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Citation
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Judgment date
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| February 2025 |
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Reported
Leave to appeal refused; contempts upheld as respondents failed to rebut presumption of wilfulness and mala fides.
Contempt of court – non‑compliance with orders declared operational; presumption of wilfulness and mala fides once order, knowledge and non‑compliance established; evidentiary burden on alleged contemnor to raise reasonable doubt – reliance on legal advice and conflicting orders insufficient without disclosure or seeking judicial clarification; high threshold for leave to appeal under s 17(1) Superior Courts Act.
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14 February 2025 |
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14 February 2025 |
| December 2024 |
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Whether bank and its officials wilfully and mala fide disobeyed High Court orders granting municipal account access.
Contempt of court – non‑compliance with operative High Court orders granting municipal officials access to bank accounts – presumption of wilfulness and mala fides where order, knowledge and non‑compliance established – reliance on legal advice and pending appeals insufficient to rebut presumption – irregular appeal notices set aside under Rule 30(1) – punitive sanctions (fines, periodic imprisonment) and attorney‑and‑client costs imposed; conduct of counsel criticised.
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18 December 2024 |
| June 2022 |
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Applicants’ beneficiary election invalid under trust deed; no basis to remove lawfully appointed trustees; application dismissed.
Trust law – communal/trust instrument interpretation – trustees (not beneficiaries) appoint replacements unless deed provides otherwise; resignation and reappointment; Master’s issuance of letters of authority; locus standi of applicants to remove trustees; removal under s20(1) Trust Property Control Act requires showing continuance endangers trust or beneficiaries.
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10 June 2022 |
| May 2022 |
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Statutory audit fees determined by the Auditor‑General are liquidated demands and default judgment applications must be referred to the Registrar.
Public Audit Act – audit fees – whether statutory audit fees determined by Auditor‑General are debts or liquidated demands – Rule 31(5)(a) – default judgment referral to Registrar; distinction from quantum meruit claims.
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26 May 2022 |
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Interim order reviving a cancelled contract was appealable; termination upheld for respondent's repudiation and lack of locus.
Civil procedure – appealability of interim/ex parte interdict – final effect of reviving contractual rights; Locus standi – unincorporated joint venture v company – necessity to cite members or prove authority; Contract law – repudiation by suspension of performance and consequent lawful termination; Arbitration clause – failure to invoke does not preclude cancellation where repudiation is established.
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26 May 2022 |
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Restrictive title-deed consent requirements do not prevent liquidators lawfully transferring property sold in liquidation.
* Property law – restrictive title-deed conditions – whether such restrictions bind liquidators selling assets in liquidation; * Insolvency law – duties of liquidator to realise assets for creditors; effect of restrictive covenants on sales in liquidation; * Deeds registration – registrar’s obligation to register transfers following lawful liquidation sales; * Procedure – validity of trustees’ resolution taken without homeowners’ nominees; costs implications.
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20 May 2022 |
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Trustees entitled to interim access to trust bank accounts; ex parte curator appointment not revived by invalid notice of appeal.
Trust law – trustees’ right to administer trust funds and access bank accounts; interim interdict – Setlogelo factors; ex parte orders – reconsideration and effect of notice of appeal; res judicata and lis pendens as bar to counter-applications; Rule 28 amendment requirements.
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19 May 2022 |
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Ex parte attachment rescinded for material non-disclosure, lack of trustee authority and failure to establish anti-dissipation requirements.
Ex parte relief – full and fair disclosure required; material non-disclosure and repetition of failed ex parte application vitiate order; trustees acting jointly — locus standi in representative trust actions; anti-dissipation/interdict requirements — prima facie right and well‑grounded apprehension of irreparable harm; abuse of process – punitive costs and de bonis propriis liability.
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17 May 2022 |
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High Court has concurrent jurisdiction to review administrative employment-related decisions under PAJA and section 33.
* Constitutional and administrative law – jurisdiction – High Court concurrent jurisdiction with Labour Court where claim framed as administrative action under section 33 and PAJA. * Labour law – section 157 LRA – does not automatically oust High Court jurisdiction; jurisdictional inquiry based on pleadings. * Remedies – availability of labour remedies does not preclude plenary review in High Court. * Authorities – Gcaba; Chirwa; Boxer Superstores; Baloyi.
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16 May 2022 |
| April 2022 |
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A notice for leave to appeal does not revive a discharged provisional liquidation; bank must reinstate the applicant's overdraft.
Insolvency law – provisional liquidation discharged – a notice for leave to appeal does not revive a discharged provisional liquidation; Superior Courts Act s18 inapplicable where discharge not suspended. Bank law – rights to place holds or suspend facilities on suspected liquidation; bank may act prudently but court may order reinstatement where hold is based on incorrect revival belief. Urgent application – relief not res judicata where relief differs and additional parties (bank) joined.
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8 April 2022 |
| April 2018 |
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Accomplice evidence corroborated by cellphone data upheld; convictions under a repealed Explosives Act and duplicate conspiracy conviction set aside.
Criminal law — accomplice evidence (s 204) — cautionary approach and corroboration by cellphone call-detail and tower data; common purpose liability may be applied if evidence shows prior agreement/active association despite no express allegation in indictment; duplication — conspiracy and completed offence cannot both stand; convictions under repealed statute invalid absent charge amendment.
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26 April 2018 |