General damages is the broad term given to non-pecuniary loss
such as pain and suffering, loss of amenities, emotional harm, etc
and is awarded to a plaintiff as part of a compensatory damages to
cover all those losses which are not easily quantified as opposed
to percuniary damages, ie damages for harm to one's personality
and physical integrity. As pointed out by the court in the case of
Hendricks v President Insurance 1993 (3) SA 158 C the
nature of the damages which are awarded make quantifying the award
very difficult.
When awarding delictual damages, courts have to determine the
difference between the present "financial state" of the
plaintiff and the state he or she would have been in had the delict
not occurred. Percuniary damages are quantifiable, whereas
quantifying the award to be made in respect of non-percuniary
damages is not as easily determined. The nature of non-pecuniary
loss makes it difficult to assess or calculate an appropriate
amount precisely
