Don’t Wait Too Long to Act

In South African law, most contractual and civil claims must be brought within three years from when the debt or harm arose. This is called the prescription period. If you wait too long, you may lose the legal right to enforce your claim — even if it’s valid. Prescription can be interrupted (or “reset”) in certain cases, like if the debtor acknowledges the debt in writing or if legal proceedings begin. Always act within time to preserve your claim.