Indemnity

When you partake in an activity in South Africa, whether it be bungee jumping or walking over a bridge, you agree to waive any legal proceedings or responsibility of the company/landowner. This extends to absolutely everything. The other day I agreed such a caveat to walk in a woodland. I cannot figure out the reason for this. Either several lawsuits have occurred costing a significant amount, or the powers that be consider many activities to be unsafe. In any event each activity, however trivial, remains the sole liability of the participant and therefore any negligence would be difficult to prove. My attention has been drawn to signs which explain this on many occasions, even when I crossed a sturdy footpath over a small waterway in Knysna.