Water Law

Protecting a Precious Resource

In many parts of South Africa, water is a scarce and priceless commodity. For farmers, agricultural enterprises, and those involved in cultivating crops and livestock, access to reliable water rights is central to both livelihoods and long-term sustainability.
At Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc., we understand the immense importance of water law. With decades of experience, including the legacy of founding partner Jan Swart, who was widely respected as one of the foremost water law specialists of his time, our firm has become a trusted authority in this critical area.

Expertise in Water Law

Our team advises clients on all aspects of historic and current water rights under both the Water Act of 1956 and the National Water Act of 1998. We combine deep technical knowledge with a practical understanding of how water rights affect property owners, farmers, and developers.
Our expertise includes:

Validation and Verification of Water Rights
Conducted under Section 35 of the National Water Act.
Water Licence Applications
Assisting clients in securing the authorisations required for lawful water use.
Trading of Water Rights
Advising on transfers and trades under Section 25 of the National Water Act.
Interpretation of Title Conditions
Including historic water rights, Water Court Orders, and notarial servitude agreements.

Why Choose Stadler & Swart Attorneys

Our long-standing involvement in water law means we can anticipate challenges and provide strategic, practical solutions tailored to your circumstances. Whether you are seeking to secure water use for farming, navigating licensing processes, or managing the trade of existing rights, our team offers clear guidance rooted in decades of experience.

Your Partner in Water Rights

Water is not only essential to life, but to the future of sustainable farming and property development. At Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc., we are committed to protecting your rights and helping you make informed, confident decisions.

Contact us today to speak with our water law specialists and secure the legal foundation for your water use.

Experience you trust. Progress you can count on.

Why Developers Choose Stadler & Swart

At Stadler & Swart, we pride ourselves on:

Depth of specialist experience: André Swart has been practising as an attorney and conveyancer since 1992, holds an LLM specialising in planning and environmental law, and has decades of experience in property, planning, environmental and water law.

Proven track‑record in development matters: The firm’s history includes acting for prominent developers, large‑scale sectional‑title schemes and complex multi‑discipline projects.

Strategic, integrated advice: Not simply regulatory “check‑boxes” but advice targeted to your business objectives: unlocking development value, avoiding delays and aligning approvals, energy strategy and conveyancing.

Local knowledge and networks: Deep experience with municipalities, land‑use tribunals, environmental regulation and property transfers in the Garden Route, Cape Town and broader Western Cape.

Conveyancing: Our friendly team of conveyancing paralegals are seasoned professionals with years of experience. They are dedicated to guiding clients through every step of the process with clarity and care. Stadler & Swart Attorneys is also proudly represented on the conveyancing panels of major financial institutions, including ABSA Bank, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Investec, FNB, and SA Home Loans.

 

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been our development attorneys over many years, and they have demonstrated their expertise not only in respect of property, land use and environmental law, but also in providing high quality conveyancing services. They attend to all our conveyancing needs at Paradise Coast which includes the drafting of all contracts. If you need to keep any property lawyer close to you, this is the firm to associate with.

    G A van Rensburg, Managing Director, Nuvest (Pty) Ltd

  • Stadler & Swart Inc and specifically Mr. André Swart represents the Devonbosch Development, Stellenbosch. In our experience, Mr. Swart and his team have demonstrated their complete professionalism and high competency in understanding our case and guiding us strategically through all the legal options available to us. Mr. Swart and his colleagues have always ensured their availability for consultation and we have provided the best possible level of service.

    Pieter van der Westhuizen, Development Manager, Devonbosch, Stellenbosch

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been the development attorneys for the Groenkloof Retirement Village Group since the Group's inception in 2003. They have provided expert assistance in obtaining the development rights and environmental approvals and have executed excellent conveyancing services for our developments. Stadler & Swart Inc's contribution to a development such as ours has proven invaluable and we proudly associate with them.

    Jan Pienaar, Managing Director, Groenkloof Retirement Village Group

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys are a highly respected property law specialist firm and render land use and environmental law advice of an exceptional quality. I have worked with them over many years in respect of matters in the Garden Route as well as in the Stellenbosch area and they have consistently proven themselves experts in the fields they specialise in.

    Hendrik Kotze, Director, Werksmans Inc.

  • In my capacity as a practicing member of the Cape Bar, I have over the past 15 years been regularly briefed by Mr Andre Swart, as well as by certain of his associates, in a range of planning, environmental and general property matters. Many of these matters have been complex and demanding. I regard Mr Swart as being one of the most experienced and competent attorneys with whom I have worked over the past 35 years, in what are highly specialised fields in which he practices. I can think of few, if any, property lawyers better equipped than Mr Swart to render specialised legal services to property owners, property developers and others operating in this field, particularly where one is dealing with large developments requiring high planning, property and environmental expertise.

    Adv Sean Rosenberg SC

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • I have worked with Andre Swart of Stadler & Swart Inc for several years and can attest professionalism, knowledge and experience, in particular in respect of matters relating to property, planning and environmental law.

    David Hertz, Chairman of Werksmans Attorneys

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys have advised the Atterbury Group of Companies over many years and their specialist knowledge and experience in the fields of property development and environmental law is invaluable. If you get involved in a complex or challenging property transaction, I would strongly recommend them.

    Louis van der Wast, Atterbury Group CEO