Africa Community Media (Pty) Ltd and Others v Standard Bank of SA Ltd ; Africa Community Media (Pty) Ltd and Others v Standard Bank of SA Ltd and Another (Leave to Appeal) (9318/2022) [2024] ZAWCHC 20 (19 February 2024)

 

 

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA

(WESTERN CAPE DIVISION, CAPE TOWN)

 

Case No: 9318/2022

 

 

AFRICA COMMUNITY MEDIA (PTY) LTD First Applicant

ANA STUDIO (PTY) LTD Second Applicant

ALLIED LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Third Applicant

BANNER NEWS AGENCY (PTY) LTD Fourth Applicant

CONDE NAST INDEPENDENT MAGAZINES (PTY) LTD Fifth Applicant

CONTENT NATION MEDIA (PTY) LTD Sixth Applicant

INSIGHTS PUBLISHING (PTY) LTD Seventh Applicant

GLOBAL COMMAND AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD Eighth Applicant

INDEPENDENT MEDIA SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Ninth Applicant

INDEPENDENT MEDIA SA (PTY) LTD Tenth Applicant

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS (PTY) LTD Eleventh Applicant

KATHEA COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Twelfth Applicant

AFRICA ONLINE RETAIL (PTY) LTD Thirteenth Applicant

ORLEANS COSMETICS (PTY) LTD Fourteenth Applicant

WIKIDEALS (PTY) LTD Fifteenth Applicant

TRIPOS TRAVEL (PTY) LTD Sixteenth Applicant

INDEPENDENT ONLINE SA (PTY) LTD Seventeenth Applicant

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (PTY) LTD Eighteenth Applicant

SAGARMATHA TECHNOLOGIES LTD Nineteenth Applicant

ANA PUBLISHING (PTY) LTD Twentieth Applicant

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY PICTURES (PTY) LTD Twenty-first Applicant

3 LAWS CAPITAL SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD Twenty-second Applicant

SGT SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Twenty-third Applicant

AFRICA EQUITY EMPOWERMENT INVESTMENT LTD Twenty-fourth Applicant

BUSINESS VENTURE INVESTMENTS NO 1581(RF) (PTY) LTD Twenty-fifth Applicant

THE DR. IQBAL SURVÉ BURSARY TRUST Twenty-sixth Applicant

THE SOUTH ATLANTIC ARTS AND CULTURE TRUST Twenty-seventh Applicant

ESP AFRICA (PTY) LTD Twenty-eighth Applicant

SIZWE AFRICA IT GROUP (PTY) LTD Twenty-ninth Applicant

KALULA COMMUNICATIONS (PTY) LTD Thirtieth Applicant

PARTI TRUST Thirty-first Applicant

and

THE STANDARD BANK OF SA LTD Respondent

 

AND

Case No: EC08/2023

 

 

AFRICA COMMUNITY MEDIA (PTY) LTD First Applicant

ANA STUDIO (PTY) LTD Second Applicant

ALLIED LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Third Applicant

BANNER NEWS AGENCY (PTY) LTD Fourth Applicant

CONDE NAST INDPENDENT MAGAZINES (PTY) LTD Fifth Applicant

CONTENT NATION MEDIA (PTY) LTD Sixth Applicant

INSIGHTS PUBLISHING (PTY) LTD Seventh Applicant

GLOBAL COMMAND AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD Eighth Applicant

INDEPENDENT MEDIA SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Ninth Applicant

INDEPENDENT MEDIA SA (PTY) LTD Tenth Applicant

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS (PTY) LTD Eleventh Applicant

KATHEA COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Twelfth Applicant

AFRICA ONLINE RETAIL (PTY) LTD Thirteenth Applicant

ORLEANS COSMETICS (PTY) LTD Fourteenth Applicant

TRIPOS TRAVEL (PTY) LTD Fifteenth Applicant

INDEPENDENT ONLINE SA (PTY) LTD Sixteenth Applicant

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (PTY) LTD Seventeenth Applicant

SAGARMATHA TECHNOLOGIES LTD Eighteenth Applicant

ANA PUBLISHING (PTY) LTD Nineteenth Applicant

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY PICTURES (PTY) LTD Twentieth Applicant

3 LAWS CAPITAL SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD Twenty-first Applicant

SGT SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD Twenty-second Applicant

AFRICAN EQUITY EMPOWERMENT INVESTMENT LTD Twenty-third Applicant

BUSINESS VENTURE INVESTMENTS NO 1581 (RF) (PTY) LTD Twenty-fourth Applicant

THE DR. SURVE BURSARY TRUST Twenty-fifth Applicant

THE SOUTH AFRICAN ATLANTIC ARTS AND CULTURAL TRUST Twenty-sixth Applicant

ESP AFRIKA (PTY) LTD Twenty-seventh Applicant

SIZWE AFRICA IT GROUP (PTY) LTD Twenty-eighth Applicant

PARTI TRUST Twenty-ninth Applicant

KALULA COMMUNICATIONS (PTY) LTD Thirtieth Applicant

WIKIDEALS (PTY) LTD Thirty-first Applicant

and

THE STANDARD BANK OF SA LTD First Respondent

LUNGISA FUZILE N.O. Second Respondent

 

Coram: Justice J Cloete

Heard: 15 February 2024

Delivered electronically: 19 February 2024

 

 

JUDGMENT IN APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL

 

 

CLOETE J:

 

Introduction

 

 

[1] For convenience the parties are referred to as before. Standard Bank applies for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal against the whole of my judgment and order delivered on 14 September 2023. The present application was only heard on 15 February 2024 by arrangement between the parties. The Sekunjalo Group and related entities (“SG”) oppose the application. In summary Standard Bank’s grounds of appeal are as follows (and I deal with each in turn hereunder):

1.1 The relief sought by SG was final in effect; I should have found it to be so and dismissed the applications (i.e. both High Court and Equality Court) by applying the test for final interdictory relief and concluding SG had failed to meet that test;

 

1.2 The relief I granted was in any event final in effect;

 

 

1.3 My order was vague and thus ineffective as well as arbitrary and thus irregular;

 

1.4 In any event SG failed to even make out a case for interim interdictory relief; and

 

 

1.5 There are conflicting decisions in both the High Courts and Equality Courts subsequent to the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bredenkamp III¹ where such courts ‘have wrestled’ with applications to interdict the closure of bank accounts, and it would be desirable for the SCA ‘to provide certainty by clarifying when and in what circumstances a bank may provisionally be interdicted against the closing of an account of a client’.

Relief sought by SG was final in effect

[2] During argument counsel for Standard Bank properly conceded that: (a) it was open to me to have granted alternative relief as prayed instead of the primary (or main) relief sought; and (b) I granted alternative relief (in the form of a structural interdict for all of the reasons contained in my judgment). That is the end of this ground of appeal.

Relief granted was final in effect

[3] Cut to its core, Standard Bank’s argument is that the fixing of a period of 12 months (i.e. until 11 September 2024) rendered my order final in effect. (It is not necessary to deal with that portion of my order pertaining to earlier final determination of the main applications since the parties are in agreement this will not occur before 11 September 2024).

[4] However the reasoning in my judgment, in my respectful view, demonstrates that my order was not final in effect, particularly when regard is had to paras 25 to 28 thereof.

[5] Various developments have occurred since I granted the September 2023 order (as partly foreshadowed in para 28 of my judgment). I was informed of these from the Bar during argument. Some have been adverse to SG and some favourable to it. Again, in my respectful view, these developments serve to reinforce why the parties should be afforded the opportunity to place them, and their respective views on their implications, properly before the court at the next hearing.

[6] This will enable that court to reach an informed decision about whether any relief should be granted to SG subsequent to 11 September 2024. I cannot take the implications of these subsequent developments into account for purposes of considering whether leave to appeal should be granted. I am bound by the four corners of my judgment.

[7] Moreover I do not understand the legal position to be that the mere fact of a fixed duration automatically translates into final relief. It all depends on the circumstances. In Apleni² Vivier JA stated:

‘The interim interdicts sought would have been operative for the duration of the Appellants’ detention. In this sense it would have had final effect in that nothing which may subsequently have been decided could detract from the efficacy which the orders enjoyed while they were in force. However, on the facts of the present applications the grant of interim interdicts did not involve a final determination of the rights of the parties and did not affect such determination… The grant of interim interdicts did not amount to any finding on the facts, which would only have been made, together with appropriate orders as to costs, upon the final determination of the issues between the parties. Although final in effect, the interdicts sought were thus certainly not final in substance. The fact that the determination of the issues would only have taken place after the risk of injury had passed was obviously no bar to the grant of the orders…’

[8] I have been unable to find any authority which has overturned this longstanding principle. The very purpose of the structural interim interdict I granted was to try to do justice to both parties pending the outcome of parallel litigation and progress with case management, as is evident from paras 25 to 28 of my judgment. It follows that this ground of appeal fails.

Order vague and thus ineffective as well as arbitrary and thus irregular

[9] The ‘arbitrary and thus irregular’ ground fell away as soon as counsel for Standard Bank made the concession that I was entitled to have granted alternative relief. The vague and incapable of implementation ground is founded on the contention that I incorporated into the order ‘a dispute between the parties relating to’ FICA.³

[10] Standard Bank argues that by prohibiting it from closing SG’s accounts for the reasons stated in its termination notices dated 25 April 2022, 7 July 2022 and 26 July 2022, my order is reasonably capable of bearing irreconcilable meanings. My response on this score is as follows.

[11] First, as pointed out in para 29 of my judgment the notices dated 7 and 26 July 2022 did not appear to form part of the papers before me. It was not submitted during argument that I erred in this regard. Second, an ambiguity can be cured under rule 42 of the uniform rules of court but Standard Bank elected not to go this route, instead seeking to advance it as a ground of appeal without disclosing the contents of the missing letters.

[12] Third, the effect of any inability to conduct due diligence under s 21C of FICA going forward was not Standard Bank’s case before me. It relied on the inability to conduct due diligence in the past, and the purpose of interdictory relief (whether interim or final) is not to prevent past unlawful conduct. Fourth, and in any event, my order did not preclude Standard Bank from terminating SG’s accounts for any reason other than those contained in its termination letters, and para 4 of my order specifically provided that the structural interim interdict would not apply to its statutory reporting obligations contained in s 29 of FICA. This ground of appeal thus also fails.

SG failed to make out a case for interim interdictory relief

[13] During argument it was contended by Standard Bank that I applied the incorrect test in order to determine whether SG had established a prima facie right albeit open to some doubt, including one based on s 22 of the Constitution, namely freedom of trade (as well as occupation and profession). Although SG also relied on s 34 of the Constitution the law is clear that such reliance, on its own, does not provide a ground for any form of interdictory relief.⁴

[14] Mindful of the approach laid down in EFF v Gordhan,⁵ I was persuaded that, applying the Webster v Mitchell⁶ test, on this legal issue I could not find SG had no prospect whatsoever of obtaining final relief in the pending main applications. An additional factor was that at the time I heard the urgent applications it was too early to predict whether the main applications might be referred to oral evidence or to trial. I then followed the majority decision in Eskom⁷ as is apparent from para 13 of my judgment.

[15] If anything, Standard Bank’s fifth ground of appeal to which I have referred, i.e. the contention that there are conflicting decisions on interim interdictory relief in relation to banks closing client accounts, supports my view in respect of that prima facie right rather than detracting from it (for present purposes it does not matter that I disagree with Standard Bank’s contention as appears from what follows hereunder, but this is Standard Bank’s own case). It is also my understanding of the law that it is not incumbent on a party seeking interdictory relief to establish every single ground relied upon in order to obtain it.

[16] As regards the recent decision of the SCA in Nedbank III,⁸ on my reading thereof the issues are distinguishable from those in the matters I was required to determine, in particular no mention is made of any reliance by SG on s 22 of the Constitution.

[17] Having considered the lengthy submissions of counsel (because I do not set them all out does not mean I have ignored them) I am not persuaded that this ground of appeal meets the required threshold either.

Conflicting decisions on the application of Bredenkamp III

[18] Counsel for SG argued, persuasively in my view, that Standard Bank’s reliance on “conflicting” decisions in the context of my judgment is misplaced. I deal briefly with each. Oakbay⁹ concerned declaratory rather than interdictory relief. Annex Distribution I¹⁰ concerned an “interim interim” interdict.

[19] In Annex Distribution II¹¹ the court granted an application for interim interdictory relief against a bank threatening to close the applicants’ bank accounts pending the outcome of a review. The court however distinguished Bredenkamp III on two grounds, including that no public policy consideration was involved in that case. Likewise, for present purposes, in Bredenkamp III s 22 was ultimately not implicated, as is evident from the following passage of the judgment:

‘[30] The second is this: although the appellants, in the part quoted from the notice of motion, recited nearly every provision of the Bill of Rights, counsel stated that they do not suggest that the exercise of the right to terminate “implicated” any constitutional principle. It is accordingly not their case that the closing of the account compromised constitutional democracy, or their dignity, freedom or right to equality and the like, and the expansive interpretation of the Bill of Rights does accordingly not arise (s 39(1)). The case is about fairness as an overarching principle, and nothing more.’

[20] Annex Distribution III¹² and Talhado¹³ were firmly rooted in the purely contractual nature of a bank/client relationship. In Nedbank 1¹⁴ the court dismissed SG’s application for interim interdictory relief due to absence of jurisdiction. Ayo¹⁵ did not deal with the merits of the urgent interdictory relief sought. The application was simply struck from the roll for lack of urgency. Nedbank III I have already dealt with.

[21] Finally, the very recent dismissal by the Constitutional Court of SG’s application for leave to appeal a Competition Appeal Court judgment would have involved the consideration of a different standard for interim interdictory relief, namely that contained in s 49C(2)(b) of the Competition Act.¹⁶

[22] In any event, given the nature of my September 2023 order, it is my view that it would be premature for the SCA to be burdened with having to determine a matter of such constitutional importance where the hearing as to whether my order should be extended, amended or discharged will take place within the next six months or so. Whatever order the court may grant at the next hearing may or may not be appealable. Accordingly this ground of appeal also fails.

Whether it is nonetheless in the interests of justice for leave to be granted

[23] Applying the interests of justice test,¹⁷ I am also not persuaded to grant leave for the reasons contained in paras 5, 6, 8, 12, 14 and 22 of this judgment. To this I wish to add the following.

[24] First, Standard Bank could have insisted on a much earlier date for this application to be heard. Instead it waited for 5 months into a 12 month period. Second, it was only when I pointed out to its counsel during argument in reply that I could not dictate to the SCA when it should entertain the appeal if leave were to be granted that – suddenly – an undertaking was forthcoming from Standard Bank, despite its dire predictions on irreparable harm, not to close SG’s accounts pending any SCA judgment. This is unacceptable, and in any event counsel for SG were deprived of any prior notice of this undertaking and thus the opportunity to prepare and deal properly with it.

[25] In the result the following order is made:

The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed with costs, including the costs of two counsel where so employed in both case numbers 9318/2022 and EC08/2023.

________________

J I CLOETE

Case No: 9318/2022

For applicants in court a quo and respondents in application for leave to appeal:

Adv Vuyani Ngalwana SC, Adv Karabo Mvubu

Instructed by: Adriaans Attorneys (A Adriaans)

 

For respondent in court a quo and applicant in application for leave to appeal:

Adv Robin Pearse SC, Adv Phumlani Ngcongo, Adv Zanele Ngakane

Instructed by: Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa (J Ripley-Evans)

Case No: EC08/2023

For applicants in court a quo and respondents in application for leave to appeal:

Adv Muzi Sikhakhane SC, Adv Isaac Shai

Instructed by: Adriaans Attorneys (A Adriaans)

 

For respondent in court a quo and applicant in application for leave to appeal:

Adv Robin Pearse SC, Adv Phumlani Ngcongo, Adv Zanele Ngakane

Instructed by: Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa (J Ripley-Evans)