What Are General Damages In South Africa?

In South African law, general damages refer to compensation awarded to a person for non-patrimonial loss — that is, losses that cannot be calculated in exact monetary terms. These typically include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of amenities of life, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life following a wrongful act or injury.

Understanding General vs Special Damages

To grasp the concept of general damages more clearly, it helps to contrast them withspecial damages:

• Special damages refer to quantifiable monetary losses, such as medical expenses, loss of earnings, or repair costs. These can be supported by documents like receipts and payslips.
• General damages, on the other hand, cannot be easily quantified. They relate to the human experience of suffering and diminished quality of life.