Wills Act, 1953 (Act No. 7 of 1953)

In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—

"amendment"

means a deletion, addition, alteration or interlineation;

[Definition inserted by section 2(1) of Act No. 43 of 1992]

"competent witness"

means a person of the age of fourteen years or over who at the time he witnesses a will is not incompetent to give evidence in a court of law;

"Court"

means a provincial or local division of the Supreme Court of South Africa or any judge thereof;

[Definition substituted by section 1 of Act No. 49 of 1996]

"deletion"

means a deletion, cancellation or obliteration in whatever manner effected, excluding a deletion, cancellation or obliteration that contemplates the revocation of the entire will;

[Definition inserted by section 2(b) of Act No. 43 of 1992]

"internal law"

means the law of a state or territory, excluding the rules of the international private law of that state or territory;

[Definition inserted by section 2(c) of Act No. 43 of 1992]

"Master"

means a Master, Deputy Master or Assistant Master of the Supreme Court appointed under section 2 of the Administration of Estates Act, 1965 (Act No. 66 of 1965);

[Definition substituted by section 2(d) of Act No. 43 of 1992]

"sign"

includes the making of initials and, only in the case of a testator, the making of a mark, and "signature" has a corresponding meaning;

[Definition substituted by section 2(e) of Act No. 43 of 1992]

"will"

includes a codicil and any other testamentary writing.