Page "Assault" Paragraph 33

South African law does not draw the distinction between assault and battery.

Assault is a common law crime defined as " unlawfully and intentionally applying force to the person of another, or inspiring a belief in that other that force is immediately to be applied to him.

" The law also recognises the crime of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, where grievous bodily harm is defined as " harm which in itself is such as seriously to interfere with health.

" The common law crime of indecent assault was repealed by the Criminal Law ( Sexual Offences and Related Matters ) Amendment Act, 2007, and replaced by a statutory crime of sexual assault.