R v Moteane (CRI/T 5 of 97) [2000] LSCA 92 (8 May 2000)
The applications were dismissed because the applicant failed to make full and frank disclosure of material facts, acted in bad faith, abused the process by seeking urgent ex parte relief without justification, failed to prove exclusive rights over the gas cylinder brands, and itself committed unlawful acts. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2000] LSCA 92
- Parties
- Applicant: African Oxygen Limited; 1st Respondent: STM Marketing and Agencies Limited; 2nd Respondent: Mr Selai Mokete
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Lesotho
- Case Number
- CRI/T 5 of 97
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Application / Judgment
- Outcome
- applications dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Ex Parte Orders, Urgent Applications, Trade Practices, Interdicts, Abuse of Process, Non Disclosure, Locus Standi
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
African Oxygen Limited
Applicant
STM Marketing and Agencies Limited
1st Respondent
Mr Selai Mokete
2nd Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Application / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant was entitled to an ex parte order restraining the respondent from receiving certain gas cylinders
- 2 Whether the applicant made full and frank disclosure of material facts
- 3 Whether the application was urgent and justified on an ex parte basis
Ratio Decidendi
The applications were dismissed because the applicant failed to make full and frank disclosure of material facts, acted in bad faith, abused the process by seeking urgent ex parte relief without justification, failed to prove exclusive rights over the gas cylinder brands, and itself committed unlawful acts. The process was also defective for want of proper signature. The court found no merit or urgency in the applications and awarded costs against the applicant on an attorney and client scale.
Court Disposition
applications dismissed
Orders
- Both applications are dismissed with costs at attorney and client scale.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
C I V / A P N / 1 9 1 / 99 C I V / A P N / 2 7 0 / 99 IN T HE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In the matter between:- AFRICAN O X Y G EN LIMITED APPLICANT A ND S T M M A R K E T I NG A ND AGENCIES LIMITED 1ST R E S P O N D E NT MR SELAI M O K E TE 2ND R E S P O N D E NT J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by t he H o n o u r a b le M rs Justice K. J. G u ni on t he 7th d ay of A p r i l, 2 0 00 By c o n s e n t, t h e se t wo a p p l i c a t i o n s, w e re h e a rd t o g e t h e r. T he facts in b o th a p p l i c a t i o ns a re e x a c t ly t he s a m e, b e c a u se t he s a me a p p l i c a t i on w as r e s u b m i t t ed f or t he r e a s o ns g i v en by t he a p p l i c a n t. T he legal issues r a i s e d, a p p ly to a nd m u st be d e t e r m i n ed in t he light of t h o se facts. T he a p p l i c a n t, as s h o wn in p a r a g r a ph 2 of t he F o u n d i ng A f f i d a v i t, is a S o u th A f r i c an C o m p a n y. It is i n c o r p o r a t ed in t he R S A, in a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he c o m p a ny l aw of that c o u n t r y. T he a p p l i c a n t 's registered office a d d r e ss is g i v en as 20 M a a r s d o rp Street, O ld Industrial A r e a, B l o e m f o n t e i n, O F S, R S A. T he a p p l i c a nt carries on t he b u s i n e ss of s u p p l y, sale a nd distribution of L i q u i f i ed P e t r o l e um G as (hereinafter referred to as L P G) a nd related s e r v i c e s. It is c l a i m e d, that t he a p p l i c a nt h as o b t a i n e d, f r om t he M i n i s t ry of T r a de a nd I n d u s t ry h e re in L e s o t h o, a u t h o r i ty to t r a de as a w h o l e s a l e r. To s u p p o rt this c l a im a c o py of an e x p i r ed T r a d e r 's L i c e n ce Certificate a n n e x u re " G P 6" is a t t a c h ed to t he r e p l y i ng affidavit. T he r e s p o n d e n t, as s h o wn at p a r a g r a ph 9 of a n s w e r i ng affidavit, is S TM M a r k e t i ng a nd A g e n c i es ( P t y) L i m i t e d. It is a c o m p a ny registered in t e r ms of t he L aw of L e s o t h o. It carries o n, by m e a ns of a s p e c i a l i s ed l i c e n c e, t he b u s i n e ss of a distributor a nd w h o l e s a l er of E LF liquified p e t r o l e um g a s. E L F g as is distributed in S o u t h e rn A f r i ca by E L F g as S o u t h e rn A f r i ca ( P T Y) L i m i t ed of 13th F l o o r, M e d l i fe C e n t r e, C o en S t e y d t l er A v e n u e, C a pe T o wn in R S A. T he r e s p o n d e nt h as a distributorship a nd d e a l e r s h ip a g r e e m e nt w i th this E L F g as S o u t h e rn A f r i ca ( P t y) L t d. T h e se t wo parties a re c o m p e t i t o rs in t he m a r k et p l a ce f or t he sale of L P G. A p p l i c a nt c l a i ms to h o ld t he m a j or s h a re of t he m a r k et in L e s o t ho for t he sale a nd distribution of L P G. T h e re are no g r o u n ds laid n or r e a s on g i v en for this c l a i m. A l t h o u gh t he a p p l i c a nt h as no b r a n ch office or a g e n cy h e re in L e s o t h o, a p p l i c a nt c l a i ms to h a ve a distribution n e t w o rk s t r e t c h i ng a c r o ss t he entire c o u n t r y. T h e re is no m e n t i on of w h at t he a p p l i c a n t 's n e t w o rk of distribution is m a de of e,g is it s h o p s, d e p o t s, w h o l e s a l e s, e t c ? ? ? ?? T he a p p l i c a nt h as c o me to court to k n ip in the b u d, the c o m p e t i t i on against it in the m a r k et h e re in M a s e r u. I s ay k n ip in the b ud the c o m p e t i t i on b e c a u se S TM M a r k e t i ng a nd A g e n c i es ( P T Y) L i m i t ed started o p e r a t i o ns o n ly in M a r ch 1 9 9 9. A l m o st i m m e d i a t e l y, after the c o m m e n c e m e nt of b u s i n e ss by r e s p o n d e nt the applicant c a me to court a nd o b t a i n ed e x - p a r te o r d e rs restraining r e s p o n d e nt f r om r e c e i v i ng (in e x c h a n ge of its o wn full g as cylinders) a ny of the g as c y l i n d e rs of the description g i v en in the e x - p a r te o r d e r. A c c o r d i ng to the applicant, there are n u m e r o us distributors of L PG in this c o u n t r y, b ut there are five m a in o n e s, i n c l u d i ng t h e se t wo parties b e f o re court. T he applicant h as g i v en full description of h ow the m a r k et in L e s o t ho is s u p p l i ed w i th L PG c o n t a i n ed in g as cylinders. W h en a c u s t o m er p u r c h a s es L PG f r om a ny supplier or distributor for the first t i m e, the c u s t o m er p a ys a deposit p l us sales t ax in respect of t he g as cylinder. T h at s a me cylinder nevertheless, a l w a ys r e m a i ns the p r o p e r ty of that particular supplier - f r om w h om the c u s t o m er o b t a i ns it. T he c u s t o m er m ay t h en f r om t i me to t i me h a ve that g as cylinder e x c h a n g ed for a n o t h er o ne w h i ch is filled w i th g as f r om a ny supplier. T he c u s t o m er is n ot c o m p e l l ed to return or to patronise the first supplier f r om w h om the c u s t o m er o b t a i n ed that g as cylinder for future a nd further p u r c h a s es of g as (I s u p p o se that is, to certain extent, the respect of the c u s t o m e r s' right of the f r e e d om of c h o i c e. T h is applicant d o es n ot s h a re this s e n t i m e nt as a p p e a rs in the p r a y e rs m a de in these applications a nd ex-parte o r d e rs o b t a i n e d ). T he applicant, w e nt on to e x p l a in the practice p r e s u m a b ly f r om its e x p e r i e n c e. It is s a id that, s u p p l i e rs s e l d om refill their o wn e m p ty g as c y l i n d er p r e s e n t ed for t he p u r c h a se of g as by t he c u s t o m e r. It is u n l a w f ul to fill or refill t he g as c y l i n d e rs of o t h er s u p p l i e r s. S e c t i on 1 3 ( 2) L e g al N o t i ce N o . 90 of 1 9 9 7. F or t he efficient r u n n i ng of that k i nd of b u s i n e ss (i.e distribution a nd sale of g a s) t he s u p p l i e rs a g r e ed a m o n g st t h e m s e l v es a nd e s t a b l i s h ed that t r a de c u s t om p r a c t i ce of e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e r s. T he e m p ty c y l i n d er m ay be e x c h a n g ed for t he full o n e. As a result all s u p p l i e rs a re free to e x c h a n ge c y l i n d e rs of a ny a nd all t r a de m a r ks of a ny a nd all o t h er s u p p l i e r s. E a ch s u p p l i er r e g a i ns p o s s e s s i on of its g as c y l i n d er t h r o u gh an e s t a b l i s h ed t r a de c u s t om p r a c t i ce of e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e r s. A c c o r d i ng to t he a p p l i c a nt this a g r e ed t r a de c u s t om practice, h as b e en g o i ng on f or s o me t i m e. W h e n e v er a ny s u p p l i er is in p o s s e s s i on of g as c y l i n d e rs b e l o n g i ng to a n o t h er s u p p l i e r, it w i ll r e t u rn t h o se c y l i n d e rs to that s u p p l i er a nd r e c e i ve in e x c h a n ge its o wn c y l i n d e rs w h i ch a re in t he p o s s e s s i on of that o t h er s u p p l i e r. In a ny c y l i n d e rs e x c h a n ge e x e r c i s e, if t he n u m b e rs of c y l i n d e rs do n ot m a t c h, t he r e c i p i e nt of t he g r e a t er n u m b er will p ay that s t a n d a rd d e p o s it on t he e x t ra n u m b e rs of c y l i n d e rs r e c e i v e d. R e s p o n d e nt a g r e es w i th t he a p p l i c a nt c o m p l e t e ly on this d e s c r i p t i on of t he t r a de p r a c t i c e. T he r e s p o n d e nt h as g o ne further by s h o w i ng this c o u r t, that b o th parties a re in fact, a c t i ve participants in that t r a de c u s t om p r a c t i c e. R e s p o n d e nt h as e v en g i v en specific d a t es w h en t he t r a de c u s t om p r a c t i ce of e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e rs t o ok p l a ce b e t w e en t he a p p l i c a nt a nd r e s p o n d e n t. A p p l i c a nt a l l e g es that t h e re a re u n s c r u p u l o us distributors w ho t a ke a d v a n t a ge of its o wn c y l i n d er s u p p o r t, by u s i ng a p p l i c a n t 's c y l i n d e rs to s u p p ly L PG s u p p l i ed by this a p p l i c a n t 's c o m p e t i t o r s. It is c l a i m e d, w i t h o ut i n d i c a t i ng by n u m b e rs or p r o v i ng t he s a me in a ny w a y, that this a p p l i c a n t, h as t he m o st c y l i n d e rs in t he field. It is further a l l e g e d, that t he r e s p o n d e nt m a k es u se of t he a p p l i c a n ts c y l i n d e rs to fill a nd sell their g a s. T h e re h as b e en so far no e v i d e n ce to s u p p o rt this allegation. S h o u ld a sufficient n u m b er of c o m p e t i t o rs ( i m a g i n e d) of this a p p l i c a nt m a ke u se of t he a p p l i c a n t 's c y l i n d e rs to sell their L P G, d a m a ge to t he a p p l i c a nt ( i m a g i n e d) w o u ld be i m m e a s u r a b l e. T he a p p l i c a nt a p p r o a c h ed this c o u rt on an u r g e nt b a s is a nd by e x - p a r te a p p l i c a t i on a l l e g i ng that t he r e s p o n d e nt u n l a w f u l ly fills or refills a p p l i c a n ts o wn g as c y l i n d e rs a nd u n l a w f u l ly c o m p e t es w i th this a p p l i c a n t. It w as further a l l e g e d, that t he p r o of of t he a l l e g ed u n l a w f ul filling by r e s p o n d e nt of t he a p p l i c a n t 's g as c y l i n d e rs c a me into a p p l i c a n t 's p o s s e s s i on d u r i ng s e c o nd h a lf of A p r il 1 9 9 9. A p p l i c a nt t o ok s t e ps to p r o t e ct its r i g h ts on 8 / 5 / 99 by o b t a i n i ng t h o se e x - p a r te o r d e rs restraining t he r e s p o n d e nt f r om r e c e i v i ng in t he n o r m al w ay t he g as c y l i n d e rs d e s c r i b ed in t h o se e x - p a r te o r d e r s. T he a p p l i c a nt d o es n ot s a y, h ow a nd w h e re he o b t a i n ed t he p r o of of t he a l l e g ed u n l a w f ul activities of t he r e s p o n d e n t, d u r i ng h a lf of A p r il 1 9 9 9. A n n e x u r es 3 a nd 4 a t t a c h ed to t he f o u n d i ng affidavit a re s w o rn s t a t e m e n ts m a de by t wo g e n t l e m en d e s c r i b ed as directors a nd i n v e s t i g a t o rs e m p l o y ed by P r i v a te D e t e c t i ve S e r v i c e s. T he i m p r e s s i on m a de is that t he a p p l i c a nt m u st h a ve o b s e r v ed w i th its o wn " p r i v a te e y e s" t he a l l e g ed u n l a w f ul filling of its c y l i n d e rs by r e s p o n d e n t. T h o se p r i v a te e y es c l a im to h a ve b e en at t he b u s i n e ss p r e m i s es of t he r e s p o n d e nt on t he 30th a nd t he 31st M a r ch 1 9 9 9. T h ey h ad specific instruction to d e t e r m i ne w h e t h er t he r e s p o n d e nt is d e a l i ng in A f r ox L PG c y l i n d e r s. W h at d id t h ey d o? 1. T h ey b o u g ht g as at t he r e s p o n d e n t 's b u s i n e ss - h a n d e d - in t he A f r ox e m p ty g as c y l i n d e rs a nd r e c e i v ed in e x c h a n ge t h e r e of full c y l i n d e rs a nd in a n o r m al w a y, t h ey p a id o n ly for t he c o n t e n t s. T he full c y l i n d e r s, r e c e i v ed by t h o se p r i v a te d e t e c t i v e s, s h o u ld h a ve b e en t h o se of t he r e s p o n d e n t. In a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he t r a de p r a c t i ce o n ly E LF g as c y l i n d e rs - a re distributed by t he r e s p o n d e n t. T he a p p l i c a n t 's p r i v a te e y es c l a im that, it w as A f r ox full g as c y l i n d e rs w h i ch w as p l a c ed by a b l a ck g as a t t e n d a nt of t he r e s p o n d e nt c o m p a n y, into their m o t or v e h i c l e. T he t wo s t a t e m e n ts further indicate that a v i d eo r e c o r d i ng w as m a de prior, d u r i ng a nd after t he transaction. T h is v i d eo r e c o r d i n g, w as to be p r o d u c ed b e f o re t he c o u r t, p e r h a ps at t he h e a r i ng of t he c o n f i r m a t i on of t he e x - p a r te o r d e rs o b t a i n ed by t he a p p l i c a n t. T h e re w as no s u ch p r o d u c t i on of a ny v i d eo t a p es R e s p o n d e nt d e n i es that t he t wo d e t e c t i v es w e re g i v en by an a t t e n d a nt at t he r e s p o n d e n t 's b u s i n e ss p r e m i s es a full A f r ox g as c y l i n d e r. R e s p o n d e nt a g a in d e n i es that t he v i d eo r e c o r d i ng w as d o ne at its p r e m i s es a nd therefore s u ch v i d eo r e c o r d i ng w as irrelevant. P e r h a ps that is w hy a p p l i c a nt d e c i d ed after all n ot to p r o d u ce t he said v i d eo t a p e s. A n u m b er of p o i n ts in l i m i ne h a ve b e en raised by r e s p o n d e n t. L O C US S T A N DI A first p o i nt in l i m i ne raised on b e h a lf of t he r e s p o n d e nt is w i th r e g a rd to t he a p p l i c a n t 's c l a im of right to u se a nd t h e r e f o re p r o t e ct for its e x c l u s i ve u se o n l y, t he f o l l o w i ng b r a nd n a m e s, M o b i l e, E n g e n, C a l t e x, H o m e g a s, S o n a p / S o n a r e p, T r ek a nd S o c o n y. Mr P a r k er for a p p l i c a n t, in his r e p ly d o es n ot h e lp a p p l i c a n t 's c a se at all. He m e r e ly c l a i ms that a p p l i c a nt b o u g ht t h o se b u s i n e ss b u t, d o es n ot b o t h er to attach a ny p r o of of t he o w n e r s h ip as c l a i m ed by h i m. C u r i o u s ly e n o u g h, he d e m a n ds that r e s p o n d e nt m u st p r o d u ce p r o ve of t he denial that a p p l i c a nt d o es n ot o wn t h o se b u s i n e ss a nd t h e r e f o re h as no authority to c l a im p r o t e c t i on for the a p p l i c a n t 's e x c l u s i ve u se of t h o se b r a nd n a m e s. T he allegation that this a p p l i c a nt o wn t h o se b r a nd n a m es for its e x c l u s i ve u s e, m u st be p r o v ed by t he a p p l i c a n t. He w ho alleges m u st p r o v e. V u l c an R u b b er W o r ks (Pty) L td vs S AR a nd H 1 9 58 ( 3) SA 2 85 ( A ). T he c o py of an e x p i r ed T r a d e r 's L i c e n ce Certificate a t t a c h ed to t he r e p l y i ng affidavit, d o es n ot m a ke a ny m e n t i on of t h o se b r a nd n a m es as b e i ng f or t he e x c l u s i ve u se of this applicant. T h e re is no m e n t i on at all of w h at t he w h o l e s a l er so l i c e n c ed trades in. T h e re is no c o n n e c t i on b e t w e en t he w h o l e s a le trader's licence issued, by t he M i n i s t ry of T r a de a nd I n d u s t ry of L e s o t ho G o v e r n m e n t, to this a p p l i c a nt a nd its c l a im of o w n e r s h ip of M o b i l e, E n g e n, C a l t e x, H o m e g as etc, etc. T he a p p l i c a nt h as failed to p r o ve that it o w ns t h o se b r a nd n a m e s. D E F E C T I VE P R O C E SS A n o t h er p o i nt in l i m i ne raised c o n c e r ns the irregularity of t he N o t i ce of A p p l i c a t i on in C I V / A P N / 2 7 0 / 99 filed on b e h a lf of t he a p p l i c a nt c o m p a n y. T h is application is n ot s i g n ed as r e q u i r ed by t he rules of this court. H i gh C o u rt R u l e s, L e g al N o t i ce N o .9 of 1 9 80 - [ R u le 1 8 ( 6 ) ]. T h is rules r e a ds as follows:- " 1 8 ( 6) T he s u m m o ns shall be s i g n ed by the R e g i s t r ar a nd t he plaintiff's attorney or plaintiff p e r s o n a l ly a nd m u st disclose t he attorney's a d d r e ss or plaintiff's a d d r e ss w h i ch m u st be w i t h i n, five k i l o m e t r es f r om t he office of t he R e g i s t r ar at w h i ch he will a c c e pt service of all d o c u m e n t s ." [ My u n d e r l i n i n g ]. T h e re are, h o w e v e r, n a m es a nd a d d r e s s es of a t t o r n e ys of S o u th A f r i ca a nd of L e s o t h o. My o b s e r v a t i on is that the a t t o r n e ys of this a p p l i c a n t, are De B u ys H u m a n, b e c a u se it is clearly stated so on t he p a p e r s. H a r l ey a nd M o r r is a p p e ar to be o n ly a local a d d r e ss w h i ch m u st be w i t h in five k i l o m e t r es f r om t he office of the R e g i s t r ar at w h i ch t he p a r ty will a c c e pt service of all d o c u m e n t s. T he applicant's a t t o r n ey is clearly stated as De B u ys H u m a n. In t e r ms of R u le 18 ( 6) he s h o u ld be t he o ne w ho s i g n ed t he application. He s e e m ed to h a ve h ad a p r o b l em of n ot h a v i ng b e en a d m i t t ed to practice as an a t t o r n ey a nd to practice as s u ch in t he c o u r ts of L e s o t ho a nd of h a v i ng no office h e re in L e s o t h o. It is stated n o w h e re in t h e se p a p e rs that H a r l ey a nd M o r r is a re t he a t t o r n e ys of this applicant. H a r l ey a nd M o r r is d id n ot s i gn a nd t h ey w e re n ot entitled to do so by t he rules. R u le 18 ( 6) m u st be r e ad w i th rule 13 ( 1) H i gh C o u rt R u l es ( L e g al N o t i ce N o .9 of 1 9 8 0 ). T he interpretation of " A c t i o n" is clearly s h o wn as i n c l u d i ng application: that b e i ng so t he a p p l i c a t i on m u st be s i g n ed by t he p a r ty or its attorney. As s h o wn at p a ge 3 53 B, s i g n i ng of N o t i ce of M o t i o n, in H e r b s t e in a nd V an W i n s e n. T he C I V IL P R A C T I CE OF T HE S U P R E ME C O U RT OF S O U TH A F R I C A, F O U R TH E D I T I O N, t he n o t i ce m u st be s i g n ed by an attorney i s s u i ng it w h e t h er t he a p p l i c a t i on is e x - p a r te or o t h e r w i s e. T he failure to s i gn this application by t he a t t o r n e ys i s s u i ng it c r e a t ed an irregularity. It is n ot a p r o p er p r o c e ss to be b e f o re this c o u r t. On this p o i nt r e s p o n d e nt m u st s u c c e e d. T h i s, h o w e v e r, d o es n ot e nd this m a t t e r, b e c a u se a p p l i c a nt r e s u b m i t t ed t he s a me a p p l i c a t i on w h i ch is h e a rd t o g e t h er w i th t he application in q u e s t i o n. N O N - D I S C L O S U RE R e s p o n d e nt h as s h o wn in t he a n s w e r i ng affidavit d e p o s ed to by Mr Selai M o k e t e , t h at on 19th M a r ch 1 9 9 9 , 2 5th M a r ch 1 9 99 a nd on t he 20th A p r il 1 9 9 9, the trade c u s t o m a ry e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e rs d id t a ke p l a ce b e t w e en t h e se t wo parties. T h e se a v e r m e n t s, by Mr Selai M o k e te a re a d m i t t ed by Mr G i l es W i l l i am P a r k er w ho d e p o s ed to b o th f o u n d i ng a nd r e p l y i ng affidavit on b e h a lf of t he applicant. It is v e ry m a t e r i al that t he v e ry s a me d e p o n ed o m i t t ed to m e n t i on that t h e se t wo parties participate fully in that t r a de c u s t o m a ry e x c h a n ge of cylinders. He further o m i t t ed to m e n t i on in t he f o u n d i ng affidavit for the c o n s i d e r a t i on of t he c o u rt prior to t he m a k i ng of an e x - p a r te o r d er that as recently as 20th A p r il 1 9 99 - o n ly a b o ut ( 8) eight d a ys p r i or to t he l a u n c h i ng of t he first application, t he a p p l i c a nt collected f r om t he r e s p o n d e n t 's b u s i n e ss p r e m i s es three h u n d r ed a nd t w e n ty eight ( 3 2 8) c y l i n d e rs in a c c o r d a n ce w i th that trade practice established a m o n g st the suppliers s u ch as t h e se t wo parties. ( As s h o wn in a n n e x u re S T M4 a t t a c h ed to t he A n s w e r i ng A f f i d a v i t ). In m o t i on p r o c e e d i n g s, particularly w h en b r i n g i ng an e x - p a r te a p p l i c a t i o n, in w h i ch relief is c l a i m ed a g a i n st a n o t h er party, t he a p p l i c a nt m u st m a ke full disclosure of all material a nd relevant facts, that m i g ht affect t he g r a n t i ng or o t h e r w i se of an o r d er e x - p a r t e. H e r b s t e in a nd V an W i n s en T he civil Practice of the S u p r e me C o u rt of S o u th A f r i c a, F o u r th E d i t i on p a ge 3 6 7. A p p l i c a nt a l l u d ed to t he t r a de c u s t om practice of e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e rs generally. T h e re w as a n e ed to g i ve the c o u rt the true a nd p r o p er attitude of t he r e s p o n d e nt as r e g a r ds t he trade c u s t om p r a c t i ce of e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e r s, m o re particularly b e c a u se a p p l i c a nt h ad g i v en this c o u rt a distinct ( t h o u gh e r r o n e o us a nd false) i m p r e s s i on that t he a p p l i c a nt is n ot a b le to r e g a in p o s s e s s i on of its o wn e m p ty g as c y l i n d e rs w h i ch a re in t he p o s s e s s i on of this r e s p o n d e n t, w h o, as a l l e g e d, fills t h em up w i th E L F G AS p r o d u c ts f or sale a nd distribution. T he a p p l i c a nt d id n ot d i s c l o se that t h ey ( a p p l i c a nt a nd r e s p o n d e n t) p a r t i c i p a te fully in t he t r a de c u s t o m a ry c y l i n d er e x c h a n g e. H ad this fact b e en m e n t i o n e d, t h e re w o u ld h a ve b e en no c o u rt o r d er m a de c o m p e l l i ng r e s p o n d e nt to s u r r e n d er to a p p l i c a nt a ny c y l i n d e rs at all as t he o w n e rs of t h o se c y l i n d e rs a re free to r e g a in t h em by participating in that t r a de c u s t o m a ry e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e rs w h e n e v er t h ey so w i sh a nd w h e r e e v er t h ey a re f o u n d. F a i l u re to d i s c l o se in e x - p a r te a p p l i c a t i on is v e ry i m p o r t a nt a nd g o es to t he r o ot of t he m a t t er as s h o wn in H e r b s t e in a nd V an W i n s en s u p ra J u d ge Le R o ux in S c h l e s i n g er vs S c h l e s i n g er 1 9 79 ( 4) SA 3 42 at p a ge 3 4 9, e m p h a s i s ed that i m p o r t a n ce of full d i s c l o s u re of t r ue facts. He w e nt e v en f u r t h e r; after e x a m i n i ng t he r e l e v a nt authorities on this p o i n t, he i n d i c a t ed that t h e re is a clear d u ty on t he a p p l i c a nt to d i s c l o se m a t e r i al facts w h i ch m i g ht affect t he g r a n t i ng of t he e x - p a r te o r d er m o re particularly w i th r e g a rd to t he r e s p o n d e n t 's attitude to t he r e q u e st m a de by a p p l i c a nt b e f o re c o u r t. It h as b e en e s t a b l i s h ed that s u p p r e s s i on of t r ue facts, is as b ad as l y i n g. T h e r e f o re c o u r t s, in t he j u d i c i o us e x e r c i se of their d i s c r e t i o n, a re entitled to d i s c h a r ge e x - p a r te o r d e rs o b t a i n ed by a p p l i c a nt w ho w i t h h e ld t r ue facts or lied in o r d er to o b t a in s u ch o r d e r. S c h l e s i n g er c a se cited a b o v e. B a nk O rp L td vs R i d la 1 9 93 ( 4) SA 2 7 6. T he a p p l i c a nt d id n ot o n ly w i t h h o ld true facts w h i ch w o u ld h a ve i n d i c a t ed to this c o u rt clearly, t he attitude of t he r e s p o n d e n t, b ut lied, that t he r e s p o n d e nt fills a p p l i c a n t 's c y l i n d e rs w i th E L F g as w h i ch is distributed by t he r e s p o n d e n t. S t r a n g e ly e n o u gh a p p l i c a nt c l a i m ed that it distributes E L F g as a nd o b t a i n ed t he c o u rt o r d er w h i ch e v en t h o u gh r e s p o n d e nt is E L F g as distributor it w as restrained f r om r e c e i v i ng E L F g as c y l i n d e rs w h i ch a r e, in fact r e s p o n d e n t 's o wn c y l i n d e r s. It w as n ot o n ly t he w i t h h o l d i ng of true facts, t h e re w e re a l so s o me false allegations. T he a p p l i c a nt c o m m i t t e d, in that w ay a d o u b le w r o ng [ a d d i ng insult to an injury]. T he c o u rt is t h e r e f o re entitled, to d i s c h a r ge that r u le nisi. E v en if t he a p p l i c a nt w as to s u c c e ed on t he m e r i ts of t he a p p l i c a t i on on this p o i nt a l o ne this a p p l i c a t i on m u st fail. U R G E N CY A n o t h er p o i nt in l i m i n e, w h i ch h as b e en raised by t he r e s p o n d e nt is that of u r g e n c y. T h e re w as that t r a de c u s t om p r a c t i ce of e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e rs by t he s u p p l i e rs in o r d er that e a ch s u p p l i er r e g a i ns p o s s e s s i on of its c y l i n d e r s. W h en e v er t he a p p l i c a nt w i s h ed to r e g a in p o s s e s s i on of its c y l i n d e rs f r om t he r e s p o n d e n t, t he a p p l i c a nt c an a nd on t h r ee o c c a s i o ns a c t u a l ly d id go to t he b u s i n e ss p r e m i s es of t he r e s p o n d e nt a nd c o l l e c t ed its o wn c y l i n d e r s. T h is p r a c t i ce of e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e rs h as b e en c a r r i ed o ut a m i c a b ly by t h e se t wo parties. W h i le a d m i t t i ng that t he e x c h a n g es of c y l i n d e rs of 19th M a r c h, 25th M a r ch a nd 20th A p r il 1 9 99 d id t a ke p l a c e, a p p l i c a nt d o es n ot s h ow t he c o u rt in a n y w a y, that on t h o se t h r ee o c c a s i o ns of e x c h a n g e, t h e re w e re difficulties w h i ch n e c e s s i t a t ed t he r u s h i ng to c o u rt u r g e n t ly a nd by e x - p a r te a p p l i c a t i on o b t a in an o r d er to r e g a in t h o se c y l i n d e r s. T he r e a s o ns g i v en by t he a p p l i c a nt f or p r o c e e d i ng on an u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i on a re that t he r e s p o n d e nt is filling a p p l i c a n t 's g as c y l i n d e rs w i th its o wn p r o d u ct a nd t h e r e f o re m a k i ng t h o se c y l i n d e rs u n a v a i l a b le f or that t r a de c u s t om e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e r s. T h is a l l e g a t i on of filling a p p l i c a n t 's c y l i n d e rs w i th its E L F g a s, is d e n i ed by r e s p o n d e n t. A p p l i c a nt failed to p r o ve t he s a m e. E v en t h o u gh a p p l i c a nt c l a i m ed that it s aw w i th its o wn " p r i v a te e y e s" ( t he affidavits of t he t wo p r i v a te d e t e c t i v es a re r e f e r r e d ), that t he r e s p o n d e nt h as in its p o s s e s s i on filled a p p l i c a n t 's c y l i n d e r s; No p r o of of that a l l e g a t i on w as p r o d u c ed b e f o re c o u r t. A p r o m i se to m a ke a v a i l a b le to t he c o u rt that v i d eo t a p es - a l l e g e d ly r e c o r d ed by t h o se d e t e c t i v es at t he r e s p o n d e n t 's b u s i n e ss p r e m i s es or e l s e w h e r e, w as n e v er fulfilled. T he r e s p o n d e nt d e n i ed that t h e re w as a ny v i d eo r e c o r d i ng by t h o se d e t e c t i v es at h is b u s i n e ss p r e m i s e s. If t h e re w e re v i d eo t a p e s, s h o w i ng t he refilling or filling of a p p l i c a n t 's c y l i n d e rs it w as n ot d o ne by or at t he r e s p o n d e n t 's p r e m i s e s. T he a p p l i c a nt d e c i d ed n ot to p r o d u ce t he said v i d eo t a pe after all. T h e re m ay h a ve b e en no v i d eo t a pe after all. T he r e a s o ns f or t he a p p l i c a n t 's failure to p r o ve t h o se a l l e g a t i o ns that t he r e s p o n d e nt w as c o m m i t t i ng u n l a w f ul acts a re b e st k n o wn to this a p p l i c a nt o n l y. T h ey w e re n ot p ut b e f o re this c o u r t. T he l a ck of s c r u p l es s e e ms to c h a r a c t e r i se t he a p p l i c a n t. Its m a in o b j e c t i ve w as to o b t a in that u n d e s e r v ed R u le N i s i. It is m o st u n f o r t u n a te that t he said R u le N i si w as o b t a i n ed by d e c e p t i o n. T he a p p l i c a n t, h a v i ng s e en w i th its p r i v a te e y e s, t h at t h e re w e re its c y l i n d e rs at t he r e s p o n d e n t 's p r e m i s e s, a nd that t h o se c y l i n d e rs w e re filled a nd s e a l e d, w e nt to t h o se p r e m i s es on t he 20th A p r il 1 9 99 p r i or to t he l a u n c h i ng of t h e se a p p l i c a t i o ns a nd collected all its c y l i n d e rs in a n o r m al t r a de e x c h a n ge p r a c t i c e. As s h o wn on a n n e x u re S T M 4, t h ey w e re all e m p t y. T he a v e r m e n ts in t he affidavits of t he t wo d e t e c t i v e s, to t he effect that on t he 30th 31st M a r c h, 1 9 99 t h ey s aw filled a nd s e a l ed a p p l i c a n t 's c y l i n d e rs at t he r e s p o n d e n t 's p r e m i s e s, m u st be i n c o r r e c t. R e s p o n d e nt h as d e n i ed that s u ch u n l a w f ul a c ts of filling o t h er s u p p l i e r s' c y l i n d e rs a r e, c o m m i t t ed by it. E v en t h o u gh t he affidavits by t he t wo d e t e c t i v es w e re s w o rn to on t he 3rd A p r il 1 9 9 9, t he a p p l i c a nt c o u ld n ot state t he e x a ct d a te on w h i ch t he i n f o r m a t i o n, r e g a r d i ng t he a l l e g ed u n l a w f ul acts c o m m i t t ed by t he r e s p o n d e n t, r e a c h ed it. C o u ld it be s a f e ly p r e s u m ed that by t he t i me he r e a c t ed to that i n f o r m a t i o n, he h ad a l r e a dy on 20th A p r il c o l l e c t ed t h o se c y l i n d e rs of a p p l i c a nt w h i ch w e re s e en by t h o se t wo d e t e c t i v e s? T h e ir flabbier m u st h a ve b e en so g u s t ed w h en realising that t he c y l i n d e rs w h i ch t h ey t h o u g ht w e re filled w e re in fact e m p t y. D id a p p l i c a nt s t op t h e re a nd r e c o n s i d er its s t e ps w h e t h er or n ot t h e re is a n e ed to p r o c e ed u r g e n t ly a nd o b t a in e x - p a r te o r d e r? T h is is v e ry m a t e r i al b e c a u se t he fears e x p r e s s e d, a nd on t he b a s is of w h i ch t he e x - p a r te o r d er w as to be s o u g ht h ad d i s a p p e a r e d. To p r o c e ed in t he m a n n e r, this a p p l i c a nt d i d, in t he light of t h e se revelations, indicates b ad faith. T h is w as to harass a nd e m b a r r a ss r e s p o n d e nt b e c a u se a p p l i c a nt c o u ld still lawfully, o b t a in its o wn g as cylinders a nd d id c o n t i n u o u s ly m a n a ge to r e p o s s e ss its o wn cylinders. O b t a i n i ng by d e c e p t i on u n d e s e r v ed e x - p a r te o r d er w as m e r e ly to disrupt the b u s i n e ss o p e r a t i o ns of the r e s p o n d e n t. In the c o u rt o r d er o b t a i n ed the g as cylinders the r e s p o n d e nt is o r d e r ed n ot to r e c e i ve in the u s u al e x c h a n ge f r om c u s t o m e r s, are t h o se g as cylinders w h i ch b e l o ng to o t h er suppliers w h om the applicant t h o u gh c l a i m i ng to o wn t h em failed to p r o ve its o w n e r s h i p. A p p l i c a nt c l a i m ed to o wn E L F g a s. E L F g as cylinders are part a nd parcel of the r e s p o n d e nt c o m p a n y. In o t h er w o r d s, r e s p o n d e nt w as b e i ng restrained f r om d e a l i ng w i th its o wn cylinders as this a p p l i c a nt h ad i n c l u d ed t h em in the e x - p a r te o r d er restraining applicant f r om r e c e i v i ng t h em f r om c u s t o m e r s. T he u r g e n cy in the m a t t er m u st be b o r ne by the facts in that m a t t e r. T he facts, of t h e se applications s h ow that a ny t i me the applicant c o u ld r e g a i n, if it so w i s h e d, its g as cylinders. T h e re w as no n e ed e v en to c o me to court, let a l o ne on u r g e nt e x - p a r te applications. T he point-in-limine on u r g e n cy w as w e ll t a k en a nd m u st s u c c e e d. On this p o i nt a l o n e, w h en the lack of u r g e n cy w as a p p a r e nt to t he applicant, w ho s e e m ed to h a ve b e en m o t i v a t ed by o v e r w h e l m i ng m a l i ce the R u le N i si m u st be d i s c h a r g e d. It is a b u n d a n t ly clear, that there w as in fact, no m e r it in these applications. M A LA F I DE A n o t h er issue raised, a nd w h i ch I intend to d e al w i th at l e n g th b e c a u se it h as a great b e a r i ng on all o t h er issues raised a nd t he facts of b o th a p p l i c a t i o ns is that of M a la fide.. T he applicant c a me to c o u rt to o b t a in by h o ok or c r o o k, an o r d er restraining t he r e s p o n d e nt finally a nd p e r m a n e n t ly f r om c o m p e t i ng in t he m a r k et for sale, s u p p ly a nd distribution of L P G. T he T r a de c u s t o m a ry practice of c y l i n d er e x c h a n ge a m o n g st the supplier w as elaborately e x p l a i n ed by applicant w h i ch s h o ws that it k n ew its rights in that r e g a rd perfectly. In o r d er to o b t a in my s y m p a t h y, ( a nd I did feel s y m p a t h e t ic t o w a r ds t he applicant), lies w e re told. D e l i b e r a te a nd carefully calculated o m i s s i on w e re m a d e. It is a lie that t he r e s p o n d e nt fills or refills t he applicant's c y l i n d e rs w i th r e s p o n d e n t 's o wn L P G. It w as a deliberate a nd carefully c a l c u l a t ed o m i s s i on to fail to m e n t i on that these t wo parties, participate fully, as o f t en as a n y o ne of t h em feels t he n e ed to do s o, in that trade c u s t o m a ry e x c h a n ge of their cylinder. It w as m a l i c i o us to o b t a in by d e c e p t i on h o n e r o us a nd prejudicial interim o r d er w i t h o ut notice to the r e s p o n d e n t, m o re particularly, w h en recent e x c h a n g es h ad t a k en p l a ce a nd m o re e x c h a n g es c o u ld t a ke p l a ce a n y t i me as a p p l i c a nt w a n t e d. Its detectives failed to d e t e r m i ne that t he r e s p o n d e nt deals w i th A f r ox cylinders. F o l l o w i ng their (false) report, A f r ox e m p ty cylinders w e re in fact collected by applicant f r om t he r e s p o n d e n t. T he applicant h as n e v e r t h e l e ss c o me to c o u rt to restrain the r e s p o n d e nt f r om c o m p e t i ng w i th it. T he r e s p o n d e nt is falsely a c c u s ed of c o m m i t t i ng o f f e n c es w h en in fact a p p l i c a nt is t he p e r s on c o m m i t t i ng t h o se o f f e n c es alleged, falsely, against t he r e s p o n d e n t. T he a p p l i c a nt h as no b r a n ch offices a n d / or a g e n c i es so labelled h e re in L e s o t h o. A p p l i c a nt m a k es u se of distribution n e t w o r k. T h e re is no m e n t i on as I h a ve indicated earlier on of w h at this distribution n e t w o rk c o n s i s ts of e.g. s h o p, d e p o t s, w h o l e s a l es etc. T he r e s p o n d e nt h as a l l e g ed a nd p r o d u c ed a p h o t o g r a ph to s u b s t a n t i a te t he a l l e g a t i o n, that t he u n l a w f ul a c ts of filling or refilling of c y l i n d e rs b e l o n g i ng to a n o t h er w h o l e s a l e r, w i t h o ut that o t h er w h o l e s a l e r 's c o n s e n t, a re c o m m i t t ed by this a p p l i c a n t. On t he 25th M ay 1 9 99 it s h o u ld be n o t ed that by this d a t e, t he a p p l i c a nt h ad in its p o s s e s s i on t he e x - p a r te c o u rt o r d er o b t a i n ed on 8th M ay 1 9 9 9. An o b s e r v a t i on w as m a de by a nd p h o t o g r a p hs t a k en by t he d e p o n e nt of t he a n s w e r i ng affidavit, of t he refilling or filling of t he E L F g as c y l i n d er o w n ed by t he r e s p o n d e nt at t he a p p l i c a n t 's d e p ot at T e y a t e y a n e ng h e re in L e s o t h o. T he a p p l i c a nt d o es n ot d e ny that t he u n l a w f ul c o n d u ct p h o t o g r a p h ed by t he r e s p o n d e nt at that T e y a t e y a n e ng D e p ot d id t a ke p l a c e. T he d e n i al relates to t he n a me u s e d, n ot t he u n l a w f ul act. It is a r g u ed that t he a p p l i c a nt u s es a d i s t r i b u t i on n e t w o r k. T h at refilling of E L F g as c y l i n d er by t he a p p l i c a n t 's L PG w h i ch is n ot d e n i e d, is for t he b e n e f it of t he a p p l i c a n t. It is b e i ng d o ne in t he f u r t h e r a n ce of t he a p p l i c a n t 's o wn b u s i n e ss that of d i s t r i b u t i ng a nd s e l l i ng of its L P G. It is n ot c l a i m ed that a p p l i c a n t 's d i s t r i b u t or w as refilling E L F g as c y l i n d er w i th E L F g as L P G. A p p l i c a nt a c t u a l ly u s es t h e se d i s t r i b u t i on n e t w o r k. If u n l a w f ul a c ts a re c o m m i t t ed by a p p l i c a n t 's d i s t r i b u t o r s, t he liability f or s u ch acts m u st go to t he s u p p l i er - a p p l i c a nt h e r e i n. T he a l l e g a t i on that t h o se distributors a re refilling r e s p o n d e n t 's g as c y l i n d e rs a g a i n st a p p l i c a n t 's p o l i c y, d o es n ot h e lp this a p p l i c a n t 's c a s e. It is t he a p p l i c a n t 's d u ty to e n f o r ce its p o l i c y. T he failure to e n f o r ce its o wn p o l i cy is still its r e s p o n s i b i l i ty a nd m u st be visited w i th liability for failing in its o b l i g a t i o ns to r e s p e ct t he l a w. Its distribution n e t w o rk is distributing on its b e h a lf a nd f or t he f u r t h e r a n ce of its b u s i n e s s. W h en it c o m es to y et a n o t h er b r a ch of t he l a w, that is, t he u n l a w f ul r e m o v al f r om L e s o t ho of o ne w h o l e s a l e r 's c y l i n d e rs by a n o t h er c o m p e t i ng w h o l e s a l e r, t he a p p l i c a nt w ho c a me to c o u rt a nd falsely a c c u s ed t he r e s p o n d e nt of t h e se u n l a w f ul acts, is t he culprit. T he u n l a w f ul r e m o v al f r om this K i n g d o m, of t he r e s p o n d e n t 's c y l i n d e r s, by this a p p l i c a n t, m a k es s u ch c y l i n d e rs u n a v a i l a b le for t he r e s p o n d e nt to r e p o s s e ss in t he n o r m al e x c h a n ge of c y l i n d e rs e x e r c i s e. T h e re is a w e ll e s t a b l i s h ed p r i n c i p l e, that a p a r ty w ho c o m es to c o u rt m u st c o me w i th c l e an h a n d s. T he a p p l i c a nt c a me to c o u rt w i th v e ry dirty h a n d s. No c o u rt o r d er s h o u ld h a ve b e en p ut in s u ch dirty h a n d s. T he l aw a nd t he c o u rt in t h e se a p p l i c a t i on w e re b e i ng m a n i p u l a t ed to a f f o rd p r o t e c t i on to a p p l i c a nt w ho h as no r e s p e ct for t he s a m e. It w as after o b t a i n i ng t he c o u rt o r d e rs g r a n t ed on 8 / 5 / 9 9, a nd on 12th J u ly 1 9 9 9, that t he a p p l i c a nt w as n ow c a u g ht r ed h a n d ed b r e a k i ng t he l aw by t he r e s p o n d e n t. It w as on t he 25th M ay 1 9 99 w h en t he filling of E L F g as c y l i n d er w as p h o t o g r a p h ed at o ne of t he a p p l i c a n t 's distributor n e t w o r k s. On t he 30th J u ne t he t r u ck l o ad of E L F g as c y l i n d e rs w as o b s e r v ed a nd p h o t o g r a p h ed at t he M a s e ru b o r d er p o st c r o s s i ng into s o u th A f r i ca a g a i n st the specific statutory p r o v i s i on p r o h i b i t i ng s u ch r e m o v a l. S e c t i on 6 ( 1) L e g al N o t i ce N o. 93 of 1 9 97 [ L i q u i f i ed P e t r o l e um G as ( T r a de a nd H a n d l i n g) R e g u l a t i o n s ]. W h e t h er or n ot t he p o l i ce w e re alerted is i m m a t e r i a l. T he r e s p o n d e n t 's failure to r e p o rt to p o l i ce d o es n ot a f f o rd a ny g o od d e f e n ce for a p p l i c a n t 's u n l a w f ul acts. T he r e s p o n d e nt m ay h a ve r e p o r t e d. T he failure by t he p o l i ce to m a ke arrest c o u ld be d ue to v a r i o us r e a s o ns i n c l u d i ng c o r r u p t i o n. V e n t u r i ng into s p e c u l a t i on w hy t he a p p l i c a nt g e ts a w ay w i th this c r i m i n al acts will n ot s e r ve a ny u s e f ul p u r p o s e. T h e re a re serial m u r d e r e rs a nd rapists. W h en t h ey a re e v e n t u a l ly c a u g ht t h ey a re b r o u g ht to b o o k. T he t r u ck w h i ch is l o a d ed w i th t he r e s p o n d e n t 's c y l i n d e r s, in A n n e x u re ' B' is that of t he a p p l i c a n t. In t he r e p l y i ng affidavit, M r. P a r k er d o es n ot e x p l a in t he r e a s on for t he r e m o v al of t he r e s p o n d e n t 's c y l i n d e r s. T he t r u ck is at t he M a s e ru b r i d ge b e t w e en L e s o t ho a nd S o u th A f r i c a. T h at b o r d er p o st at M a s e r u, b e t w e en S o u th A f r i ca a nd t he K i n g d om of L e s o t ho is a n o t o r i o us p l a c e. T he fact is t he c o m m on k n o w l e d ge w h i ch this c o u rt is entitled to t a ke t he judicial n o t i ce of. T he a p p l i c a n t 's attitude r e g a r d i ng t he r e s p e ct f or t he l a w, a nd its m a n i p u l a t i on of c o u r t s, a re clear i n d i c a t o rs that it is v e ry c o n t e m p t u o us of b o t h. W h i le in t he p r o c e ss of c o m m i t t i ng o f f e n c es t he l aw a nd c o u r ts w e re u s ed to tie t he h a n ds of l aw a b i d i ng citizens w ho a re falsely b e i ng a c c u s ed of c o m m i t t i ng t h o se c r i m e s. T he r e v e l a t i o n s, m a de on t he r e t u rn d a te of t he R u le N i si i s s u e d, i n d i c a t ed w i t h o ut a d o u b t, t he b ad faith w i th w h i ch this a p p l i c a nt a c t e d. T h is a p p l i c a n t, s h o u ld c l e an its h a n ds by r e t u r n i ng t h o se c y l i n d e rs w h i ch it u n l a w f u l ly r e m o v ed f r om this k i n g d om into R e p u b l ic of S o u th A f r i c a. I s t r o n g ly r e c o m m e nd to t he l i c e n c i ng a u t h o r i ty to e n s u re that t he a p p l i c a nt is c o n t r o l l ed to o p e r a te its b u s i n e ss in t e r ms of t he l a ws of this K i n g d o m. T he a r r o g a n ce w i th w h i ch this a p p l i c a nt t r a m p le all o v er t he l a ws of this c o u n t r y, d e m a n ds his total e x c l u s i on f r om t he c o n t i n u ed o p e r a t i o ns of that b u s i n e ss h e re in L e s o t h o. T h is j u d g m e nt a nd t he p h o t o g r a p hs t a k en by t he r e s p o n d e nt a nd p r o d u c ed b e f o re this c o u rt m u st be p l a c ed b e f o re t he D e p a r t m e nt of t he M i n i s t ry of T r a de a nd I n d u s t ry w h i ch l i c e n c ed this a p p l i c a nt c o m p a ny to o p e r a te its w h o l e s a l er b u s i n e ss h e re in L e s o t h o. C a n c e l l a t i on of t he a p p l i c a n t 's l i c e n ce m u st be s e r i o u s ly c o n s i d e r e d. T he l a ws of this K i n g d om m u st be r e s p e c t ed by all w ho c o n d u ct their b u s i n e s s es on this l a n d. D e l i b e r a te b r e a k i ng of o ur l a ws by this a p p l i c a nt w a r r a n ts c a n c e l l a t i on a nd or d e n i al of i s s ue of l i c e n c es to it to c o n d u ct that b u s i n e ss h e re in L e s o t h o. In the light of t he c o n d u ct of t he a p p l i c a nt in t h e se t wo a p p l i c a t i o n s, its b u s i n e ss tactics are n ot o n ly u n e t h i c a l. T h ey are u n l a w f u l. T h at k i nd of b u s i n e ss s h o u ld n ot be a l l o w ed in this K i n g d o m. T h e se u n l a w f ul activities t o g e t h er w i th t he c o py of this j u d g m e nt m o st be h a n d ed to t he r e l e v a nt authorities to c o n s i d er a nd t a ke n e c e s s a ry s t e p s. C O U RT O R D ER 1. C o m i ng to c o u rt w h en there w as no n e ed a nd o b t a i n i ng e x - p a r te o r d er a g a i n st r e s p o n d e nt w h o se b u s i n e ss activities w e re u n d u ly a nd u n f a i r ly d i s r u p t e d. 2. S e e k i ng a final interdict by w ay of u r g e nt e x - p a r te a p p l i c a nt w h en he w as w e ll a w a re that t h e re will be m a t e r i al d i s p u t e, e s p e c i a l ly after t h o se t r a de c u s t om e x c h a n g es of c y l i n d e r s, w as t he total a b u se of t he p r o c e ss - u s ed w h en t h e re is no n e ed to do s o, as t he t r a de c u s t om e x c h a n ge e x e r c i se w as b e i ng practised. A ll t h e se w a r r a nt c o s ts at a t t o r n ey a nd client scale. L e s o t ho T e a c h e rs & R e s e a r c h e rs U n i on vs N ul C of A N o. 1 3 / 98 s h o ws that e v en w h e re s u ch c o s ts h a ve n ot b e en a s k ed f or t he c o u rt is entitled to s h ow its d i s p l e a s u re by a w a r d i ng s u ch c o s t s. B o th a p p l i c a t i o ns a re d i s m i s s ed w i th c o s ts at a t t o r n ey a nd client s c a l e. K. J. G U NI J U D GE 7th April 2 0 00 F or Applicant: F or R e s p o n d e n t: