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# South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
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## Nkateko v Road Accident Fund (73865/17)
[2022] ZAGPPHC 69 (9 February 2022)
Nkateko v Road Accident Fund (73865/17)
[2022] ZAGPPHC 69 (9 February 2022)
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sino date 9 February 2022
SAFLII
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IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
(
GAUTENG
DIVISION, PRETORIA)
CASE
NUMBER: 73865/17
(1)
REPORTABLE:
NO
(2)
OF
INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: NO
(3)
REVISED:
YES.
DATE:
09 FEBRUARY 2022
In
the matter between:
BALOYI
PATRIC NKATEKO
PLAINTIFF
And
ROAD
ACCIDENT FUND
DEFENDANT
JUDGMENT
INTRODUCTION
KHWINANA
AJ
[1]
The plaintiff, instituted action proceedings in his personal capacity
against the
defendant for damages in terms of the
Road Accident Fund
Act 56 of 1996
, pursuant to a motor vehicle collision.
[2]
The plaintiff caused summons to be issued against the defendant on
this the 01
st
November 2017 for past hospital and medical expenses at R 100 000.00,
future medical expenses and hospital expenses at R 400 000.00,
loss of future earnings at R 2000 000.00 and general damages at
R 500 000.00.
[3]
This
matter is before me for determination of merits and Quantum.
BACKGROUND
[4]
The plaintiff is PATRICK NKATEKO BALOYI an adult male person residing
at Unit 3 [……………..
] Gauteng
province.
[5]
The Defendant is THE ROAD ACCIDENT FUND, a juristic person
established by virtue
of
Section 2(1)
of the
Road Accident Fund Act,
No 56 of 1996
, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “Act
“), with its registered address and principal place of business
being
Eco Glades 2 Office park,420 Witch Hazel Avenue, Centurion,
Pretoria, Gauteng.
BACKGROUND
[6]
The defendant entered an appearance to defendant on 22
nd
November 2017. The defendant pleaded to the plaintiff’s
particulars of claim on this the 19
th
February 2018. On 25
th
May 2021, the court ordered the Defendant to hold a
pre-trial with the Plaintiff within 5(Five) days of this Order.
On
the 13
th
September 2021, the court struck out the Defendant defence on
Merits, Quantum and allowed the Plaintiff to take default Judgement
against the Defendant based on the Plaintiff Reports.
Notice of Set-down for default Judgement for the 22
nd
November 2021 was served on the defendant personally on the 29
October 2021.
MERITS
[7]
The plaintiff submits that on this the 1
st
August 2015, he was involved in motor vehicle accident as driver.
The plaintiff submitted an affidavit describing how the accident
happened. The plaintiff stated that the accident was reported at
Giyani Police Station under AR Number: 49/10/2019. The Police
Accident report, the plan and key to the plan have been discovered.
[8]
The plaintiff in her affidavit states
“
On
or about the 01st day of August 2015 at or near Xikukwana village,
Giyani, Limpopo province, a collision occurred
between a
motor vehicle with registration letters and numbers CYT […..]
driven by myself and a motor vehicle whose registration
letters and
numbers are to me unknown driven by an adult male person
whose further particulars are to me unknown (hereinafter
referred to
as the insured driver) The said insured driver decided to turn right
in the middle of the road without giving
adequate and or any
warning of his intention to do so, and as a result thereof
a collision occurred between
my car and his car. I tried to avoid the
accident by applying the brakes and swerved to the right, as I could
not have swerved
to left as there was another car, but the insured
driver collided with my car on the left side and I lost control of
the vehicle
it overturned. The plaintiff alleges that the sole cause
of accident was the driver of the car that turned or made U-turn in
the
middle of the road without indicating”
[9]
The plaintiff states that he was taken to Nkhesani Hospital at Giyani
for emergency
medical treatment. The defendant admitted that the
accident,
occurred however denied
the rest of the allegations. The said defence was struck out by the
Justice Lusi on this the 13
th
September 2021.
LEGAL MATRIX
[10]
Counsel for the plaintiff submits that apportionment is not
applicable in this matter. He referred
me to FOX vs RAF (A 548/16)
[2018] ZAGPPHC 285(26 APRIL 2018) the full bench of this division
held that in paragraph 13
“Where the
defendant had in the alternative pleaded contributory negligence and
apportionment, the defendant would have to
adduce evidence to
establish negligence on the part of the plaintiff on the balance of
probabilities, Johnson, Daniel James v Road
Accident Fund case Number
13020/2014 GHC paragraph 17, confirming Solomon and Another v Musset
and Bright Ltd
1926 AD 427
and 435.”
[11]
He further submitted that the defendant defence was struck out and
therefore plaintiff is entitled
to 100% merits. I am inclined to
agree with the plaintiff’s counsel that the plaintiff is
entitled to 100% proven or agreed
damages.
INJURIES AND
SEQUELAE
[12]
The Plaintiff suffered the following injuries- head Injury [Mild head
Injury] Dizziness;
Right elbow injury, Right upper arm
laceration and Chest Injury.
[13]
Dr Sello Solly Selane (Plastic & Reconstruction Surgeon);
assessed the
plaintiff on 29/10/2019 and reported
thereon that the Plaintiff sustained the following injuries: Right
arm: Scars: multiple keloid
scars on the extensor aspect of the arm
on an area of about 8 x 4 cm. These scars have features of scar
hypertrophy and they are
cosmetically unsightly and disfiguring. Dr J
Sibanyoni (Orthopaedic Surgeon); assessed the Plaintiff and reported
that on 08/11/2019
concluded that plaintiff sustained injuries on his
right shoulder with post traumatic bursitis.
[14]
Dr Faku (Clinical psychologist) assessed the Plaintiff on 30/10/2019
and reported
that the plaintiff suffers the following
emotional distress; psychological trauma, 1 depression & anxiety
related symptoms.
The main complaints are pain on the right shoulder
since the accident, especially when lifting heavy objects. He
avoids lifting
or carrying heavy objects due to the right shoulder
pain. He struggles to play table pool and sleep on the right
shoulder.
He prefers wearing long sleeves shirts because of unsightly
scars.“
[15]
The neurosurgeon recorded that the plaintiff has significant
permanent residual memory disturbances
has severe difficulty with
concentration, behavioural disturbances post injury, has poor
recovery post injury and persistent
neuropsychological problems
[16]
The Plaintiff qualifies for general damages per the RAF 4 assessment
of the Neurosurgeon (Dr
Mazwi), who concluded that the Plaintiff
suffered permanent serious disfigurement, as well as severe long-term
mental, or severe
long-term behavioural disturbance or disorder. Due
to the Plaintiff’s head injury, the combined whole person
impairment is
recorded at 22%. Dr Sello Solly Selane (Plastic &
Reconstruction Surgeon) concluded that the Plaintiff suffered
permanent serious
disfirgurement point 5.2. Due to the Plaintiff’s
Scars, the combined whole person impairment is calculated at 5%.
Dr
Sibanyoni (Orthopaedic Surgeon) concluded that the plaintiff
suffered serious long-term impairment or loss of a body function. Due
to the Plaintiff’s Orthopaedic injuries, the combined whole
person impairment is calculated in terms of the at 6%.
[17]
Counsel submits that this assessment has not been rejected by the
defendant, taking into account
all the injuries and the consequences.
The plaintiff alluded to authorities and opines that general damages
be awarded in the amount
of R 900,000,00 is fair towards both the
plaintiff and the defendant.
LOSS OF AMENITIES
OF LIFE
[18]
According to the neurosurgeon report the plaintiff lost the following
amenities of life, normal
living were lost during the period of
hospitalisation, activities of daily living and mental function have
been affected. In Bismilla
v Road Accident Fund
[1]
the plaintiff a 21-year-old engineering student with an above average
IQ. The plaintiff suffered a concussive brain injury of moderate
severity. It was common cause that he would probably have entered the
labour market at Patterson B5/C1 level
and attained his
career ceiling at the age of 40–45 at a Paterson D3/D4 level.
The plaintiff's academic results deteriorated
from 2014 to 2017
causing him to repeat several subjects. The neurosurgeons, having
agreed on the severity and nature of the injury,
deferred to the
opinions of clinical neuropsychologists regarding the functional
effect of the sequelae on the plaintiff. These
two experts expressed
widely divergent views about the long-term effect of the injury.
[19]
After a critical evaluation of their evidence the court accepted the
version of plaintiff's
expert, Dr Ormond-Brown. Consequently, the
court accepted that plaintiff suffered from a frontal lobe brain
injury; that he was
experiencing problems with abstract concepts,
expressing himself and formulating ideas; that he struggled to keep
up the pace and
that his functioning was variable and unpredictable.
His conduct makes him unreliable and would have a negative
effect on
his employability.
[20]
The court also found, based on the agreement between the educational
psychologists, that there
would be a delay in completing plaintiff's
studies. It also accepted the reasoning of plaintiff's industrial
psychologist in respect
of plaintiff's expectations in the labour
market and career progression. The parties agreed on the value on
income uninjured to
which the court applied a 24% contingency based
on ½% per annum with 45 years ahead of plaintiff until the
retirement age
of 65. A contingency of 54% was applied to the value
of income injured for the reasons advanced in para
[84]
of the judgment. He was awarded R 700 000 general damages
in 2018 which is equivalent to R 828 000 in 2021 quantum yearbook
by
Robert j Koch.
[21]
In Monaisa v Road Accident Fund
[2]
52-year-old male transport manager (56 years old at the time of
trial) Sustained: Concussive brain injury with subacute
subdural haemorrhage and a basal skull fracture; fracture of the
medial wall of the right orbit and distortion of the left nasal
bones
and subacute subdural haemorrhage; laceration to the forehead,
soft-tissue injury to the cervical spine and to the right
hand.
Current complaints: headaches, memory loss, forgetfulness, aggression
and short temperedness; verbal aggression such as shouting
and
becoming physically aggressive; symptoms suggestive of soft-
tissue injury of his cervical spine with symptoms occurring
intermittently; pain in relation to the mid and lower cervical
vertebrae which is increased by activity, cold and
inclement weather – pain radiates down into his upper back,
into both shoulders and up his neck into his head causing
occasional
occipital headaches; stiffness of the neck, as well as, muscle spasms
in the paraspinals and trapezii; difficulty sitting
or standing in
one position for prolonged periods of time and finding a
comfortable position in which to lie; inability
to rotate his neck
and has to turn his whole body to look over his shoulder; pain over
the distal interphalangeal joint of third
finger of his right hand
and resultant weakened grip strength of the right hand; withdrawn and
lack of sociable interaction; difficulty
with dealing with heavier
loads at work and made several mistakes upon return to work
due to being forgetful and losing
his temper realised that he was not
able to cope with the work and therefore resigned; walks with a
limping gait; short concentration
span and loses track when watching
television programs; experiences feelings of depression, negativity
and worthlessness. He was
severely disabled for three months after
the collision and remains moderately disabled as a result of the
cervical symptoms and
right hand symptoms. He suffered from a
considerable degree of pain and suffering as a result of the
injuries sustained.
[22]
He has also been seriously permanently disfigured in the area of his
face involving the
left upper eyelid extending from the
eyebrow into the upper lid. He sustained a head injury
of a significant nature
and suffers from impulse dyscontrol and
intellectual difficulties as a result. His occupational prospects
have been compromised
as a consequence of the sequelae of the head
injury and ongoing intellectual difficulties. He has alterations in
mood and is emotional
and argumentative. His sleep patterns have also
been interrupted and he experiences fatigue during the day. He has
decreased motivation
and initiation. These changes in personality as
well as sleep pattern fatigue are typical of a brain injury of
this magnitude.
It is likely that he would remain unemployed in the
long term.
[23]
He was awarded R 650 000.00 general damages in 2017 which is
equivalent to R 768 300 in 2021.
Mofokeng v Road Accident Fund 2015
(7B4) QOD 12 (GSJ) The plaintiff A 23-year-old female phone booth
operator sustained A
softtissue injury of the neck, a
lower back and moderately severe head injury. The brain injury was
referred to as a diffuse rotational
shear injury, invisible to MRI
scans, characterised by an effective disconnection between the
frontal lobes and the rest of the
brain to a lesser or greater
degree. The plaintiff was hospitalized, was unconscious for about an
hour after the accident with
an inability to lay down continuous
memory for approximately 6- 7 hours after the accident. She was
fitted with a cervical collar;
X-rays were done and she was kept
under observation and discharged the very same afternoon.
[24]
The plaintiff became forgetful and personality changes occurred. The
plaintiff's lumbar range
of movement was impaired; straight leg
raising was very restricted. She experienced pain when walking or
standing for a long time
and had headaches and back pains for which
self-medication was taken. The plaintiff lost her job after the
accident, but managed
to find various other jobs which were all
terminated because of her inability to physically cope with long
working hours. Neuro-psychological
deficiencies and pain in the lower
back and spine rendered the plaintiff unemployable. He was awarded R
700 000 general damages
in 2018 which is equivalent to R 969
000 in 2021 quantum yearbook by Robert j Koch page 23.
[25]
In Mohale v Road Accident Fund 2015 (7A4) QOD 15 (GNP) an accident
resulted in the plaintiff
having headaches with a slightly increased
risk of developing epilepsy. Due to the severity of the
neuropsychological sequelae
of the head and brain injury, behavioural
and neurocognitive changes, psychiatric changes,
headaches, back and neck
pains, poor progress at school and the
industrial psychologist's opinion that the plaintiff is
unemployable, the court
was satisfied that the accident has had a
tremendous impact on the ability of the plaintiff to work. He was
awarded R 650 000
general damages in 2018 which is
equivalent to R 900 000 in 2021 quantum yearbook by Robert j Koch.
Based on the plaintiff’s
age at which he sustained a
devastating injury robbing him of all personal independence and
rendering him subject to multiple medical
and surgical procedures in
future, apart from profound intermittent psychological and
psychiatric consequences.
[26]
Counsel opines that the trite principles applied by our courts in
assessing general damages and
the wide discretion afforded the
courts, bearing in mind that no two cases are exactly the
same, he respectfully submits
that a reasonable amount for general
damages in this instance would be R900 000.00 which is fair for both
the plaintiff and defendant.
LOSS OF INCOME.
[27]
According to the industrial psychologist Mr Baloyi was 33 years old
at the time of the
accident was employed as an Assistant
Electrical Technician at Diesel Innovations (PTY) Ltd earning ±R6
000 per month, depending
on the number of hours worked. He has Grade
11 level of education, and Electrician Trade Certificate. He had no
previous work experience
at the time of the accident, apart from been
employed in his pre-accident employment as an Assistant Electrical
Technician. In
light of the above, had the accident not occurred, the
following scenario would have unfolded: Considering his age,
education level,
and work experience, Mr Baloyi would have most
likely continued working as an Assistant Electrical Technician
earning ±R6
000 per month. Mr Baloyi would have
continued with his employment until such time when he would have been
promoted to an
Electrical Technician as his supervisor reported that
he would have been send for training to become a qualified technician
earning
±R10 000 per month, manually calculated to R120 000
per annum. He would have reached his career ceiling at this stage and
growth in his earnings would have been through additional
inflationary related salary increments until retirement
at the age of 65 years depending on his
health, economic factors, and retirement policy of his employer.
POST-ACCIDENT
WORKING POTENTIAL
[28]
Dr Sibanyoni (Orthopaedic Surgeon) opines that Mr Baloyi’s
ability to compete in an open
labour market has been affected. He
will be able to work until his normal retirement age. He estimate
loss of working capacity
of at least 05% to 10% if the patient is
allocated in sedentary job. Based on the radiological and clinical
investigations done,
patient would require further treatment of his
condition in future from a neurocognitive point of view. Dr Mazwi
(Neurosurgeon)
opines that he has sustained a mild head injury and
has significant permanent residual memory disturbances. Has severe
difficulty
with concentration. Has behavioural disturbances post
injury. Has poor recovery post injury. Has a persistent
neuropsychological
problem. Has a chronic postconcussive headache.
Has recurrent dizziness.
[29]
According to the Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon - Dr Selahle,
Mr Baloyi’s scars have
features of scar hypertrophy and they
are: cosmetically unsightly and disfiguring and permanent with some
prospects of scar improvement
by scar revision techniques. He feels
very uncomfortable with these scars. He has suffered from
considerable physical pain and
he is still suffering from emotional
pain due to his cosmetically disfiguring scars From a functional
point of view, the Occupational
Therapist (L.T Motsepe) opines that
the claimant manages working but he still has challenges
with his right shoulder
joint which tends to be in his way of work as
his job falls within heavy category of work. He still would remain
limited and unfit
to continue working in the current job. The
probability that he will manage working in the current job until his
retirement age
is very poor. It is unlikely that the surgery would
increase his capacity to work but reduce pain and
pressure in
the joint with decreased strength following pain
that could result from surgery. He is already put in a light work,
regarded
as light for the company in his line of work. He would post
accident require lighter jobs that he would manage. He so far would
never be an equal competitor from an emotional / interpersonal point
of view.
[30]
Mr Faku (Clinical Psychologist) opines that the noted emotional
distress is associated with the
impact and change of full physical
control which has resultant in significant psychological trauma
(subtle depression and anxiety
related symptoms). The noted
symptoms do meet the criteria for a DSM V diagnosis for anxiety
related symptoms and was observed
to have some
personality vulnerabilities. He would benefit from seeing a Clinical
Psychologist for Psychotherapy.
Based on the information
obtained and psychological assessment, Mr Baloyi has sustained
significant injuries on the day of the
accident. The
neuropsychological assessment suggests that Mr Baloyi experienced no
significant neuropsychological deficits. The
noted difficulties also
attributed to the accident in the form of physical changes seem to
impact negatively on his daily existence
in multiple platforms
socially and occupationally.
[31]
In light of the above, the writer opines as follows: Mr Baloyi
sustained a head injury, chest injury,
multiple abrasions above
right elbow and painful right arm. Given the expert’s and the
claimant’s information the writer
notes that Mr Baloyi
currently present with pain and poor physical endurance. He is still
employed in his pre-accident employment
and he has been promoted to
an Electrical Technician post-accident. His supervisor reported that
his performance is still good;
however he struggles with lifting
heavy objects. This statement is further supported by the
Occupational Therapist who noted that
Mr Baloyi manages
working but he still has challenges with his right shoulder joint
which tends to be in his way of
work as his job falls within heavy
category of work. He would post accident require lighter jobs that he
would manage. He so far
would never be an equal competitor.
Therefore, noting the nature of his employment where he has to
frequently load and unload heavy
objects the writer opines that the
accident has negatively affected his employability.
[32]
The Orthopaedic Surgeon added that his ability to compete in an open
labour market has been
affected and he will need further treatment
for his condition in future. Taking cognizant that there are no
future plans in terms
of promotions and that he struggles performing
his duties post-accident, the writer is of view that the
accident has
curtailed his career advancement. Furthermore, Mr Baloyi
reported that he is no longer permanently employed, but only works on
part time basis depending on availability of work. Thus, the writer
opines that the accident had a deleterious effect on his
effectiveness
in the labour market. Mr Baloyi will remain as a
part-time Electrical Technician without any career growth. He is
thus, employed
by a sympathetic employer.
[33]
Therefore, he is expected to continue with his current employment
albeit the reported pain and discomfort.
He would require
psychotherapy which should be aimed at assisting him in dealing with
the negative effects of the emotional distress
and behavioural
challenges he is experiencing, as recommended by the Clinical
Psychologist. He is currently 38 years old and he
is not expected to
secure alternative employment.
[34]
Therefore, his earnings will continue to be based on the inflationary
increases until retirement
age. Dr Mazwi mentioned that he has
sustained a mild head injury and has significant permanent residual
memory disturbances. This
is likely to interfere with his work
output, as he has to remember how to service and install the
generator. The plastic
surgeon added that he has suffered from
considerable physical pain and he is still suffering from emotional
pain due to his cosmetically
disfiguring scars. Thus, the writer
opines that he will continue in his capacity however his chances of
securing alternative employment
are compromised. The writer accepts
that he is no longer an equal competitor in the open labour market
as compared to his peers.
Mr Baloyi suffers loss of
income due to the accident. Therefore, the writer defers to relevant
contingencies
to address his vulnerabilities.
THE ACTRUARIAL
CALACULATION
[35]
The plaintiff appointed Manala actuaries who calculated the plaintiff
loss of income. Counsel
submits that 10% Future Pre-morbid will be
fair and reasonable in line with Supreme court of appeal judgement of
Masemola v Road
Accident Fund (256/2015)
[2016] ZASCA 72
(25 May
2016) the supreme court of appeal reduced 15% contingencies on the
future pre-morbid to 10% for the following reasons which
appears on
the Judgement: “
[36]
The court a quo accepted the Linde report and opinion expressed in
it, that had the accident
not happened, the appellant would probably
have returned to the open labour market as a security officer, and
that now that the
accident has happened, she would not be able to
engage in employment as a security officer nor as a full-time
domestic worker.
It also noted that one of the factors it had to
consider in exercising its discretion was a possibility that the
plaintiff may
have less than a normal life expectancy. Despite
acknowledging all those factors the court imposed a higher deduction
of 15 per
cent. In so doing the court a quo erred. The appellant is
clearly an ambitious woman who aimed to improve her employment
prospects
so that she could fend for herself. Whilst raising her
children she was not content with simply being a full-time home maker
but
commenced employment as a domestic worker for two years, and only
resigned because she was expecting her second born child. She
also
had ambitions of being a security officer and thus completed security
training and registered as a grade C security service
provider. She
also completed a six month certificate in early childhood development
and obtained a learner’s licence.
After the
accident, she did not sit at home and feel sorry for herself but she
again went out into the open labour market in an
attempt to make ends
meet, but is, as a result of the injuries she sustained in the
accident, not able to secure permanent employment.
The resultant
consequence of allowing a higher contingency deduction for pre-morbid
future loss of earnings is that she will
get a lower award for
damages for loss of earnings. That means that the court a quo had
very little regard to her potential earning
capacity, had the
accident not happened. This court must thus interfere with the trial
court’s estimate, and the pre-morbid
contingency deduction
pertaining to future loss of earnings is consequently reduced to 10
per cent.
[37]
“We submit that 50% future post-morbid is appropriate as per
Tolmay J judgment of Sayed
NO v Road Accident Fund (49442/2013)
[2016] ZAGPPHC 1112 (16 November 2016) dealing with sympathetic
employment contingencies.
Having applied the said contingencies loss
of income is R 1 030 750 Calculated as follows: Future loss Premorbid
R 1 954 395 -10%
= R 1 758 955, Post morbid R 1 456 411 –
50% = 728 205, 5 Total Future Loss of income R 1 030 750 Total loss
of income
R 1 030 750.00.
[38]
It is trite law that the defendant does not award an amount in
relation to future hospital and
medical expenses. The defendant
furnishes the plaintiff with an undertaking in terms of section 17(4)
(a) of the Road Accident
Fund, No 56 of 1996 (“Act “).
ANALYSIS
[39]
The plaintiff’s counsel has referred me to a plethora of
caselaw. It is so that one cannot
find a case that is exactly the
same as that of the plaintiff, however there are injuries and
sequelae that informs me in determining
the quantum. I have
considered the injuries and I am inclined to agree with the
plaintiff’s counsel that the
plaintiff must be compensated. I
however, considered that in some of the matters I have been referred
to the injuries might have
been worse therefore I am of the view that
the amount that is fair and appropriate in this matter is the
sum of R 800 000.00
for general damages.
[40]
The plaintiff has been recorded as a person who was earning an income
and will proceed to do
so except there are no guarantees considering
that he is nolonger able to compete as a well abled person. In the
Bailey
[3]
matter the court
considered the two scenarios in determining the compensation for the
plaintiff. There is records of the income
of the plaintiff as well as
the fact that he has vocational training which is authenticated with
a certificate. The actuarial report
has been filed which counsel has
alluded to. I do not wish to deviate from his suggestion particularly
because he currently is
not in a stable job, This is evident that
same has been caused by the accident and one cannot say if he will be
retained in the
same job in future.
[41]
I am therefore satisfied that the sum of R 1 030 750.00 be
awarded to the plaintiff
as his loss of earnings. It is trite law
that costs must be awarded to the successful party.
[42]
In the result I have considered the draft order filed by the
plaintiff and I have amended same
and marked it X.
__________________________
ENB KHWINANA
ACTING JUDGE OF
NORTH GAUTENG HIGH COURT, PRETORIA
Adv
F Matika: Counsel for Plaintiff
DATE
OF HEARING: 22 NOVEMBER 2022
DATE
OF JUDGMENT: 08 FEBRUARY 2022
IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG
DIVISION, PRETORIA
CASE NUMBER: 73865/17
ON
THE 22ND NOVEMBER 2021 BEFORE THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE KHWINANA AJ
In
the matter between: -
BALOYI
PATRICK NKATEKO
PLAINTIFF
And
ROAD
ACCIDENT FUND
DEFENDANT
DRAFT
ORDER
HAVING
read the documents filed of record, heard counsel and having
considered the matter:
IT
IS ORDERED THAT:
1.
The defendant is 100% liable to the plaintiff.
2.
The Defendant shall pay to the Plaintiff an amount of R 1 830 750.00
being loss of earnings R 1 030 750.00 and General
damages R
800 000.00 (_One eight million three zero seven hundred and
fifty thousand) in full and final settlement.
3.
The capital amount in paragraph 2 above and the costs are to be paid
into the Trust account of NKHESANI MATIKA ATTORNEYS as set
–out
below and within 180 days of this order: BANK NAME: NEDBANK ACCOUNT
NUMBER: BRANCH CODE: 160445 REF: N MATIKA/MM/RAF/BAL0001/17
3.
The defendant shall pay the plaintiff’s taxed or agreed costs
on the High Court Scale as between party and party pertaining
to
merits and quantum, which costs shall include the costs of the 09
August 2020 ;10 June 2021 and 22 November 2021, the costs
plaintiff’s
attorney, all costs of pre-trials held between the parties in this
matter, all costs of interlocutory applications
including costs of
application to compel and costs of trucking defendant defence,
subject to taxing master’s discretion but
not limited to:
3.1
The costs of all expert’s reports delivered in terms of Rule
36(9) (a) and (b); by the plaintiff to the defendant of the
following
experts:
3.1.1
Dr Sibanyoni (orthopaedic surgeon)
3.1.2
Dr Faku (Clinical psychologist)
3.1.3
Dr Sello Solly Selalane (Plastic & reconstructive Surgeon)
3.1.4
Dr Motsepe Thandiwe (Occupational Therapist)
3.1.5
Vuyani Muleya (Industrial psychologist)
3.1.6
Manala Actuaries
3.2
The costs of counsel, including the costs of the 19 August 2020 ,10
June 2021 ,22 November 2021 and including the costs of drafting
heads
of argument.
3.
3. The full costs of travelling, transportation, subsistence and
accommodation incurred by and on behalf of the injured for attending
medico-legal examinations arranged by Plaintiff attorneys on behalf
of the Plaintiff.
4.
The defendant shall furnish to the plaintiff with an undertaking in
terms of
section 17(4)(a)
of the
Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996
,
for the costs of future accommodation of the plaintiff in a hospital
or nursing home, or treatment of or rendering of a service
or
supplying of goods to the plaintiff, arising out of the injuries and
the sequelae thereof sustained in a motor vehicle collision
occurred
on the 01 August 2015 after such costs have been incurred and upon
proof thereof.
5.
The plaintiff shall, in the event that costs are not agreed, serve
the notice of Taxation on the defendant or the defendant’s
attorney of record.
6.
The plaintiff shall allow the defendant 14 (Fourteen) court days to
make payment of the taxed costs.
7.
Defendant will not be liable for any interest on this payment on
condition that Payment made timeously.
8.
In the event of the Defendant not making this payment timeously the
Defendant will pay interest at the rate of 7% per annum on
the amount
then outstanding as provided for in section 17(3)(a) of the Road
Accident Fund, Act 56 of 1996 (as amended).
9.
There is a contingency fee agreement.
BY
THE COURT ______________
REGISTRAR
Counsel
for the Plaintiff: Adv Fhatuwani Matika (073 009 7867)
Counsel
for the Defendant No Appearance
[1]
2018
(7B4) QOD 64 (GSJ)
[2]
2017
(7B4) QOD 55 (GJ)
[3]
SOUTHERN
INSURANCE ASSOCIATION LIMITED V BAILEY N.O. 1984(1) at 99H
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