Case Law[2022] ZAGPPHC 330South Africa
Kebone v Minister of Home Affairs and Another (41235/2020) [2022] ZAGPPHC 330 (23 May 2022)
High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)
23 May 2022
Headnotes
Rule 35(12) authorises the production of documents which are referred to in general terms in a party’s pleadings or affidavits and further that the terms of the sub-rule do not require a detailed or descriptive reference to such documents. [17.] In Protea Assurance Co Ltd v Waverley Agencies CC[19], the court held that the entitlement to see a document or tape recording arises as soon as reference is made thereto in a pleading
Judgment
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# South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
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## Kebone v Minister of Home Affairs and Another (41235/2020) [2022] ZAGPPHC 330 (23 May 2022)
Kebone v Minister of Home Affairs and Another (41235/2020) [2022] ZAGPPHC 330 (23 May 2022)
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sino date 23 May 2022
SAFLII
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personal/private details of parties or witnesses have been
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REPUBLIC
OF SOUTH AFRICA
IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
(GAUTENG
DIVISION PRETORIA)
CASE
NO:
41235/2020
REPORTABLE:
NO
OF
INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: NO
REVISED
: YES
23
MAY 2022
In
the matter between:
MASANGE:
KEBONE
APPLICANT
(ID
NO:[....])
AND
MINISTER
OF HOME AFFAIRS
FIRST RESPONDENT
DIRECTOR
GENERAL: HOME AFFAIRS
SECOND RESPONDENT
In
Re:
MASANGE:
KEBONE
APPLICANT
(ID
NO:[....])
AND
MINISTER
OF HOME AFFAIRS
FIRST RESPONDENT
DIRECTOR
GENERAL: HOME AFFAIRS
SECOND RESPONDENT
This
judgment is issued by the Judge whose name is reflected herein and is
submitted electronically to the parties/their legal representatives
by email. The judgment is further uploaded to the electronic file of
this matter on Caselines by the Judge or his/her secretary.
The date
of this judgment is deemed to be 23 May 2022.
JUDGEMENT
NDLOKOVANE
AJ
[1].
This is an opposed interlocutory application in terms of
Uniform Rule 35(12) read with Rule 30A (2), wherein, the respondents
are
compelled to produce documents referred to by them in their
answering affidavit in the main application
.
The
material background facts of this matter are to a large extent common
cause and can be summarised as:
[2.]
The
applicant was arrested on 1 September 2020 by the respondents’
Immigration Officer, allegedly after the immigration investigation
revealed that the applicant was in possession of the South African
citizenship through fraud and misrepresentation.
[1]
[3.]
On 2 September 2020, the applicant approached the high court on an
urgent basis to obtain
an interim order that he be released from
detention pending the adjudication of the lawfulness of his arrest
and subsequent detention.
[2]
An
interim interdict was granted by Van der Westhuizen J and a
rule
nisi
issued
against the respondents with the return date of 2 November 2020.
[3]
[4.]
The respondents’ alleged that after the applicant was granted
the interim interdict
on 2 September 2020, they filed their answering
affidavit on 30 October 2020 and that the matter was heard on 2
November 2020.
[4]
The
respondents’ further alleged that the matter was postponed and
the
rule
nisi
extended
to 15 March 2021 by Mokoena AJ.
[5]
[5.]
The respondents alleged that the applicant was expected to file his
replying affidavit
and heads of argument in the main application so
that the matter could be ripe for hearing on 15 March 2021.
[6]
However, the applicant did not file either the replying affidavit or
the heads of argument.
[7]
[6.]
The applicant’s contention is that in
order to enable him to present a proper replying affidavit
in the
main application, he ought to be afforded an opportunity to inspect
and/or challenge the documents upon which the respondents
found him
to be an illegal foreigner.
[8]
[7.]
On 16 April 2021, the applicant allegedly
served the respondents with his notice in terms of Rule
35(12) and
(14).
[9]
In terms of the
aforesaid notice, the respondents were requested to produce certain
documents as referred to in their answering
affidavit as well as
certain information within five (5) days of receipt of the
notice.
[10]
[8.]
The applicant alleged that the respondents failed to produce the
documents sought and that
on 28 April 2021, he served a notice in
terms of Rule 30A(1) on them.
[11]
The applicant alleged that the respondents were afforded ten (10)
days to remedy their failure to comply with the Uniform Rules
of
Court, failing which the applicant would launch an application in
terms of Rule30A(2).
[12]
[9.]
The applicant alleged that the respondents’
dies
to
comply with the applicant’s notice in terms of Rule 30A(1)
expired on 12 May 2021.
[13]
[10.]
The applicant alleged that although on 20 May 2021, the respondents
made available some of the documents
for inspection, the documents
made available for inspection are the documents which the respondents
attached to their answering
affidavits.
[14]
[11.]
The applicant further alleged that the production of the documents
attached to the respondents’
answering affidavit is incomplete,
inadequate, and unsatisfactory for the purposes of Rule 35(12).
[15]
[12.]
The respondents on the other hand alleged that they furnished the
applicant all the documents necessary
to prove their case against him
and that the applicant was further given an opportunity to inspect
the documents at the respondents’
offices.
[16]
[13.]
The court is implored to determine whether the discovery procedure
invoked in terms of the relief
sought by the applicant is
automatically applicable to application proceedings without a
directive from the court.
[17]
APPLICABLE
LEGAL PRESCRIPTS
[14.]
The applicable rules forming the subject matter of this application
are
inter alia
premised on Rule 35(12), (13) and (14) of the
Uniform Rules of Court. The applicant approached the court in terms
of Rule 30A(2)
of the Uniform Rules of Court to compel discovery.
[15.]
Rule 35(12) provides that:
“
Any
party to any proceeding
may at
any time before the hearing thereof deliver a notice
as near as may be in accordance with Form 15 in the First Schedule
to
any other party in whose pleadings or affidavits reference is made to
any document or tape recording to produce such document
or tape
recording for his inspection and to permit him to make a copy or
transcription thereof
. Any party
failing to comply with such notice shall not, save with the leave of
court, use such document or tape recording in such
proceeding
provided that any other party may use such document or tape
recording.”
[Emphasis added]
[16.]
In
Erasmus
v Slomowitz (2)
[18]
,
it was held that Rule 35(12) authorises the production of documents
which are referred to in general terms in a party’s
pleadings
or affidavits and further that the terms of the sub-rule do not
require a detailed or descriptive reference to such documents.
[17.]
In
Protea
Assurance Co Ltd v Waverley Agencies CC
[19]
,
the court held that the entitlement to see a document or tape
recording arises as soon as reference is made thereto in a pleading
or affidavit and that a party cannot ordinarily be told to draft and
file his own pleadings or affidavits before he will be given
an
opportunity to inspect and copy, or transcribe, a document or tape
recording referred to in his adversary’s pleadings
or
affidavits.
[18.]
In
Unilever
v Polagric (Pty) Ltd
[20]
,
it was held that the rights under the sub-rule may be exercised
before the respondent or defendant has disclosed his defence or
even
before knowing what his defence, if any, is going to be. Further that
he is entitled to have the documents or recordings produced
for the
specific purpose of considering his position.
[19.]
In
Protea
Assurance Co Ltd v Waverley Agencies CC
[21]
,
the court further held that Rule 35(12) plainly entitles a litigant
to see the whole of a document or tape recording and not just
the
portion of it upon which his adversary in the litigation has chosen
to rely.
[20.]
In
Gorfinkel
v Gross, Hendler & Frank
[22]
,
the court held that
prima
facie
there
is an obligation on a party who refers to a document in a pleading or
affidavit to produce it for inspection when called upon
to do so in
terms of Rule 35(12).
[21.]
In
Democratic
Alliance v Mkhwebane
[23]
,
the Supreme Court of Appeal held that documents in respect of which
there is a direct or indirect reference in an affidavit or
its
annexures that are relevant, and which are not privileged, and are in
possession of that party, must be produced.
[22.]
Rule 35(13) provides that the provisions of this rule relating to
discovery shall
mutatis mutandis
apply, in so far as the court
may direct, to applications.
[23.]
It would appear that the application of Rule 35(12) can only be
triggered by prior application to
court in terms of Rule 35(13).
[24.]
In
Loretz
v MacKenzie
[24]
,
the court held that the starting point in the enquiry as to the
application of Rule 35(13) is that there is no discovery in
applications
and that it is only possible for discovery to apply in
applications if, in terms of Rule 35(13), a court has been approached
to
make the rules relating to discovery, or some of them, applicable
and makes an order to that effect.
[25.]
Rule 35(14) provides that:
“
After
appearance to defend has been entered, any party to any action may,
for purposes of pleading, require any other party to make
available
for inspection within five days a clearly specified document or tape
recording in his possession which is relevant to
a reasonably
anticipated issue in the action and to allow a copy or transcription
to be made.”
[26.]
In
Investec
Bank Ltd v Blumenthal and others
[25]
,
Sutherland J stated that:
“
There
is therefore no room for applications to be brought at the same time
under Rule 35(13) for leave to procure discovery and
to compel a
reply to a Rule 35(14) request. Accordingly, this application is
premature and for that reason fatally irregular. Consequently,
the
respondents were perfectly entitled to ignore the demand and to
oppose this application.”
[27.]
In
Investec
Bank Ltd v Blumenthal and others
[26]
,
Sutherland J further held that in application proceedings the court’s
specific authorisation is required before a demand
can be made under
Rule 35(14).
[28.]
Rule 30A provides that:
“
(1)
Where a party fails to comply with these
rules or with a request made or notice given pursuant thereto, any
other party may notify
the defaulting party that he or she intends,
after the lapse of 10 days, to apply for an order that such rule,
notice or request
be complied with or that the claim or defence be
struck out.
(2)
Failing compliance within 10 days, application may on notice be made
to the court and the court may
make such order thereon as to it seems
meet.”
[29.]
The applicant indicated in his founding affidavit that his
application is in terms of Rule 35(13)
read with Rule 30A(2) of the
Uniform Rules of Court to compel the respondents to comply with his
notice in terms of Rule 35(12)
and (14).
[27]
[30.]
This rule is a general rule to remedy non-compliance with rules where
no other remedy exists as set out in Absa Bank v The
Farm Klippan 490
CC 2000(2) SA 211, Epstein AJ found at 214 I-J:
“
Rule
30A has an important place in the rules, in that, as I stated, it
provides a remendy where none exist elsewhere. However, it
could not
have been intended by the drafter of rule 30A to jettison the
existing and effective remedies provided in the specific
remedy
rules. If it was so intended, it would render such remedies negatory.
The remedies in the specific rules have always been
effective and
there is no reason to denude them of their efficacy”.
[31.]
It is common cause that the applicant served the respondents with a
notice in terms of Rule 35(12)
and (14) on 16 April 2021 requesting
the respondents to produce certain documents referred to in their
answering affidavit as well
as certain information within five (5)
days of receipt of the notice.
[28]
[32.]
The respondents did not respond to the notices.
[29]
The applicant served the respondents with a notice in terms of Rule
30A(1) on 28 April 2021, in terms of which they were afforded
ten
(10) days to remedy the failure to comply with the Rules of Court,
failing which the applicant would launch an application
in terms of
Rule 30A(2).
[30]
[33.]
On 20 May 2021, the respondents made available documents requested by
the applicant in his notice
for inspection.
[31]
[34.]
The applicant has not filed his replying affidavit in the main
application.
[32]
[35.]
The applicant has been charged with fraud and the contravention of
certain section of the
Immigration Act 13 of 2002
.
[33]
[36.]
It is disputed that in the main, the applicant contended that he is a
lawful South African Citizen.
[34]
The respondents on the other hand alleged that the applicant was
granted South African Citizenship as a result of a misrepresentation
which he made to the officials of the Department of Home Affairs, and
that he is an illegal foreigner and a prohibited person from
the
Republic of South Africa.
[35]
[37.]
The above mentioned issue is the subject of the main application.
This court is not called upon to
make a determination in this regard.
[38.]
Whereas the applicant acknowledged that the respondents made
available some documents requested by
him in his notice for
inspection, he alleged that the documents which were made available
for inspection are the documents which
the respondents attached to
their answering affidavit.
[36]
[39.]
The applicant further alleged that the production of the documents
attached to the respondents’
answering affidavit is incomplete,
inadequate, and unsatisfactory for the purposes of
Rule 35(12).
[37]
[40.]
The respondents on the other hand alleged that they have responded
adequately to the applicant’s
request even though they had no
obligation to do so and have provided the applicant with more
documents to enable him to establish
his defence.
[38]
[41.]
It is noteworthy that the applicant in his notice, he requested the
respondents to produce:
[39]
“
Copies
of the full applications for South African identity document/s or
status made by the applicant on ‘no less than three
occasions’,
together with
all supporting
documentation attached to such applications
.
”
[Emphasis added]
[42.]
The respondents contend that the applicant is not able to specify
which supporting documents he is seeking the respondents
to discover
or for the respondents to respond adequately or to enable the court
to grant an enforceable order.
[40]
[43.]
To my mind on proper construction, the applicant’s notice seems
to request under the rubric “
all supporting
documentation attached to such applications
”, those
documents which were submitted with the applications for South
African identity document/s or status made by the
applicant on ‘no
less than three occasions.
[44.]
Contrary to the respondents’ assertion, to my mind there does
not seem to be any ambiguity on the applicant’s
request in his
notice.
[45.]
I therefore tend to disagree with the respondents’ assertion
that the applicant is already in possession of the documents
that he
wants the respondents to discover.
[41]
[46.]
In the circumstances I tend to agree with the applicant that when
faced with allegations of fraud and that he is an illegal
immigrant,
the applicant ought to be afforded an opportunity to inspect and/or
challenge the documents upon which the respondents
found the
applicant to be an illegal foreigner.
[42]
[47.]
The respondents alleged that the applicant’s interlocutory
application is a delaying tactic to delay the adjudication
of the
main application.
[43]
[48.]
The applicant on the other hand denied that his interlocutory
application is a delaying tactic and asserted that it was as
long as
15 April 2021 that the respondents were first called upon to produce
the documents.
[44]
Further
that the demand was reiterated on 6 May 2021.
[49.]
It is worth reiterating that on 20 May 2021, the respondents made
available documents requested by
the applicant in his notice for
inspection.
[45]
[50.]
It is clear from the evidence traversed that the respondents
responded to the applicant’s notice
only after being served
with a notice in terms of
Rule 30A(1).
[51.]
Both the applicant and the respondents sought to lay the blame at
each other for the delay in the
hearing of the main application.
[46]
[52.]
In my view nothing turns on the counter allegations of delaying
tactics by both parties for the purpose
of the determination of the
gist of the interlocutory application.
[53.]
The respondents further contended that they do not have to produce
the documents sought for the following
reasons:
[47]
53.1
the applicant had an opportunity to inspect the documents;
[48]
53.2
the documents which the applicant seeks the respondents to produce is
the same documents which are attached to their answering
affidavit;
[49]
53.3
as a result of the documents which are attached to the answering
affidavit, the applicant is therefore in possession
of the documents
which he seeks;
[50]
and
53.4
the applicant has failed to clearly and with sufficient particularity
state the documents that he seeks.
[51]
[54.]
The respondents made the following allegation against the applicant,
which triggered the applicant to request the supporting
documents in
that regard:
[52]
“
7.
An investigation into the immigration status of the applicant has
revealed that the applicant
has made
application[s] for a South African identity document/s or status on
no less than 3 (three) occasions
and
in all those occasions, the applicant has submitted details of
3
(three) different people whom he claim to be his mother(s).
And
in the process, he has claimed to have been born in 4 (four)
different places, that is, Zimbabwe, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg
and Brits.”
[Emphasis added]
[55.]
The applicant alleged that respondents responded as follows to his
request for the documents:
[53]
“
1.
Copies of full application for South African identity document/s or
status made by the applicant on no
less than 3 (three) occasions
together with all supporting documentation attached to such
application copies of those applications
for ID’s and status
are attached to the application as follows:
1.1
Annexure ‘HA2’ –
application for exemption;
1.2
Applications for temporary residence
permit/change condition or purpose/renewal of existing permit;
1.3
Annexure ‘HA4’ –
application for late registration of birth;
1.4
Annexure ‘HA5’ and copies of
acknowledgement of applicant’s application for 3 (three) ID’s;
1.5
Annexure ‘HA6’ – late
registration of birth;
1.6
Late registration of birth affidavit;
1.7
Annexure ‘HA11’ –
application for certificate of naturalisation for the applicant’s
then wife Buhlenkosi
Claret Masange;
…
4.
There is no proper reason to request the abovementioned documents
except as an abuse of the
Court process.”
[56.]
The applicant was adamant the supporting documentation is respect of
all the alleged applications for South African citizenship
were not
attached to the respondents’ answering affidavit.
[54]
[57.]
The applicant queried “HA1” and “HA4” on the
basis that on “HA1” reference is made to
“
traveller’s
particulars
”
and a “
traveller’s
record system
”
wherein is indicated that on 11 May 1997 the applicant left the
Republic of South Africa and only returned on 29 November
1997,
whereas “HA4” which is a notice of birth, it appears that
the applicant signed the document on 5 July 1997.
[55]
[58.]
The applicant contended that this means the applicant was not present
in the Republic of South Africa when the alleged notice
of birth was
completed.
[59.]
The applicant contended that there is no indication what the
documents are in “HA5” – copies of acknowledgement
of the applicant’s applications for the three identity
documents.
[56]
The applicant
submitted that it can no doubt be expected from him to concede that
annexure “HA5” are copies of the
acknowledgement of his
application(s) for three different identity documents. He further
submitted that there is no indication
that except for the
fingerprints (the authenticity of which is disputed), he acknowledged
receipt of three identity documents.
[60.]
The applicant further challenged “HA6” on the basis that
the respondents alleged that it is a late registration
of birth
document, however, it is a Notice of Birth Form allegedly completed
by him on 3 December 2013.
[57]
The applicant contended that from a perusal of annexure “HA6”,
it is apparent that no supporting documents have been
submitted with
the alleged application for the late registration of birth.
[61.]
The applicant further contended that the late registration of birth
affidavit allegedly deposed to by him is incorrectly deposed
to and
out of context and that his mother could not have been born on 16
July 1969 in Pietermaritzburg.
[58]
[62.]
The applicant challenged “HA11” on the basis that it is
application for certificate of naturalisation for his
then wife
Buhlenkosi Claret Masange and therefore it can never be regarded as
an application made by him for a South African identity
document or
status.
[59]
[63.]
The applicant contended that in his notice he requested copies of the
three different identity documents allegedly issued
to him by the
officials of the Department of Home Affairs but the respondents
failed to provide him with such.
[60]
[64.]
The applicant alleged that the respondents responded as follows:
[61]
“
Copies
of three identity documents issued to the applicant by the officials
of the respondent;
6.1
Annexure ‘HA7’ is a copy of the applicant’s latest
smart identity document.
6.2
Annexure ‘HA8’ is the applicant’s acknowledgement
of three identity documents – this
is where the applicant
renounces the two other identity documents.
6.3
Annexure ‘HA5’ – it’s an acknowledgement of
receipt of three different applications
for an ID by the applicant.”
[65.]
The applicant contended that he did not accept all the identity
documents issued to him by officials of the respondents as
those
identity documents reflected incorrect information.
[62]
[66.]
The respondents’ on the other hand contended that the applicant
stated in the sworn statement of 1 September 2020 that
he is in
possession of the identity documents.
[63]
[67.]
I am constrained to make a determination in this regard as I do not
have access to the applicant’s sworn statement of
1 September
2020.
[68.]
Nonetheless I am of the view that the respondents should be able to
produce copies of those identity documents in order to
enable the
applicant to respond to the allegations of fraud and
misrepresentation.
[69.]
The applicant further challenged “HA3” – exemption
application of Mario Celso Rangel Nduli on the basis
that it reflects
the same exemption application no: 2397/96 PAP(P) SADC Bundle:
98/30385 as “HA2” which is a certificate
of exemption
containing the applicant’s particulars as the exempted
person.
[64]
[70.]
I am of the view that on that basis alone, the applicant is entitled
to peruse “HA3”. It is not enough for the
respondents to
allege that the annexure was inadvertently attached to its papers if
it bears the same exemption application number
with the applicant’s
alleged certificate of exemption.
[71.]
Finally the applicant challenged “HA5” on the basis that
the respondents alleged that it is acknowledgement of
receipts which
he allegedly signed and which reflect that he indeed took possession
and /or accepted three different identity documents
issued to him by
officials at the Department of Home Affairs.
[65]
[72.]
The applicant contended that “HA5” does not comprise
acknowledgements of receipts of identity documents but rather
incomplete and unidentified forms.
[66]
[73.]
I am of the view that the respondents should be in a position to
unequivocally prove that the applicant signed for the three
different
identity documents. The respondents should be in a position to
produce a document signed by the applicant in that regard.
[74.]
Ordinarily Rule 35(12) of the Uniform Rules of the Court entitles the
applicant to be provided with
the documents/information he requires
for the main application. In
Protea
Assurance Co Ltd v Waverley Agencies CC
[67]
,
the court held that the entitlement to see a document arises as soon
as reference is made thereto in a pleading or affidavit and
that a
party cannot ordinarily be told to draft and file his own pleadings
or affidavits before he will be given an opportunity
to inspect and
copy, or transcribe, a document or tape recording referred to in his
adversary’s pleadings or affidavits.
[75.]
Contrary to the respondents’ assertion that the applicant
failed to clearly and with sufficient
particularity state the
documents that he seeks, in
Erasmus
v Slomowitz (2)
[68]
,
it was held that Rule 35(12) authorises the production of documents
which are referred to in general terms in a party’s
pleadings
or affidavits and further that the terms of the sub-rule do not
require a detailed or descriptive reference to such documents.
[76.]
It is clear from the evidence that the respondents did not provide
the applicant with all the supporting
documents he requested. In
Protea
Assurance Co Ltd v Waverley Agencies CC
[69]
,
the court further held that Rule 35(12) plainly entitles a litigant
to see the whole of a document or tape recording and not just
the
portion of it upon which his adversary in the litigation has chosen
to rely.
[77.]
It therefore follows that the respondents are obliged to provide the
applicant with the all the supporting
documents which form the basis
of their finding that the applicant misrepresented the facts in
obtaining South African Citizenship.
[78.]
The respondents seem to suggest that the applicant did not make a
proper case for the applicability
of the discovery procedure at this
stage of the application and under the circumstances.
[70]
In
Unilever
v Polagric (Pty) Ltd
[71]
,
it was held that the rights under the sub-rule may be exercised
before the respondent or defendant has disclosed his defence or
even
before knowing what his defence, if any, is going to be. Further that
he is entitled to have the documents or recordings produced
for the
specific purpose of considering his position.
[79.]
In
Gorfinkel
v Gross, Hendler & Frank
[72]
,
the court held that
prima
facie
there
is an obligation on a party who refers to a document in a pleading or
affidavit to produce it for inspection when called upon
to do so in
terms of Rule 35(12).
[80.]
In
Democratic
Alliance v Mkhwebane
[73]
,
the Supreme Court of Appeal held that documents in respect of which
there is a direct or indirect reference in an affidavit or
its
annexures that are relevant, and which are not privileged, and are in
possession of that party, must be produced.
[81.]
However, Rule 35(13) provides that the provisions of this rule
relating to discovery shall
mutatis mutandis
apply, in so far
as the court may direct, to applications.
[82.]
It is inescapable that the application of Rule 35(12) can only be
triggered by prior application to
court in terms of Rule 35(13).
[83.]
In
Loretz
v MacKenzie
[74]
,
the court held that the starting point in the enquiry as to the
application of Rule 35(13) is that there is no discovery in
applications
and that it is only possible for discovery to apply in
applications if, in terms of Rule 35(13), a court has been approached
to
make the rules relating to discovery, or some of them, applicable
and makes an order to that effect.
[84.]
It is noteworthy that in the circumstances of this case, the
applicant did not approach the court
to have the rules relating to
discovery to apply to its application, prior to launching the
interlocutory application to compel
the production of the documents
he requires.
[85.]
It would also appear that it is irregular for the applicant to bring
the applications at the same
time in terms of Rule 35(13) and Rule
30A(2) to compel the respondents to comply with his notice in terms
of Rule 35(12) and (14).
[75]
[86.]
In
Investec
Bank Ltd v Blumenthal and others
[76]
,
Sutherland J stated that:
“
There
is therefore no room for applications to be brought at the same time
under Rule 35(13) for leave to procure discovery and
to compel a
reply to a Rule 35(14) request. Accordingly, this application is
premature and for that reason fatally irregular. Consequently,
the
respondents were perfectly entitled to ignore the demand and to
oppose this application.”
[87.]
In
Investec
Bank Ltd v Blumenthal and others
[77]
,
Sutherland J further held that in application proceedings the court’s
specific authorisation is required before a demand
can be made under
Rule 35(14).
[88.]
In the circumstances the applicant was obliged to first approach the
court in terms of Rule 35(13),
failing the respondents to produce the
documents as requested in terms of Rule 35(12) then approach the
court in terms of Rule
30A(2).This is evident that rule 30A(2) was
pre-maturely invoked by the applicant when another remedy existed at
its disposal as
set out in the Absa Bank apex court decision as
stated above.
[89.]
Whereas the applicant is entitled to the documents sought in terms of
Rule 35(12), he failed to approach
the court first in terms of Rule
35(13) to make the rule relating to discovery applicable to his main
application.
[90.]
In the circumstances the applicant failed to make out a case for the
relief sought and therefore his
interlocutory applications stands to
be dismissed.
COSTS
[91.]
Since both the applicant and respondent are partly successful
in
casu,
for that reason, I make no order as to costs.
ORDER
[92.]
In the result, I make the following order:
92.1.
Interlocutory application is dismissed.
NDLOKOVANE
N
ACTING
JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT
GAUTENG
DIVISION, PRETORIA
Appearances
Counsel
for the Applicant
: ADV.
GROENEWALD
Counsel
for the Respondent :
ADV.
M. MOJAPELO & ADV. F. THEMA
Date
of Hearing
:15 FEBRUARY 2022
Date
of Judgment
: 23 MAY 2022
Judgment
transmitted electronically
[1]
Para
8 of the Respondents’ Answering Affidavit dated 27
th
August 2021; Para 7.3 of the Applicant’s Founding Affidavit;
Para 2.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; and Paras
1, 11
& 14 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[2]
Para
5.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Paras 2 & 16 of
the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; Para 5.1 of
the
Applicant’s Replying Affidavit; and Para 9 of the Respondents’
Answering Affidavit.
[3]
Para
9 of the Respondents’ Answering Affidavit; Para 5.2 of the
Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Para 16 of the Respondents’
Heads of Argument.
[4]
Para
16 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; Para 6.1 of the
Applicant’s Heads of Argument; and Para 9.1 of the
Applicant’s
Founding Affidavit.
[5]
Para
16 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[6]
Para
17 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; and Para 12 of the
Respondents’ Answering Affidavit
[7]
Para
17 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; and Para 2.5 of the
Applicant’s Heads of Argument
[8]
Paras
2.6 & 2.7 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument
[9]
Para
7.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Para 16 of the
Respondents’ Answering Affidavit and Para 21 of the
Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[10]
Para
7.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[11]
Para
7.3 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; and Para 21 of
Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[12]
Para
7.4 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[13]
Para
7.5 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[14]
Paras
7.6 & 7.7 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Para 21 of
Respondents’ Heads of Argument and Para 16 of
the Respondents’
Answering Affidavit.
[15]
Para
7.8 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[16]
Paras
35.3, 42.3, 44.1, & 47.1 of the Respondents’ Answering
Affidavit.
[17]
Para
4.2 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[18]
1938
TPD 242
at 244.
[19]
1994
(3) SA 247
(C) at 249B.
[20]
2001
(2) SA 329
(C) at 336G-J.
[21]
1994
(3) SA 247
(C) at 249B-D.
[22]
1987
(3) SA 766
(C) at 774G.
[23]
[2021]
ZASCA 18; [2021] JOL 49889 (SCA) 41.
[24]
1999
(2) SA 72
(T) at 75B-C.
[25]
2012
ZAGPJHC (05 March 2012) para 7-9.
[26]
2012
ZAGPJHC (05 March 2012) para 7-9.
[27]
Para
3.1 of the Applicant’s Founding Affidavit.
[28]
Para
7.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; and Para 21 of the
Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[29]
Para
21 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; Para 16 of the
Respondents’ Answering Affidavit and Para 7.3 of the
Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[30]
Paras
7.3 & 7.4 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Para 21 of
the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; and Para
16 of the
Respondents’ Answering Affidavit.
[31]
Para
7.6 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Para 21 of the
Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[32]
Para
24 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; Para 15 of the
Respondents’ Answering Affidavit.
[33]
Para
2.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Paras 1 & 11 of
the Respondents’ Heads of Argument; Para 4.1 of
the
Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[34]
Para
5 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Paras 8.3 & 8.4 of
the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[35]
Para
9.2 of the Applicant’s Founding Affidavit; Paras 7 & 8 of
the Respondents’ Answering Affidavit
[36]
Para
7.7 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[37]
Para
7.8 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[38]
Para
5.3 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[39]
Para
9.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[40]
Para
5.2 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[41]
Para
5.4 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[42]
Para
2.6 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[43]
Para
6.1.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Para 5.6 of the
Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[44]
Para
24.5 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[45]
Para
7.6 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Para 21 of the
Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[46]
Para
23.3 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument; Paras 15-24 of the
Respondents’ Heads of Argument; Paras 5.1 –
7.5 of the
Applicant’s Replying Affidavit.
[47]
Para
4.1 of the Applicant’s Replying Affidavit; Para 6.1.2 of the
Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[48]
Para
4.1.1 of the Applicant’s Replying Affidavit; Para 6.1.2.1 of
the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[49]
Para
4.1.2 of the Applicant’s Replying Affidavit; Para 6.1.2.2 of
the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[50]
Para
4.1.3 of the Applicant’s Replying Affidavit; Para 6.1.2.3 of
the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[51]
Para
4.1.4 of the Applicant’s Replying Affidavit; Para 6.1.2.5 of
the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[52]
Para
7 of the Respondents’ Answering Affidavit.
[53]
Para
9.3 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[54]
Para
10.3 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[55]
Paras
11.1 & 11.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[56]
Para
12.1.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of argument.
[57]
Paras
12.2 & 12.2.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[58]
Paras
12.2.2 & 12.2.3 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[59]
Paras
13.1 & 13.1.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[60]
Para
14 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[61]
Para
14.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[62]
Para
15.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[63]
Para
28 of the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[64]
Para
16.1 & 16.2 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[65]
Para
17.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[66]
Para
17.4.1 of the Applicant’s Heads of Argument.
[67]
1994
(3) SA 247
(C) at 249B.
[68]
1938
TPD 242
at 244.
[69]
1994
(3) SA 247
(C) at 249B-D.
[70]
Para
4.1 the Respondents’ Heads of Argument.
[71]
2001
(2) SA 329
(C) at 336G-J.
[72]
1987
(3) SA 766
(C) at 774G.
[73]
[2021]
ZASCA 18; [2021] JOL 49889 (SCA) 41.
[74]
1999
(2) SA 72
(T) at 75B-C.
[75]
Para
3.1 of the Applicant’s Founding Affidavit.
[76]
2012
ZAGPJHC (05 March 2012) para 7-9.
[77]
2012
ZAGPJHC (05 March 2012) para 7-9.
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