Case Law[2024] ZAGPPHC 857South Africa
Taskflow (Pty) Ltd v Aluxium (Pty) Ltd and Others (2021/40976) [2024] ZAGPPHC 857 (26 August 2024)
Judgment
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# South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
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## Taskflow (Pty) Ltd v Aluxium (Pty) Ltd and Others (2021/40976) [2024] ZAGPPHC 857 (26 August 2024)
Taskflow (Pty) Ltd v Aluxium (Pty) Ltd and Others (2021/40976) [2024] ZAGPPHC 857 (26 August 2024)
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sino date 26 August 2024
SAFLII
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Policy
IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG DIVISION,
PRETORIA
CASE NO: 2021/40976
(1)
REPORTABLE: YES/
NO
(2)
OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: YES/
NO
(3)
REVISED: YES/NO
DATE: 26/8/24
SIGNATURE:
In
the matter between:
TASKFLOW
(PTY)
LTD
The plaintiff
and
ALUXIUM
(PTY)
LTD
First Defendant
ANDRE
DE
KOCK
Second Defendant
CHRISTIAN
DAVID FRISCHE
Third Defendant
This
judgment was handed down electronically by circulation to the
parties’ legal representatives via email and by uploading
it to
the electronic file of this matter on Caselines. The date of judgment
is deemed to be
26 August
2024.
JUDGMENT
Discovery- compelling
discovery in terms of Rule 35(3) of Uniform Rules of Court.
Applicable legal
principles- relevancy
defences - resisting
application
failure to object to
amendments of the particulars of claim- changing nature of claim or
cause of action
Effect of
tender/undertaking made under oath- binding
MOGAGABE AJ
INTRODUCTION
1.
This is an application by the applicant (Taskflow)
seeking an order compelling the respondents to discover a computer
program and
software in compliance with the rule 35(3) notice, dated
14 April 2023, as more fully detailed hereafter.
RULE 35(3) NOTICE
DATED 14 APRIL 2023
2.
In terms of this notice, Taskflow calls upon the
respondents to discover:
(a)
the
computer program used by first respondent (Aluxium) on or about 29
July 2021 and thereafter to provide the four core solutions
referred
to on w[…] being Lux Help Desk, Lux Sales, Lux Voice and Lux
Marketing,
(b)
The
computer program used by Aluxium on or about 29 July 2021 and
thereafter, to provide the additional modules referred to on w[…]
being the workflow manager, project manager, HR management, Chatbot
and Live Chat, real estate, CRM, timesheets, website builder
and
e-learning
(c)
the software products and services used by Aluxium
to render, amongst others, logistical and customer support services
to the Mpumalanga
Health Department, DPC Laser Courier and the NDC,
as set out in the answering affidavit deposed to by the second
respondent (Andre
de Kock) dated 3 September 2021 under case number
2021/41676.
3.
However, prior to dealing with the merits of the
matter, it is appropriate for a proper appreciation of the entire
matter, to provide
the context that led to the launching of this
application to compel to compel discovery, as outlined hereafter. For
the sake of
convenience, the applicant will be referred to as
“Taskflow” or the plaintiff and the respondents as
defendants, as
so cited in the action instituted by the applicant
against the respondents, pursuant to which the Rule 35(3) notice,
forming the
subject matter of the present application, was issued by
applicant.
CONTEXT
4.
Context matters. An analysis of the pleadings
reveals the following context. The first and second respondents were
at all times
material hereto former employees and directors of
Taskflow. They resigned from Taskflow. Subsequent thereto they formed
or established
the first respondent (Aluxium). The core business of
Aluxium was to develop computer software programs for
inter
alia
marketing and sales thereof. As
such, Aluxium was a competitor with Taskflow in the field of
developing computer software programs.
5.
On
17
th
August
2021 the plaintiff instituted an action against the defendants in
this division under case no. 40976/2021. In terms of the
particulars
of claim,
[1]
the
plaintiff sought interdictory relief, interdicting and restraining
the defendants from infringing its copyright in its Taskflow
computer
program source code. The defendants filed a plea resisting the claim.
6.
On 19 August 2021, the plaintiff launched an
urgent application interdicting and restraining defendants from
infringing such source
code, on the basis that such conduct
constituted an infringement of its Taskflow computer source code. On
21 September 2021, Van
Der Westhuizen J delivered judgment and
dismissed the urgent application with costs on the basis,
inter
alia
, of the the plaintiff (Taskflow)
having “
dismally failed to
indicate a sufficient degree of objective similarity between the
alleged work and the alleged infringing work
on a qualitative level
”
.
7.
Thereafter the plaintiff (Taskflow) obtained an
Anton Piller order in terms of which the Sheriff made copies of
everything on first
defendant’s (Aluxium) computers, stored
such information in a hard drive disc and kept same in his
possession, until July
2022 when the Anton Piller order was
discharged or set aside and the Sheriff returned the hard drive disc
to first defendant (Aluxium).
8.
Consequent
to the judgment of Van Der Westhuizen J, Taskflow in October and
December 2021 amended its particular of claim,
[2]
still
relying on the infringement by Aluxium of its Taskflow computer
program source code. Defendants filed a consequential plea
based on
Van Der Westhuizen J’s judgment as aforesaid. Thereafter in
March 2023, Taskflow further amended its particulars
of claim (final
amended version)
[3]
and
deleted in its entirety its cause of action based on the infringement
of its computer program source code and substituted same
with a new
cause of action alleging that Aluxium/defendants has/have infringed
its Taskflow compute program and software (Taskflow
computer program)
by adapting or reproducing same without its authority or consent,
thus constituting an infringement thereof as
at 29 July 2021 and
thereafter. The defendants filed a consequential plea disputing or
resisting the claim.
9.
In April 2022, defendants delivered a rule 35(12)
notice calling upon Taskflow to produce for inspection and copying
its Taskflow
computer program, forming the basis of its claim as per
the amended final version of the particulars of claim, the “software
and source code”, “the reproduction and adaptation of the
Taskflow computer program” and the “copy, reproduction
or
adaptation of the Taskflow computer program”, so referred to in
the amended final version of Taskflow’s particulars
of claim.
10.
In
response thereto, Taskflow delivered an affidavit in terms of which
it stated that it was not in possession of the “adaptation
and
reproduction of the Taskflow computer program” referred to in
the amended final version of its particulars of claim,
contending
that defendants are in possession thereof, and thus was unable to
make same available to defendants for inspection and
copying. Insofar
as it concerned producing for inspection and copying its own Taskflow
computer program and source code, Taskflow
admitted being in
possession thereof, however stating that same will only be made
available to defendants, subject to defendants
“
concluding
a confidentiality undertaking agreeing or undertaking, inter alia, to
disclose or make same available only to defendants
advocates and
attorneys or to a person whom Taskflow has consented to in writing
and has also signed a similar undertaking”
.
Such conduct or attitude on Taskflow’s part indicates its
willingness to make conditional discovery, on condition that
defendants sign such confidentiality undertaking.
[4]
I
interpose point out
en
passant,
that
once documentation or information is relevant to an issue(s) between
the parties, as is apparent from or contained in the pleadings,
the
party required to disclose same, is obliged to discover same, in its
entirety without attaching any conditions.
11.
In response thereto, defendants declined to sign
or conclude such confidentiality undertaking on the basis that
Taskflow’s
computer software program is an open source code
software, which code is available to the public, having regard to the
judgment
of Van Der Westhuizen J to the effect that Taskflow’s
computer software program was not confidential as Taskflow had
already
publicly disclosed same in the urgent application papers.
12.
Taskflow in turn responded thereto denying having
publicly disclosed the computer program, asserting that it only
disclosed “
the JAVA script portion
comprising only 5%”
of such
program. Furthermore, Taskflow stated that it will only comply with
the defendants’ rule 35(12) notice provided defendant
signed
the confidentiality undertaking. In conclusion, Taskflow threatened
that it will apply for an order compelling the defendants
to sign the
confidentiality undertaking. In the absence of a response by the
defendants, Taskflow by letter dated 23 June 2022
put defendants on
terms to sign the non-disclosure agreement (confidentiality
undertaking) by no later than close of business Friday
24 June 2022,
failing which it will proceed to launch the application compelling
defendants to do so. As at the date of the hearing
of the matter, the
threatened application never materialised. Likewise, the defendants
did not compel Taskflow to discover its,
Taskflow software program.
13.
I interpose to point out that the defendants
likewise made a proposal to Taskflow to the effect that they were
willing to disclose
their computer program, software and source code,
provided Taskflow agreed to sign an undertaking to the effect that
the parties
submit both their respective computer programs, software
and source codes to an independent expert for examination, to
determine
whether the defendants computer program, software and
source code, constitute an adaptation or reproduction of Taskflow’s
computer program. Taskflow likewise declined to do so.
14.
Instead of instituting the application to compel
the defendants to sign the confidentiality agreement, Taskflow issued
three rule
35(3) notices. The first and second notices were withdrawn
and related to the pleadings prior to the final amendment of the
particulars
of claim, calling upon defendants to produce the computer
software program used by Aluxium on or about 29 July 2021. In
response
thereto, defendants stated that they are no longer in
possession of the computer software program used by Aluxium on or
about 29
July 2021, as the hard drive disc so returned by the Sheriff
as aforesaid, containing amongst other things, such computer software
program, was stolen during a break - in at third defendant’s
residential garage during the latter period of July 2021. This
being
so, I point out that a litigant cannot be compelled to discover
documentation or information which was initially in its possession,
but subsequent thereto lost possession thereof due to theft.
15.
Thereafter
on 13 October 2022, Taskflow further amended its particulars of
claim.
[5]
16.
On 20
March 2023, Taskflow further amended its particulars of claim (final
amended version).
[6]
In
terms of this final amended version, a new paragraph 15A surfaced for
the first time i.e. was introduced in the particulars of
claim for
the first time. This is the paragraph on which Taskflow relies in
compelling defendants to discover its computer software
program and
source code as so listed in the said rule 35(3) notice as outlined in
paragraph 2 above. For the first time in terms
of paragraph 15A,
Taskflow introduces after the words “
including
those used by the first defendant on or about 29
th
July
2021
”
,
the words “
and
thereafter
”
.
[7]
17.
As the main thrust of the defendants’
resistance to the relief sought by the plaintiff herein, is based on
the averments foreshadowed
in the new paragraph 15A of the amended
particulars of claim, it is apposite to quote the relevant parts of
paragraph 13 and 15A
to the following effect:
“
13.
During
the course of June 2021 the plaintiff obtained knowledge that the
first defendant has, and that the second and third defendants
have
aided and/or abetted and/or caused the first defendant, without the
authorisation of the plaintiff, and without a licence
to:
13.1. make a
reproduction and/or adaptation of the Taskflow computer program
13.2
.
…
14
.
…
15
.
…
15A
.
The
reproduction and/or adaptations of the Taskflow computer program
referred to in paragraph 13 are those used by the first defendant
to
provide the solutions and modules referred to below
,
including
those used by the first defendant on or, or about, 29 July 2021 and
thereafter.”
[8]
The present application
to compel discovery relates solely to the third Rule 35(3) notice,
which is predicated on the averments
contained in the new paragraph
15A of the particulars of claim, as so finally amended.
APPLICABLE LEGAL
PRINCIPLES
18.
Rule 35(3) of the Uniform Rules of Court provides
thus:
“
If
any party believes that there are, in addition to documents or tape
recordings disclosed as aforesaid, other documents (including
copies
thereof) or tape recordings which may be relevant to any matter in
question in the possession of any party thereto, the
former may give
notice to the latter requiring him to make the same available for
inspection in accordance with subrule (6), or
to state on oath within
ten days that such documents are not in his possession, in which
event he shall state their whereabouts,
if known to him.”
19.
Rule
35 of the Uniform Rules of Court regulates the discovery, inspection,
and copying of documents and tape recordings by litigants,
relating
to any matter in question in legal proceedings, be it in trial
actions or motion proceedings. Rule 35 sets out the procedure
in
terms of which a litigant may ascertain what documents and tape
recordings relating to any matter in issue/question are in the
possession of the opponent. A party requesting discovery is entitled
in terms of the discovery rules to full or complete discovery
under
oath. Rule 35(3) as so foreshadowed above, accords to a party the
right to compel further discovery against a party who fails
to make
discovery or makes insufficient or incomplete discovery.
[9]
In
other words, Rule 35(3) is designed to provide a mechanism to
supplement discovery that had already occurred, in instances where
a
party contends that it is insufficient, incomplete or inadequate.
[10]
A
party seeking further discovery bears the onus of establishing facts
demonstrating a strong possibility or reasonable grounds
of the
existence of further relevant documents or tape recordings in the
possession of an opponent.
[11]
However,
the application of rule 35(3) is not absolute. In other words,
neither party has an absolute right to discovery or further
discovery. A court has a discretion after examination of the
recognised sources, including the pleadings and the nature of the
claim, whether to order compliance with the rule or decline to do
so.
[12]
20.
In trial actions discovery takes place after the
close of pleadings, whereas in motion proceedings same takes place
after all sets
of affidavits have been served and filed by the
parties.
21.
In
instances where a court is satisfied that an application to compel
compliance is tantamount to or constitutes in the circumstances
a
“fishing expedition” or that justice will not be served
by ordering further discovery, the application will be declined.
[13]
As
such, the provisions of rule 35(3) were not designed “
as
a tool to put a party in a position to draw the battle lines and
establish the legal issues, but as a tool used to identify factual
issues once legal issues are established
”
,
[14]
nor
was it intended to “
afford
a litigant a license to fish in the hope of catching something
useful
”
.
[15]
The
utilisation or employment of the discovery process or tool, should be
confined to instances where the parties are properly before
the court
and are litigating “
at
full stretch”
.
[16]
In
instances where a party to litigation does not have the relevant and
necessary evidence to support or bolster the legal issues
in
question, such party is not entitled to call for discovery or for
that matter further and better discovery.
[17]
22.
It is
an established principle of discovery that the party called upon to
make discovery, is obliged to discover documents “
which
may – not must either directly or indirectly advance or damage
the case of his adversary”.
Put
otherwise, there is an obligation on the parties to discover
documents “
which
may – not must either directly or indirectly enable the party
requiring discovery either to advance his/her case or
damage the case
of its adversary”
[18]
23.
The test in determining the liability or
obligation of a party to discover documentation or tape recordings
contemplated in Rule
35 remains that of relevance. This was
enunciated in
Continental Ore
in the following terms:
“
The
test of discoverability or liability to produce for inspection, where
no privilege or like protection is claimed, is still that
of
relevance; the oath of the party alleging non-relevance is still
prima facie conclusive, unless it is shown on one or other
of the
bases referred to above that the court ought to go behind that oath;
and the onus of proving relevance, where such is denied,
still rests
on the party seeking discovery or inspection”.
[19]
(My
emphasis).
24.
It is also trite that a party called upon to make
discovery in terms of Rule 35(3) is only obliged to discover
documents relevant
to a question in the action. In determining what
is relevant in a trial action, regard must be had to the pleadings
i.e. relevancy
is determined with reference to the pleadings.
Discovery can only be resisted on the basis of irrelevance and
privilege.
25.
For present purposes, the central principle
distilled from such jurisprudence is that in order for a party to
litigation to succeed
in compelling an opponent to discover
documentation, information or tape recordings, such party is enjoined
to discharge the onus
of proving or establishing that such
documentation, information or tape recordings are relevant to an
issue(s) in question between
the parties, as foreshadowed or
contained in the pleadings. Once relevancy is established, the
opponent is obliged to discover
the required documentation,
information or tape recordings, entitling a court in the exercise of
its discretion to order compliance
with the subrule, unless the
opponent can raise a defence like privilege. So much then for the
applicable legal principles, I turn
now to deal with the merits of
the relief sought by Taskflow compelling the defendants/respondents
to discover their computer program
and software as listed in
paragraph 2 above.
26.
This final amended version of the particulars of
claim is the current status of the pleadings herein. The present
application to
compel falls to be determined based on the pleadings
as they currently stand and in particular with reference to the
averments
foreshadowed in paragraph 15A of the particulars of claim
as so finally amended.
ISSUE FOR
CONSIDERATION
27.
In
essence, the central issue for determination herein is not a case of
testing the veracity or propriety of the plaintiff’s
or the
defendants case as foreshadowed or contained in the pleadings as they
currently stand. On the contrary, it is a case of
determining whether
Taskflow has proved that the computer program, software and source
code sought to be discovered by defendants,
are relevant in
determining an issue(s) in question between the parties, based on the
pleadings. Put otherwise in determining whether
the refusal or
resistance by the defendants in complying with the third Rule 35(3)
notice is in the circumstances justified.
[20]
28.
I proceed to do so as outlined hereinafter,
mindful of the caveat stated in paragraph 27 above.
RESPONDENTS’
DEFENCE(S)
29.
I deem it apposite to frontally dispose of the
following submission by the defendants, in resisting compliance with
the Rule 35(3)
notice to the following effect. Firstly, that Taskflow
has not discovered its own Taskflow computer program. Secondly, that
Taskflow
has also not discovered, amongst other things, the alleged
infringing computer program and software after being called upon to
do so by the respondents in their rule 35(3) notice dated 11 April
2023. I hasten to point out that the fact that Taskflow has failed
to
discover its own Taskflow computer program and software as well as
the alleged infringing computer program and software, do
not
constitute a defence in law, entitling defendants not to comply with
the third Rule 35(3) notice i.e. justifying the defendants'
resistance to the Rule 35(3) notice.
30.
In addition thereto, the defendants are resisting
the present application on the basis that in terms of jurisprudence
on the subject,
a litigant is not allowed to seek or compel discovery
to draw the battle lines, where no legal or factual issues have been
identified
by the pleadings, having regard to the plaintiff's
particulars of claim as finally amended. Furthermore, that a litigant
is not
allowed to use discovery as a tool to obtain evidence to
support the allegations made in its pleadings, where it has no
evidence
to bolster such allegations. As such, the Rule 35(3) notice
constitutes a “fishing expedition” on Taskflow’s
part designed to obtain evidence it does not have to bolster its case
as so pleaded in paragraph 15A, constituting in the circumstances
an
abuse of the discovery process by Taskflow. Such contentions are for
reasons set out below, misplaced.
ANALYSIS
31.
The discovery so required by the plaintiff
(Taskflow) in casu, is sought in the context of a pending trial
action between the parties.
It is common cause herein that the
pleadings have closed. The parties have exchanged discovery
affidavits. Thus, the central issue
for determination is whether the
plaintiff (Taskflow) has established that the documentation so
required to be discovered by the
defendants are relevant to an
issue(s) between the parties, having regard to the pleadings in the
action. In this regard, the plaintiff
contends that the computer
program, software and source code, required to be discovered by the
defendants, so listed in the third
Rule 35(3) notice, are relevant to
an issue(s) as so pleaded in paragraph 15A of the particulars of
claim as amended on 20 March
2023 (final amendment), as so outlined
above.
32.
The defendants dispute relevancy. The defendants
resist the relief sought on the basis that the conduct of Taskflow in
seeking the
computer program, software and source code, constitutes a
“fishing expedition” on Taskflow’s part to obtain
factual
evidence to bolster its case, enabling it to draw the battle
lines. In developing this argument, it is submitted as follows.
Taskflow
has amended its particulars of claim several times,
demonstrating that its case has moved from legal issues which were
resolved
as early as 2022, and has morphed into a new case or cause
of action in terms of which Taskflow does not have a shred of
evidence
to substantiate or support the allegations contained in the
final amendment. As such, defendants contend that the third Rule
35(3)
notice, constitutes a “fishing expedition” or an
attempt on Taskflow’s part to obtain factual evidence to
substantiate
the legal issues raised in the newly introduced
paragraph 15A i.e. to enable it to “draw the battle lines”,
which conduct
is impermissible in law, constituting an abuse of the
process of the law.
33.
This contention cannot in the circumstances pass
muster, for the simple reason that its not the court’s function
when dealing
with applications to compel discovery, to determine the
veracity or propriety of the claim/cause of action or defence raised
by
the parties in the pleadings. This is the function of the trial
court. The court’s duty is to determine whether a litigant
has
discharged the onus resting on it, proving that the documentation
sought to be discovered is indeed relevant to an issue(s)
between the
parties. Furthermore, if the defendants were aggrieved with these
amendments, they should have invoked the remedies
available to them
to deal with such amendments, namely, object thereto in terms of Rule
28(2) of the Uniform Rules of Court or
except to the amended
particulars of claim. They failed to do so. To raise such objection
long after the amendments have been effected
cannot avail the
defendants.
34.
In essence what the defendants are required to
discover in terms of Rule 35(3), is the computer program, software
and source code
used by the first defendant Auxium to render the
services that are being rendered by itself and/or the second and
third defendants,
for purposes of establishing whether such computer
program constitutes an adaptation or reproduction of Taskflow’s
computer
program. It is undisputable that this constitutes an
issue(s) in question between the parties as is apparent from the
pleadings
i.e. as foreshadowed in paragraph 15A of the particulars of
claim as so finally amended on 23 March 2023 (final amendment). As
per the averments contained in the newly introduced paragraph 15A,
the documentation and/or information the defendants are called
upon
to discover, is not confined to the usage by Aluxium of the computer
program on or about or until 29 July 2022. The scope
thereof extends
to and covers versions of the computer programs and software used by
Aluxium and/or the second and third defendants
on or about 29 July
2021, subsequent thereto and currently, i.e. as at the time of the
hearing of the matter. As such, the computer
program, software and
source code so used by Aluxium on or about 29 July and thereafter is
/are relevant to determine the triable
issue(s) foreshadowed in
paragraph 15A of the amended particulars of claim.
35.
It is in the circumstances common cause if not
undisputable that the averments foreshadowed in paragraph 15A of the
particulars
of claim as so finally amended, juxtaposed with the
defences raised in the consequential plea, reveal disputed or triable
issues
relating to the Taskflow computer program, software and source
code used by Taskflow and the computer program, software and source
code used by Aluxium and/or second and third defendants, in rendering
services to their respective clients or customers and in
establishing
whether Taskflow’s copyright has been infringed. The legal and
factual issues so raised on the pleadings can
only be resolved once
the defendants discover such relevant documentation and information
for inspection and copying by Taskflow,
to enable it to confirm or
establish whether such documentation or information constitute a
reproduction or adaptation of the Taskflow
computer program. The
defendants are legally obliged to do so.
36.
Accordingly, the defendants in compliance with the
third Rule 35(30) notice, are legally obliged to discover the
computer program,
software and source code as so listed in the third
Rule 35(3) notice, subject to the confidentiality agreement tendered
by Taskflow,
as more fully outlined hereafter.
TENDER BY THE
PLAINTIFF (TASKFLOW)
37.
In
terms of the letter by Taskflow’s attorneys dated 23 June
2023
[21]
, Taskflow tendered an
undertaking to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to the
defendants disclosing to it (making available
to Taskflow) their
documents, computer program and software, forming the subject matter
of the third Rule 35(3)
notice dated 14 April
2023. This tender is captured in the said letter to the following
effect:
“
Furthermore,
our client [Taskflow] undertakes , if required by your client, to
sign a confidentiality undertaking prior to taking
your clients’
documents, computer programs and software into its possession.”
38.
Such
tender is once again repeated in Taskflow’s founding
affidavit.
[22]
This
tender is encapsulated in paragraph 44 of the founding affidavit in
the following terms:
“
The
applicant [the plaintiff/Taskflow] has on previous occasions given
undertakings that the applicant [Taskflow] will conclude
a written
confidentiality undertaking prior to examining the respondents’
[defendants] computer program and/or software
.
The applicant also informed the respondents that it is willing to
provide the respondents
with
a copy of its computer program and software (29 July 2021 version)
subject to the respondents signing the confidentiality undertaking.
The
applicant once again tenders to sign the confidentiality undertaking
attached hereto marked “CN19” in order to examine
the
respondents computer program and software” (my emphasis).
39.
This tender made in a letter and repeated under
oath has not been withdrawn or revoked by Taskflow. Thus, it remains
operative and
binding on Tasklflow. As such, such tender will be
reflected in the order I intend making as set out hereafter.
ORDER
40.
In the result, I make the following order:
1. Subject to paragraph 2
hereof, the respondents are ordered to discover the documents,
computer programs and software as listed
in the Rule 35(3) notice
dated 14 April 2023 (a copy of which is annexure “CN12”
to the founding affidavit), within
a period of 10 (ten days) from
date of uploading this order on Caselines or service of this order on
the respondents or their attorneys
of record by electronic mail.
2. Such discovery by the
respondents, is subject to the tender made by the applicant to
conclude or sign a written confidentiality
undertaking, prior to the
delivery and examination by the applicant of the respondents computer
program and software as listed
in the Rule 35(3) notice dated 14
April 2023, within 10 (ten) days of the uploading of this order on
Caselines or service of the
order on applicant’s attorneys by
electronic mail. Such written confidentiality undertaking is
mutatis
mutandis,
similar to the written confidentiality agreement, a
copy of which is annexure “CN19” to the founding
affidavit.
3. The respondents are
ordered to pay the costs of this application on a party and party
scale, jointly and severally, the one paying
the other to be absolved
on scale B, which costs are limited to the employment of one counsel.
S J R MOGAGABE AJ
Acting Judge of the High
Court
Gauteng Division,
Pretoria
Counsel for the
applicant: R. Michau SC and PP Ferreira
Instructed by: Charl
Naude Attorneys
Counsel for the
respondent: P. Cirone
Instructed by: Spoor &
Fischer Attorneys
Date of Judgement: 26
August 2024
[1]
CaseLines
0011-128 to 0011-138.
[2]
CaseLines
0011-274 to 0011-289.
[3]
CaseLines
0011-290 to 0011-304.
[4]
CaseLines
0011-305 to 0011-307; CaseLines 0011-310 to 0011-313.
[5]
CaseLines
0011-326 to 0011-340.
[6]
CaseLines
0011-343 to 0011-356.
[7]
CaseLines
0011-349 to 0011-350.
[8]
[8]
Caselines 0011-348 to 0011-349.
[9]
Roucher
& Another v Beckenstrater
1954
(2) SA 483 (T).
[10]
The MV
Urgup:Owners of the MV Urgup v Western Bulk Carriers(Australia)(Pty)
Ltd 1999 (3)SA 500 (C) at 515D
[11]
Tractor
and Excavator Spares (Pty) Ltd v Groenedijk
1976
(4) SA 359 (W).
[12]
Rains
Ford v African Banking Corporation Ltd
1912
CPD 729
at 738.
[13]
Continental
Ore Construction v Highveld Steel & Vanadium Corporation Ltd
1971
(4) SA 589 (W).
[14]
STT
Sales (Pty) Ltd v Fourie
2010
(6) SA 272
(GSJ) at paragraphs [15] to [18].
[15]
The
MV Urgroup: Owners of the MV Urgroup v Western Bulk Carriers
(Australia) (Pty) Ltd
1999
(3) SA 500
(C) at paragraph 515D;
Investec
Bank v O’Shea NO
(unreported
decision of the Western Cape High Court) under case No: 10038/2014
(16 November 2020) at paragraph [16].
[16]
The
MV Urgroup
at
paragraph 513 I.
[17]
STT
Sales
at
paragraph [17].
[18]
STT
Sales paragraph 13.
[19]
Continental
Ore v Highveld Steel & Vanadium Corporation Ltd
1971
(4) SA 589
(W) at paragraph 598E-F.
[20]
Copalcor
Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd v GDC Hauliers (Pty) Ltd
2000 (3) SA 181
(W)
para [22]
[21]
Caselines 0011- 106
[22]
Caselines Founding Affidavit 0011- 19 paragraph 44.
sino noindex
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