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Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993 (Act No. 205 of 1993)

Chapter 4

11. Liability for damage arising from gatherings and demonstrations

 

 

(1) If any riot damage occurs as a result of—
(a) a gathering, every organization on behalf of or under the auspices of which that gathering was held, or, if not so held, the convener;
(b) a demonstration, every person participating in such demonstration, shall, subject to subsection (2), be jointly and severally liable for that riot damage as a joint wrongdoer contemplated in Chapter II of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No. 34 of 1956), together with any other person who unlawfully caused or contributed to such riot damage and any other organization or person who is liable therefor in terms of this subsection.

 

(2) It shall be a defence to a claim against a person or organization contemplated in subsection (1) if such a person or organization proves—
(a) that he or it did not permit or connive at the act or omission which caused the damage in question; and
(b) that the act or omission in question did not fall within the scope of the objectives of the gathering or demonstration in question and was not reasonably foreseeable; and
(c) that he or it took all reasonable steps within his or its power to prevent the act or omission in question: Provided that proof that he or it forbade an act of the kind in question shall not by itself be regarded as sufficient proof that he or it took all reasonable steps to prevent the act in question.

 

(3) For the purposes of—
(a) recourse against, or contribution by, any person who, or organization which, intentionally and unlawfully caused or contributed to the cause of any riot damage; or
(b) contribution by any person who, or organization which, is jointly liable for any riot damage by virtue of the provisions of subsection (1),

any person or organization held liable for such damage by virtue of the provisions of subsection (1) shall, notwithstanding the said provisions, be deemed to have been liable therefor in delict.

 

(4) The provisions of this section shall not affect in any way the right, under the common law or any other law, of a person or body to recover the full amount of damages arising from the negligence, intentional act or omission, or delict of whatever nature committed by or at the behest of any other person.