Case Law[2023] ZAGPPHC 216South Africa
Transasia Minerals (SA) Pty Ltd and Another v Kunene and Others [2023] ZAGPPHC 216; 019883/2023 (24 March 2023)
High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)
24 March 2023
Headnotes
SUMMARY: The High Court has inherent jurisdiction to set aside a subpoena duces tecum issued in the criminal court in circumstances where the conduct of the parties constitutes an “abuse of process”. The circumstances of each case must be evaluated when making a determination on the abuse issue.
Judgment
begin wrapper
begin container
begin header
begin slogan-floater
end slogan-floater
- About SAFLII
About SAFLII
- Databases
Databases
- Search
Search
- Terms of Use
Terms of Use
- RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds
end header
begin main
begin center
# South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
You are here:
SAFLII
>>
Databases
>>
South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
>>
2023
>>
[2023] ZAGPPHC 216
|
Noteup
|
LawCite
sino index
## Transasia Minerals (SA) Pty Ltd and Another v Kunene and Others [2023] ZAGPPHC 216; 019883/2023 (24 March 2023)
Transasia Minerals (SA) Pty Ltd and Another v Kunene and Others [2023] ZAGPPHC 216; 019883/2023 (24 March 2023)
Download original files
PDF format
RTF format
make_database: source=/home/saflii//raw/ZAGPPHC/Data/2023_216.html
sino date 24 March 2023
IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG
DIVISION, PRETORIA
CASE
NO: 019883/2023
(1) REPORTABLE: YES/NO
(2) OF INTEREST TO
OTHER JUDGES: YES/NO
(3) REVISED
DATE: 24/3/2023
SIGNATURE:
In the matter between:-
TRANSASIA
MINERALS (SA) PTYLTD
First Applicant
TRANSASIA
444 (PTY) LTD
Second Applicant
VS
LUNGANI
HECTOR KUNENE
First Respondent
UMSOBOMVU
COAL (PTY) LTD
Second Respondent
NATIONAL
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
Third Respondent
GLADNESS
NKAMISILE MTSHALI
Fourth Respondent
SENZO
MBATHA
Fifth Respondent
Coram:
Kooverjie
J
Heard
on
:
16
March 2023
Delivered:
24
March 2023 - This judgment was handed down electronically by
circulation to the parties' representatives by email,
by being
uploaded to the
Caselines
system of the GD and
by release to SAFLII. The date and time for hand-down is deemed
to be 17H30 on 24 March 2023.
SUMMARY:
The High Court has inherent jurisdiction to set aside a subpoena
duces tecum
issued in the criminal court in circumstances
where the conduct of the parties constitutes an “abuse of
process”.
The circumstances of each case must be
evaluated when making a determination on the abuse issue.
ORDER
It is ordered:-
1.
The matter is heard on an urgent basis as contemplated in Rule 6(12)
and the
Applicants’ failure to comply with the Rules of court
in respect of service and time periods is condoned.
2.
The Subpoena Duces Tecum in the matter between ‘The State and
Lungani
Hector Kunene and Umsobomvu Coal (Pty) Ltd under case
SCCC-078-2021 in the Regional Court Division of Gauteng held at the
Specialised
Commercial Crime Court, is set aside.
3.
The relief pertaining to the contempt of court and/or constructive
contempt
on the part of the first and fifth respondents is struck
off the roll.
4.
Each party is to pay its own costs.
JUDGMENT
KOOVERJIE
J
[1]
The applicants in this urgent application seek interim relief pending
the return date
of 15 August 2023 for:
1.1
the setting aside of a subpoena
duces
tecum
issued in the Regional Court
(“the subpoena”); and
1.2
declaring certain conduct of the first respondent (Mr Kunene) and the
fifth respondent (Mr
Mbatha), to be in contempt of court and of
constructive contempt of court and/or further in violation of Section
165(3) of the
Constitution.
[2]
The applicants’ core contention is that if the subpoena is not
set aside, the
fourth respondent will be compelled to testify in the
criminal court and disclose information (both confidential and
proprietary)
of the applicants to which it is not entitled to.
[3]
The applicants further contended that the second respondent,
Umsobomwu, and the fifth
respondent, Mr Mbatha, are in contempt of
court, in that they abused the processes of the court when they
caused the subpoena to
be issued.
THE
SUBPOENA
[4]
The subpoena was issued in the Regional Court, Gauteng, which
required the regional
manager of the Department of Minerals and
Energy (“the Department”) to appear on 20 April 2023 and
to disclose the
following documents, namely:
1.
“
All correspondence including all
electronic communication between the Department of
Mineral Resources and Energy
and
1.1
Transasia (Pty) Ltd;
1.2
Transasia Minerals (Pty) Ltd;
1.3
Transasia 444 (Pty) LTd;
1.4
Lyudmyla Royblat;
1.5
11 Miles Investments (Pty) Ltd;
1.6
Nakedi Matthews Phosa;
1.7
Umsobomvu Coal (Pty) Ltd; and
1.8
Hector Lungane Dominica Kunene.
2.
All
documents and submissions and correspondence considered by the
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, or his delegate in
the
application for consent in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum
Resources Act, Act 28 of 2002 (“the Act”) relating
to the
mining rights under the reference in KZN/30/5/1/2/2/1002MR and
KZN/30/5/1/2/2/1003MR (the mining rights).”
[5]
The said subpoena emanates from criminal proceedings where charges
have been laid
against the first respondent, Mr Kunene, and the
second respondent, Umsobomvu, which includes counts of theft and
money laundering.
It was alleged that they had acted unlawfully
and with the intent to defraud the applicants (who were the
complainants in the criminal
proceedings). Despite the
undertaking by the complainants to pay the purchase price, the
respondents had neither intention
to cede the mining rights to them
nor did they have the intention to authorize the application for
ministerial consent in terms
of Section 11 of the Act.
URGENCY
[6]
On the applicant’s version, this application should be
considered on an urgent
basis in the context of not only setting
aside the subpoena but also declaring the second and fourth
respondents to be in contempt
of court. With regard to the
subpoena proceedings, the applicants hold the view that there is a
well-grounded apprehension
of irreparable harm if the subpoena is not
stayed. Ms Mtshali (the fourth respondent) would be compelled
to comply with the
subpoena thereby disclosing the applicants’
Section 11 mining rights application, more particularly, the
confidential and
proprietary information which the respondents are
not entitled to.
[7]
The respondents contended that there could be no urgency in the
matter as Ms Mtshali
is only required to appear on 20 April 2023 and
furthermore that the applicants have failed to demonstrate that the
contempt orders
are urgent.
[8]
I will deal with the latter contention more in detail herein later.
I am, however,
of the view that this matter does warrant urgent
attention insofar as the execution of the subpoena is concerned.
It is not
disputed that Ms Mtshali is required to testify and make
available the documentation listed in the subpoena on 20 April 2023.
That in itself renders the matter urgent. The applicant would
most certainly not obtain substantial redress in the normal
course of
court proceedings.
BACKGROUND
[9]
The central dispute between the parties is premised on the disclosure
of documentation
identified in the civil proceedings and the criminal
proceedings, which pertain to the Minister’s decision to
approve the
applicants’ Section 11 mining rights application.
[10]
It is no secret that the parties have been embroiled in extensive
civil litigation for several
years. Of relevance to this matter
is the Minister’s approval of the mining rights application.
When the Minister
approved the applicants’ mining rights, the
second respondent, dissatisfied with the outcome of the application,
appealed
the said decision and requested the record of the said
Section 11 application. The respondents alleged that the
Department
is statutorily obliged to furnish such record in terms of
Section 23 and Section 96 read with Regulation 78 of the Act.
[11]
Since the applicants failed to abide to this request, an application
compelling them to do so
was heard before Mngqibisa-Thusi J, who
granted an order in the respondents’ favour ordering the
applicants to furnish the
said record. Such order was granted
on 28 June 2022.
[12]
The applicants, dissatisfied with the open-ended order, filed a
rescission application which
was heard before Millar J. On 29
August 2022, Millar J did not grant the rescission application, nor
did he dismiss the application.
He instead granted an order
ordering the applicants to furnish the Section 11 record. With
regard to the probable proprietary
and confidential documents he
stipulated a “confidentiality regime” that would
safeguard the alleged confidential documents
and proprietary
information (known as the Crown-Cork Order).
[13]
Once again, the applicants, dissatisfied with the outcome of Millar
J’s judgment, filed
their application for leave to appeal as
well as an application for leave to intervene. On 3
January 2023 Millar J
granted Transasia Minerals’ application
to intervene but dismissed the application for leave to appeal.
[14]
I wish to reiterate that in respect of the confidential documents
considered by Millar J, he
held the view that certain confidential
proprietary information may form part of the record. It was on
this basis that he
undertook to impose the confidentiality
regime.
[1]
[15]
The applicants, Transasia Minerals and Transasia 444, then applied to
the Supreme Court of Appeal
for the leave to appeal against the whole
of Millar J’s order. It was alleged that such
applications were respectively
served on the second respondent,
Umsobomvu, and the fifth respondent, Mr Mbatha, on 7 February 2023.
Further that on 3 of
February 2023 the applicants advised the
respondents that they would proceed with the applications for leave
to appeal to the Supreme
Court of Appeal.
[16]
The applicants pointed out that despite further correspondence of 9
February 2023 (two days later
after the service of the applications
for leave to appeal), Mr Mbatha requested the regional manager to
comply with Millar J’s
order. The applicants as well as
the legal representatives of the Department, being the State
Attorney, objected to the said
request. The respondents were
advised that in light of the pending court processes, more
particularly, the pending leave
to appeal application, they were not
entitled to the documents. On 10 February 2023 Mr Mbatha was
further advised in writing
of the aforesaid. Surprisingly, two
days later, on 16 February 2023, the respondents proceeded in having
the subpoena issued.
POINTS
IN
LIMINE
[17]
Two specific points
in limine
were raised, more particularly
the respondents contended that this court does not have jurisdiction
to set aside the subpoena and
secondly that the applicants do not
have
locus standi
to seek the setting aside of the subpoena.
At the hearing, the respondent did not persist with these points,
and, in my view,
rightly so.
[18]
On the aspect of the jurisdiction dispute, the High Court is entitled
to review proceedings of
any magistrate court situated in its
jurisdiction. It derives its powers from Section 22 of the
Superior Courts Act.
Even though the regional court is the best
placed court to determine a challenge on a subpoena, which it
conducts as part of the
criminal trial proceedings, in certain
circumstances the High Court may set aside a subpoena if there is
sound reason therefore.
In particular, if there is an abuse of
court processes.
[19]
It is trite that the magistrate court is a statutory creature and it
neither has statutory power
nor does it have inherent jurisdiction to
set aside the subpoena. The power to do so can only be
exercised by the High Court
in circumstances, particularly, when it
constitutes an abuse of process.
[2]
[20]
The
locus
standi
point also has no merit. An applicant who has a proprietary
interest in the documents referred to in the impugned subpoena
would
have the necessary
locus
standi
to seek the setting aside of such subpoena provided that there is
justification therefore.
[3]
It is common cause that the applicants have a direct and substantial
interest in the outcome of the litigation.
THE
DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION SOUGHT
[21]
The respondents take issue with the setting aside of the subpoena.
It was argued that the
documents listed in the subpoena are
relevant.
[4]
In fact, it was pointed out that this court is not in a position to
entertain the relevance issue. It did not
have the benefit of
the record in the criminal trial or the evidence led to date nor the
arguments presented by the State.
It had not even had sight of
the charge sheets in the criminal trial. On this basis it is
not able to draw any conclusions
regarding the relevance of the
documents.
[22]
Furthermore, the subpoena and the Millar J order are not in
conflict. The regional court
would be able to regulate access
to the documents in terms of the subpoena in a manner that does not
conflict with the Millar J
order.
[23]
This court was further cautioned not to interfere with the process
before the criminal court
as it is best placed to assess the
relevance of the documents. It was argued that a court should
not be urged to pre-empt
the determination of the very issues which
the regional court will be required to do. The regional court
is properly placed
to determine the question of relevance of the
documents listed in the subpoena.
[24]
It was submitted that the documentation listed in the subpoena were
relevant in that it would,
inter alia
, assist in determining
whether the ministerial consent was obtained fraudulently and/or
unlawfully. The respondents’
version is that the consent
was premised on a fraudulent power of attorney. A witness in
the criminal proceedings had already
testified that the Section 11
application was approved by the Minister and the (Malangeni) mining
right had already been ceded
and registered in the name of Transasia
in the Mining Titles Registry.
[25]
They further submitted that Ms Mtshali would be required to testify,
inter alia
, make available the documentation that would
demonstrate the manner in which the consent was furnished.
[26]
On the issue of the overbreadth of the subpoena it was explained that
the subpoena was not crafted
in a broad manner. The
documentation pertaining to the various entities had been requested
as the respondents were not aware
of which of the Transasia entities
were involved.
[27]
I have taken cognisance of the applicants’ explanation that the
documents furnished to
the Minister constituted the Section 11
application which included various proprietary and confidential
information namely:
(i)
business and trade secrets which had to be disclosed in the
application,
more particularly documentation
containing annual financial statements, financial guarantees
and financial information;
(ii)
technical data to demonstrate that Transasia has the ability to
conduct the proposed
mining operations optimally and the company
structures which includes a shareholder agreement.
[28]
I have further noted the argument advanced by the respondents:
namely that since they have
not been privy to the Section 11
application record, they were not able to confirm if such
confidential documentation, in fact,
existed.
[29]
Having regard to the pleadings as well as the submissions made on the
part of both parties, I
have noted the following aspects which cannot
be disputed, namely that:
(i)
the disclosure of the documents and information sought in the High
Court applications
and the documents and information requested in the
subpoena, both centered on Transasia’s Section 11 mining rights
application
record
[5]
;
(ii)
In both the civil and criminal proceedings, amongst the core issues,
the respondents
intend canvassing whether the ministerial consent was obtained
lawfully. The documents listed in the subpoena were “
all
documents and submissions and correspondence considered by the
Minister or his delegate in the application for the consent of
the
Section 11 of the Act relating to the mining rights under the
reference KZN/30/5/1/2/2/1002MR and KZN30/5/1/2/2/1003MR”
;
[6]
(iii)
moreover the confidentiality of certain of the documents, that form
part of the Section
11 application, was canvassed to a large extent
before Millar J. The respondents did not deny the possibility
of the existence
of the confidential documents. In fact, it was
at their behest that the confidentiality regime came into existence
and which
Millar J endorsed;
[7]
(iv)
the respondents were in fact furnished with the Section 11
application by way of a drop-box
folder prior to the litigation that
ensued between the parties. Dissatisfied therewith the
respondents argued that not only
were substantial portions of the
record redacted, they further argued that the full contents of the
application were not furnished
to them.
[30]
The respondents’ further argument that the documents requested
in the subpoena differ from
those that formed the subject matter of
the civil proceedings, particularly before Millar J, in my view, has
not been substantiated.
There is no merit in this contention.
The wording of the subpoena illustrates that it constitutes documents
pertaining to
the Section 11 mining rights application.
[31]
The respondents were
au fait
that the ambit of the evidence
centered on the Section 11 mining rights application.
[32]
I am mindful that the subpoena may have been crafted wider.
However, one must have regard
to the context of the subpoena.
The respondents explained that they had sought documents relating to
various other entities
as they were not sure which Transasia entity
was involved. However, such disclosure was once again only
sought to the extent
that it related to the mining rights identified
in the subpoena.
[33]
The court before Millar J would not have secured the documentation
and endorsed the confidentiality
regime if there was no merit
thereto. The applicant had further in its papers identified the
nature and extent of the confidential
and proprietary information it
referred to.
ABUSE
OF PROCESS
[34]
On the issue whether the subpoena constitutes an abuse, it is an
established principle that this
court may only set aside the subpoena
if it can be shown that it constitutes an abuse of process.
Although there is no all-embracing
definition of the abuse of
process, there are a plethora of authorities which have identified
instances where a case for abuse
of process had been established.
[35]
I however find it apt to refer to the
Price
Waterhouse Coopers
matter
[8]
where the court summarized the broad principles established over time
by our authorities, namely that:
(i)
a court is entitled to protect itself and others against an abuse of
process
(court referred to
Western
Assurance Co v Caldwell Trustee
1918 AD 262
at 271
;
Beinash v Wixley
1997 (3) SA 721A
at
734D; Brummer v Gorfil Brothers Investments (Pty) Ltd
1999 (3) SA 389
SCA at 412 C-D
);
(ii)
there is no specific definition for an abuse of process;
(iii)
there are various instances where
conduct under certain circumstances are considered to constitute
an
abuse of process, namely when there is a frivolous and
vexatious litigation;
(iv)
when proceedings are used for an ulterior purpose;
(v)
legal process which is utilized properly when it is invoked for the
vindication of
rights or the enforcement of just claims can
constitute abuse when it is diverted from its true course so as to
serve extortion
or oppression or to exert pressure so as to achieve
an improper end;
(vi)
the mere application of a particular court procedure for a purpose
other than that for
which it was primarily intended is typical, but
not complete proof of
mala fides
.
In order to prove
mala fides
a further interference that an improper result was intended is
required;
(vii)
purpose or motive, even a mischievous or malicious motive is not in
general criteria for unlawfulness
or invalidity;
(viii)
an improper motive may, however, be a factor where the abuse of court
process is in issue;
(ix)
a plaintiff who has no
bona fide
claim
but intends to use litigation to cause
a defendant financial
or other prejudice will be abusing the process
(see
Beinash
matter);
(x)
it must not be forgotten that courts of law are open to all and it is
only in exceptional
cases that a court will close its doors to a
litigant who wishes to prosecute an action (see
Western
Assurance Co
matter);
(xi)
the importance of a right in terms of access to courts are enshrined
by Section 34 of the
Constitution and where a litigant abuses the
process this right will be restricted to protect and secure the right
of access for
those with
bona fide
disputes.
[36]
More recently in
Moodley
N.O. & Others v PIC
[9]
at paragraph [14] the court acknowledged that the concept “abuse
of process” is wide and must be evaluated by having
regard to
parties’ conduct in each matter. It also confirmed that
mala
fides
is not a requirement. It was expressed:
“ ”
Abuse
of process” is a term that bears with the stigma of conscious
misuse of the court processes. I do not think that
the judgment
in Beinash should be read to suggest that it is only in cases of that
sort that a court will be persuadable to set
aside the subpoena.
A court will also do so in less
opprobrious circumstances
, such
as when the subpoena is prejudicially non-compliant with the rules of
court or when it calls for the production of documents
or things that
are not relevant to the issues in the case or where the material
might more reasonably be obtained from a party
to the proceedings,
(say through discovery) than from a third party. Those
situations can even occur where there is no intention
by the procurer
of the subpoena to abuse the court’s processes. Where
they do occur the court will intervene irrespective
of the procuring
parties’ bona fides.”
(my
emphasis)
[37]
In principle, it is common cause that under certain circumstances a
High Court can intervene
and set aside a subpoena if it is considered
to be an abuse of process. As alluded to above, the term “abuse
of process”
connotes a wide definition. An abuse of court
process may arise even in less “opprobrious circumstances”.
This essentially means “in abusive or contemptuous
circumstances”.
[38]
The civil and criminal proceedings encompass the Section 11 mining
rights application.
In fact, on the respondent’s own
version, it sought the reasons and the basis that led to the
ministerial consent in respect
of the Section 11 mining rights
application.
[39]
On the “relevance” issue, I do not dispute the
respondents’ version that this
court is not in the position to
make a determination on the relevance of the documents identified in
the subpoena.
[40]
A subpoena may still amount to abuse of process of court,
notwithstanding the fact that the subpoenaed
witness may be able to
furnish relevant evidence or produce relevant documents. Issues
of relevance and abuse of process,
though possibly inter-related, are
considered to be separate and distinct. Hence, even though
evidence may be relevant, the
issued subpoena can still amount to
abuse of process.
[10]
[41]
There is a pending application for leave to appeal before the Supreme
Court of Appeal.
It is trite that Section 18(1) of the Superior
Court Act suspends the operation of Millar J’s order. The
respondents
could hardly be oblivious of the fact that there is a
pending application for leave to appeal against Millar J’s
order in
its entirety and the outcome of such application has not
been pronounced as yet.
[42]
Therein the applicants have challenged not only the disclosure of the
proprietary and/or confidential
documents but the disclosure of the
entire contents of the Section 11 application. Hence there is
the possibility that if
the subpoena is not set aside, the respective
courts (civil and criminal) may come to different findings and which
may be in conflict.
[43]
Even though I accept that civil proceedings are distinct and separate
from criminal proceedings,
one must appreciate the difficulty that
the documents concern the same subject matter. It is necessary
to consider the matter
in context. The accused’s
constitutional rights in the context of a criminal trial cannot under
these particular circumstances
be fettered by a civil court
judgment.
[44]
It is inevitable and common sense infers that if the subpoena is not
set aside, Ms Mtshali would
be compelled to furnish the entire
Section 11 application record, which would then include not only the
confidential and proprietary
information appended to such
application.
[45]
The existence of the subpoena, in my view, would inevitably interfere
with the administration
of the court proceedings before the Supreme
Court of Appeal. If the subpoena is not stayed, the effect
thereof would be that
the outcome of any decision by the Supreme
court of Appeal would become moot. It would most definitely
interfere in the continuation
of the appeal process, in particular if
leave is granted by the Supreme Court of Appeal. In my view,
compliance with the
subpoena would frustrate and render meaningless
whatever outcome there may be.
[46]
I am in agreement with the applicants that:
“
When
judgments are given and the matter is on appeal, it is necessary that
all
parties
must refrain from any conduct which is designed to destroy the
efficacy of the pending appeal process. If they do
not refrain
from such conduct, they make themselves guilty of undermining the
administration of justice.”
[11]
[47]
The respondents’ argument was that irrespective of the outcome
of the pending leave to
appeal process before the Supreme Court of
Appeal ultimately cannot “
change the legislative requirement
that the record of decision must be produced”
must be
qualified. That may be so, but once again, one must consider
the disclosure in the context of the facts in this matter.
A
final word on this issue has further not been pronounced by the
Supreme Court of Appeal. The applicants may be prejudiced
if
the confidential and proprietary information are not protected.
[48]
Consequently, in these circumstances, I find that the conduct of the
respondents constituted
an abuse of the court’s process, as per
the test defined in
Price Waterhouse Coopers
and the
Moodley
matter.
URGENCY
REGARDING THE CONTEMPT OF COURT RELIEF
[49]
On the contempt of court issue, I find that the applicants have
failed to satisfy this court
that same should be dealt with on an
urgent basis. On the plain facts before me, I have noted that
Mr Mbatha and Mr Kunene
were mindful that application for leave to
appeal of Millar J’s order was instituted in the Supreme Court
of Appeal and the
outcome thereof had not been pronounced at the time
the subpoena was issued.
[50]
As alluded to above, there is no evidence on the papers that gainsays
that the core documents
sought in both proceedings pertained to the
Section 11 mining rights application that was presented to the
Department for adjudication
and most certainly included documents
that illustrated Umsobomvu’s attitude to the approval of the
mining rights in favour
of the applicants.
[51]
Even though the ambit of the documents requested in the subpoena may
have included additional
information, once again it can also not be
disputed that the disclosure of the section 11 application record was
material.
[52]
I am in agreement with the respondent that this issue can be dealt
with in the normal course
of the proceedings. It is trite that
the courts’ power to condone non-compliance with the rules, and
to accelerate
the hearing of the matter should be exercised with
judicial scrutiny and in light of sufficient and satisfactory
grounds.
[53]
First and foremost, in my view, there is no prejudice if the
applicants adjudicate the contempt
issues in due course. There
is no doubt that the applicants would be afforded substantial redress
at a hearing in the normal
course of the courts’ processes.
[54]
Secondly, the loss that the applicants have alleged that they would
suffer, by not being afforded
an immediate hearing, is not the kind
of loss that justifies the disruption of the roll and the resultant
prejudice to other members
of the litigating public.
[55]
A further aspect that this court is required to take into cognisance
is the timing of this urgent
application. I am mindful of the
fact that the respondents were required to prepare their answering
affidavits and obtain
the services of counsel for the hearing in
great haste.
[12]
Time and again our courts have expressed their dissatisfaction of
this approach. In
Luna
Meubels
the court stated:
“
Practitioners
should carefully analyse the facts of each case to determine for the
purposes of setting the case down for hearing,
whether a greater or
lesser degree of relaxation of the rules and of the ordinary practice
of the court is required. The
degree or relaxation should not
be greater than the exigency of the case demands. It must be
commensurate therewith.”
[13]
[56]
The sentiments expressed in a recent matter of
Fraser
Solar GMBH
[14]
should also be noted:
“
It
is true that contempt is inherently urgent. Contempt on its own
is not sufficient to entitle an applicant to jump the queue
and have
its application heard in determining the urgent court….”
RELIEF
SOUGHT
[57]
I am of the view that the subpoena issue has properly been disposed
at this hearing. It
would be nonsensical to prescribe a return
date in the form of a rule nisi. Both parties have filed their
complete papers
and have fully addressed this court on their
submissions.
[58]
With regard to the contempt of court issue, I am of the view that
this urgent court should not
have been seized with this issue.
The applicants have not demonstrated imminent prejudice or harm that
they would suffer
if this issue is not disposed of on an urgent
basis.
COSTS
[59]
This court has a judicial discretion in respect of awarding costs.
Based on my findings,
neither of the parties have been substantially
successful. Although the applicants were successful on the
subpoena issue,
it has not succeeded on the contempt issue. I
accordingly deem it an appropriate order that each party bear their
own costs.
H
KOOVERJIE
JUDGE
OF THE HIGH COURT
GAUTENG DIVISION,
PRETORIA
Appearances
:
Counsel
for the first applicant:
Adv
T Mgcukaitobi SC
Counsel
for the second applicant:
Adv
BC Stoop SC
Instructed
by:
Mabuza
Attorneys
c/o
Hammond-Smith Attorneys
Counsel
for the first and second r
espondents
:
Adv A
Milovanovic-Bitter
Instructed
by:
Edward
Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc
Attorney
for the fourth respondent:
The
State Attorney
Counsel
for the fifth respondent:
Adv
A Subel SC
Adv
A Milovanovic-Bitter
Instructed
by:
Edward
Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc
Date
heard:
16
March 2023
Date
of Judgment:
24 March 2023
[1]
Annexure
‘FA9’ P 02-59 of Millar J’s order
[2]
S
v Matisonn
1981 (3) SA 302
AD at 313 E-F
[3]
SA
Coaters (Pty) Ltd v St Paul Insurance Co Ltd
2007 (6) SA 624
(D &
CLD)
[4]
Answering
Affidavit 06-26, 78 to 87
[5]
Annexure
‘FA4’ P 02-17
[6]
Annexure
‘FA1’ P 02-4, Annexure ‘FA6’ P 02-26
[7]
Annexure
‘FA9’ P 02-59
[8]
Price
Waterhouse Coopers Inc and Others v National Potato Cooperative Ltd
2004 (6) SA 66
SCA para 50
[9]
3609/2023
[2023] ZAWCHC 49
[10]
Meyers
v Marais and Another
2004 (5) SA 315C
at 324B
[11]
Para
49 of the applicants’ heads of argument
[12]
Marco
Caterers at 113H – 114B / IL+B Marcow Caterers (Pty) Ltd v
Greabenas** SA Ltd and Another
1981 (4) SA 108C
at 113H to 114B
[13]
see
Harvey v Niland
2016 (2) SA 436
(ECG) at par 19
[14]
Fraser
Solar GMBH v Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority and Others in re Scolan
Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority v Fraser Solar GMBH
& Others
(2020/33700; 2021/35990) [2021] ZAGPJHC 834 (dated 29 December 2021)
sino noindex
make_database footer start
Similar Cases
Transasia 1 (Pty) Ltd v Nhlanhleni Community Property Trust (632/2022) [2024] ZAGPPHC 753 (18 April 2024)
[2024] ZAGPPHC 753High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)98% similar
Mineral-Loy (Pty) Ltd v Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation Limited and Another (A135/2021) [2025] ZAGPPHC 39 (23 January 2025)
[2025] ZAGPPHC 39High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)98% similar
Minerals Council of South Africa and Another v Salga and Others (Appeal) (A258/2023) [2025] ZAGPPHC 528 (28 May 2025)
[2025] ZAGPPHC 528High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)98% similar
Transasia 444 (Pty) Ltd and Another v Minister of Mineral Resources and Others (10531/2022) [2023] ZAGPPHC 51 (3 February 2023)
[2023] ZAGPPHC 51High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)98% similar
IPP Mining and Materials Handling (Pty) Ltd v Keaton Mining (Pty) Ltd (2023/101248) [2024] ZAGPPHC 200 (27 February 2024)
[2024] ZAGPPHC 200High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)98% similar