Case Law[2023] ZAKZDHC 19South Africa
Ndlovu and Others v Mangosuthu University of Technology and Others (D8841/2022) [2023] ZAKZDHC 19 (28 April 2023)
High Court of South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal Division, Durban)
28 April 2023
Judgment
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# South Africa: Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Durban
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## Ndlovu and Others v Mangosuthu University of Technology and Others (D8841/2022) [2023] ZAKZDHC 19 (28 April 2023)
Ndlovu and Others v Mangosuthu University of Technology and Others (D8841/2022) [2023] ZAKZDHC 19 (28 April 2023)
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sino date 28 April 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF
SOUTH AFRICA
KWAZULU-NATAL
LOCAL DIVISION, DURBAN
CASE
NO: D8841/2022
In
the matter between:
MAKAZIWE
NQOBILE NDLOVU
First Applicant
SMANGALISO
KHUMALO
Second Applicant
SIBONELO
FANELE THABETHE
Third Applicant
SISEKELO
JONA
Fourth Applicant
THEMBINKOSI
NGOBESE
Fifth Applicant
SISEKELO
JIYANE
Sixth Applicant
THULASIZWE
MDLETSHE
Seventh Applicant
LANGALETHU
McDONALD MALANDA
Eighth Applicant
ZAMILE
FUNDA
Ninth Applicant
MTHOKOZISI
ERIC GUMEDE
Tenth Applicant
SINDISWA
ANAID MTHEMBU
Eleventh Applicant
SIBONISO
SICELO NTSHABA
Twelfth Applicant
LUNGELO
SHEZI
Thirteenth Applicant
BANDILE
LUNGANI NYANDENI
Fourteenth Applicant
MTHOBISI
MAVUNDLA
Fifteenth Applicant
BANDILE
KHAMBULE
Sixteenth Applicant
MTHOKOZISI
SIBIYA
Seventeenth Applicant
CODESA
CYRIL GWALA
Eighteenth Applicant
SABELO
INNOCENT MAGOSO
Nineteenth Applicant
and
MANGOSUTHU
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
First
Respondent
MINISTER
OF HIGHER EDUCATION
AND
TRAINING
Second Respondent
NATIONAL
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SCHEME
Third Respondent
ACTING-VICE
CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL
PROF
M. M.
RAMOGALE
Fourth Respondent
STUDENT’S
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
Fifth Respondent
CHAIRPERSON
OF THE STUDENT’S DISCIPLINARY
COMMITTEE:
DEAN OF STUDENTS - DR T KWEYAMA Sixth
Respondent
ORDER
The
following order shall issue:
1.
Part A of the application is dismissed.
2.
No order as to costs.
JUDGMENT
Nicholson
AJ:
[1]
This is a review application where the Applicants, being
students at
the Mangosuthu University of Technology (“the university”),
the First Respondent herein, were suspended,
disciplined, and
expelled for contravention of the university’s disciplinary
code, and seek to review and set aside the decisions.
[2]
The
application is brought in two parts, namely Part A and Part B. In
Part A, Applicants seek an order declaring various sections
of the
university’s 2022 General Rules and Regulations for Students
(“general rules”), to be unlawful, invalid
and
unconstitutional. Further, Applicants seek an interim order for inter
alia the reinstatement of the Sixteenth, Eighteenth and
Nineteenth
Applicants and the consideration of those Applicants by the National
Students’ Financial Aid Scheme (“NSFAS”)
for
financial aid,
[1]
pending the
outcome of both Part A and Part B.
[3]
Initially, this matter was enrolled as an urgent to be
heard on 2
September 2022 on less than three days’ notice; however, on
that day it was adjourned to 9 September 2022, when
the urgent
interlocutory relief was refused. Before me, Applicants persist with
the interim interlocutory relief, albeit on a less
urgent basis.
[4]
In part B,
the Applicants seek an order to review and set aside the decision of
the Fourth Respondent to suspend and/or expel some
of the
Applicants.
[2]
The review in
Part B, is in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3
of 2000 (“PAJA”); accordingly, Part
B may only be
prosecuted once the reasons in terms of Uniform rule 53 have been
filed by the university. Both parties agree that
Part B is not ripe
for hearing.
[5]
In the premises, the matter before me only deals with
Part A.
Factual
Background
[6]
On 31
January 2022, the Second Respondent (who I shall refer to as the
Minister from hereon) approved various foundation programmes
which
were designed to assist students who did not meet the minimum
admission criteria for particular courses at the university.
In as
far as the Department of Accounting is concerned, the university has
an Extended Curriculum Programme (“ECP”)
to assist
students who did not meet the minimum criteria for mainstream courses
at the Department of Accounting.
[3]
[7]
The effect of these programmes is that an extra year
of study is
added to the study duration for that particular diploma i.e. a
National Diploma in Accounting is normally three years.
However,
students who enter that programme through the ECP, would take four
years to complete the Diploma, should they pass every
year.
[8]
In terms of NSFAS, students are not funded beyond an
additional year
of studying. However, since the ECP and the foundation programme is
not recognised by NSFAS, students are either
unable to pay for the
ECP or foundation programme or if their study progresses beyond an
additional year of study, NSFAS would
not fund them. This is known as
the N+1 Rule or N+ Rule.
[9]
Applicants assert that between 31 January 2022 and 27
May 2022, in
light of the university’s failure to compile the requisite
reports for NSFAS, students which include the Applicants,
did not
receive their student allowances from NSFAS timeously which resulted
in their inability to acquire study material, food
and other basic
necessities.
[10]
On 1 June 2022, in light of the N+ Rule, NSFAS had still not funded
any
students in their fifth year; notwithstanding, between 25 January
2022 and 1 June 2022, various correspondence being exchanged between
the Applicant and the university, wherein the university was
requested to upload the requisite information to NSFAS.
[11]
Between 1
June 2022 and 10 June 2022, various emails were exchanged between the
SRC Secretary General, Mr Khumalo and the university,
requesting
their assistance. However, the issue was not resolved.
[4]
[12]
On 10 June 2022, the university published the examination timetable
where
examinations were scheduled to commence on Monday, 13 June
2022.
[13]
On Sunday,
12 June 2022, the SRC sent a memorandum of grievances to the Fourth
Respondent noting various grievances and inter alia
the non-payment
of NSFAS which results in the unpreparedness of students to write
exams. The memorandum requested that the examinations
be rescheduled
to 20
June
2022.
[5]
[14]
On 13 June
2022
[6]
when the examination was
meant to commence, students clad in balaclavas, masks and face
shields vented their frustration by dragging
SRC members out of their
rooms in protest of the scheduled examination.
[15]
The protest
action involved the torching of parts of the university premises
which included the guardroom - with the security still
inside -
located in the main entrance, the senate chamber, examination office,
academic affairs office, the mobile toilets and
the torching of two
university vehicles.
[7]
The
damage caused by the protest action is in the region of R 2
million.
[8]
[16]
It is instructive to mention that while Applicants describe only one
protest on 13 June 2022, in the joint answering affidavit of the
First and Fourth to Sixth Respondents, whom for convenience I refer
to as Respondents from hereon, refer to two protests, one being on 13
June 2022, which they refer to as ‘student disruptions’
and ‘violent protests’, and another being on 23 June
2022.
[17]
While
Applicants assert that the damage to property took place on 13 June
2022, on Respondents’ version, 13 June 2022 involved
disruptions, with the damage, described above, taking place on 23
June 2022.
[9]
Nothing turns on
this contradiction.
Suspensions/
Disciplinary hearing/ Expulsion
[18]
In light of the protests, the Applicants were suspended. According to
the Applicants, they came to know of their suspensions because their
names and photo images were pasted on the notice board reserved
for
suspended students. It is instructive that the issue of both the
suspensions and the disciplinary hearings which I shall deal
with
hereinbelow are not dealt with by the Applicants in any detail but
merely dealt with in general terms.
[19]
The Respondents went into laborious detail to explain their
suspensions,
the evidence, the charges and the outcome of the
disciplinary hearing of each Applicant.
[20]
The
disciplinary hearings took place between July 2022 and September 2022
and the notices of suspension were served on the Applicants
in June
2022.
[10]
The
Law
[21]
The
Applicants assert that the application is based on s 3(1), s
3(2)(b)(i) and(ii), 3(3)(
a
)
and (
b
)
of PAJA and s 1(c) of the Constitution.
[11]
[22]
These sections of PAJA read:
‘
3
Procedurally
fair administrative action affecting any person
–
(1)
Administrative action which materially and adversely affects the
rights or legitimate expectations of any person must be procedurally
fair.
(2)
(
a
) A fair administrative procedure depends on the
circumstances of each case.
(
b
)
In order to give effect to the right to procedurally fair
administrative action, an administrator, subject to subsection (4),
must give a person referred to in subsection
(1)-
(i)
adequate notice of the nature and purpose of the proposed
administrative action;
(ii)
a reasonable opportunity to make representations;
…
(3)
In order to give effect to the right to procedurally fair
administrative action, an administrator may, in his or her or its
discretion, also give a person referred to in subsection (1) an
opportunity to-
(
a
)
obtain assistance and, in serious or complex cases, legal
representation;
(
b
)
present and dispute information and arguments; and
(c)
…
(4)(
a
)
If it is reasonable and justifiable in the circumstances, an
administrator may depart from any of the requirements referred to
in
subsection (2).
(b
)
In determining whether a departure as contemplated in paragraph (
a
)
is reasonable and justifiable, an administrator must take into
account all relevant factors, including-
(i)
the objects of the empowering provision;
(ii)
the nature and purpose of, and the need to take, the administrative
action;
(iii)
the likely effect of the administrative action;
(iv)
the urgency of taking the administrative action or the urgency of the
matter; and
(v)
the need to promote an efficient administration and good governance.’
[23]
Section 1(c) of the Constitution reads:
‘
(1)
Everyone has the right to freedom and security of the person, which
includes the right-
(a)
…
(b)
(c)
to be free from all forms of violence from either public or
private sources;
(d)
…’
[24]
The Applicants aver that their rights in terms of the Constitution,
which
I refer to hereunder, have been infringed:
(a)
s 10 - everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their
dignity respected and protected;
(b)
s 17 - everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble,
to demonstrate, to picket
and to present petitions; and
(c)
s 29(1)(
b
) - everyone has the right to further education,
which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively
available
and accessible.
Clauses
to be declared unconstitutional
[25]
The
Applicants seek an order that the following sections of the general
rules
[12]
be declared
unlawful, invalid and unconstitutional:
(a)
Section G.26.1(e) which reads as follows:
‘
e.
The Principal or any person authorised by him may, when he regards it
appropriate,
suspend a student against whom a charge, accusation or
allegation has been instituted for a period determined by him, i.e.
he may
prohibit the student to:
i.
enter any premises or residence of the University, or any part
thereof;
ii.
exercise any right or privilege which he as registered student
enjoys.’
(b)
Sections G.26.5.4(b)(i) and (ii) which reads:
‘
PROCEDURE
OF STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE AND THE STUDENTS’
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE –
a…
b.
Procedure during the hearing of serious misconduct
i.
A charge of serious misconduct shall be instituted by the
Registrar/Dean
of Students.
ii.
If the Deputy Registrar/Dean of Students is of the opinion that there
are reasonable
grounds for a charge of misconduct against a student
and that the misconduct of the student concerned is apparently of a
serious
nature, s/he shall formulate a written charge and convene a
hearing by the Academic Disciplinary Committee when the charge has a
bearing on the student’s studies, or a hearing by the Students’
Disciplinary Committee, when the charge does not have
a bearing on
the student’s studies.’
(c)
Sections G.27.15(a) and (b) reads:
‘
MEETINGS
-
a.
No meeting or activity involving more than five students may be held
on the residence
premises after 20:00 without the consent of the
Superintendent.
b.
No party – political meetings are permitted on the residence
premises.’
[26]
Applicants further seek an order that the general rules be declared
unlawful
and unconstitutional: to the extent that no provision is
made for the minimum period within which a student may be disciplined
from the date of the alleged offence or the date upon which the First
or Fourth to Sixth Respondents ought reasonably to have become
aware
of the alleged offence, and to the extent that the general rules
disallow the students to employ external legal representations
of
their choice where they face serious misconduct.
Argument
[27]
It is unclear in both the Applicants’ founding affidavit and
heads
of argument, the reason that they assert that the application
is based on s 1(c) of the Constitution because nowhere in the
founding
affidavit or in the heads of argument has it been inferred
that Applicants were subjected to any form of violence. On the
contrary,
the Respondents aver that the Municipality, its employees
and students were subjected to violence. Accordingly, I shall not
deal
with this issue any further.
[28]
With regard
to ‘the right to human dignity’ as guaranteed in s 10 of
the Constitution, I am unable to find any facts
that demonstrate that
the Applicants right to human dignity has been violated. In their
heads of argument, Applicants describe
the right to human dignity in
very broad terms.
[13]
The
closest Applicants come to making out a case that their human dignity
has been violated, is at paragraph 10 of their heads
of argument that
reads:
‘
The
lawless suspensions and expulsions of the Applicants in this matter
ring a stark reminder of the history of exclusion and the
deliberate
retardation of the potential of black and African people in
particular. This has restored the bridge, which the Constitution
sought to part with and destroy, between our egregious past and the
hope of the new constitutional order.’
[29]
The suspensions cannot be described as lawless because the
disciplinary
code of the university makes allowances for both the
suspensions and expulsions. Applicants have not provided any
information as
to which part of the suspensions and expulsions should
be regarded as an indignity.
[30]
In
Applicants’ heads of argument, under the heading ‘The
right to peaceful and unarmed protest has been violated’,
it
appears that the Applicants aver that s 17 of the Constitution has
been contravened. Applicants confirm that indeed, an emergency
meeting was held to address the urgent matters affecting students
where it was agreed that they would embark upon protest action.
In
the circumstances, so argued by Applicants, and in light of the fact
that the university does not have a mechanism to embark
on a
legitimised process, the university’s policies and/or rules are
unconstitutional.
[14]
[31]
In
considering G.27.15(a) and (b) of the general rules, Respondents
aver
[15]
that the rules merely
prohibits meetings after 20h00 at night and political meetings in the
residence. The rule is justifiable
because it controls both the
numbers and the noise in the residence and the rest of the university
campus is available for political
meetings if need be.
[32]
Applicants have been charged for holding a meeting in the residence
after
20h00 in the evening and for damaging university property
together with other harmful practices during the protests. There is
nothing
in the papers before me that suggest that the university is
attempting to disregard the Applicants’ rights in terms of s
17, because the limitation on Applicants’ rights are
justifiable in the circumstances.
[33]
With regard
to Applicants’ rights in terms of s 29(1)(
b
)
of the Constitution where the right to education is enshrined, the
Applicants assert that their right to education has been violated
by
firstly, their inability to obtain financial aid from NSFAS and
secondly, their expulsions from the institution which would
hamper
any further chances from studying at other institutions.
[16]
[34]
Bearing in mind that I am adjudicating upon Part A of the
application,
which seeks to set aside certain sections of the
university’s general rules, there appears to be no incongruency
between
the Applicants’ right to education and the university’s
rules. Given the fact that on Applicants’ own version,
the
protests were violent, which not only destroyed property but
threatened human life, the allegations if properly proved against
Applicants, in my view, would attract a sanction of expulsion.
[35]
Further,
the Applicants aver that NSFAS does not recognise the ECP
programme.
[17]
In the
circumstances, it strikes me as odd that despite this insight, the
Applicants embarked on a protest directed at the university
when in
fact, their grievance was with NSFAS.
[36]
In their
heads of argument, Applicants focused on 13 issues, which it deemed
common cause.
[18]
These
so-called common cause facts went to great length to demonstrate that
the Respondents did not deny being in breach of the
general rules
when either suspending, disciplining or expelling the Applicants.
[37]
Applicants argued that they were denied access to education which
although
a constitutional imperative is also a vehicle for improving
the lives of the masses.
[38]
The Applicants also view the policies of NSFAS and the fact that the
university did not send the requisite information to NSFAS as a
failure by NSFAS and/or the university to advance the Applicants’
right to education.
[39]
With regard to the unlawful suspensions, Applicants assert that the
Seventeenth,
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Applicants were suspended
without being given an opportunity to make representations which is
in contravention
of s 3(2)(
b
)(ii) of PAJA.
[40]
On the
other hand, Respondents assert that the suspensions were not punitive
in nature but merely precautionary and justified in
the
circumstances. Respondents aver
[19]
that section G.26.1(e) refers to the power afforded to the Principal
to impose precautionary suspensions which is not punitive
in nature.
In support of that proposition, Respondents referred me to
Long
v SA Breweries (Pty) Ltd and Others
[20]
where in the context of labour law, the Constitutional Court
confirmed that there is no requirement to afford the employee an
opportunity to make representations prior to implementation of
his/her precautionary suspension by an employer.
[41]
Considering
Long
, section G.26.1(e) of the general rules is
not unconstitutional.
[42]
With regard
to the expulsions, the Applicants aver that the Fifth to the Sixth,
Eighth to the Fifteenth and Seventeenth to the Nineteenth
Applicants
were expelled from the university pursuant to disciplinary
proceedings that took place between 25 July 2022 and 28 July
2022
following upon their suspensions.
[21]
[43]
Applicants aver that while section G.26.4 of the general rules
provide
that students charged with misconduct should be provided with
written notification of such allegations for misconduct in writing
within 14 days before the hearing; in consequence of the Applicants
not being given adequate notice, the general rules were contravened
together with s 3(2)(
b
)(i) of PAJA.
[44]
Again, this submission does not advance any ground for the granting
of
any relief in Part A; because Part A deals with a constitutional
invalidity while the grounds advanced here suggest that the
university
has failed to follow its own rules and not that the rules
are unconstitutional.
[45]
Applicants
takes issue with the composition of the students’ disciplinary
committee which is composed in terms of section
G.26.5.2(a).
[22]
The Applicants assert that the said rule was not complied with
because there was no person with a legal background present and
the
SRC members who formed part of the composition of the committee were
not designated by the SRC as prescribed by the general
rules.
[23]
[46]
Again, this issue is pertinent to Part B of the application because
it
refers to non-compliance with the rules as opposed to a
constitutional invalidity.
[47]
Applicants
further aver that the First to the Sixth, the Eighth to the Fifteenth
and the Seventeenth Applicants’ right to
a fair hearing were
violated because they were denied an opportunity:
[24]
‘
41.1.
to give evidence in their own defense either adequately or at all;
41.2. to call
witnesses in support of their version;
41.3. to be
represented by either a personal member or external legal
representation;
41.4. to
cross examine the witnesses who testified against them or have them
cross examined;
41.5. to
re-examine their own witnesses or have them re-examined;
41.6. after
all evidence had been given, to argue their case in their own
defense;
41.7. after
conviction, to present evidence in mitigation of punishment.’
[48]
It is
instructive that Respondents deny these averments
[25]
and has taken the time to explain the suspensions, the evidence led
at the disciplinary enquiry and the expulsions of each Applicant
in
laborious detail,
[26]
while
Applicants dealt with these issues in general terms. In the
circumstances, this issue cannot be determined without having
regard
to the record; accordingly, this issue can only be determined with
Part B of the application.
[49]
Applicants
further asserts that the sanctions imposed on the Applicants was too
harsh because it effectively put an end to their
academic career.
[27]
Applicants aver that the procedural irregularity was made worse by
the fact that they were only able to view the charges, statements
and
other evidence on the morning of the hearing.
[28]
Further, Applicants aver that despite facing expulsion they were
denied their right of legal representation which rendered the
disciplinary process unfair and a violation of s 3(2)(
b
)(ii)
of PAJA.
[29]
In support of the
submission, Applicants directed me to
State
Information Technology Agency SOC Ltd v Gijima Holdings (Pty) Ltd
[30]
that stated:
‘
[40]
What we glean from this is that the exercise of public power which is
at variance with the principal of legality is inconsistent
with the
Constitution itself. In short, it is invalid.…’
[50]
I am not certain that
Gijima
supports Applicants’
argument, because
Gijima
referred to the non-compliance of s
217 of the Constitution which rendered a decision to award a public
tender invalid, while Applicants
are attempting to assert the right
to legal representation being a constitutional right. The only
constitutional right to legal
representation in the Constitution is s
35 where the right is afforded to arrested, detained and accused
persons. There is no blanket
constitutional right to legal
representation at disciplinary hearings.
[51]
Applicants
aver further that they were not provided with reasons when found
guilty of the charges in the charge sheet despite making
a request
for the reasons.
[31]
Respondents deny that the Applicants were not provided reasons by
stating that reasons were provided in the answering affidavit.
[32]
[52]
Again, this is another issue that can best be ventilated with the
benefit
of the record. Accordingly, the issue can be best determined
at Part B.
[53]
Having
regard to the section that Applicants seek to be declared
unconstitutional, the only contentious section is G.26.5.4(c)(i)
and
(ii) which on perusal does not appear to allow legal representation.
While I have already stated that there is no absolute
right to legal
representation other than to those persons stated in s 35 of the
Constitution, in
Dyantyi
v Rhodes University and Others
,
[33]
the
Court held that the right to legal representation extends to serious
or complex cases.
[54]
The
Respondents assert that there is no general right to legal
representation by a legal practitioner but legal representation by
a
practitioner may be afforded in complex cases. For authority I was
referred to
Dyantyi
and
Hamata
and Another v Chairperson, Peninsula Technikon Internal Disciplinary
Committee, and Others
[34]
,
where the court in considering a similar rule of the Peninsula
Technikon Internal Disciplinary Committee, held that despite the
wording, taking s 3(3)(a) of PAJA into account, the presiding officer
would have a discretion
[35]
to
allow legal representation.
[55]
It is
either common cause or axiomatic that there is no general right to
legal representation.
[36]
Accordingly, the students would have had to motivate for legal
representation. There is neither an indication, nor any averments
in
the papers, that Applicants requested legal representation and were
refused. Accordingly, it is uncertain that if applicants
had made the
application for legal representation in terms of section G.26.5.4(c)
,
the
Applicants would not have been afforded legal representation.
[56]
In any event, it is clear from
Hamata
that the section must be
interpreted with s 3(3) of PAJA, to give a discretion to a presiding
officer to allow legal representation.
In the premises, the said
section is not unconstitutional.
[57]
In my view, upon a plain reading of G.26.5.4(b)(i) and (ii) of the
general
rules, it is not unconstitutional. In the premises,
Part A of this application must fail in its entirety.
Costs
[58]
It is trite that courts have a wide discretion in the awarding of
costs and that discretion
must be exercised judicially. Applicants
did not seek costs in the event of their success, while Respondents
sought costs in the
event of their success.
[59]
In
Biowatch
Trust v Registrar, Genetic Resources, and Others
[37]
the Constitutional Court adopted the approach that applicants
litigating for the public benefit in constitutional matters should
not be burdened with costs in the event that they are unsuccessful.
[60]
In
Harrielall
v University of KwaZulu-Natal
,
the following was stated:
[38]
‘
[16]
With regard to costs, the Supreme Court of Appeal here held that the
Biowatch
principle did not apply because “no
constitutional issues were implicated”. And that the case was
simply a review under
the
Promotion of Administrative Justice Act
(PAJA
) of an administrative decision of the university. This is not
correct.
[17]
The constitutional issues raised by the case are two-fold. First, a
review of administrative action under PAJA constitutes
a
constitutional issue. This is so because PAJA was passed specifically
to give effect to administrative justice rights guaranteed
by section
33 of the Constitution. Moreover when the University determined the
application for admission, it exercised a public
power.’
(Footnotes omitted.)
[61]
In
Economic
Freedom Fighters v v Gordhan and Others
,
[39]
the Constitutional Court at paragraphs 82 to 83, criticised the High
Court’s decision not to apply
Biowatch
and stated as follows:
‘
[83]
Regardless of the EFF's motivation to involve itself in these
proceedings, as a private party acting seemingly in the public
interest, it pursued arguments of genuine constitutional concern.
Although those arguments have been unsuccessful in both the High
Court and on appeal before this court, it would be parsimonious to
contend that the constitutional arguments the EFF raised were
of a
specious or opportunistic calibre. The EFF therefore should have
received the benefit of the
Biowatch
principle and should not
have had costs awarded against it.’
[62]
In the circumstances, I am of the view that the Applicants should not
be burdened with
costs.
Order
[63]
In the result, I make the following order:
1.
Part A of the application is dismissed.
2.
No order as to costs.
Nicholson
AJ
Date
heard:
24 March 2023
Handed
down on:
28 April 2023
Appearances:
For Applicants:
Advocate S Luthuli
Instructed by:
T L Mbili Attorneys
Suite 9C, Tinsley
House
225 Musgrave Road
Durban
First, Fourth to
Sixth Respondents:
Advocate J P
Broster
Instructed by:
Seanego Attorneys
10
th
Floor, Musgrave Towers
115 Musgrave Road
Berea
[1]
Volume
1: notice of motion, prayer 4 at page 9.
[2]
Applicants’
heads of argument para 3.2.
[3]
Ibid
paras 49-51 at page 40.
[4]
Ibid
paras 57-59 at pages 42-43.
[5]
Ibid
para 59 at page 43.
[6]
Ibid para 60 at page 43.
[7]
Ibid
para 60 at page 43; Volume 3: answering affidavit para 7 at page
271.
[8]
Volume 3: answering affidavit para 9 at page 272.
[9]
Ibid para 7 at page 271; Respondents’ heads of argument para
3.2.
[10]
Volume
3: answering affidavit paras 17-119 at pages 275-298.
[11]
Applicants’ heads of argument para 4.
[12]
Volume 1: notice of motion, prayers 2.1-2.7.
[13]
Applicants’
heads of argument, paras 9-11.
[14]
Applicants’
heads of argument paras 16-18.
[15]
Respondents’ heads of argument para 4.4.
[16]
Applicants’
heads of argument paras 19-24.
[17]
Volume
1: founding affidavit para 56 at page 42.
[18]
Applicants’
heads of argument paras 8.1-8.13.
[19]
Respondents’
heads of argument para 4.
[20]
Long v
SA Breweries (Pty) Ltd and Others
(2019)
40 (ILJ) 965 (CC)
para
25.
[21]
Applicants’
heads of argument para 32.
[22]
Ibid
para 37.
[23]
Ibid
para 38.
[24]
Ibid
para 41.
[25]
Volume
4: answering affidavit para 162 at page 307.
[26]
Volume
3: answering affidavit paras 14-119 at pages 273-298.
[27]
Applicants’
heads of argument
para
46.
[28]
Ibid
paras
47 and 48.
[29]
Ibid
para 50.
[30]
State
Information Technology Agency SOC Ltd v Gijima Holdings (Pty) Ltd
2018
(2) SA 23
(CC)
.
[31]
Applicants
heads of argument para 52.
[32]
Volume
4: answering affidavit para 167 at page 308.
[33]
Dyantyi
v Rhodes University and Others
2023
(1) SA 32
(SCA)
paras
22 and 23.
[34]
Hamata
and Another v Chairperson, Peninsula Technikon Internal Disciplinary
Committee, and Others
2002
(5) SA 449
(SCA) paras 8-13 and 20-22.
[35]
Ibid
paras
9-11.
[36]
See
Dabner
v South African Railways and Harbours
1920 AD 583
at 598 (quoted in
Hamata
para 5).
[37]
Biowatch
Trust v Registrar, Genetic Resources, and Others
2009
(6) SA 232 (CC).
[38]
Harrielall
v University of KwaZulu-Natal
2018 (1) BCLR 12 (CC).
[39]
Economic
Freedom Fighters v Gordhan and Others
2020 (6) SA 325
(CC).
sino noindex
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