Case Law[2023] ZAGPJHC 290South Africa
Rey NO and Another v Adowa Student Accomodation Co-Ownership and Others (2022/26787) [2023] ZAGPJHC 290 (3 April 2023)
High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg)
3 April 2023
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## Rey NO and Another v Adowa Student Accomodation Co-Ownership and Others (2022/26787) [2023] ZAGPJHC 290 (3 April 2023)
Rey NO and Another v Adowa Student Accomodation Co-Ownership and Others (2022/26787) [2023] ZAGPJHC 290 (3 April 2023)
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sino date 3 April 2023
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF
SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG LOCAL
DIVISION, JOHANNESBURG
CASE NUMBER:
2022/26787
NOT REPORTABLE
NOT OF INTEREST TO
OTHER JUDGES
REVISED
In the matter between:
CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND
REY N.O
(in
his capacity as the appointed business rescue Practitioner of TSK
Bartlett (Proprietary) Ltd
First
Applicant
TSK
BARTLETT (PROPRIETARY) LTD
Second
Applicant
and
ADOWA
STUDENT ACCOMODATION CO-OWNERSHIP
First
Respondent
ADOWA
INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGERS RF (PTY) LTD
Second
Respondent
THE
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PENSION FUND
Third
Respondent
PUBLIC
INVESTMENT CORPORATION SOC LTD
Fourth
Respondent
ADOWA
PROPERTY DEVELOPERS (PTY) LTD
Fifth
Respondent
LOMBARD
INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED
Sixth
Respondent
JUDGMENT
DOSIO J:
INTRODUCTION
[1] This is
an urgent application in terms of the provisions of Uniform Rule
6(12)(c), whereby the applicants seek
an interdict against the sixth
respondent from making payment to the first respondent, in terms of a
variable construction guarantee
(‘the guarantee’). The
applicants also seek an order interdicting and restraining the first
respondent from preventing
or obstructing the second applicant
to render performance in terms of the contract.
[2] The
first to fifth respondents oppose the application. The sixth
respondent does not oppose the application.
[3] Having
decided it is urgent, I proceeded to consider the matter.
BACKGROUND
[4] The
second applicant is the principal contractor who was appointed by the
first respondent, (the employer), to
construct student accommodation.
A standard-type JBCC Principal Building Agreement was concluded on 13
September 2019 (‘the
contract’). The second applicant
supplied the first respondent with a variable construction guarantee
as required in terms
of the contract to cover any potential claims by
the first respondent.
[5] The
contract, with a certified value of R173 427 946-15 (excluding Vat)
has progressed past the stage of practical
completion which was
achieved on 11 February 2022.
[6] The
second applicant was voluntarily placed under business rescue on 9
September 2022, however despite this, the
applicants contend that the
second applicant was not in breach of its performance in terms of the
contract. The first respondent
cancelled the contract on 22 September
2022 stating that the second applicant was in breach of clause 36 of
the contract
and called up the guarantee for the sole reason
that the second applicant was placed in business rescue. The
guarantee was called
up on 29 September 2022 and payment was to be
made on 6 October 2022.
[7] The
sixth respondent has delayed making payment of the guarantee pending
the determination of this urgent application.
Prima
facie
right
[8] The
applicants contend that the guarantee may only be called up in terms
of clause 5.1 and 5.2 of the guarantee
in the event of the second
applicant’s default or liquidation. It was contended that the
business rescue proceedings did
not in any way affect the second
applicant’s ability to perform in terms of the contract and
that with a proper interpretation
of clause 36 of the contract, the
first respondent could only cancel the contract in the event that the
contractor was unable to
perform in terms of the contract or was in
material breach of its obligations.
[9] It was
contended that not more than a month would have been required to
complete the minor remedial works which
would have enabled the second
applicant to reach the stage of completed works. The applicant’s
counsel contended that the
second applicant had the finances to
complete the project and was at the time of the application on site
completing the remaining
snags to a value of less than R145 240-00.
To cancel the contract and enforce the guarantee would defeat the
purpose of s136 of
the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (‘the
Companies
Act&rsquo
;) and would go against public policy and render it
unconstitutional.
[10]
The applicants contend that the demand is unlawful because the first
respondent relies for the trigger event on clause 36 that
the second
applicant asserts is void and unenforceable. It was contended clause
36 is contrary to the statutory prescripts set
out in the
Companies
Act, in
that it is unfair and contrary to public policy. Reference
was made to the case of
Barkhuizen
v Napier
[1]
,
where the Constitutional Court contended that the enforcement of the
guarantee, to the exclusion of the consideration as to whether
the
contract was lawfully cancelled, runs contrary to the commercial
considerations that underpin chapter 6 of the
Companies Act, as
well
as the rule of law. The applicants allege that the purpose of the
interim order is to maintain the
status
quo
pending
the outcome of a declaratory order to declare the
ipso
facto
clause
unlawful, in which event, the demand would be unlawful. Counsel
contended that is particularly so in the circumstances in
which it is
more convenient and less disruptive to maintain the present position,
than it is to unravel the effects of the purported
cancellation.
[2]
[11] It was contended by
the applicant’s that the very purpose of chapter 6 of the
Companies Act is
to allow a company to continue trading and thereby
facilitate the rescue and rehabilitation of the second applicant. It
was contended
that upon the commencement of business rescue, all
existing contracts remain in place and in terms of
s136(2)(b)
may
upon the election of the business practitioner be either suspended or
cancelled. Counsel also contended that with reference
to foreign law
the second applicant may, without alleging fraud, restrain the first
respondent from presenting the guarantee for
payment.
[12] Counsel contended
that in matters which involve intricate issues of law, those issues
are best left for determination at the
declaratory stage. All that is
required at the interim interdict stage is for the applicant to show
a
prima facie
right that an interim order be granted to
maintain the
status quo
.
[13] The respondents
contend that the sixth respondent cannot be interdicted from paying
the first respondent in terms of the guarantee,
as the applicants
have not shown that the demand did not comply with the terms of the
guarantee or that there was fraud. It was
argued that the
construction guarantee establishes a contractual obligation on the
part of the sixth respondent to pay the first
respondent and that
this obligation is wholly independent on theunderlying construction
contract. It was argued that whatever disputes
may arise between the
second applicant and the first respondent is of no moment insofar as
the obligation of the sixth respondent
is concerned. It was argued
that in the case of an unlawful cancellation, the Courts have made
the position clear, namely, that
a lawful cancellation is not a
prerequisite for a valid call on the construction guarantee. Counsel
argued that all that is required
for a valid demand in terms of the
construction guarantee is for the first respondent to state that the
construction contract has
been cancelled due to the second
applicant’s default. It was argued that the second applicant
has breached clause 36 of the
contract read with clauses 36.1.4 and
36.1.6.
[14] The respondent’s
counsel contended that the argument raised by the applicants that
they can restrain the first respondent
from presenting the
construction guarantee by relying on a cancellation clause that is
void and unenforceable is not the correct
legal position.
EVALUATION
[15]
The purpose of an interim interdict is to maintain the
status
quo
pending
the determination of the rights or the dispute between the
parties.
[3]
[16]
The requirements for an interim interdict are a
prima
facie
right,
an apprehension of irreparable harm if the interim relief is not
granted, that the balance of convenience favours the granting
of the
interim interdict and that there is no other satisfactory or adequate
remedy in the circumstances.
[4]
[17]
In the matter of
Lombard
Insurance Co Ltd v Landmark Holdings (Pty) Ltd & others
[5]
the Supreme Court of Appeal held that:
‘…
[a]
guarantee…is not unlike irrevocable letters of credit issued
by banks and used in international trade, the essential
feature of [a
guarantee] is the establishment of a contractual obligation on the
part of a bank to pay the beneficiary (seller).
This
obligation is wholly independent of the underlying contract
…
Whatever
disputes may subsequently arise between buyer and seller is of no
moment insofar as the bank's obligation is concerned.
The bank's
liability to the seller is to honour the credit
.
The bank undertakes to pay provided only that the conditions
specified in the credit are met.
The
only basis upon which the bank can escape liability is proof of fraud
on the part of the beneficiary
.’
[6]
[my emphasis]
[18]
In the matter of
State
Bank of India and Another v Denel SOC Limited and Others
[7]
the Supreme Court of Appeal held that:
‘…
an
interdict restraining a bank from paying in terms of such an
undertaking, will not usually be granted save in the
most
exceptional case
.’
[8]
[my emphasis]
[19]
In the matter of
Dormell
Properties 282 CC v Renasa Insurance Company Ltd and Another
[9]
the
Supreme Court of Appeal held that:
‘
In
principle therefore, the guarantee must be honoured as soon as the
employer makes a proper claim against it upon the happening
of a
specified event.’
[10]
[20]
The learned Cloete JA, who handed down the dissenting judgment in the
matter of
Dormell
[11]
,
repeated what had been held in the matter of
Lombard
[12]
and stated that:
‘
The
appellant complied with the provisions of clause 5.
It
was not necessary for the appellant to allege that it had validly
cancelled the building contract due to the second respondent's
default. Whatever disputes there were or might have been between the
appellant and the second respondent were irrelevant to the
first
respondent's obligation to perform in terms of the construction
guarantee.’ …
That
is clear… from the following passage in the judgment of Lord
Denning MR in
Edward Owen v Barclays
Bank International Ltd
[1 All ER 976
(CA)
(1977) 3 WLR 764
at 983 b-d]
'A
bank which gives a performance guarantee must honour that guarantee
according to its terms. It is not concerned in the least
with the
relations between the supplier and the customer; nor with the
question whether the supplier has performed his contracted
obligation
or not; nor with the question whether the supplier is in default or
not. The bank must pay according to its guarantee,
on demand if so
stipulated, without proof or conditions
.
The only exception is when there is a
clear fraud of which the bank has notice
.'
[my emphasis]
[21]
The Supreme Court of Appeal in the matter of
Coface
South Africa Insurance Co Ltd v East London Own Haven t/a Own Haven
Housing Association
[13]
followed the dissenting judgment in the matter of
Dormell
[14]
.
[22] There is a long line
of decisions which have consistently recognised the autonomy
principle.
[23]
In the matter of
Guardrisk
Insurance Company Ltd and Others v Kentz (Pty) Ltd
[15]
the
Supreme Court of Appeal stated that:
‘…
One
of the main reasons why courts are ordinarily reluctant to entertain
the underlying contractual disputes between an employer
and a
contractor when faced with a demand based on a demand or
unconditional performance guarantee, is because of the principle
that
to do so would undermine the efficacy of such guarantees’.
[16]
The Court held further
that:
‘
where
its terms have been met, there may, at a later stage and after the
terms of the guarantee have been met, be an ‘accounting’
between the parties to finally determine their rights and
obligations.’
[17]
[24]
In regard to the applicant’s contention that this Court should
consider foreign law, reference is made to the matter
of
Kwikspace
Modular Buildings Ltd v Sabodala Mining Company Sarl and Another
[18]
where
the Supreme Court of Appeal held that:
‘…
Australian
law is to the following effect:
a
building contractor may, without alleging fraud, restrain the person
with whom he had covenanted for the performance of the work,
from
presenting to the issuer a performance guarantee unconditional in its
terms and issued pursuant to the building contract,
if the Contractor
can show that the other party to the building contract would breach a
term of the building contract
by
doing so; but the terms of the building contract should not readily
be interpreted as conferring such a right.’
[19]
[my emphasis]
[25]
In the matter of
Joint
venture Aveng v Sanral
[20]
,
the Supreme Court of Appeal held that after a survey of English and
Australian law, there was room in South African law to follow
the
same path as that taken in English and Australian law, with the clear
caveat expressed in paragraph 11 of the matter of
Kwikspace
.
[21]
[26]
The decisions of
Kwikspace
[22]
and
Joint
Venture
[23]
,
pertaining to foreign law, are in contrast to what was stated in the
matter of
Murray
N.O. and Another v Firstrand Bank Ltd t/a Wesbank
[24]
,
where the Supreme Court of Appeal held that:
‘…
The
liquidators referred us to corresponding provisions in foreign
jurisdictions, particularly those in England, Australia and Canada.
Whilst apparently sharing the same aim and goal as Chapter 6 of the
[Companies] Act,
the
wording of the corresponding provisions in these jurisdictions,
dealing with moratoriums and stay of proceedings, differ to
such an
extent from their South African counterpart, that no meaningful
assistance would be gained by invoking them in the interpretation
of
s 133(1) of the Act.
’
[25]
[my emphasis]
[27]
The Supreme Court of appeal in the matter of
Joint
Venture
[26]
did however caution that:
‘…
given
the significance of performance guarantees and letters of credit in
international trade and commerce,
such
claims as are made by the Joint Venture in relation to the underlying
contract, should be approached with caution
.’
[27]
[my emphasis]
[28]
Joint
venture
[28]
further held that:
‘
Clause
2.5 is to the effect that, for SANRAL to make a call on the
performance guarantee, it must act in the
bone
fide
belief
that it is entitled to payment under the provisions of the agreement.
Whether
it is in fact so entitled is immaterial at the time that the call is
made.
There
is no suggestion that SANRAL’s call is actuated by malice or
that its stance, that it is entitled to payment, is far-fetched.
Regard must also be had to the purpose for which the performance
guarantee was provided, which undoubtedly was to secure SANRAL’s
position in the event of a dispute and pending resolution
thereof.
[29]
[my emphasis]
[29]
In the matter of
Murray
[30]
the Supreme Court of Appeal had to deal with the provisions of
Chapter 6 of the
Companies Act, with
specific reference to the
interpretation of
s133.
The Court dealt with the situation whether a
creditor of a company under business rescue could unilaterally cancel
an extant instalment
sale agreement that it had concluded with the
company prior to the latter being placed under business rescue. The
liquidator argued
that the cancelation by Wesbank was contrary to the
provisions of
s133
and accordingly had no force or effect. Wesbank on
the other hand denied that
s133
precluded it from cancelling the
contract. The Supreme Court of Appeal held that the term ‘enforcement
action’ does
not include the cancellation of an agreement
concluded prior to the commencement of business rescue proceedings.
It accordingly
held that a creditor of a company under business
rescue had lawfully cancelled a contract concluded with the company
prior to the
commencement of business rescue proceedings.
[30]
The Supreme Court of Appeal in the matter of
Murray
[31]
held that:
‘…
As
explained earlier, our law of contract provides for a unilateral
cancellation in the case of a breach of contract. The way I
see it,
the
legislature intended to allow the company in distress the necessary
breathing space by placing a moratorium on legal proceedings
and
enforcement action in any forum, but not to interfere with the
contractual rights and obligations of the parties to an agreement.
Such an intention would, in any event, be contrary to the tenet of
our law that the legislature does not intend to alter the existing
law more than is necessary, particularly if it takes away existing
rights.
See
L C Steyn Die Uitleg van Wette 5 ed (1981) at 97 and 237.’
[32]
[my emphasis]
[31]
The Supreme Court of Appeal in
Murray
[33]
accordingly found that it is incorrect to cast the meaning of
s133
so
wide to include a moratorium against a creditor cancelling a contract
with a financially distressed company under business rescue.
It held
that:
‘…
[in
so] …doing [it would cause] violence to the wording of s133(1)
of the Act.’
[34]
The
Supreme Court of Appeal also found that
s128(1)(b)(ii)
of the
Companies Act does
not prevent a creditor from cancelling a
contract.
[35]
It held further
that:
‘
What
is therefore required, is an interpretation of the specific
provisions of
s 133(1)
and not to seek to interpret it by resorting
to
s128(1)(b)(ii).
’
[36]
[32]
The Supreme Court of Appeal in the matter of
Murray
[37]
held that there are sufficient safeguards in Chapter 6 of the Act to
prevent the disastrous result.
[33]
The moratorium as envisaged by s128(1)(b)(ii) is evident in
s133
of
the
Companies Act. Whilst
this Court is aware that a moratorium
on legal proceedings against a company under business rescue is
crucial to allow the distressed
company the necessary breathing space
to restructure its affairs, as per the decision of the matter of
Murray
[38]
calling up the guarantee does not constitute ‘enforcement
action’ in terms of
s133
of the
Companies Act and
therefore the
consent of the business rescue practitioner is not required.
[34]
The second applicant at the time the application was launched was in
breach of the contract, with specific reference to clause
36 read
with clauses 36.1.4 and 36.1.6. This Court does not agree that the
first respondent in cancelling the contract due to the
second
applicant being placed under business rescue amounts to a breach of
the contract or an unlawful demand. There is no
suggestion that
the demand was actuated by malice or that it was far-fetched.
Although the Constitutional Court in the matter of
National
Gambling Board v Premier, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Others
[39]
stated that the purpose of an interim interdict is to maintain the
status
quo
pending
the determination of the rights or the dispute between the parties,
the Court cannot interfere with the contractual obligations
of
parties.
[40]
[35]
From the cases of
Lombard
[41]
,
the dissenting judgment of
Dormell
[42]
,
the judgment of
Coface
[43]
and
Guardrisk
[44]
,
whatever disputes may subsequently arise between buyer and seller is
of no moment insofar as the bank's obligation is concerned.
The
bank's liability is to honour the credit when the demand is made.
With reference to the matter of
Dormell
[45]
,
the specified event which the respondents allege happened in the
matter
in
casu
,
is that the contractor went into business rescue, which entitled the
employer, as per the terms of the contract, specifically
clause 36
read with clauses 36.1.4 and 36.1.6 to then cancel the contract and
demand payment. There is no question that this demand
was correctly
made in terms of clause 36. As stated in the matter of
Lombard
[46]
and
Dormell
[47]
the
fact that the first respondent may have called up the guarantee
relying on a patently unlawful cancelation does not assist the
second
applicant. The demand has nothing to do with the underlying
contract.
[36]
In terms of the decisions of
Kwikspace
[48]
,
although the Supreme Court of Appeal stated, with reference to
foreign law that a guarantor can in the absence of fraud, be
restrained
from paying the guarantee, this would depend on whether
the contractor can show that the other party to the building contract
would
breach a term of the building contract. In the matter
in
casu
there
is no breach of the contract on the part of the first respondent.
[37]
This court has further considered whether the facts of the matter
in
casu
raise
a constitutional issue, which notwithstanding the decisions of
Lombard
[49]
,
Dormell
[50]
,
Coface
[51]
,
or
Guardrisk
[52]
may amount to a
prima
facie
right
to grant the interdict. In the matter of
Barkhuizen
[53]
,
the
Constitutional Court held that a contractual term that is contrary to
public policy is unenforceable as under our legal order,
all laws
derive their force from the Constitution and are thus subject to
constitutional control. Any law that is inconsistent
with the
Constitution is invalid. The matter of
Barkhuizen
also
stated that the fact that a term in a contract is unfair or may
operate harshly does not, by itself, lead to the conclusion
that it
offends the values of the Constitution. The Court stated that
intruding on contractual arrangements that have been voluntarily
concluded must be countenanced with care.
[38] Clause 36.1.4
states:
36.1.4 Where the employer
effects insurances consequent on the contract’s default [12.3]
The following is added as a new sub-clause
36.4
‘
The
employer may, furthermore cancel this agreement by giving written
notice of termination where the contractor becomes bankrupt
or
insolvent, goes into liquidation, is placed in business rescue,
compounds with his creditors or carries on business under a
receiver,
trustee, business rescue practitioner or manager for the benefit of
his creditors, or if any act is done or event occurs
which (under the
applicable law) has a similar effect to any of these acts or events’
Clause 36.1.6 states:
‘
is
placed under business rescue or a business rescue practitioner is
appointed,
[39]
In the matter
in
casu
there
is no evidence to suggest that the contract was not signed
voluntarily by the second applicant. The majority decision in the
matter in
Barkhuizen
[54]
stated that:
‘
the
proper approach to the constitutional challenges to contractual terms
is to determine whether the term challenged is contrary
to public
policy as evidenced by the constitutional values, in particular,
those found in the Bill of Rights. This approach leaves
space for the
doctrine of
pacta
sunt servanda
to
operate, but at the same time allows courts to decline to enforce
contractual terms that are in conflict with the constitutional
values
even though the parties may have consented to them.’
[55]
[40]
The majority in the matter of
Barkhuizen
[56]
held further that:
‘
The
first question involves the weighing-up of two considerations. On the
one hand, public policy, as informed by the Constitution,
requires,
in general, that parties should comply with contractual obligations
that have been freely and voluntarily undertaken.
This consideration
is expressed in the maxim
pacta
sunt servanda
which,
as the Supreme Court of Appeal has repeatedly noted, gives effect to
the central constitutional values of freedom and dignity.
Self-autonomy, or the ability to regulate one’s own affairs,
even to one’s own detriment, is the very essence of freedom
and
a vital part of dignity.
The
extent to which the contract was freely and voluntarily concluded is
clearly a vital factor as it will determine the weight
that should be
afforded to the values of freedom and dignity.
’
[57]
[my emphasis]
And further at paragraph
[69]
‘
The
inquiry is not whether the clause is inflexible. The inquiry is
whether in all the circumstances of the particular case, in
particular, having regard to the reason for non-compliance with the
clause, it would be contrary to public policy to enforce the
clause.’
[41]
The underlying dispute between the applicants and the first
respondent regarding the validity of the first respondent’s
cancelation and even the enforceability of the cancelation clause,
will be resolved in the manner provided for in the contract
between
the second applicant and the first respondent or by way of the
applicant’s intended declaratory application. As stated
by
Cloeta JA in
Dormell
[58]
and repeated by Van der Linde J in
Group
Five Power International (Pty) Ltd v Cenpower Generation Company
Limited
2019
JDR 0076 (GJ), even if there is a different conclusion at the
declaratory stage finding that the cancelation clause was indeed
unlawful or unenforceable, it still affords no defence at all to the
calling of the construction guarantee.
[42]
The applicants rely on the matter of
Ferreira
v Levin NO; Vryenhoek v Powel
[59]
in stating that even if there is a mere prospect of success, there is
no further threshold which must be crossed before proceeding
to a
consideration of the other elements of an interim interdict. In line
with the cases that this Court has referred to, this
Court does not
find that there is a mere prospect of success, in that the applicants
have not successfully shown non-compliance
with the terms of the
construction guarantee nor any fraud on the part of the first
respondent. As a result, the applicants on
these facts must fail.
[43] Even if the Court is
wrong in this regard, there is no admissible evidence that the
contract was not freely concluded or that
there was unequal
bargaining power between the parties or that the clause was not drawn
to the second applicant’s attention.
On the contrary, the
indications are that the second applicant was aware of clause 36 with
specific reference to clause 36.1.4
and 36.1.6. This Court is
accordingly unable to conclude on a
prima facie
basis that
clause 36 read with clause 36.1.4 and 36.1.6 is so unreasonable and
unfair that its enforcement would be contrary to
public policy. Even
if this Court is wrong, in line with the cited cases, any dispute
about an underlying contract cannot preclude
the guarantor from
making good on the terms of the guarantee.
[44]
As a result, in line with the decision of
State
Bank of India
[60]
this is not one of those exceptional cases where a interdict should
be granted to stop the calling up of the guarantee. Accordingly,
this
Court finds that the applicants have not established a
prima
facie
right.
[45] This Court has
empathy for the position that the applicants find themselves in,
namely, that to maintain the
status
quo
pending the
declaratory order may be better, however so too has this court to
consider what disruption it may cause the first and
sixth respondent,
should the interdict be granted. As stated by the respondent’s
counsel, there is also the matter of the
penalties owing by the
second applicant in the amount of R12 million which the first
respondent is entitled to recover from the
guarantee.
[46]
In the matter of
Exxaro
coal Mpumalanga (Pty) Ltd v TDS Projects Construction and Newrak
Mining JV (Pty) Ltd and Another
,
[61]
the contractor argued that it had no other satisfactory remedy and
that its damages would in all likelihood be recovered well into
the
distant future, whilst its business would be crippled or destroyed in
the interim. The Supreme Court of Appeal held that:
‘…
Consequently,
non-compliance with the terms of the guarantee by Exxaro in making
its demand is not a violation of any right of TDS.
Neither will
payment of the guarantee by ABSA result in a violation of a right of
TDS.
Indeed,
this was conceded by counsel for TDS. That being the case,
TDS
could not show that it would sustain any injury if ABSA honoured the
guarantee
…’
[62]
[my emphasis]
[47]
The Supreme Court in the matter of
Exxaro
[63]
held further that:
‘
What
is more, any contractor that has given a performance guarantee and
which is in the same position as TDS, ‘. . . would
have its
ordinary contractual remedy against [the guarantor]’. In this
matter, the remedy is a complete defence to any claim
founded on the
honouring of the guarantee when ABSA was not obliged to do so
.’
[64]
[my emphasis]
[48]
In accordance with the matter of
Exxaro
[65]
,
the second applicant that claims that the demand is unlawful, will
have a complete defence and a satisfactory alternative remedy
against
the guarantor (the sixth respondent), for honouring an unlawful
demand, as the applicants contend.
[49] The court must weigh
the prejudice to the applicants if the interim interdict is not
granted against the prejudice to the respondents
if it is. The
applicant’s prospects of success are weak and the balance of
convenience does not favour them.
COSTS
[50]
The First respondent’s counsel requested that this application
should be dismissed with costs on an attorney and client
scale in
that the application is vexatious and the Court should show its
displeasure by awarding costs on a punitive scale.
[51]
Costs are within the discretion of the Court and this Court does not
find that this matter is an instance where punitive costs
are
warranted.
ORDER
[52]
The application is dismissed.
Costs
to follow the result.
D DOSIO
JUDGE OF THE HIGH
COURT
This judgment was
handed down electronically by circulation to the parties’
representatives via e-mail, by being uploaded
to CaseLines and by
release to SAFLII. The date and time for hand- down is deemed to be
10h00 on 3 April 2023
Appearances:
On
behalf of the applicants:
Adv. S. Panayiotis SC
Adv. C. Gibson
Instructed
by:
WERKSMANS ATTORNEYS
On
behalf of the first to fifth respondents:
A
dv.
L. Segeels-Ncube
Instructed
by:
FLUXMANS
INC
[1]
Barkhuizen
v Napier
2007
(5) SA 323 (CC).
[2]
see
Johannesburg
Municipal Pension Fund & Others v City of Johannesburg &
Others
2005
(6) SA 273
(W) at [25].
[3]
see
National
Gambling Board v Premier, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Others
2002(2)
SA 715 CC at para 49.
[4]
see
Setlogelo
v Setlogelo
1914
AD 221
, as endorsed in
National
Treasury v Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance
2012
(11) BCLR 1148 (CC).
[5]
Lombard
Insurance Co Ltd v Landmark Holdings (Pty) Ltd & others
2010
(2) SA 86.
[6]
Ibid
para
20.
[7]
State
Bank of India and Another v Denel SOC Limited and Others
(947/13)
[2014] SCA 212
[2015] 2 All SA 152
(SCA) (3 December 2014).
[8]
State
Bank of India
(note
7 above) para 7.
[9]
Dormell
Properties 282 CC v Renasa Insurance Company Ltd and Another
(491/09)
[2010] ZASCA 137
;
2011 (1) SA 70
(SCA) ;
[2011] 1 All SA 557
(SCA)
(1 October 2010).
[10]
Ibid
para 39.
[11]
Ibid.
[12]
Lombard
(note 5 above).
[13]
Coface
South Africa Insurance Co Ltd v East London Own Haven t/a Own Haven
Housing Association
2014
(2) SA 382 (SCA).
[14]
Dormell
(note 9 above).
[15]
Guardrisk
Insurance Company Ltd and Others v Kentz (Pty) Ltd
(94/2013)
[2013] ZASCA 182
;
[2014] 1 All SA 307
(SCA) (14 November 2013).
[16]
Ibid
para
28.
[17]
Ibid
(note
15 above) para 27.
[18]
Kwikspace
Modular Buildings Ltd v Sabodala Mining Company Sarl and Another
(173/09)
[2010] ZASCA 15
;
[2010] 3 All SA 467
(SCA);
2010 (6) SA 477
(SCA)
(18 March 2010).
[19]
Kwikspace
(note
18 above) para 11.
[20]
Joint
venture Aveng v Sanral
2021
(2) SA 137.
[21]
Ibid.
[22]
Ibid.
[23]
Joint Venture
(note 20 above).
[24]
Murray
N.O. and Another v Firstrand Bank Ltd t/a Wesbank
(20104/2014)
[2015] ZASCA 39
;
2015 (3) SA 438
(SCA) (26 March 2015),
[25]
Ibid
para 43.
[26]
Joint Venture
(note 20 above)
[27]
Ibid
para 17.
[28]
Ibid.
[29]
Joint
Venture
(note
20 above) para 27.
[30]
Murray
(note 24 above).
[31]
Ibid.
[32]
Ibid para 40.
[33]
Ibid.
[34]
Ibid
para 33.
[35]
Ibid para 37.
[36]
Ibid para 37.
[37]
Ibid.
[38]
Ibid.
[39]
National
Gambling Board v Premier, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Others
[2001] ZACC 8
;
2002
(2) SA 715
CC.
[40]
Ibid para 49
[41]
Lombard
(note 5 above)
[42]
Dormell
(note 9 above)
[43]
Coface
(note 13 above)
[44]
Guardrisk
(note 15 above)
[45]
Dormell
(note 9 above)
[46]
Lombard
(note 5 above)
[47]
Dormell
(note 9 above)
[48]
Kwikspace
(note 18 above)
[49]
Lombard
(note 5 above)
[50]
Dormell
(note 9 above)
[51]
Coface
(note 13 above)
[52]
Guardrisk
(note 15 above)
[53]
Barkhuizen
(note 1 above)
[54]
Ibid.
[55]
Ibid para 30.
[56]
Ibid.
[57]
Ibid para 57.
[58]
Dormell
(note 9 above).
[59]
Ferreira
v Levin NO; Vryenhoek v Powel
1995
(2) SA 813
(W) at 833A-b.
[60]
State
Bank of India
(note
7 above).
[61]
Exxaro
coal Mpumalanga (Pty) Ltd v TDS Projects Construction and Newrak
Mining JV (Pty) Ltd and Another
(case
No 169/2021
[2022] ZASCA 76
(27 May 2022).
[62]
Ibid para 14.
[63]
Ibid.
[64]
Ibid para 15.
[65]
Ibid.
sino noindex
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