Succession is conditional on survivorship. No person can succeed as an heir or legatee unless he or she survives the deceased person. Where an heir has predeceased or died simultaneously with the testator, such person cannot take any benefits from the estate.
The question begging an answer is what happens to an inheritance where the testator in the will has not specifically provided for simultaneous death. It is worth mentioning that in our law, contrary to the English law, there is no presumption that the younger has survived the older. Without proof to the contrary, the presumption is that such persons died simultaneously (Ex parte Graham 1963 (4) SA 145 (D)).
Generally speaking, it is only beneficiaries who are alive at the date of death of the testator who are entitled to take benefits under a will. A beneficiary who predeceases or dies simultaneously with the testator acquires no rights, nor does his or her estate or heirs, unless the will provides to the contrary (see Ex parte Wessels and Venter NNO: In re Pyke-Nott's Insolvent Estate 1996 (2) SA 677 (O)).
Conclusion
Where spouses who are each other's heirs, be it under a will, or ab intestato, are killed in the same disaster – a shipwreck, an aero plane crash, a motor accident – the fortuitous factor of survivorship may be crucial in determining the order of succession. Where one of the spouses has survived the other by as little as a few minutes, the survivor can succeed to the first-dying but the first-dying cannot succeed to the survivor. However, where both died at exactly the same moment neither can succeed the other.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.