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University of Cape Town: Commercial and Contract Law

Gain the skills to read, interpret, and draft commercial contracts.

Gain the skills to read, interpret, and draft commercial contracts.

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This course is offered by , an edX partner
9 weeks
10–12 hours per week
Starts Feb 3, 2025
Enroll by Feb 9, 2025
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule

Get more information

Want to know more? Enter your information to learn more about this course from GetSmarter (an edX partner).

Get more information

Want to know more? Enter your information to learn more about this course from GetSmarter (an edX partner).

9 weeks
10–12 hours per week
Starts Feb 3, 2025
Enroll by Feb 9, 2025
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule

About this Course

An understanding of commercial and contract law is crucial to doing business in South Africa. Commercial law focuses on the purchase and sale of goods and services, including intangible entities such as intellectual property rights. Contract law, on the other hand, underpins private enterprises and provides the legal framework within which people and legal entities transact and exchange resources.

This online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT) will provide you with an overview of the South African legal system, an introduction to contract law, and a nuanced understanding of the Consumer Protection Act. You’ll learn the requirements of contractual validity, as well as the obligations and terms of a contract. Develop the skills and knowledge to recognize, address, and offer solutions to problematic areas in contracts. You’ll avoid expensive mistakes and be able to negotiate better results for your company, in your personal life, or for your clients.

This online short course is suitable for anyone working with contracts in the business world, as the knowledge gained can be applied across a wide range of sectors and professions. Bankers, insurance brokers, asset managers, publishers, employment agents, and business owners will all benefit from exploring the legal frameworks that shape the way organizations operate in South Africa. This course can also help paralegals broaden their legal knowledge, ensure business leaders and management understand what contractual decision making entails, and allow professionals to add further value in their existing role through an up-to-date knowledge of the commercial legal landscape.

Course curriculum

Skip Course curriculum

Explore the essential elements of commercial contracts as you work through the weekly modules of this online short course.

Orientation module: Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1: An introduction to contract law and the South African legal system

Module 2: Requirements for the formation of a valid contract

Module 3: Terms of a contract and contractual obligations

Module 4: The Consumer Protection Act

Module 5: Contracts of sale and contracts of lease

Module 6: Contracts of insurance and agency contracts

Module 7: Contracting with businesses

Module 8: Civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution procedures

Module 9: Basic contract drafting skills

About the certificate

Enhance your understanding of commercial and contract law, and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you digitally upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements. Please note, due to additional administrative requirements, at times UCT course certificate delivery may be delayed by several weeks/months.

Some facts about the subject

R35 million

The amount Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa was fined for contravening the Consumer Protection Act.

South African Government (Nov, 2019).

Contractual protection

"Contracts, either written or oral, not only govern the relationship between parties at various stages of the relationship, but they also provide a degree of protection should things not go according to plan.”

SME South Africa (Feb, 2019).

Why choose GetSmarter?

GetSmarter, an edX partner, delivers career-relevant, fully supported, and expert-led online courses from the world's leading universities and institutions. As an online learning expert with over 15 years' experience, GetSmarter leverages long-standing expertise in market research, data analysis, and business insights to ensure that you gain the skills critical to career growth.