Tag Archives: unanimous

National Commissioner of the South African Police Service v Southern African Litigation Centre and Others

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 2/14 North Gauteng High Court, 12 May 2012
SCA, 27 Nov. 2013		 19 May 2014 30 Oct. 2014 Majiedt AJ  Unanimous

On 30 October 2014

The central question in this case is the extent to which the South African Police Service (SAPS) has domestic and/or international law obligations to investigate alleged crimes against humanity, including torture, committed by Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe.  The High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal (the SCA) found that, on the facts of this particular case, SAPS were indeed obliged to investigate these allegations.

The Constitutional Court in a unanimous judgment dismissed the appeal by the SAPS and ordered SAPS to investigate the alleged crimes.

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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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Marthinus David de Klerk v Griekwaland West Cooperative CC

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 187/13  Northern Cape Division, 28 Nov. 2011
Northern Cape Division (Full Bench), 30 Aug. 2013		 13 May 2014 19 Jun. 2014 Van der Westhuizen J  Unanimous

By Michael Mbikiwa on 25 June 2014

The central legal question in this case is whether a debt restructuring proposal, purportedly sent to a creditor in terms of section 86(1) of the National Credit Act, is an act of insolvency for the purposes of section 8(g) of the Insolvency Act. However, in a unanimous judgment by van der Westhuizen J, the Constitutional Court (the “Court”) refused the application for leave to appeal without needing to reach this central question. 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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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 →

Estate Agency Affairs Board v Auction Alliance (Pty) Ltd and Others

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 94/13 Western Cape Division of the High Court,  21 Jun. 2012 27 Feb. 2014  Cameron J  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild on 16 March 2014

The case came before the Constitutional Court as an application for the confirmation of a an order by the Western Cape High Court which had found section of the Estate Agency Affairs Act 112 of 1976 (“EAAA“) and the Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 (“FICA“) to be constitutionally invalid. The sections, 32A of the EAAA and 45B of FICA afforded search and seizure powers to regulatory bodies.

The Estate Agency Affairs Board (“the Board“) regulates compliance with EAAA and was a supervisory body responsible for enforcing FICA compliance.  The Board suspected that the respondent, Auction Alliance (Pty) Ltd (“Auction Alliance“) had contravened both the EAAA and FICA and so attempted to conduct a search of Auction Alliance’s premises without a warrant under the challenged sections.  Auction Alliance refused to allow the inspectors from the board access, and instead brought this application, seeking to to prevent the Board from conducting the warrantless search, and to declare the relevant provisions invalid. It was agreed that in the interim the documents sought by the Board would be kept in the possession of KPMG pending the resolution of the litigation. The Board also brought a counter-application seeking that the High Court issue a search warrant allowing a search of Auction Alliance’s premises.  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 →

Ferris and Another v Firstrand Bank Limited and Another

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Case No. Lower Court Judgments Hearing Date Judgment Date Majority Author  Vote
CCT 52/13 South Gauteng High Court, 5 Oct. 2012 5 Nov. 2013 12 Dec. 2013  Moseneke ACJ  Unanimous

By Duncan Wild on 12 December 2013

The applicants, Destri Ferris and Soraya Ferris, entered a credit agreement with the Firstrand Bank Limited (“Firstrand“). They defaulted on their payments, and applied for debt review under section 86 of the National Credit Act 2005 (“NCA“). The debt counsellor proposed a debt restructuring which Firstrand refused. The matter was referred to the Magistrate’s Court, but then Firstrand terminated the review. Notice was not given to the Magistrate’s Court or the applicants of the termination.  The Magistrate’s Court, being unaware of the termination, ordered a debt restructuring. Firstrand instituted summons against the applicants, and after the applicants attorneys failed to comply with procedural steps in the litigation (without the knowledge of the applicants themselves), a judgment was taken against them in default.

When the applicants became aware of the judgment they applied to have the judgment rescinded, but this was refused. The applicants then appealed to Supreme Court of Appeal but leave to appeal was refused.

The Constitutional Court, in a unanimous judgment by Acting Chief Justice Moseneke (Skweyiya ADCJ, Cameron J, Dambuza AJ, Froneman J, Jafta J, Madlanga J, Mhlantla AJ, Nkabinde J, Van der Westhuizen J and Zondo J), found there was no basis to interfere with the SGHC’s decision. Firstrand was entitled to proceed to enforce the loan agreement under the National Credit Act as the applicants had breached the debt-restructuring order. The requirements for rescission of a judgment were therefore not met.

Download the judgment here.