduced since the 1st January, 1920.”

 If the common law rule is constitutional, the plaintiff in this matter would have been barred from inheriting from the deceased, as article 66 of the Namibian Constitution provides that:

“(1)      Both the customary law and the common law of Namibia in force on the date of Independence shall remain valid to the extent to which such customary or common law does not conflict with this Constitution or any other statutory law.
(2)      Subject to the terms of this Constitution, any part of such common law or customary law may be repealed or modified by Act of Parliament, and the application thereof may be confined to particular parts of Namibia or to particular periods.”
[14]     The common law referred to in article 66 of the Namibian Constitution embraces, fully, the concept of “Roman Dutch Law as existing and applied in the Cape of Good Hope” as explained by Gutsche J in the Tittel Case, supra. Accordingly, Roman Dutch Law which was applied in the Cape of Good Hope through legislation, judicial precedent, custom or the pre-codal system of Old Authorities (such as the decisions of the High Court of Holland, Grotius, Voet ect) are common law as envisaged in article 66 of the Namibian Constitution to the extent it has not fallen in disuse. This becomes abundantly clear if regard is had to the wording of section (1)(1) of the Administration of Justice Proclamation which provides that the “Roman Dutch Law as existing and applied in the Province of Good Hope…shall…be the Common Law of the Protectorate”. The concept “Common Law” as used in the Proclamation, and “common law” as used in Article 66 of the Namibian Constitution, must and does have the same meaning.
DID THE COMMON LAW RULE WHICH PROVIDES THAT ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN CANNOT INHERIT INTESTATE FROM THEIR FATHERS, SURVIVE THE ADVENT OF THE NAMIBIAN CONSTITUTION?

 [15]     Article 10(2) of the Namibian Constitution provides:

“No persons may be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.”       

[16]     In the authorotive judgment of the Namibian Supreme Court in Muller v President of the Republic of Namibia, 1999 Nr 190 (SC), Strydom CJ dealt with article 10(2) and stated:
“In regard to art 10(2), there seems to be no basis, on the strength of the wording of the sub-article, to qualify the extent of the impact hereof and to save legislation which discriminates on one of the enumerated grounds from unconstitutionality on the basis of a rational connection and legitimate legislative object test. As was pointed out by Mr Light this would permit a relevant legislative purpose to override the constitutional protection of non-discrimination. Article 10(2) which guarantees non-discrimination on the basis of the grounds set out therein would be defeated if the doctrine of reasonable classification is applied thereto and would be to negate that right. See Thibaudeau’s case supra at 36 and Egan’s case supra 103 to 197. The grounds mentioned in art 10(2), namely sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status, are all grounds which, historically, were singled out for discriminatory practices exclusively based on stereotypical application of presumed group or personal characteristics. Once it is determined that a differentiation amounts to discrimination based on one of these grounds, a finding of unconstitutionality must follow.” and further
“The steps to be taken in regard to this sub-article are to determine-
(i)     
whether there exists a differentiation between people or categories of people;
(ii)    
whether such differentiation is based on one of the enumerated grounds set out in the sub-article;
(iii)   
whether such differentiation amounts to discrimination against such people or categories of people; and
(iv)    
once it is determined that the differentiation amounts to discrimination, it is unconstitutional unless it is covered by the provisions of art 23 of the Constitution.”
[17]     Applying the test as laid down by Strydom C.J in the Muller – case, supra, I conclude that;

(i)     
as far as intestate inheritance is concerned, there indeed exists a differentiation between legitimate and illegitimate children. In fact that is what the common law rule is all about;
(ii)    
as I endeavored to point out, the differentiation is based on the social status of illegitimate children. Mr Vaatz who appeared for first defendant, submitted that, today, society looks upon illegitimate children in a much more benevolent manner than was the case a couple of hundred years ago. That may be so, but it is not modern day society’s views which are in issue in this matter. It is the rule of the common law prohibiting illegitimate children to inherit intestate from their fathers. That common law rule still crucifies illegitimate children for the sins of their “lustful parents”. As I have endeavored to show, the existence of the common law rule is rooted in punishment, and not, as Mr Vaatz suggested, to create certainty for the executor when he finalizes the estate. Today, loving partners and parents, have the right to live together as a family with their children without being married. But should the father die intestate, his children may not inherit. The common law rule knows no boundaries. Whether a child was born from love or “lust”, the rule discriminates, simply based on the status which was forced upon the child by ancient rule.
(iii)   
the differentiation indeed amounts to discrimination against “illegitimate children”. By design or result, the social stigma which attached to adulterous and incestuous children was transferred to children born out of wedlock. This appears to be the case simply because the maxim “een wyft maakt geen bastaard” had been echoed from