Tag Archives: First Term 2014

Country Cloud Trading CC v MEC for Infrastructure Development, Gauteng

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 185/13  Gauteng Local Division, 8 Aug. 2012
SCA, 26 Nov. 2013		 20 May 2014 3 Oct. 2014 Khampepe J  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild on 3 October 2014

The primary question in this case was whether a third party can bring a claim against the party to a contract (where the claimant is not a party to the contract) as a result of loss suffered by the third party caused by the intentional repudiation of the contract.

The Constitutional Court, in a unanimous judgment by Justice Khampepe dismissed the appeal, finding that that cancellation of the contract in question was not wrongful as it did not fit within the existing law concerning interference with a contract, and nor was it necessary to recognise such a claim.

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Daluzolo Sali v National Commissioner of the South African Police Services and Others

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 143/13  Labour Court, Port Elizabeth, 21 May 2013 10 Mar. 2014 19 Jun. 2014 Cameron J  10-1

By Duncan Wild on 28 September 2014

The case concerns whether the age requirement in the recruitment polices of the South African Police Service (“SAPS“), unfairly discriminate of the basis of age.

The Constitutional Court denied the applicant leave to appeal on the basis that he had only raised a challenge to constitutionality of  the SAPS recruitment age bar on appeal, which is not acceptable. In addition, the Commissioner of the SAPS had raised the age bar from 30 years, which is set in the application regulations, to 40, and if the Court were to set aside the decision to raise the age limit to 40 years, this would leave the applicant in worse position, by leaving the 30 year age limit in place. The the Constitutional Court held would not be in the interests of justice. Continue reading →

Allpay Consolidated Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Others v The Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency and Others

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 48/13 North Gauteng High Court, 28 Aug. 2012
SCA, 27 Mar. 2013		 10 Sep. 2013

Remedy 

11 Feb. 2014

 29 Nov. 2013

Remedy

17 Apr. 2014

  Froneman J.  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild and Mzukisi Kota

AllPay Consolidated Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd (“Allpay“) bid for a tender from the South African Social Security Agency (“SASSA“) to administer the national social grant system worth R10 billion, but the tender was awarded to Cash Paymaster Services (Pty) Ltd (“CPS“).  Allpay then challenged the decision in the North Gauteng High Court (“NGHC“) on the basis of alleged flaws in the tender process, including the composition of the Bid Evaluation Committee, the failure of CPS to submit separate provincial bids, and the failure to assess CPS’s BEE partners capacity to perform their obligations.  The NGHC accepted Allpay’s challenge, but the SASSA appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA“).

The Constitutional Court unanimously found the tender unlawful, but in view of the potential ramifications requested further submissions on an appropriate remedy.

In a second judgment on remedy the Court, an another unanimous decision authored by Justice Froneman, found that a new tender process should be carried out, but that in the mean itme Cash Paymaster was to continue providing the services in view of the constitutional and contractual obligations to maintain a workable payment system.

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Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Western Cape v The Habitat Council and Others

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 117/13 Western Cape High Court, 14 Aug. 2013 10 Feb. 2014 4 Apr. 2014  Cameron J  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild 12 April 2014

This matter pertains to the validity of section 44 of the Land Use and Planning Ordinance (“LUPO“) in so far as it allows the provincial government of the Western Cape, through the applicant, the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape (“Minister“), to hear appeals from the decisions municipalities on certain land use planning decisions.  The key question in the matter is the constitutional inter-relationship between the provincial and municipal spheres of government and their powers in relation to land use planning.  The potential importance of the Constitutional Court’s decision in this matter lies in the fact that in the relationship between provincial and municipal power.

The Constitutional Court, in an unanimous decision authored by Cameron J, confirmed the High Court’s finding of invalidity of section 44, however, but not in its entirety. We set out the background to the matter and the High Court’s decision below.

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Mdodana v Premier of the Eastern Cape and Others

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 85/13 Eastern Cape High Court, 13 Jun. 2013 13 Nov. 2013 25 Mar. 2014  Dambuza AJ  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild on 12 April 2014

In this case certain sections of the Pounds Ordinance, no 18 of 1938 (“the Ordinance“) which deals with the impoundment of livestock are challenged on various grounds, including its violation of the rights to equality, against the arbitration deprivation of property, to just administrative action and to the right of access to courts.

The Ordinance provides for the establishment of municipal pounds and the appointment of poundmasters. It provides that stray animals found on private property may be sent by the owner of that property to a pound, and for the impoundment of unattended animals found in public places.

The High Court found the Ordinance to be invalid, and the decision went for confirmation to the Constitutional Court.  The Constitutional Court, however, in a unanimous decision authored by Dambuza AJ, found that the as the Ordinance did not amount to a “provincial act”, the High Court’s finding of invalidity did not require confirmation by the Constitutional Court to be effective.  In the Eastern Cape then, the High Court’s order of invalidity stands, but not in the Western Cape and Northern Cape, the Constitutional Court however ordered that its decision be delivered to the Premier’s of the Western Cape and Northern Cape.

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National Union of Public Service & Allied Workers Union (NUPSAWU) obo Mani and Others v National Lotteries Board

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 75/13  Labour Court Johannesburg, 3 February 2011
Supreme Court of Appeal, 24 May 2013		 19 Nov. 2013 10 Apr. 2014  Zondo J  6-3

By Greg Palmer and Duncan Wild on 12 April 2014

This case concerns an appeal by the National Union of Public Service & Allied Workers Union (“NUPSAWU“) against the decision of the Labour Court in terms of which the dismissal of ten employees of the National Lotteries Board (“NLB“) was found to be procedurally and substantively fair. Reinstatement of the employees was sought by NUPSAWU.  The Constitutional Court, in a majority decision by Zondo J, overturned the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal and ordered that the employees be re-instated

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Savoi and Others v National Director of Public Prosecutions and Another

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 71/13 Kwazulu-Natal High Court, 17 May 2013 11 Nov. 2013 20 Mar. 2014  Madlanga J  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild and Greg Palmer on 23 March 2014

This case involves a constitutional challenge to certain sections of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 21 of 1998 (“POCA“). Some of the sections are predicated on the definitions (also challenged) in POCA of “pattern of racketeering activity” and “enterprise” and which the applicants contend are unconstitutional, invalid and void for vagueness. Chapter 2 of POCA is also challenged on the basis that it operates retrospectively in violation of section 35(3)(1) of the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and section 2(2) of POCA is said to violate the fair trial rights of an accused.

The Constitutional Court, in an unanimous judgment authored by Justice Madlanga, and concurred in by Moseneke ACJ, Skweyia ADCJ, Cameron J, Dambuza AJ, Froneman J, Jafta J, Mhlantla AJ, Nkabinde J and Zondo J, dismissed these challenges finding that the impugned sections of POCA were defensible.

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Loureiro and Others v iMvula Quality Protection (Pty) Ltd

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 40/13 South Gauteng High Court, 30 Sep. 2011
SCA, 15 Mar. 2013 		 6 Nov. 2013 20 Mar. 2014  Van der Westhuizen J  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild on 23 March 2014

Imvula Quality Protection (Pty) Ltd (“iMvula“) was hired to provide security guards to guard the home of Lincio Loureiro (“Loureiro“) and his family. In January 2009, an armed robbery occurred at the house after a man pretending to be a police was allowed entry to the house by a guard employed by Imvula.

The Constitutional Court found that iMvula had breached its contractual duty, owed to Loureiro, not to allow access to the premises to any person without authorisation. In addition, that iMvula, as a security company, owed a duty to prevent harm, and in addition, the guard on duty had breached that duty by negligently failing to take the necessary precautions in allowing the disguised robber access. Continue reading →

Kubyana v Standard Bank of South Africa Limited

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 65/13 North Gauteng High Court, 8 Nov. 2012 7 Nov. 2013 20 Feb. 2014 Mhlantla AJ  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild on 20 February 2014

The applicant, Moshomo Kubyana (“Kubyana“), entered a credit agreement to finance the purchase of the car with the respondent, The Standard Bank of South Africa (“Standard Bank“). This agreement was subject to the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 (“NCA“).

When Kubyana defaulted on the agreement Standard Bank sent a notice of default to Kubyana by registered post under section 129 of the NCA. The notice was not collected and returned to Standard Bank. The High Court found that the NCA did not require personal service and allowed a credit provider to send the notice by registered post. Kubyana had not provided any explanation as to why the notice did not reach him, and in these circumstances the High Court could not refuse judgment based on non-compliance with the NCA.

The Constitutional Court, in a decision authored by Mhlantla AJ (Moseneke ACJ, Skweyiya ADCJ, Cameron J, Dambuza AJ, Froneman J, Madlanga J and Van der Westhuizen J concurring) found that Standard Bank had complied with its obligations under the NCA. In effect it found that the notice requirement under section 129 was important in order to bring the consumer’s attention to his or her rights, and to achieve resolution without the need to go to court.  However, what is required of the credit provider is to take those steps sufficient to bring the notice to the attention of a reasonable consumer.   Continue reading →

Johanna Malan v City of Cape Town

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date
CCT 143/13 Western Cape High Court, 22 April 2013 20 Feb. 2014

By Avani Singh on 19 February 2014

This is an application for leave to appeal against a decision of the Western Cape High Court (per Dolama J) (“the High Court“) that ordered the eviction of Johanna Malan (“Malan“).  The main issue for determination is whether the City of Cape Town (“the City“) was entitled to cancel Malan’s lease and seek her eviction, along with that of her children, from property owned by it and forming part of its sub-economic housing scheme. Continue reading →