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IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA

GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA

CASE NUMBER: 45664/2007

DATE: 12/09/2017

REPORTABLE: NO

OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: NO

In the matter between:

PULE, LINDA KENNETH MASIKE                                                                        Applicant

And

ERF 1083 ROOIHUISKRAAL (PTY) LTD                                                           Respondent

JUDGMENT

MOTHLE J

1. This is an application for leave to file a further affidavit in terms   of Rule 6(5) (e) of the Rules of this Court. The affidavit is required in support of an interlocutory application for rescission of a judgment granted in favour of the Respondent against the Applicant.

2. The Respondent, also cited as such in the application for rescission of judgment, opposes this application.

3. In support of this application, the Applicants raise two contentions, namely:

3.1        That the lodging of further affidavits should be permitted where necessary for the proper adjudication of a case and that parties should be permitted to have a case adjudicated upon the full facts; and

3.2        That the Respondent failed to demonstrate that should the Court permit any further affidavits, such would cause any prejudice resulting in injustice or unfairness on its part.

4. The Respondent on the other hand contends that the further affidavit requested by the Applicant introduces a new matter which was not foreshadowed in the founding affidavit in support of  the rescission application.   The  Respondent  argues  further that by admitting this further affidavit, the Court will be allowing the Applicants to introduce new matter which will be against the Rules of this Court.

5. It is trite that the filing of additional affidavits beyond those provided for in terms of Rule 6 may only be effected with leave of  the  Court.  In  considering  leave  to  do  so,  a  court  has  a discretion which must be exercised in the interest of justice. In this case, it is in the interest of enabling finality to the proceedings that this application must be considered. See Kasiyamhuru v Minister of Home Affairs 1991 (1) SA 643 (W) and also Baeck & Co SA (Pty) Ltd v Van Zummeren and Another 1982 (2) SA 112  (W).

6. The following is common cause:

6.1        This application is an interlocutory application to a rescission of judgment application;

6.2        The rescission of judgment application, whose documents are not before this Court, will be subject to adjudication by another Court;

6.3        The Respondent has not outlined the nature of the prejudice to this Court as he still has to respond to the additional affidavit should the Court allow it; and

6.4        The Applicants are tendering costs of this application which would compensate any prejudice contended by the Respondent.

7. It seems to me the Court adjudicating the rescission application, would be in a better position to decide, within the context of the grounds for the rescission, whether the additional affidavit introduces new matter and whether the Respondent suffers prejudice or is prejudiced thereby.

8. Having regard to what is stated above, it is this Court's view that the Applicant should be allowed to file an additional affidavit as requested, to enable the Court adjudicating the rescission of judgment to consider all facts and decide the matter in the interest of justice. That would include the Respondent's response to this additional affidavit.    Such Court, would be in a better position to also adjudicate on the question of costs.

9. In the premises I make the following order:

(i)        That the application to file an additional affidavit in terms of Rule 6(5)(e) is hereby granted;

(ii)        Within 10 days after the filing of the additional affidavit, the Respondent  may  file  an  answer  thereto.  Thereafter  the Applicant is granted 5 days within which he may reply to the Respondent's answering affidavit;

(iii)        The costs of this application will be costs in the cause.

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SP MOTHLE

Judge of the High Court.

Gauteng Division, Pretoria

 

For the Applicant                   : Adv. J Bhima

Instructed by                         : Clorinda Scalco Attorneys Inc. Attorneys for the Applicant

For the Respondent              : Adv. C J Welgemoed

Instructed by                         : Van Greunen & Associates Inc. Centurion

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