(Juta Law, 2012-01) Van Der Walt, A. J.; Marais, E. J.
Acquisitive prescription (“prescription”) is one of the original methods of
acquisition of ownership in South African law. No assistance is required from
the original owner; ownership vests in the possessor ex lege the moment he satisfies
all the requirements for prescription. Prescription law was first consolidated by the
Prescription Act 18 of 1943 (the 1943 act), but the Prescription Act 68 of 1969 is
now the main authority in this context. The common law still remains an important
source, as neither of the prescription acts codifies this field of law.