Kaphe v Employment Bureau of Africa Limited and Another (CIV/APN 37 of 91) [1991] LSCA 78 (15 July 1991)

CIV/APN/37/91 IN THE HIGH COURT OF LESOTHO IN the matter between:- VALENTINA MALERATO KAPHE applicant and THE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU OF AFRICA LIMITED (Commonly known as TEBA) 1st respondent MATJABAKA KAPHE 2nd Respondent JUDGEMENT Delivered by the Honourable Mr. Justice J. L. Kheola on the 15th day of July, 1991 Most of the facts in this case are common cause. They are that applicant is the wife of the late Tjabaka Kaphe who died on the 13th June, 1990. They were married according to Basotho customary law but later went through a church wedding on the 23rd December, 1982. The second respondent is applicant's mother -in-law. Three children born of the marriage are in the custody of the applicant. /2 - 2- T he a p p l i c a nt r e c e i v ed a d e a th r e p o rt ( A n n e x u re C to h er f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v i t) on t he 16th J u n e, 1990 in w h i ch h er n a me and t he f a ct t h at she w as t he d e c e a s e d 's n e xt of k in and d e c e a s e d 's w i fe had b e en c a n c e l l ed and t he scond r e s p o n d e nt had b e en shown as t he d e c e a s e d 's n e xt of k i n. T he a p p l i c a nt w as i n t r o d u c ed to C h i ef M o h a le M o p e li as t he n e xt of k in of t he d e c e a s ed w ho d i ed in t he m i n es on t he a f o r e s a id d a t e. C h i ef Mopeli w r o te a l e t t er of i n t r o d u c t i on to t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt s t a t i ng t h at t he a p p l i c a nt w as t he n e xt of k i n. W h en t he a p p l i c a nt and second r e s p o n d e nt a r r i v ed at t he o f f i c es of f i r st r e s p o n d e nt o ne e m p l o y ee of t he r e s p o n d e nt S e l o n y a ne and h is c o l l e a g u es p ut t he s e c o n d 's t h u m b p r i nt on t he l e t t er of i n t r o d u c t i o n. T h e ir r e a s on f or d o i ng so w as t h at a c c o r d i ng to t h e ir r e c o r ds t he second r e s p o n d e nt w as t he d e c e a s e d 's n e xt of k i n. An a m o u nt of M 2 , 0 0 0 . 00 w as g i v en to t he second r e s p o n d e nt as d e c e a s e d 's b u r i al e x p e n s e s. In S e p t e m b er 1990 a d i s p u te a r o se b e c a u se it a p p e a r ed t h at a p p l i c a n t 's h u s b a nd w as t r e a t ed as if he w as n ot m a r r i e d. T he a p p l i c a nt w e nt to o ne T h a bo K o k o m e, an e m p l o y ee of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t. W h en he c h e c k ed t he r e c o r ds he f o u nd t h at t he a p p l i c a n t 's n a me had b e en c a n c e l l ed w i t h o ut any e x p l a n a t i on and t h at of t he second r e s p o n d e nt s u b s t i t u t e d. S he a v e rs t h at she h as b e en to t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt w ho t h r o u gh S e l o n y a ne r e f u s es to g i ve h er e x p l a n a t i o n. S he asked f or a c c e ss to t he r e c o r ds b e c a u se t h e re is on t he f a ce of t h i n gs an i r r e g u l a r i t y, b ut f i r st r e s p o n d e nt r e f u s ed to a l l ow h er a c c e ss to t he r e c o r d s. ' H er s u s p e c i on h as b e en f u r t h er i n c r e a s ed by t he f a ct t h at h er C h i ef h a n d ed to h er in J u l y, 1 9 90 a d e a th r e p o rt f r om t he /3 - 3- f i r st r e s p o n d e n ts w h i ch she is shown as t he n e xt of k in of her h u s b a nd ( S ee A n n e x u re E ). It w i ll be o b s e r v ed t h at A n n e x u r es C and E w e re w r i t t en and signed by t he same p e r s o n. S he f i n ds f i r st r e s p o n d e n t 's f a i l u re to g i ve h er i n f o r m a t i on s u s p e c t. S he a v e rs t h at c o n s e q u e n t ly she h as no o p t i on b ut to c o me to t h is c o u rt to h e lp h er find t he t r u th by d i r e c t i ng f i r st r e s p o n d e nt to a l l ow h er f u ll a c c e ss to t he r e c o r ds in o r d er to p r o t e ct h er i n t e r e s ts and t h o se of h er m i n or c h i l d r en w h o se sole c u s t o d i an she is. T he a p p l i c a nt a v e rs t h at a l t h o u gh M r. S e l o n y a ne i n f o r m ed h er t h at m o n e y" ' e a r m a r k ed f or t he m a i n t e n a n ce of t he c h i l d r en is t h e re and t h at she m u st b r i ng a l e t t er of i n t r o d u c t i on of t he c h i l d r e n, he n ow r e f u s es to hand o v er t he m o n e y. It is c o m m on c a u se t h at a p a rt f r om t he M 2 . 0 0 0 . 00 f or b u r i al e x p e n s es a n o t h er l a r ge sum of m o n ey w as g i v en to t he second r e s p o n d e nt as t he d e a th b e n e f i c i a r y .. A p p l i c a nt a v e rs t h at sum of m o n ey b e l o n gs to h er late h u s b a n d 's e s t a t e. T he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt o u g ht to a c c o u nt f or t h is had all o t h er m o n i es b e l o n g i ng to t he d e c e a s e d' e s t a t e. In h is a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it L e o n a rd M o e l e t si S e l o n y a ne a v e rs t h at he is t he r e p r e s e n t a t i ve of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt s t a t i o n ed at i ts M a s e ru o f f i c e. He a d m i ts t h at A p p l i c a nt and second r e s p o n d e nt c a me to h is o f f i ce b ut he d e n i es t h at he c a u s ed t he second r e s p o n d e n t 's f i n g e r p r i nt to be p ut on a l e t t er i n t r o d u c i ng a p p l i c a nt as n e x t - o f - k i n. T he o n ly d o c u m e nt u p on /4 - 4- w h i ch second r e s p o n d e n t 's f i n g e r p r i nt w as i m p o s ed w as a l e t t er f r om f i r st r e s p o n d e n t 's h e a d q u a r t e rs ( A n n e x u re " L M S I ") and a l so on a l e t t er r e c e i v ed f r om t he D i s t r i ct S e c r e t a ry ( A n n e x u re " L M S 2 " ). He a v e rs t h at t he r e c o r ds r e v e al t h at t he second r e s p o n d e nt is t he b e n e f i c i a ry of a f a t al a c c i d e nt and i l l n e ss i n s u r a n ce p o l i cy s c h e me and n ot as a n e x t - o f - k i n. He a d m i ts t h at t he sum of M 2 . 0 0 0 . 00 w as paid to t he second r e s p o n d e nt in a c c o r d a n ce w i th A n n e x u re " L M S 1 ". He a v e rs t h at it is n ot t r ue t h at an e x p l a n a t i on w as n ot g i v en to t he L a b o ur C o m m i s s i o n e r. U p on r e c e i pt of A n n e x u re D to t he f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it he t e l e p h o n ed M r. N k o p a ne and e x p l a i n ed t he s i t u a t i on to h i m. He i n f o r m ed h im t h at a p p l i c a nt m u st c o m p l e te t he r e l e v a nt f o rm in w h i ch she m a k es c l a im to a p e n s i on in t e r ms of t he S o u th A f r i c an W o r k m e n 's C o m p e n s a t i on A c t. T he a p p l i c a nt d u ly c o m p l e t ed t he r e l e v a nt f o rm ( S ee A n n e x u re " L M S 4 " ). T he c o m p l e t ed f o rm w as d u ly s e nt o ff to Rand M u t u al A s s u r a n ce C o m p a ny L i m i t ed w ho h as n ow a c c e p t ed t he a p p l i c a n t 's c l a im ( S ee A n n e x u re " L M S 5 " ). The l e t t er w as r e c e i v ed on t he 2 5 th F e b r u a r y, 1991 a f t er t h e se p r o c e e d i n gs had b e en i n s t i t u t e d. He a l so r e f e rs to A n n e x u re " L M S 6" w h i ch a re c o p i es of t he c h e q u es w h i ch w e re s e nt to t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt by R a nd M u t u al A s s u r a n ce C o m p a ny L i m i t e d. He c o n f i r ms t h at t h e se c h e q u es h a ve b e en d e p o s i t ed and t h at t he p r o c e e ds t h e r e of s h o u ld go to t he a p p l i c a nt b u t, in t he l i g ht of t he p r e s e nt a p p l i c a t i on w h i ch she h as i n s t i t u t e d, p a y m e nt w i ll be d e f e r r ed u n t il t he e n t i re m a t t er h as b e en d e c i d ed u p on t h is C o u r t. /5 - 5- M r. S e l o n y a ne d e n i es t h at he r e f u s ed to g i ve an e x p l a n a t i on to a p p l i c a nt and s a ys t h at on s e v e r al o c c a s i o ns a f u ll e x p l a n a t i on w as g i v en to h er and a l so to t he L a b o ur C o m m i s s i o n e r. He a d m i ts t h at he r e f u s ed h er a c c e ss to t he r e c o r ds of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt b e c a u se she is n ot e n t i t l ed t h e r e to e v en if she is t he n e x t - o f - k i n. T he f a ct r e m a i ns t h at ( A n n e x u re " L M S 7 ") in t e r ms of w h i ch t he second r e s p o n d e nt w as a p p o i n t e d. Mr T h a bo K o k o me d e p o s es t h at it is t r ue t h at t he a p p l i c a nt c a me to h i m. He is a c l e rk e m p l o y ed by t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t. H is f u n c t i o ns a re to h a n d le c l a i ms f or d e f e r r ed p a y. He h as no a u t h o r i ty to d e al w i th a n y t h i ng r e l a t i ng to i n s u r a n ce b e n e f i ts or p a y m e nt of p e n s i o n s. He d e p o s es t h at w h en a p p l i c a nt c a me to him he c h e c k ed t he r e c o r ds and t he only record he c h e c k ed w as t he e m p l o y m e nt r e c o r d c a rd ( A n n e x u re " T K 1 " ). He d e n i es t h at h a v i ng c h e c k ed t he r e c o r ds he f o u nd t h at a p p l i c a n t 's n a me had b e en c r o s s ed o ut in t he r e c o r ds of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t. T h e r e a f t er he paid t he a p p l i c a nt a sum of M 5 2 7 . 00 as d e f e r r ed p a y. M r. L e t l a ma M a t l o le is a c l e rk e m p l o y ed by t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t. He d e p o s es t h at h is d u t i es i n c l u d e, i n t er a l i a, t he c o m p l e t i on of d e a th r e p o r ts r e l a t i ng to t he d e a th of m i ne l a b o u r e r s. He is t he p e r s on w ho w r o te o ut A n n e x u re " C" to t he f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it and he is t he p e r s on w ho m a de t he c o r r e c t i o n, t h e r e o n. He s y as t h at w h en it w as b r o u g ht to h is n o t i ce t h at a p p l i c a n t 's h u s b a nd had d i ed he e x t r a c t ed h is e m p l o y m e nt record /6 - 6- card ( A n n e x u re " T K 1 ") and n o t i c ed t h at t he a p p l i c a n t 's n a me w as e n t e r ed t h e r e on as b e i ng t he w i fe of t he d e c e a s ed m i n e r. He i m m e d i a t e ly p r o c e e d ed to c o m p l e te t he d e a th r e p o rt ( A n n e x u re " C " ). V e ry soon t h e r e a f t er t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt r e c e i v ed a t e l e f ax m e s s a ge ( A n n e x u re " L M 1 ") on w h i ch t he n a me of t he second r e s p o n d e nt w as d i s c l o s ed as t he d e a th b e n e f i c i a ry of t he d e c e a s ed m i n e r. He t h e r u p on i m m e d i a t l ey d e l e t ed t he n a me of t he a p p l i c a nt and w r o te in the. n a me of t he second r e s p o n d e n t. W h en he d id so he o m i t t ed to i n s e rt a c a r b on b e t w e en t he o r i g i n al and t he r e m a i n i ng c o p i es of t he d e a th r e p o r t. T h is e x p l a i ns h ow A n n e x u re " C" s h o ws t he c r o s s i ng o ut and i n s e r t i on of a n o t h er n a me and w hy A n n e x u re " E" d o es n ot d i s c l o se s a m e. T he l a t t er a n n e x u re is t he c o py sent to t he L a b o ur C o m m i s s i o n er f or h is r e c o r d s. M r. N e il R u s s e l) R ae is t he L e s o t ho M a n a g er of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t. In h is a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it he e x p l a i ns t h at w h en a m i n er is r e c r u i t ed he is r e q u i r ed to c o m p l e te a S e r v i ce C o n t r a ct and at t he s a me t i me to a p p o i nt a b e n e f i c i a ry w ho w i ll u p on h is d e a th r e c e i ve c e r t a in b e n e f i ts r e s u l t i ng f r om t he C h a m b er of M i n es F a t al A c c i d e nt and i l l n e ss I n s u r a n ce S c h e m e. T he s c h e me is a d m i n i s t e r ed by t he Rand M u t u al A s s u r a n ce C o m p a ny L i m i t e d. C l a u se 3 (3) and (b) read as f o l l o w s: /7 - 7- " ( a) ( b) F or t he p u r p o s es of t h is C l a u se 3 " b e n e f i c i a r y" s h a ll m e an a p e r s on n o m i n a t ed as a b e n e f i c i a ry in r e s p e ct of t he b e n e f it u n d er t h is p o l i cy by t he e m p l o y ee in w r i t i ng r e c e i v ed by t he e m p l o y e r. T he e m p l o y ee m ay at any t i me r e v o ke h is n o m i n a t i on of a ny b e n e f i c i a ry w i t h o ut such b e n e f i c i a r y 's c o n s e nt by n o t i f y i ng the e m p l o y er of h is w i s h es in w r i t i n g. E a ch n o m i n a t i on of a b e n e f i c i a ry by t he e m p l o y ee s h a ll be d e e m ed to r e v o ke all p r i o r. n o m i n a t i o ns by t he e m p l o y ee u n l e ss t he c o n t r a ry i n t e n t i on a p p e a rs f r om t he t e r ms of t he n o m i n a t i o n s ." M r. M a q u t u, a t t o r n ey f or t he a p p l i c a n t, h as s u b m i t t ed t h at t h o u gh t he a p p l i c a nt is e n t i t l ed to c l a im u n d er t he S o u th A f r i c an W o r k m e n 's C o m p e n s a t i on A c t, she o u g ht e q u a l ly to be e n t i t l ed to t he b e n e f it u n d er A n n e x u re " L M S 7" b e c a u se h er l a te h u s b a nd n e v er n o m i n a t ed t he second r e s p o n d e nt as h is d e a th b e n e f i c i a r y. A p p l i c a nt is t he b e n e f i c i a ry ex l e g e. He h as s u b m i t t ed t h at t he n a me " M a t j a b a k a" h as b e en f r a u d u l e n t ly i n s e r t ed to r e p l a ce t h at of t he a p p l i c a nt on f o rm " L M S 7 ". It is in d i f f e r e n ct h a n d w r i t i ng f r om t he r e st of t he d o c u m e n t. C l e a r ly s h o w i ng t h is i n s e r t i on w as s u s p e c t. S e r v i ce c o n t r a c ts t h at w e re e x e c u t ed p r i or to " L M S 7" all i n d i c a t e- ' M a l e r e ko as t he b e n e f i c i a r y. ( S ee A n n e x u r es " G ", " H" and " I" to t he r e p l y i ng a f f i d a v it of t he a p p l i c a n t ). He s u b m i ts t h at M. M A H U LA w ho is a l l e g ed to h a ve signed t he e m p l o y m e nt c o n t r a c ts h as had h is n a me p r i n t ed and h is s i g n a t u re on " L M S 7" d i f f e rs f r om t h at on A n n e x u r es A and J. He s u b m i t t ed t h at t he o n us of p r o v i ng a b s e n ce of f o r g e ry is on t he r e s p o n d e n t s. /8 - 8- It will be noticed that in her founding affidavit the applicant's main complaint was that the first respondent, through its employees, had crossedout her name on the records and had inserted the name of the second respondent on its records regarding her late husband. She deposed that Mr. Kokome had told her a b o ut the crossing out of her name on the records. Mr. Kokome has denied this and has alleged that when the applicant came to him the only document he needed to do his work was Annexure "TK1" which has no cancellations of the applicat's name. I have checked Annexure "TK1" and have found that the name of the applicant has not been crossed out. It is common cause that on one death report there is a crossing out of the name of the applicant but there is no such crossing out on another copy which was received by the applicant through her chief. Mr. Matlole has explained in detail how the omission to cross out the name of the applicant came about. He forgot to put a carbon when he made the alteration after receiving the telefax which indicated that the death,beneficiary was the second respondent. It seems to me that whatever the mistakes Mr. Matlole made when he reported the death of the applicant's husband cannot change the original document which was signed by him when he was recruited, That document is Annexure "LMS7",the service contract. It shows that the appllcant's husband appointed his mother, the second respondent, as his death beneficiary. The entire document was /9 - 9- completed in c ap it al/block letters except the name of the second respondent as d e a th beneficiary which is in c u r s i ve h a n d w r i t i n g. It w as suggested on behalf of the a p p l i c a nt that space w as left blank and w as subsequently completed afger the a p p l i c a n t 's husband had signed the d o c u m e n t. It is not clear when t h is fraud is alleged to have, been d o n e. What is clear is that the service c o n t r a ct w as signed on the 28th M a r c h, 1990 and that on the 13th J u n e, 1990 when he died the r e c o r ds of the Rand Mutual A s s u r a n ce Company Limited indicated who the d e a th beneficiary w a s. I am sure that the servie c o n t r a ct would have been queried by the Labour Agent who signed it on the 28th M a r c h, 1990 if a blank space w as left where d e a th beneficiary ought to have been shown. If c u r s i ve h a n d w r i t i ng w as not to be used the labour agent would have queried the f o r m. But the service c o n t r a ct seems to have been accepted by all the p a r t i es including the Rand Mutual A s s u r a n ce Company Limited as c o r r e c t. I have scrutinized the employment c o n t r ct and have noticed no trace of any e r a s u re in the space provided for the name of t he d e a th b e n e f i c i a r y. H o w e v e r, I c a n n ot finally d e c i de t h is s e r i o us allegation of fraud on a f f i d a v i t. M r. K o o r n h o f , a t t o r n ey for the first r e s p o n d e n t, submitted that the a p p l i c a nt a l l e g es fraud on the part of the e m p l o y e es of the first r e s p o n d e n t. The o n us to prove such a s e r i o us allegation is heavy and c a n n ot be discharged by a way of a f f i d a v i t. I agree with that submission because I find no reason why the e m p l o y e es of /10 - 1 0- t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt s u d d e n ly d e c i d ed to d e f r a ud the a p p l i c a nt w i th w h om t h ey had n ot had any m i s u n d e r s t a n d i ng and a g a i n st w h om t h ey had no g r u d g e. It is n ot e n o u gh to r e ly on an o b v i o us m i s t a ke in an a t t e m pt to e s t a b l i sh f r a u d. T he d i f f e r e n ce b e t w e en A n n e x u r es " C" and " E" h as b e en f u l ly e x p l a i n ed by M r. M a t l o l e. I do n ot a g r ee w i th t he s u b m i s s i on t h at t he a p p l i c a n t 's late h u s b a nd d id n ot a p p o i n t' d e a th b e n e f i c i a ry in w r i t i ng b e c a u se a s e p a r a te d o c u m e nt w as n e c e s s a ry f or t h at d o c u m e n t. It c o u ld be t h at it w o u ld h a ve b e en i d e al b ut t h at d o es n ot m e an t h at t h e re w as no c o m p l i a n ce w i th c l a u se 3 ( 3) ( a) of t he i n s u r a n ce p o l i c y. T he s e r v i ce c o n t r a ct is in w r i t i ng and it w as in t h at c o n t r a ct f o rm t h at t he a p p l i c a n t 's late h u s b a nd n o m i n a t ed h is m o t h er in w r i t i ng as h is d e a th b e n e f i c i a r y. It w as s u b m i t t ed on b e h a lf of t he a p p l i c nt t h at in t he t h r ee c o n t r a c ts of s e r v i ce p r e c e d i ng t he p r e s e nt o ne t he a p p l i c a n t 's late h u s b a nd had a p p o i n t ed t he a p p l i c a nt as h is d e a th b e n e f i c i a r y. C l a u se 3 ( 3) (b) of t he p o l i cy a u t h o r i s es t he m i n er to r e v o ke h is n o m i n a t i on of a ny b e n e f i c i a ry w i t h o ut such b e n e f i c i a r y 's c o n s e nt by n o t i f y i ng t he e m p l o y er of h is w i s h es in w r i t i n g. T h at is e x a c t ly w h at t he a p p l i c a n t 's h u s b a nd d i d. It is a l so a t e rm of t he i n s u r a n ce ,policy t h at e a ch n o m i n a- t i on of a b e n e f i c i a ry by t he e m p l o y ee shall be d e e m ed to r e v o ke all p r i or n o m i n a t i o ns u n l e ss t he "contrary i n t e n t i on a p p e a rs f r om t he t e r ms of t he n o m i n a t i o n. T he a p p l i c a nt h as f a i l ed to s h ow such c o n t r a ry i n t e n t i o n. /11 - 1 1- M r. K o o r n h of h as s u b m i t t ed t h at t he a p p l i c a nt r a i s es c e r t a in i s s u es w h i ch c an o n ly be r e s o l v ed by o r al e v i d e n c e. He r e f e rs to p a r a g r a p hs 5.2 ( b ), 5.4 and 5.5 w h i ch read as f o l l o w s :- " 5 .2 ( b ): 5.4 5.5 In t he a b o ve p r e m i s es t he f a ct t h at t he c r u c i al s e c t i on n o m i n a t i ng a b e n e f i c i a ry w as l e ft b l a nk and f i l l ed i n u n e x p l a i n ed c i r c u m s t a n c es w i t h o ut any s i g n a t u re or i n i t i a l l i ng d o es n ot c o n f o rm w i th t he p r i n c i p l es g o v e r n i ng i n s u r a n ce p o l i c i e s .. T he d i f f e r e n ce of w r i t i n gs in " L M S 7" h as n ot b e en e x p l a i n ed h as it b e e n e x p l a i n ed w ho f i l l ed it up and w hy t he w r i t i n gs on " L M S 7" a re d i f f e r e n t. w ho w e re p r e s e nt w h en " L M S 7" w as t h u mb p r i n t ed h a ve m a de a f f i d a v i t. N o ne of t he p e o p le It is d e f i n i t e ly n ot c l e ar t h at S e c o nd R e s p o n d e nt w as n o m i n a t ed b e n e f i c i a ry as M e s s rs R a e, S e l o n y a ne and M a t l o le s u g g e st b e c a u se on t he f a ce of L M S 7" t he p o r t i on n o m i n a t i n g' b e n e f i c i a ry w as f i l l ed by an u n k n o wn p e r s on in a d i f f e r e nt h a n d w r i t i n g -. T h at b e i ng t he c a se " L M S 7" w as n ot all F i l l ed and i n t e r p r e t ed at t he s a me t i m e ." I h a ve said t h at t h e re is no e v i d e n ce t h at t he c r u c i al s e c t i on n o m i n a t i ng t he b e n e f i c i a ry w as left b l a n k. I h a ve said t h at t he m e re f a ct t h at the s e c t i on w as f i l l ed up in c u r s i ve h a n d w r i t i ng d o es n ot n e c e s s a r i ly m e an t h at it w as f i l l ed up at a l a t er . s t a ge and by a d i f f e r e nt p e r s o n. It is q u i te c o r r e ct t h at t he p e o p le w ho w e re p r e s e nt w h en A n n e x u re " L M S 7" w as t h u m b p r i n t ed h a ve n ot m a de any a f f i d a v i t s. P r a y er 1 (d) of t he N o t i ce of M o t i on d i r e c ts t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt to d i s c l o se all t he p a p e rs signed by t he d e c e a s ed on t he b a s is of w h i ch t he d e a th b e n e f i ts w e re g i v e n. In r e p ly to t h is t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt d i s c l o s ed t he f o l l o w i ng d o c u m e n t s: / 1 2 . . .. - 1 2- 1. 2. 3. a. A t e l e f ax ( A n n e x u re " L M 1 " ). a s e r i ve contact ( A n n e x u re " L M S 7 " ). T he l e t t e rs A n n e x u r e s ' " L M S 1" - " L M S 5 " ( i n c l u s i v e ). E m p l o y m e nt R e c o rd C a rd ( A n n e x u re " T K " ). In h er r e p l y i ng a f f i d a v it t he a p p l i c a nt a l l e g es t h at a n u m b er of t he d o c u m e n ts d i s c l o s ed by t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt w e re f r a u d u l e n t ly f i l l ed u p. It s e e ms to me t h at h a v i ng r e c e i v ed t he a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it and i ts a n n e x u r es t he a p p l i c a nt o u g ht to h a ve r e c o- s i d e r ed h er p o s i t i on i n s t e ad of r a i s i ng s e r i o us i s s u es in a r e p l y i n g: a f f i d a v i t. S he c o u ld h a ve a p p l i ed t h at t he m a t t er be c o n v e r t ed i n to a t r i al or s he c o u ld h a ve i n s t i t u t ed an a c t i on w h i le t he i n t e r d i ct r e m a i n ed in f o r c e. I am of t he o p i n i on t h at t h is is an a p p l i c a t i on in w h i ch t he a p p l i c a nt s h o u ld h a ve r e a l i z ed w h en l a u c h i ng it t h at a s e r i o us d i s p u te of f a ct w as b o u nd to d e v e l o p. In h er f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it s he a c c u s es t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t 's e m p l o y e es of f r a ud by d e l e t i ng h er n a me in t h e ir r e c o r ds and s u b s t i t u t i ng t h at of t he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e n t. S he d e p o s es t h at M r. S e l o n y a ne r e f u s ed to g i ve h er an e x p l a n a t i o n. s he s h o u ld h a ve r e a l i z ed t h at a he c o u ld n e v er a d m it t h at he r e f u s ed to s e r ve a p e r s on he w as e x p e c t ed by h is e m p l o y er to h e l p. T h ey c o u ld n ot a c c e pt a ny f r a u d u l e nt b e h a v i o u r. N ow on t he q u e s t i on of l aw M r. M a q u tu s u b m i t t ed t h at c l a u se 3 ( 3) ( 4) of t he i n s u r a n ce p o l i cy is v o id in so f ar as it is c o n t ra b o n es m o r es t he t r a d i t i o ns of t he B a s o t ho S o c i e t y. S u ch b e n f i ts m u st be p a rt of t he d e c e a s e d 's e s t a t e. I t h i nk t he l aw / 13 - 1 3- w as settled by o ur C o u rt of A p p e al in ' M a n t h a b i s e ng R a m a h a ta v. T H A B I SO R a m a h a t a . c- of A. ( C I V) N o. 8 of 1 9 86 ( u n r e p o r t e d) at p p. 4-5 w h e re S c h u t z, P. s a i d :- " T he J u d ge r e j e c t ed t he A p p e l l a n t 's c o n t e n t i on t h at s he w as e n t i t l ed to the. M 6 , 0 00 n ot by v i r t ue of h er m a r r i a g e, b ut by v i r t ue of h er d o m i n a t i o n - as d e a th b e n e f i c i a r y. T he learned J u d ge a_ q uo o p i n ed t h at a ny c l a im w o u ld be g o v e r n ed by t he R e p u b l i c an I n s u r a n ce A ct 27 of 1 9 4 3, t h at t h e re w as no s i m i l ar s t a t u te in L e s o t h o, and t h at t h e d e a th b e n e f i ts w o u ld p a s s, to t he s o n 's d e c e a s ed e s t a t e. I do n ot a g r ee w i th t h is r e a s o n i ng at a l l. In p a s s i ng I w o u ld p o i nt o ut t h at f o r e i gn l aw c a n n ot be d i s r e g a r d ed w h e re it is t he p r o p er l aw in a c a s e. If it be such It w i ll o r d i n a r i ly be g i v en e f f e ct t o. T h is c a se is a s i m p le o n e. T he A p p e l l a nt h as e s t a b l i s h ed a s t i p u l a t io a l t e ri ( c o n t r a ct f or t he b e n e f it of a third p a r t y) b e t w e en t he son and t he i n s u r a n ce c o m p a n y: S ee e . g. S ee e . g. C r o ce v. . C r o ce 1940 T PD 2 5 1. T he i n s t i t u t i on of s t i p u l a t io a l t e r i, by v i r t ue of b e i ng p a rt of t he R o m an D u t ch L a w, a l so f o r ms p a rt of t he law of L e s o t h o. T he c o n t r a ct is to t he e f f e ct t h at s he is e n t i t l ed to a c c e pt t he b e n e f it of t h is c o n t r a ct and t he e v i d e n ce is t h at s he h as in f a ct d o ne s o. H er r i g h ts t h e r e f o re f l ow f r om c o n t r a ct and t he M 6 . 0 00 h as n o t h i ng to do w i th t he . d e c e a s ed e s t a t e. F or t h e se r e a s o ns t he a p p e al s u c e e d e d ." In t e r ms of R u le 8 (14) of t he H i gh C o u rt R u l es 1980 t he r u le n i si is d i s c h a r g ed w i th c o s t s. J. L. KHEOLA JUDGE 15TH J u l y, 1 9 91 F or A p p l i c a nt - M r. M a q u tu F or 1st R e s p o n d e nt - M r. K o o r n h of