This course provides a comprehensive grounding in South African private law for engineers, starting with the historical development and structural framework of the South African legal system and the main sources of law (legislation, case law, customary law, doctrine). It teaches the rules and presumptions of statutory and contractual interpretation, as well as the general principles of the law of obligations and delict (conduct, wrongfulness, fault, causation). A large focus is on contract law: consensus, timing and formation, capacity (age, marriage), legality and physical possibility, required formalities (including the parol evidence rule), parties to contracts, breaches and available remedies. The course also applies delictual principles to engineering practice. It covers professional topics critical to engineers: engineering ethics and professionalism; the ECSA Code of Conduct and the practice note on error vs improper conduct; and relevant health & safety duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.