PVL3703 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 – Due 24 March 2026

PVL3703 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE 24 MARCH 2026

Lalita lives in a student residence. One night, she boils water in a kettle in the
communal kitchen. While the kettle is heating, she notices that the plug is loose and
sparking slightly. However, she brushes it off and leaves the kitchen to quickly grab
her laptop from her room. As Lalita exits, she sees Amir, another resident, walking into
the kitchen carrying a bag. Lalita does not mention the sparking plug to him.

Discuss whether the element of conduct is satisfied in Amir’s delictual claim
against Lalita.

In the law of delict, conduct is one of the general requirements for delictual liability and
serves as the starting point of any delictual enquiry.¹ A person can only be held delictually
liable if their conduct forms part of the damage-causing event that results in harm to
another. Without conduct, no delict can exist.