In recent times, enormous developments occurred in the field of mineral and water rights following the promulgation of legislation in which the state was statutorily appointed as the guardian or trustee of the resources concerned. This statutory intervention dramatically changed not only the property right paradigm in terms of which resources are managed, but also the nature of rights that may be obtained in respect of resource units.

The research that Elmarie van der Schyff conducts focuses specifically on the new property right paradigm, the nature and content of rights that can be obtained in respect of the resource units, and the impact that the establishment of the new regulatory regimes have on previously existing rights.