Case Law[2023] ZAGPJHC 13South Africa
M&J Da Costa Brothers (Pty) Ltd and Another vs Karan (2021/58699) [2023] ZAGPJHC 13 (13 January 2023)
Judgment
begin wrapper
begin container
begin header
begin slogan-floater
end slogan-floater
- About SAFLII
About SAFLII
- Databases
Databases
- Search
Search
- Terms of Use
Terms of Use
- RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds
end header
begin main
begin center
# South Africa: South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
South Africa: South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
You are here:
SAFLII
>>
Databases
>>
South Africa: South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
>>
2023
>>
[2023] ZAGPJHC 13
|
Noteup
|
LawCite
sino index
## M&J Da Costa Brothers (Pty) Ltd and Another vs Karan (2021/58699) [2023] ZAGPJHC 13 (13 January 2023)
M&J Da Costa Brothers (Pty) Ltd and Another vs Karan (2021/58699) [2023] ZAGPJHC 13 (13 January 2023)
Download original files
PDF format
RTF format
make_database: source=/home/saflii//raw/ZAGPJHC/Data/2023_13.html
sino date 13 January 2023
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: 2021/58699
REPORTABLE:
NO
OF
INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: NO
REVISED:
YES.
13
January 2023
In
the matter between: -
M&J
DA COSTA BROTHERS (PTY) LTD
First
plaintiff
(REGISTRATION
NUMBER: 1985/003906/07)
MANJOH
RANCH (PTY) LTD
Second
plaintiff
(REGISTRATION
NUMBER: 1960/001756/07)
and
IVOR
MICHAEL KARAN
Defendant
/ Excipient
(IDENTITY
NUMBER: [....])
JUDGMENT
DELIVERED
:
This
judgment was handed down electronically by circulation to the
parties’ legal representatives by e mail and publication
on CaseLines. The date and time for hand-down is deemed to be
14h00 on 13 January 2023.
F.
BEZUIDENHOUT AJ:
INTRODUCTION
[1]
The plaintiffs
issued summons against the defendant for payment of various amounts
of money. The defendant excepts to the claims
on the ground that they
lack averments necessary to sustain a cause of action.
[2]
The issues for
determination as formulated by the parties in a joint practice note,
are as follows: -
2.1
Whether the first plaintiff’s claim, as well as the second and
third plaintiffs’ second and third
claim, lack averments to
sustain a cause of action against the defendant.
2.2
Whether on a proper interpretation of the agreement, the plaintiffs
have a claim or whether they are excluded
by the non-variation clause
or parol evidence rule.
[3]
It is common
cause between the parties that for purposes of determining the
exception, the facts alleged in the particulars of claim,
are deemed
to be correct.
THE
SALE OF BUSINESSES AGREEMENT
[4]
The parties
concluded a written sale of businesses agreement (“
the
agreement”
)
on 29 August 2018. The agreement provides for the sale of
the plaintiffs’ businesses, as defined in the agreement,
to the
defendant.
[5]
The terms of
the agreement relevant for the determination of the exception, are
the following: -
[a]
The aggregate
purchase consideration payable on the transfer date by the defendant
to the plaintiffs for the businesses, excluding
the Manjoh Ranch’s
other
assets
and
the M&J Da Costa Brothers’
other
assets
,
would be an amount of R227 714 203.00
(vide
clause 7.1)
;
[b]
The
effective
date (also referred to as the transfer date)
of
the agreement would be the date of the simultaneous transfer of the
properties into the name of the defendant after the fulfilment
or
waiver, as the case may be, of all the conditions
(vide
definition clause 2.2.15)
;
[c]
“
Other
assets”
of both the Manjoh and the M&J Da Costa Brothers’
businesses are defined as the raw materials, seeds, standing crops,
fertilisers, pesticides (whether in storage or worked into the
properties in the 2018 crop cycle), packaging materials, feeds,
fuel,
silage and other finished goods on the properties as at the effective
date and including all other assets
[1]
not otherwise included in the sale assets;
[d]
The purchase
price payable for the Manjoh Ranch’s other assets and the M&J
Da Costa Brothers’ other assets would
be an amount equal to the
aggregate of the costs reflected on annexure “W”
and
where the cost of any item specified on annexure “W” was
not reflected
,
or was still to be calculated or finalised as indicated in the
aforesaid annexure, the aggregate of such costs calculated in
accordance with the principles set out in annexure “W”
and where applicable as read with the relevant line item/s on
pages
84, 96 and 172 of the mechanisation guide
(vide
clauses 7.3.1 and 7.3.2)
;
[e]
If no item of
cost was specified on annexure “W”, then no amount would
be payable by the defendant in respect thereof,
such as depreciation
and/or salaries and wages
(unnumbered
clause following clause 7.3 and the sub-clauses thereto) (“the
rider”
);
[f]
During
the
interim
period
,
which is to be regarded as the period from the signature date to the
transfer date,
[2]
the plaintiffs
would in all respects carry on the businesses in the ordinary course,
subject to the provisions of clause 12
(vide
clause 12.1)
;
[g]
Physical
delivery of the businesses and the respective sale assets will be
given to and taken by the purchaser on the transfer date,
against
payment of the portion of that purchase consideration referred to in
clause 8.1 as a result whereof the defendant shall
become the owner
of the businesses and the sale asset relating thereto
(vide
clause 9.1)
;
[h]
During the
interim
period
the
plaintiffs would: -
[i]
conduct and carry on their businesses in a normal
and efficient manner
(vide clause 12.2.1)
;
[ii]
continue best farming practice, including fertilising,
spraying, planting, cultivating and harvesting and whatever
else may
be necessary to ensure the best crop possible
(vide
clause 12.2.5)
;
[i]
Within 30 days
from the effective date or such extended date as the defendant may
require, the defendant would prepare an adjustment
account as at the
effective date as a credit to the plaintiffs and a debit to the
defendant, all expenses which may have been or
which may be prepaid
by the plaintiffs in respect of the businesses for any period
subsequent
to the effective date
,
provided that only items in respect of which the defendant enjoys the
benefits would be included in the adjustment account and
as a credit
to the defendant and a debit to the plaintiffs,
all
expenses payable by the defendant after the effective date relating
to the businesses in respect of any period preceding the
effective
date
(vide
clause 22.1, 22.1.1 and 22.1.2)
;
[j]
The agreement
would contain the entire agreement between the parties relating to
the
subject
matter
and
none of them would be bound by any undertakings, representations,
warranties, promises or the like
not
recorded in the written agreement or in such other agreements
(vide
clause 31.1)
;
[k]
No alteration,
variation, novation or cancellation by agreement of, addition or
amendment to, or deletion from the agreement would
be of any force or
effect, unless in writing and signed by or on behalf of the parties
thereto
(vide
clause 31.2)
.
[6]
Annexure “W”
to the agreement bears these two respective heading: “
2018/2019
Crop cost to be recovered” and “SCHEDULE OF COSTS IN
RESPECT OF OTHER ASSETS
”.
It lists the costs of certain seeds, fertiliser, chemicals, the
transport of fertiliser and the cost relating to the application
of
the fertiliser and chemicals, fuel and planting. The annexure
specifically provides that the calculation of the hectares covered
and tonnages purchased and transported, would be confirmed.
THE
PLAINTIFFS’ CAUSE OF ACTION
[7]
It is the
plaintiffs’ case that during October 2018 the parties
concluded an oral agreement in respect of the interim
period from the
signature date to the effective date. The express, alternatively
tacit, further alternatively implied terms of
the oral agreement were
that: -
[a]
It would be in
respect of: -
[i]
the purchase of raw material, seed, fertiliser,
pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, fuel and packaging material
not
identified or recorded in annexure “W” and which was
not
on or worked into the properties of the plaintiffs;
[ii]
the planting, cultivation, harvesting, fertilisation,
spraying and management of all farming-related activities;
[iii]
the management of new and standing crops;
[iv]
the management of the businesses in general, the personnel and
the payment of salaries and bonuses in the ordinary course
to
preserve the businesses of the plaintiffs for the benefit of the
defendant;
[v]
the expenses incurred in respect of the purchase of
inter
alia
raw material, the planting, fertilisation, spraying and management of
all farming-related activities, the management of new and
standing
crops and the management of the businesses in general, the personnel
and the payment of salaries and bonuses
would
be included in
,
alternatively
compounded separately
,
for
payment when the adjustment account in respect of annexure “W”
was prepared.
[3]
[8]
The first
plaintiff instituted one claim against the defendant for costs and
expenses incurred in the purchase of fertiliser, the
transport and
delivery of hay, diesel, the lending of money, repairs conducted on
an asbestos house, the payment of defendant’s
attorneys’
invoice and the purchase of chicken litter, during the period
September/October 2018 to the effective date.
[9]
The second
plaintiff instituted three claims against the defendant from the
September/October 2018 period to the effective
date for expenses
incurred in planting raw material and seeds, fertilisation and the
spraying of chemicals.
THE
DEFENDANT’S EXCEPTION
[10]
The
defendant’s exception essentially takes issues with the
plaintiffs’ reliance on an oral agreement. The defendant
complains that the oral agreement: -
[a]
pertains to
the purchase price payable for the other assets already dealt with in
clause 7.3 of the written agreement;
[b]
provides for
amounts payable by the defendant to the plaintiffs in respect of
items of costs not specified on annexure “W”;
[c]
contradicts
the express terms of the written agreement, specifically clause 7.3
which provides that if no item of cost is specified
on annexure “W”,
then no amount shall be payable by the purchaser in respect thereof,
such as depreciation and/or salaries
and wages;
[d]
cannot
exist in law by virtue of the provisions of clauses 33.1 and
33.2 of the written agreement, read with the principles
pertaining to
the parol evidence rule.
[4]
THE
PLAINTIFFS’ CASE
[11]
The plaintiffs
on the other hand, contend that from a reading of the agreement it is
apparent that a long time would have elapsed
between the signing of
the agreement on 29 August 2018 and the effective date,
which latter date would entitle the defendant
to gain physical
possession and control of the businesses and the sale assets.
[12]
It is common
cause that the effective date occurred on the 10
th
of June 2019 when the immovable properties of the plaintiffs
were transferred to the defendant and the defendant paid the
purchase
price.
[13]
Because of the
anticipated time lapse, provision was made for an interim period
whereby the plaintiffs would retain physical and
effective control
and management of their businesses and sale assets and conduct such
businesses as in the past. During the interim
period the defendant
was not to have physical control and management of the businesses and
sale assets.
[14]
However, the
plaintiffs submit that what was anticipated and provided for in the
agreement did not occur.
[15]
What in fact
occurred was that the defendant took over effective control and
management of the businesses of both the plaintiffs
one day after the
conclusion of the agreement and he started giving directions and
instructions that were not contemplated by the
provisions of the
agreement.
[16]
The defendant
therefore took over effective control and management of the
businesses on the 30
th
of August 2018, one day after the conclusion of the agreement.
The factual reality was therefore that the plaintiffs no longer
had
any control over their businesses and had to purchase other products
and the like on the instructions of the defendant after
the defendant
took possession.
[17]
The changed
circumstances necessitated the conclusion of an oral agreement, so
the plaintiffs argue, and such oral agreement goes
beyond the scope
and ambit of the non-variation clause contained in the written
agreement.
[18]
Accordingly,
the plaintiffs contend that the proper interpretation of clause 7.3
of the written agreement and also the non-variation
clause is that
they are limited to instances where the plaintiffs operated their
businesses in the usual course and/or in the usual
manner and would
be limited to those items specifically listed in annexure “W”.
[19]
Consequently,
it is the plaintiffs’ case that their claims founded on the
oral agreement do not add to, alter or contradict
or vary clause 7.3
of the written agreement or the non-variation clause therein
contained. The oral agreement is beyond the
scope and ambit of the
provisions of the written agreement.
[20]
Furthermore,
the proper interpretation to be placed on clause 7.3, the
non variation clause, reveals that the oral agreement
relied on
by the plaintiffs is truly extrinsic to the written agreements and
therefore not in conflict with such agreement.
[21]
Accordingly,
so the plaintiffs argue, they would be able to prove its terms and
therefore the entire function and/or purpose of
an exception, which
is to ensure the elimination of unnecessary evidence, has not been
achieved.
THE
LAW
Exceptions
[22]
This
court has previously
[5]
crystalised the principles applicable to exceptions. A refresher of
these principles is always useful and instructive: -
22.1
In considering an exception that a pleading does not sustain a cause
of action, the court will accept, as true, the allegations
pleaded by
the plaintiff to assess whether they disclose a cause of action.
22.2
The object of an exception is not to embarrass one's opponent or to
take advantage of a technical flaw, but to dispose
of the case or a
portion thereof in an expeditious manner, or to protect oneself
against an embarrassment which is so serious as
to merit the costs
even of an exception.
[6]
22.3
The purpose of an exception is to raise a substantive question of law
which may have the effect of settling the dispute
between the
parties. If the exception is not taken for that purpose, an excipient
should make out a very clear case before it would
be allowed to
succeed.
[7]
22.4
An excipient who alleges that a summons does not disclose a cause of
action must establish that, upon any construction
of the particulars
of claim, no cause of action is disclosed.
[8]
22.5
An over-technical approach should be avoided because it destroys the
usefulness of the exception procedure, which is
to weed out cases
without legal merit.
[9]
22.6
Pleadings must be read as a whole and an exception cannot be taken to
a paragraph or a part of a pleading that is not
self-contained.
[10]
22.7
Minor blemishes and unradical embarrassments caused by a pleading can
and should be cured by further particulars.
[11]
[23]
An
important principle to be added to this list is
that
as a rule, courts are reluctant to decide upon exception questions
concerning the interpretation of a contract, with the critical
caveat
that this is only the case where its meaning is uncertain.
[12]
Parol
evidence
[24]
It is trite
that
the integration (or
parol
evidence
)
rule (“
the
rule”
)
remains part of our law.
[25]
The rule
consists of two subrules. This duality was outlined by Corbett JA
in
Johnston
:
'As
has been indicated, the parol evidence rule is not a single rule. It
in fact branches into two independent rules or sets of
rules: (1) the
integration rule . . . which defines the limits of the contract, and
(2) the [interpretation] rule, or set of rules,
which determines when
and to what extent extrinsic evidence may be adduced to explain or
affect the meaning of the words contained
in a written contract.”
[13]
[26]
It is the
interpretation facet that was relied on by the Supreme Court of
Appeal (“
SCA”
)
and explained by Corbett JA as follows: -
“
In
many instances recourse to evidence of
an
earlier or contemporaneous
oral agreement would, in any event, be precluded by . . .
that branch of the rule which prescribes that, subject to certain
qualifications, when a contract has been reduced to writing,
the
writing is regarded as the exclusive embodiment or memorial of the
transaction and no extrinsic evidence may be given of other
utterances or jural acts by the parties which would have the effect
of contradicting, altering, adding to or varying the written
contract
.
The extrinsic evidence is excluded because it relates to matters
which, by reason of the reduction of the contract to writing
and its
integration in a single memorial, have become legally immaterial or
irrelevant.”
[14]
(Emphasis added)
[27]
He continued
to say: -
“
(I)t
is clear to me that the aim and effect of [the integration] rule is
to
prevent
a party to a contract which has been integrated into a single and
complete written memorial from seeking to contradict,
add to or
modify the writing by reference to extrinsic evidence and in that way
to redefine the terms of the contract.
The object of the party seeking to adduce such extrinsic evidence is
usually to enforce the contract as redefined or, at any rate,
to rely
upon the contractual force of the additional or varied terms, as
established by the extrinsic evidence.'
[15]
(Emphasis
added)
[28]
The
SCA has also recently re-affirmed its position that where a document
that was “
intended
to provide a complete memorial of a jural act, extrinsic
evidence
may
not contradict, add to or modify its meaning”
,
[16]
but has, in no uncertain terms, expressed its dismay at this “
rule
being frequently ignored by practitioners and seldom enforced by
trial courts”.
[17]
[29]
The
approach to interpretation as enunciated in
Endumeni
requires that “
from
the outset one considers the context and the language together, with
neither predominating over the other”
.
[18]
In
Chisuse
,
although speaking in the context of statutory interpretation, the
Constitutional Court held that this
'now
settled' approach to interpretation, is a 'unitary' exercise
.
[19]
This means that interpretation is to be approached holistically:
simultaneously considering the text, context and purpose.
[30]
The
Supreme Court of Appeal has explicitly pointed out in cases
subsequent to
Endumeni
that
context and purpose must be taken into account as a matter of course,
whether or not the words used in the contract are
ambiguous.
[20]
A court interpreting a contract has to, from the onset, consider the
contract's factual matrix, its purpose, the circumstances
leading up
to its conclusion, and the knowledge at the time of those who
negotiated and produced the contract.
[21]
[31]
This
means that parties will invariably have to adduce evidence to
establish the context and purpose of the relevant contractual
provisions.
This
does, however, not mean that extrinsic evidence is
always
admissible.
A court's recourse to extrinsic evidence is not limitless because
'interpretation
is a matter of law and not fact. Interpretation is a matter for the
court and not for witnesses'
.
[22]
[32]
The
rules on admissibility of extrinsic
evidence
do not depend on the nature of the document.
[23]
The position held by the SCA is that the extent that
evidence
may
be admissible to contextualise the document to establish its factual
matrix or purpose or for purposes of identification, must
be used as
conservatively as possible.
[24]
[33]
The
Constitutional Court favours an expansive approach to
interpretation
:
[25]
-
“
Where,
in a given case, reasonable people may disagree on the admissibility
of the contextual evidence in question, the unitary
approach to
contractual interpretation enjoins a court to err on the side of
admitting the evidence. There would, of course, still
be sufficient
checks against any undue reach of such evidence because the court
dealing with the evidence could still disregard
it on the basis that
it lacks weight. When dealing with evidence in this context, it is
important not to conflate admissibility
and weight.”
[34]
Having
said that, the Constitutional Court in
University
of Johannesburg
also
recognised the parol evidence rule in our law. “
It
sought to reconcile the generous admissibility of extrinsic evidence
of context and purpose with the strictures of the parol
evidence rule
in the following way”
:
[26]
'The
integration facet of the parol evidence rule relied on by the Supreme
Court of Appeal is relevant when a court is concerned
with
an
attempted amendment of a contract
.
It does not prevent contextual evidence from being adduced.
The
rule is concerned with cases where the evidence in question seeks to
vary, contradict or add to (as opposed to assist the court
to
interpret) the terms of the agreement
.
. . .
'
[27]
(Emphasis added)
[35]
In
Capitec,
the
SCA summarised the interplay between the leading of evidence and the
governing of the parol evidence rule with reference to
University
of Johannesburg
as follows
:
[28]
-
“…
since
the text of an agreement enjoys no interpretational primacy, and the
meaning of the text must be determined before a court
can decide
whether evidence seeks to alter the terms of that contract, the parol
evidence rule does not govern admissibility.
Rather,
the question is whether the evidence is relevant to context so as to
ascertain the meaning of the contract
.”
(Emphasis added)
NON-VARIATION
CLAUSES
[36]
It
is a trite principle of our law that the privity and sanctity of a
contract should prevail and should be enforced by the courts.
[29]
[37]
The
principle laid down in
Shifren
[30]
that
a term (an entrenchment clause) in a written contract providing that
all amendments to the contract have to comply with specified
formalities is binding still remains in force.
[31]
[38]
In
Media
24 Ltd
[32]
at paragraph 35 Brand JA said: -
"
As
explained in Brisley v Drotsky
2002 (4) SA 1
(SCA) (para 8), when
this court has taken a policy decision, we cannot change it just
because we would have decided the matter
differently. We must live
with that policy decision, bearing in mind that litigants and legal
practitioners have arranged their
affairs in accordance with that
decision. Unless we are therefore satisfied that there are good
reasons for change, we should confirm
the status quo."'
DELIBERATION
[39]
It is not the
plaintiffs’ case, as I understand it, that clause 7.3 or the
rider, is uncertain or ambiguous.
[40]
They also do
not deny that the agreement contains a non-variation clause, although
it was submitted on their behalf that the clause
self-destructs by
the addition of the words “
or
any such other agreements”
.
[41]
The
plaintiffs’ case is rather that the oral agreement relied on,
goes beyond the agreement and its non-variation clause.
The
high-water mark of their argument is that the defendant took control
and possession of the businesses before the effective
date - a
scenario which had not been catered for in the agreement. The
plaintiffs are therefore not relying on evidence relating
to
circumstances that prevailed before the agreement was signed or
during the negotiations of its terms. The evidence, in my view,
is
therefore not relevant to
context
so as to ascertain the meaning of the contract. The evidence seeks to
achieve something more.
[42]
If their
reliance were on contextual evidence, parol evidence would not have
been precluded as, at exception stage at the very least,
it would not
appear to be seeking to add to, vary, modify or contradict the terms
of the contract.
[43]
However,
the plaintiffs’ evidence relates to a factual scenario
following the conclusion of the agreement.
In
Capitec
the
SCA was faced with a similar factual scenario. The court was called
upon to determine the admissibility of evidence relating
to the
conduct of the parties in implementing the written contract. The
conduct was at odds with the terms of the written contract,
as is the
case in the matter at hand.
[44]
The
SCA referred to its earlier judgment in
Comwezi
[33]
where
it explained that
in
the past, where there was perceived ambiguity in a contract, the
courts held that the subsequent conduct of the parties in
implementing
their agreement was a factor that could be taken into
account in preferring one interpretation to another.
[34]
In
Comwezi
the
court went further to state that now that regard is had to all
relevant context, irrespective of whether there is a perceived
ambiguity,
[35]
there
is no reason not to look at the conduct of the parties in
implementing the agreement. The court concluded as follows:
[36]
-
“
It
is therefore relevant to an objective determination of the meaning of
the words they have used and the selection of the appropriate
meaning
from among those postulated by the parties.
This
does not mean that, if the parties have implemented their agreement
in a manner that is inconsistent with any possible meaning
of the
language used, the court can use their conduct to give that language
an otherwise impermissible meaning
.
In that situation their conduct may be relevant to a claim for
rectification of the agreement or may found an estoppel, but it
does
not affect the proper construction of the provision under
consideration.”
(Emphasis
added)
[45]
In
Capitec
the
SCA ultimately concluded as follows:
[37]
-
“
That
a party has an understanding of its rights under a contract and then
changes its stance may be cynical or it may be based on
its better
appreciation of the contract. This ultimately matters little because
the weight of the evidence of its understanding
of clause 8.3 does
not displace the outcome of the interpretative exercise, set out
above, which shows that the meaning of clause
8.3 imports no
requirement that Capitec Holdings' consent is necessary for
Coral to conclude a demarcated sale.”
[46]
In
my view, the plaintiffs’ case as currently formulated in the
particulars of claim cannot arise from evidence of context
or
surrounding circumstances. It would be evidence which would be at
odds with the written contract, with the clear intention of
varying
the agreement, and would be in a manner inconsistent with any
possible meaning of the plain and unambiguous language used,
which is
that: -
45.1
The parties had already provided for an interim period in writing.
45.2
I
f no
item of cost was specified on annexure “W”, then no
amount would be payable by the defendant in respect thereof.
45.3
Any variation is to be reduced to writing and signed by both parties.
[47]
To
me it is of no moment that the defendant took control of the
businesses earlier than agreed to in writing. It does not detract
from the fact that the plaintiffs on their own version as pleaded in
the particulars of claim at paragraph 6.2, carried on and
conducted
the businesses and farming enterprises in the ordinary course, which
is what was specifically provided for in the agreement.
[48]
Consequently,
the only way in which evidence contrary to the terms of the agreement
could be led, is in support of a claim for rectification
of the
written contract.
[38]
Rectification is a well-established common-law right that provides an
equitable remedy designed to correct the failure of a written
contract to reflect the true agreement between the parties to the
contract. It thereby enables effect to be given to the parties'
actual agreement.
[39]
However,
the plaintiffs did not invoke rectification.
[49]
In the
premises, I do find that the particulars of claim lacks the necessary
averments to sustain a cause of action.
[50]
I now turn to
deal with the issue of the non-variation clause. In light of my
earlier finding that the particulars of claim lacks
averments to
sustain a cause of action, it must follow, in my view, that the
non-variation clause stands and applies. I am not
persuaded by the
argument that the non-variation clause self-destructs by the addition
of the wording “
or
any such other agreements”
.
This clause cannot be considered in isolation. It has to be read with
clause 31.2 which provides that no amendments, additions
or
variations shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing
and signed by both parties. On a plain reading I cannot
find that
“
any
such other agreements”
includes oral agreements. Moreover, the plaintiffs
have
not advanced any reason for the relaxation of the
Shifren
principle
either.
ORDER
[51]
In the
circumstances I make the following order: -
“
1.
The exception is upheld.
2.
The
plaintiffs are afforded a period of 15 (fifteen) days from date of
this order to deliver amended particulars of claim.
3.
The
plaintiffs are to pay the defendant’s costs, including the
costs of two counsel where employed.”
F
BEZUIDENHOUT
ACTING
JUDGE OF
THE
HIGH COURT
DATE
OF HEARING: 15
November 2022
DATE
OF JUDGMENT: 13 January 2023
APPEARANCES:
On
behalf of excipient /
defendant:
Adv
B Swart SC;
Adv
N Marshall
Instructed
by:
Jaco
Roos Attorneys Incorporated
066-392-2291
jaco@jacoroos.co.za
On
behalf of plaintiffs:
Adv
M Leathern;
Adv
L Meintjes
Instructed
by:
Kyriacou
Incorporated
082-261-9310
mario@kincorporated.co.za
[1]
Excluding
the excluded assets.
[2]
Clause
2.2.25.
[3]
Plaintiff’s
particulars of claim: paragraph 8, including sub-paragraphs
8.1 to
8.3.
[4]
Notice of
exception: paragraph 5, including sub-paragraphs 5.3 to 5.4
and
paragraphs 6, 6.1 and 6.2.
[5]
Living
Hands
(Pty)
Ltd and Another
v
Ditz
and
Others
2013
(2) SA 368
(GSJ) par [15].
[6]
Barclays
Bank International Ltd v African Diamond Exporters (Pty)
Ltd (2)
1976
(1) SA 100 (W).
[7]
Van
der Westhuizen v Le Roux and Le Roux
1947
(3) SA 385
(C) at 390.
[8]
Fairoaks
Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Another v Oliver and
Others
[2008] ZASCA 41
;
2008
(4) SA 302
(SCA) par 12.
[9]
Telematrix
(Pty) Ltd t/a Matrix Vehicle Tracking v Advertising
Standards Authority SA
2006 (1) SA 461
(SCA)
par
3.
[10]
Jowell v Bramwell-Jones
and Others
1998
(1) SA 836
(W)
at
902J.
[11]
Jowell
(
supra
)
at 900J.
[12]
Dettmann
v Goldfain and Another
1975 (3) SA 385
(A) at 400A.
[13]
J
ohnston
v Leal
1980 (3) SA 927
(A) at 942H – 943A.
[14]
Id
at 938C – F.
[15]
Id
at 943B – C.
[16]
KPMG
Chartered
Accountants (SA)
v
Securefin
supra
par
[39]
;
see
also
Johnson v Leal
1980 (3) SA 927
(A) at 943B.
[17]
KPMG
Chartered
Accountants (SA)
v
Securefin
Ltd
and Another
2009
(4) SA 399
(SCA) par [39].
[18]
Natal
Joint Municipal Pension Fund v Endumeni Municipality
2012
(4) SA 593 (SCA)
par 18
.
[19]
Chisuse
v Director-General, Department of Home Affairs
2020
(6) SA 14 (CC)
par 52.
[20]
Novartis
above
n38 par 28;
Unica
Iron & Steel (Pty) Ltd and Another v Mirchandani
2016 (2) SA 307
(SCA) par 21;
North
East Finance (Pty) Ltd v Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd
2013 (5) SA 1
(SCA) ([2013] ZASCA 76) par 24.
[21]
Endumeni
(
supra
)
n14 par 18 and
KPMG
(
supra
)
n11 at par 3.
[22]
KPMG
(
supra
)
n11 par 39.
[23]
Johnson
& Johnson (Pty) Ltd v Kimberly-Clark Corporation and
Kimberly-Clark of South Africa (Pty) Ltd
1985 BP 126 (A) ([1985] ZASCA 132 (at www.saflii.org.za)).
[24]
Delmas
Milling Co Ltd v Du Plessis
1955 (3) SA 447
(A) at 455B - C).
[25]
University
of Johannesburg v Auckland Park Theological Seminary and Another
2021 (6) SA 1
(CC) par 68.
[26]
Capitec
Bank
Holdings Ltd and Another v Coral Lagoon Investments 194 (Pty) Ltd
and Others
2022
(1) SA 100
(SCA) par [41].
[27]
Id par 92.
[28]
Capitec Bank
Holdings Ltd and Another v Coral Lagoon Investments 194 (Pty) Ltd
and Others
2022
(1) SA 100
(SCA) par 53.
[29]
Beadica
231 and Others v Trustees for the Time Being of Oregon Trust and
Others
2020
(5) SA 247
(CC).
[30]
SA
Sentrale Ko-opGraanmaatskappy Bpk v Shifren en Andere
1964 (4) SA 760 (A).
[31]
Brisley
v Drotsky
2002 (4) SA 1
(SCA) par [6] to [10].
[32]
Media
24 Ltd and Others v SA Taxi Securitisation (Pty) Ltd (AVUSA Media
Ltd and Others as Amici Curiae)
2011 (5) SA 329 (SCA).
[33]
Comwezi Security Services (Pty) Ltd v Cape Empowerment Trust Limited
2012 JDR 1734 (SCA).
[34]
Shill
v Milner
1937 AD 101
at 110-111;
Shacklock
v Shacklock
1949 (1) SA 91
(A) at 101;
MTK
Saagmeule (Pty) Ltd v Killyman Estates (Pty) Ltd
1980 (3) SA 1
(A) at 12F-H.
[35]
K
PMG
Chartered Accountants (SA) v Securefin Ltd & another
2009 (4) SA 399
(SCA) par 39.
[36]
Comwezi
supra
at par
[15].
[37]
Par [56].
[38]
Beijers v Harlequin Duck
Properties 231 (Pty) Ltd
2019 JDR 0986 (SCA) par [10].
[39]
Intercontinental
Exports (Pty) Limited v Fowles
[1999] ZASCA 15.
sino noindex
make_database footer start
Similar Cases
M.J.M obo M.M v Member of Executive Council for Health Gauteng (2016/07509) [2025] ZAGPJHC 1241 (24 November 2025)
[2025] ZAGPJHC 1241High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg)99% similar
M and J Da Costa Brothers (Pty) Ltd and Another v Karan (A2025-059892) [2025] ZAGPJHC 1191 (21 November 2025)
[2025] ZAGPJHC 1191High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg)99% similar
M.B v J.P.M (49323/2021) [2023] ZAGPJHC 449 (9 May 2023)
[2023] ZAGPJHC 449High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg)99% similar
M.D v M.D (2021/43212) [2023] ZAGPJHC 910; [2023] 2 All SA 736 (GJ) (2 February 2023)
[2023] ZAGPJHC 910High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg)99% similar
M.M v M.A (109765/2023) [2024] ZAGPJHC 461 (7 April 2024)
[2024] ZAGPJHC 461High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg)99% similar