Case Law[2024] ZAGPJHC 835South Africa
M.M v T.M (2023/012335) [2024] ZAGPJHC 835 (20 August 2024)
High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg)
20 August 2024
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# South Africa: South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
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## M.M v T.M (2023/012335) [2024] ZAGPJHC 835 (20 August 2024)
M.M v T.M (2023/012335) [2024] ZAGPJHC 835 (20 August 2024)
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sino date 20 August 2024
SAFLII
Note:
Certain
personal/private details of parties or witnesses have been
redacted from this document in compliance with the law
and
SAFLII
Policy
IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG
DIVISION, JOHANNESBURG
Case
Number: 2023-012335
1.
REPORTABLE:
YES
/ NO
2.
OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: YES/
NO
3.
REVISED: YES/
NO
20
August 2024
In
the matter between:
M[…]:
T[…] M[…]
Applicant
And
M[…]:
M[…] G[…] T[…]
Respondent
ORDER
1.
Pendente lite
the
respondent is ordered to contribute towards the maintenance needs of
the applicant and the minor child born of the marriage,
as follows:
1.1
Subject to the
applicant continuing to receive the rental income from the Cedar
Acres and Oppi Koppi properties, the respondent
shall pay to the
applicant of the amount of R67 000.00 per month, the first
payment to be made on or before the 28 August
2024 and monthly
thereafter on or before the 28
th
day of each month.
1.2
The respondent shall
pay all the educational expenses of the minor child, including but
not limited his school fees, levies and
debentures at his current or
another agreed school, prescribed school uniforms, prescribed books
and stationery, agreed extra lessons,
agreed school outings, the
costs of occupation and speech/language therapy, and the costs of
agreed extra-mural activities, including
the required kit and
equipment.
1.3
The respondent shall
pay the following expenses in respect of the home which the applicant
and the child occupy at The Rest, directly
to the relevant service
provider:
1.3.1
The
estate levy, including security, the rates, taxes, costs of water and
electricity consumption, and other municipal imposts and
levies as
invoiced.
1.3.2
The costs of
maintenance and repairs, including swimming pool maintenance and
chemicals.
1.3.3
The television
license and current DSTV subscription.
1.3.4
The Telkom, ADSL and
internet accounts.
1.3.5
The insurance
premiums in respect of the household contents and homeowners’
insurance.
1.3.6
The wages and annual
bonuses of the domestic assistant and gardener.
1.4
The respondent shall
pay, in respect of the Cedar Acres and Oppi Koppi properties, the
levies, the rates, taxes, refuse and other
municipal imposts and
levies as invoiced, directly to the relevant service provider.
2.
The respondent is ordered to pay, as an initial
contribution towards the applicant’s legal costs, the amount of
R250 000.00,
payable by way of five equal instalments:
2.1
The first payment to
be made on 15 September 2024 and thereafter on the 15
th
day of the following
four months.
2.2
Directly into the
trust account of the applicant’s attorneys.
3.
Costs of the application shall be costs in the
cause of the divorce action.
JUDGMENT
LIEBENBERG AJ
Introduction
[1]
The
parties, who are the parents of a boy now 12 years old, were married
to each other in community of property on 11 May 2012.
They separated
towards the end of July 2022. The applicant wife now seeks
maintenance
pendente lite
from
the respondent for herself and the child.
[2]
The applicant is 31 years of age and did not
progress beyond grade 10. She describes herself as a housewife. The
respondent, who
is 34 years old, has been employed as Chief Financial
Officer for the past three odd years, initially at a municipality in
the
west of Gauteng, and since 1 November 2023 at a large
metropolitan municipality. Until he took up employment with his
current employer,
the respondent states that he performed
ad
hoc
consulting services to an entity,
N… Investments (Pty) Ltd, of which he is neither a shareholder
nor director. It is the
respondent’s version that his only
current source of income is his salary.
[3]
It beggars belief that a young couple such as the
parties to this application, was able to amass the wealth described
in the affidavits,
the majority of which is held in two trusts, the
family trust, which was registered in 2016, and a business trust
registered in
2021. Keeping his card very close to his chest,
the respondent gave no indication of how the acquisition of this
wealth was
financed.
[4]
By all accounts, the parties enjoyed and continue
to enjoy a lifestyle far beyond that of “
ordinary
”
people. During their cohabitation, and thereafter,
the parties travelled abroad relatively often, travelling first
class. They drove
and continue to drive a veritable fleet of
supercars and other expensive vehicles, including a Porsche Targa, a
2023 model Porsche
911 Turbo (worth about R6 million) which the
applicant says the respondent uses as “
leisure
”
vehicle, which he denies, a 2023 BMW X6 M50D,
which the respondent currently uses as “
work
”
vehicle, no less than two Range Rovers of which
one bore a personalised number plate referencing the applicant’s
name and
date of birth, two BMW 125i, an older model BMW X6, a
Mercedes Benz CLA 45, a Toyota Hilux Single Cab and a brand new
Volkswagen
Golf 8R. In December 2023, the applicant acquired a
Maserati Levante vehicle at a discounted purchase price of R2.2
million, the
majority of which she financed.
[5]
The respondent denies that he owns or owned all of
these vehicles, explaining that he only has the use thereof on
special occasions.
The older BMW X6, which the applicant had use of
until about December 2023, was registered in the name of the
respondent’s
mother. The respondent owns four of the vehicles,
but the supercars, he explains, are registered in the name of a third
party.
[6]
In the face of photographic evidence, the
respondent denies that he gifted the applicant, as a “
sorry
gift
”
for fathering another child
a Range Rover Lumma, bearing a personalised number plate of the
applicant’s name, in August 2020.
She explains that the vehicle
was registered in the name of a third party for the longest time.
This is the same third party who
the respondent explains allows him
the use of the other supercars.
[7]
In the normal course of business, very few if any
vehicle dealers or owners will allow the use of an expensive vehicle
for months
on end at no charge. In the absence of explanation for the
peculiar agreement between the respondent and the third party, I do
not accept the respondent’s version on this score. Yet, the
exact relationship between the respondent and the third party
remains
a mystery.
[8]
There is no debate that the parties and two other
persons are the trustees of the family trust. The parties are two of
three beneficiaries
of the family. This family trust is the owner of
no less than 10 immovable properties with a combined value of in
excess of R36
million, none of which is encumbered. The properties
include:
[8.1]
What constituted the former matrimonial home in
Mbombela, where the applicant and the child continue to reside. The
former matrimonial
home is unencumbered and according to the
applicant is worth about R9.5 million.
[8.2]
The respondent’s residence in Bryanston
which was acquired by way of a building package of R15 million
and further improved.
The acquisition and renovations were funded in
cash. The property was intended to be the new common home, but the
breakdown of
the marriage put an end to that idea. As such, the
respondent has been in occupation of the property since September
2022. According
to the respondent he pays a monthly rental of
R20 000.00 to the family trust.
[8.3]
An apartment in Cedar Acres, which is rented out
at R14 00.00 per month, which the applicant receives.
[8.4]
A property described as Oppi Koppi, which is also
rented with the applicant receiving the rental of R18 500.00 per
month.
[8.5]
In an annexure to her Financial Disclosure Form
(“
FDF
”
),
the applicant records that respondent pockets the monthly rental of
R16 000.00 in respect of a property known as Cedar Lofts
owned
by the family trust.
[9]
The parties together with two other persons,
including the respondent’s brother are the trustees of the
business trust, and
the parties and their son are beneficiaries.
According to the respondent, the business trust “
acts
more in a commercial capacity as it governs the commercial interests
of the
”
family trust. The nature
and extent of the trust property of the business trust do not appear
from the affidavits or the parties’
respective FDFs, the
respondent having filed two FDFs.
[10]
Neither party deemed it necessary to disclose
copies of the trust deeds, recent financial statements, or statements
of either trust’s
bank accounts. But for a glib reference in
his second FDF deposed to in June 2024, that the respondent owes the
business trust
R1.7 million (which liability did not appear in the
respondent’s first FDF which he deposed to in September 2023),
none of
the parties have given any detailed indication how the family
trust amassed its wealth, or what the extent of the trust fund of
the
business trust may be.
[11]
In addition to the two trusts, four companies are
mentioned in the papers.
[12]
The applicant is the sole shareholder and director
of L… Investments (Pty) Ltd. She explains that this company
was registered
to enable the respondent to channel his consultancy
fees to her. Until October 2023, an amount of R67 000.00 per
month was
transferred to the bank account of L… Investments
with the narration “
Cedar Acres
rental
”
.
[13]
Ostensibly, the majority of the respondent’s
income arose from his relationship with N… Investments (Pty)
Ltd. The
respondent is not reflected as a director or shareholder of
N… Investments, but one MJ, who the applicant’s says is
the respondent’s front, which, unsurprisingly the respondent
denies. The respondent disavows any interest in N…
Investments other than having rendered
ad
hoc
consulting services to the company.
Notably, the respondent contradicts himself on the date when he
ceased rendering consulting
services to N… Investments –
1 August 2023 or 1 November 2023, when he took up his employment
position.
[14]
The respondent is the sole director of Fortune …
(Pty) Ltd, but he says he earns no income from this company. The
identity
of the shareholder(s) does appear from the papers.
[15]
The respondent, who appears to be the controlling
mind of each of the trusts, contends that the affairs of the trusts
are irrelevant
to this application, and did not favour this court
with annual financial statements nor bank statements of the either of
the two
trusts. The respondent’s stance on the relevancy of the
trusts is not only patently incorrect, but smacks of a spouse who
seeks to keep subscribes to the “
catch
me if you can”
litigation
strategy.
The legal principles
[16]
Whilst every application for maintenance
pendente
lite
must be decided on its own facts,
certain basic principles have been distilled in the authorities.
[17]
There
is a duty on an applicant who seeks equitable redress to act with the
utmost good faith, and to disclose fully all material
financial
information. Any false disclosure or material non-disclosure may
justify refusal of the relief sought.
[1]
[18]
An
applicant is entitled to reasonable maintenance dependent on the
marital standard of living of the parties, albeit that a balanced
and
realistic assessment is required, based on the evidence concerning
the prevailing factual situation.
[2]
[19]
The
applicant’s actual and reasonable requirements, and the
capacity of the respondent to meet such requirements which are
general met from income, although, sometimes, inroads on capital may
be justified.
[3]
[20]
A
claim supported by reasonable and moderate details carries more
weight than one which includes extravagant or extortionate demands,
and similarly more weight will be attached to the affidavit of a
respondent showing willingness to implement his lawful
obligations.
[4]
[21]
An
interim maintenance order is not intended as an interim meal ticket
for a spouse who, quite clearly, will not establish a right
to
maintenance at trial.
[5]
[22]
A
court must be circumspect in arming an applicant with an interim
maintenance order which she is unlikely to achieve at trial,
for
human nature predicts that she will then seek to delay finalisation
of the action.
[6]
[23]
Without full and frank disclosure of all material
facts, a court is hamstrung in making a determination of what is fair
and reasonable
in the circumstances of the case before it.
Regrettably, both the applicant and the respondent herein have been
less than honest.
Had it not been for the young child born of the
marriage, I would have been mindful to dismiss the application. Yet,
I cannot allow
that a young child, who has been raised in the lap of
luxury, who is used to flying internationally on first class, to
wearing
the most expensive brands of clothing and shoes, and to being
spoilt by both his parents, suffer as a result of his parents’
lack of honesty.
The applicant’s
case
[24]
The applicant’s claims are out of the
ordinary to those routinely encountered in this Court. She seeks a
monthly cash contribution
of R224 519.00 and an order that the
respondent pays certain expenses, including the child’s
educational and the like
expenses, directly to the relevant creditor.
Additionally, she seek a contribution towards her legal costs in the
amount of R600 000.00.
[25]
On the common cause facts, until at least October
2023, the applicant received an amount of R67 000.00 per month
by way of
maintenance from the respondent. The amount was paid
into the account of L… Investments. Additionally, the
applicant
received the rental payable in respect of two immovable
properties, owned by the family trust, amounting to R32 500.00
per
month.
[26]
According to the applicant, until about October
2023, the respondent would also deposit on average an amount of
R10 000.00
per week into her credit card account. The respondent
denies having made such payment with such regularity. The applicant’s
credit card statements evidence credits of about R10 000.00
rather than R40 000.00 per month.
[27]
Thus, on the applicant’s version, until
about November 2023 she received an average of R107 000.00 as
maintenance from
the respondent in addition to the rental income paid
into her account – an aggregate of R139 500.00. She had
the use
of a Range Rover vehicle, and the respondent paid most, if
not all of the direct expenses she claims herein.
[28]
Since about December 2023, the applicant no longer
had the use of the Range Rover, and she did not receive the monthly
payment of
R67 000.00 nor the payments into her credit card
account. With effect from January 2024, the respondent unilaterally
decreed
that he would contribute a cash amount of R15 000.00 per
month towards the child’s maintenance only, and the applicant
continues to receive the monthly rental income of R32 500.00.
Thus, the applicant contends she currently has monthly income
from
all sources of R47 500.00.
[29]
In detailing the extent of the respondent’s
income, the applicant explains how, over the period January 2019 to
January 2024,
an aggregate of R10 260 000.00 was paid by N…
Investments to the family trust referenced as “
Rental
”
,
and an aggregate of R5 041 129.00 referenced “
Loan
”
.
[30]
I regard the respondent’s reaction to these
allegations as peculiar: “
I do not
know where Applicant obtained this information, and Applicant has not
provided any concrete proof in order for me to consider
same.
”
Given the respondent’s role as co-trustee of
the family trust, and his patent involvement with N…
Investments, I reject
his denial of these allegations as being too
bald and vague.
[31]
The
causa
for these payments, which spans the period of the
respondent’s previous position as chief financial officer of a
municipality,
and thus a civil servant, is not disclosed by either
party. All of this being highly relevant to the issues for
determination in
this application.
[32]
Additionally, the applicant disclosed that over
the period June 2020 to December 2021, the respondent transferred an
aggregate of
R5 630 899.99 into her sister’s banking
account. Of this amount, some R1 665 505.002 was utilised
to
renovate the kitchen of the former matrimonial home. The
applicant’s sister transferred the balance of these payments to
the applicant from time to fund her lifestyle. According to the
applicant, these funds are now depleted. The sister’s
confirmation under oath forms part of the founding affidavit.
[33]
Whether these transactions relate to the
respondent’s
ad hoc
consulting
services, neither party discloses.
[34]
In the face of the respondent bald denial that he
made these payments to the applicant’s sister, and in the
absence of documentary
evidence, this Court cannot determine the
causa
for
or the source(s) of the payments.
[35]
That said, it is manifest that the parties had
access to substantial additional funds available to them.
[36]
The applicant’s list of expenses attached to
her founding affidavit total R257 014.00 per month.
Notably, these
expenses include:
[36.1]
Personal care in relation to nails, lashes,
facials, skin care, make-up and perfume totalling R52 620.00 per
month.
[36.2]
The monthly instalments and insurance of the
Maserati vehicle she purchased and financed during December 2023, in
an aggregate of
nearly R45 000.00 per month.
[36.3]
The medical aid premium for her and the children
in the amount of R12 711.00 per month.
[36.4]
Lunches and entertainment of R16 000.00 per
month.
[36.5]
The costs of holidays amounting to R180 000.00
per annum or R15 000.00 per month.
[37]
The applicant’s list of expenditure does not
correlate with her bank statements and is indubitably inflated.
[38]
Absent from the founding affidavit, is the
applicant’s explanation on how she was able to enter into a
credit agreement of
nearly R2 million in respect of this vehicle
when she describes herself as a “
housewife
”
with a monthly income of only R32 500.00.
[39]
She does not mention her trip and the extravagant
purchases she made whilst on this trip abroad during January 2024,
nor does how
it was funded.
[40]
There is no attempt to rationalise the steep
increase in her maintenance needs since November 2023, even
discounting her acquiring
the Maserati.
[41]
During argument, respondent’s counsel
pointed out the relatively large amounts being credited to the
applicant’s bank
accounts, with annotations such as “
Lindsay
”
and “
Loan”
,
none of which the applicant thought necessary to explain.
[42]
The respondent’s critique of the applicant’s
list of expenses is far too conservative and not in keeping with the
standard
of living during the parties’ cohabitation. By
his estimation, the reasonable month maintenance needs of the
applicant
and the child amount to R34 525.00 and he contends
that his R15 000.00 contribution towards the child’s
maintenance
is sufficient for the child’s portion of groceries,
toiletries, lunches and toys. The respondent also suggests that the
applicant’s
vehicle repayments ought to be no more than
R2 500.00, this when he spends some R21 000.00 per month
repaying two of
his vehicles. In the circumstances, it is fair
that the applicant is allowed a similar amount to spend on a vehicle
suitable
for her and the child.
[43]
I am satisfied that the parties have enjoyed a
standard of life far in higher than most citizen of this country.
Having considered
the applicant’s list and the respondent’s
critique, I am of the view that reasonable monthly expenditure of the
applicant
and the child ought to be as follows:
1
Food
groceries
R 12
000,00
2
Toiletries
R 4 000,00
3
Lunches
R 3
000,00
4
Cell
phone
R 3 000,00
5
Plants
R 0,00
6
Flowers
R 1
500,00
7
Clothing
& shoes
R 3
500,00
8
Personal
care, including nails, lashes, skin products and facials, makeup
and perfume
R
6 000.00
9
Car
instalment
R 21
000,00
10
Fuel
R 5
000,00
11
Licenses
R 125,00
12
Car
insurance
R 5
000,00
13
Medical
aid
R 12
711,00
14
Psoriasis
medication
*
15
Medical
excesses
R 1
500,00
16
Life
insurance
R 3
500,00
17
Pocket
money / gifts
R 2
500,00
18
Holidays
R 5
000,00
19
Entertainment
R 5
000,00
20
Toys
R 750,00
21
Gym
R 1
000,00
22
Mother’s
maintenance
R 4 000.00
TOTAL
R 97 586.00
Less
rental income received
-R 32
500,00
SHORTFALL
R 67 586.00
[44]
The respondent does not deny that the applicant
suffers from psoriasis, and that he previously paid for the
medication she required,
which is not covered by the medical aid
scheme. The respondent states that he has not paid for such
medication since institution
of the divorce action, contending that,
if the applicant uses proper skin care treatment, there is no need
for such medication.
[45]
In her supplementary affidavit, the applicant
presented a letter from her treating doctor confirming that the
condition has flared
up and that she requires medication.
[46]
The respondent, who previously made payment of the
costs of this medication, should continue doing so
pendente
lite
, as and when such medication is
reasonable required. I intend making a separate order on this
score.
[47]
In respect of her claim for a contribution towards
costs, the applicant relies on a
pro
forma
bill of costs prepared by her
attorney. The bill includes amounts directly related to this
application, totalling R 189 110.00.
No historic costs and
disbursements in the action are included in the
pro
forma
bill, nor the costs of a
chartered accountant, valuers, an industrial psychologist, or an
actuary.
[48]
Mindful of the issues to be determined at trial,
the bill of R 601 575.00 do not appear to be out of kilter
with what
would be reasonably required to prepare for trial involving
attacks on “
corporate veils
”
of two trusts and two companies.
[49]
From her bank statements, it appears that the
applicant already expended some R 324 000.00 towards legal
costs. To which
items on the bill of costs, of any, these payments
relate, is not evident from the affidavits.
[50]
Ultimately, the parties being married in community
of property, payments they personally make towards their respective
attorneys
will come out of the joint estate, unless otherwise
ordered.
The respondent’s
case
[51]
As already stated, the respondent is also not
frank and honest in disclosing his financial affairs. His stance
regarding the relevancy
of the affairs of the two trusts is plainly
erroneous, and smack of an estranged spouse who is not willing to
afford his wife what
she is legally entitled to, both
pendente
lite
and upon divorce.
[52]
The respondent fails to give any indication of the
source of the monies which allowed the family trust to acquire 10
immovable properties,
all unencumbered, since its registration in
2016.
[53]
But for reference to a resolution of the trustees
to do so, dated 12 January 2024, the respondent does not explain how
the business
trust funded the acquisition of an immovable property in
Nelspruit at a price of R5 750 000.00.
[54]
He does not explain the basis for his ready access
to the banking accounts of N... Investments when he is not a
shareholder or director
of the company, nor why (a portion of) his
consultancy fees were paid to the applicant’s company.
[55]
The explanations he proffers for his use of
various supercars and very expensive sedans are feeble and has no
ring of truth to it.
[56]
Coyly, the respondent states that he has three Tag
Hauer watches, the most recent of which he bought in December 2023
for R 34 000.00,
and that he enjoys wearing “
brand
name
”
clothing, albeit that he
last bought clothing for himself some 5 years ago.
[57]
According to the respondent, the only source of
income now is his net salary of R123 924.14, and the extent of
his monthly
expenses total R169 358.00. which includes the
maintenance contribution towards the child, and the certain of the
direct expenses
the applicant claims herein.
[58]
Notably, the list includes vehicle repayments
totalling R21 000.00, a medical aid premium of R5 600.00,
and a credit card
liability of R15 000.00 (when this credit card
account had debit balance of R5 703.76 on 30 March 2024, and on
10 April
2024 a debit balance of R24 122.00).
[59]
I am satisfied that, to a large extent, the
respondent’s listed credit card liability constitutes a
duplication of other line
items such as food, groceries,
subscriptions and the like.
[60]
To his credit, the respondent tenders to continue
paying the property and consumption charges relating to the former
common home,
the child’s educational and extramural activities
and costs of occupational and language therapy. He also tenders
to
continue paying the amount of R15 000.00 cash to the
applicant by way of a contribution towards the child’s
maintenance
needs.
[61]
As to his own legal fees, it is evident that the
respondent deposited an amount of nearly R180 000.00 into his
attorneys’
trust account, of which a balance of just more than
R53 000.00 was available on 5 April 2024. He does not
state where
he sourced this trust deposit. Of course, the respondent
was not the litigant who had to incur the costs of the joinder of the
trustees of the two trusts and the two corporate entities.
Conclusion
[62]
On a conspectus of the (lack of) evidence before
this Court, I am satisfied that neither the applicant nor the
respondent has been
forthcoming and honest, and failed to display the
utmost good faith required of litigants in applications such as
these.
[63]
The applicant’s claims are inflated, and the
respondent is less than frank about his financial affairs, choosing
not to make
disclosure of the financial affairs of two trusts
registered during the subsistence of the marriage, and which house
substantial
wealth accumulated during the subsistence of the
marriage.
[64]
I do not accept that the respondent’s source
of income from N… Investments simply disappeared. As recently
as December
2023 and January 2024, N… Investments made
substantial payments in excess of R1.5 million to the family
trust, which
is begs an explanation from the respondent.
[65]
I have no doubt that the better part of the wealth
accumulated in the two trusts emanated from the respondent’s
enterprises.
Simple accounting practice dictates that he
therefore must have a loan account in each of the trusts. What the
extent of those
loan accounts are, he chose not to disclose.
[66]
The respondent previously ensure the applicant
received R67 000.00 per month to pay for her and the child’s
expenses.
He must continue doing so.
[67]
If needs be, the respondent will be able to draw
down on his loan accounts to make an initial contribution towards the
applicant’s
legal costs. The applicant is at liberty to
approach the Court again should the initial contribution prove
insufficient.
[68]
I repeat - had it not been for the young boy
caught in the middle of his warring parents, I would have been
inclined to dismiss
the application. However, having waded
through the common cause facts, the contradictions in each party’s
case, and
distilling from bank statements and other documents before
me, I am satisfied that the following order is fair and reasonable in
the circumstances:
Order
1.
Pendente lite
the
respondent is ordered to contribute towards the maintenance needs of
the applicant and the minor child born of the marriage,
as follows:
1.1
Subject to the
applicant continuing to receive the rental income from the Cedar
Acres and Oppi Koppi properties, the respondent
shall pay to the
applicant of the amount of R67 000.00 per month, the first
payment to be made on or before the 28 August
2024 and monthly
thereafter on or before the 28
th
day of each month.
1.2
The
respondent shall pay all the educational expenses of the minor child,
including but not limited his school fees, levies and
debentures at
his current or another agreed school, prescribed school uniforms,
prescribed books and stationery, agreed extra lessons,
agreed school
outings, the costs of occupation and speech/language therapy, and the
costs of agreed extra-mural activities, including
the required kit
and equipment.
1.3
The
respondent shall pay the following expenses in respect of the home
which the applicant and the child occupy at The Rest, directly
to the
relevant service provider:
1.3.1
The estate levy, including security, the rates, taxes, costs of
water and electricity consumption, and other municipal
imposts and
levies as invoiced.
1.3.2
The
costs of maintenance and repairs, including swimming pool maintenance
and chemicals.
1.3.3
The
television license and current DSTV subscription.
1.3.4
The
Telkom, ADSL and internet accounts.
1.3.5
The
insurance premiums in respect of the household contents and
homeowners’ insurance.
1.3.6
The
wages and annual bonuses of the domestic assistant and gardener.
1.4
The
respondent shall pay, in respect of the Cedar Acres and Oppi Koppi
properties, the levies, the rates, taxes, refuse and other
municipal
imposts and levies as invoiced, directly to the relevant service
provider.
2.
The respondent is ordered to pay, as an initial
contribution towards the applicant’s legal costs, the amount of
R250 000.00,
payable by way of five equal instalments:
2.1
The first payment to
be made on 15 September 2024 and thereafter on the 15
th
day of the following
four months.
2.2
Directly into the
trust account of the applicant’s attorneys.
3.
Costs of the application shall be costs in the
cause of the divorce action.
S LIEBENBERG
ACTING JUDGE OF THE
HIGH COURT
GAUTENG DIVISION,
JOHANNESBURG
Appearances:
For
the applicant:
Adv
PV Ternent
Instructed
by:
Kim
Meikle Attorneys
For
the respondent:
Adv
R Andrews
Instructed
by:
Vermeulen
Attorneys
Heard
on 1 August 2024
Judgment
on 20 August 2024
[1]
Du
Preez v Du Preez
2009
(6) SA 28 (T).
[2]
CMSC
v NC
[2021]
ZAWCHC 227.
[3]
Taute
v Taute
1974
(2) SA 675
(E) (
Taute
).
[4]
Taute
above.
[5]
Nilsson
v Nilsson
1984
(2) SA 294
(C) at 295E-G.
[6]
MCE
v JE
[2011]
ZAGPPHC 193 per Makgoka J at para 4.
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