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The case of LONDON AND SA EXPLORATION CO v ROULIOT (1890–91) affirmed that land ownership in South Africa includes a natural right to lateral support from adjoining properties. The court ruled that this right is presumed to exist in lease agreements unless explicitly waived and that landowners cannot trespass on adjacent land to remove soil under the guise of necessity, but must instead seek legal remedies such as interdicts.

This case study examines the 1891-1892 legal dispute between the New Gordon Diamond Mining Company and the Du Toit’s Pan Mining Board. The court ruled that the Mining Board had the discretion, but not a specific statutory duty, to remove accumulated water from the mine. Consequently, the court found that the only remedy for negligence in such discretionary duties was an action for damages, rather than a mandamus to compel performance.

This case study examines the legal dispute in Reid v De Beers Consolidated Mines (1891–1892), where the court determined that a mining company has no common law duty to continue working a claim solely to prevent damage to a neighboring claim holder.