Mutua v Matholoane and Another (CIV/APN 183 of 94) [1994] LSCA 121 (27 July 1994)
The applicant, as the nearest relative and in the absence of competing heirs, had sufficient interest and locus standi to claim the body for burial and act as curator for the estate, despite lack of written authority and contrary provisions of customary law. The respondent, as a divorced spouse, had no right to the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1994] LSCA 121
- Parties
- Applicant: Winnie Mutua; 1st Respondent: Martin Hlalele Matholoane; 2nd Respondent: The Proprietor, Lesotho Funeral Services
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Lesotho
- Case Number
- CIV/APN 183 of 94
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Application / Judgment
- Outcome
- Application allowed in part
- Legal Topics
- Locus Standi in Burial Disputes, Intestate Succession, Curatorship, Costs in Civil Litigation
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Winnie Mutua
Applicant
Martin Hlalele Matholoane
1st Respondent
The Proprietor, Lesotho Funeral Services
2nd Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Application / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant, as sister of the deceased, had locus standi to claim the body for burial in Kenya
- 2 Whether the applicant had an interest in the deceased's property and capacity to act as curator
- 3 Whether the respondent, as divorced spouse, retained any rights over the deceased's body or estate
Ratio Decidendi
The applicant, as the nearest relative and in the absence of competing heirs, had sufficient interest and locus standi to claim the body for burial and act as curator for the estate, despite lack of written authority and contrary provisions of customary law. The respondent, as a divorced spouse, had no right to the body or estate, but retained a limited interest subject to forfeiture order.
Court Disposition
Application allowed in part
Orders
- Prayer 1(a) of the Notice of Motion confirmed (release of body for burial in Kenya)
- Prayers (b), (c), (e) recorded as settled by deed of settlement dated 6th June 1994
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
IN THE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In the m a t t er of : W I N N IE M U T UA and -1- C I V / A P N / 1 8 3 / 94 A p p l i c a nt M A R T IN H L A L E LE M A T H O L O A NE T HE P R O P R I E T O R, L E S O T HO F U N E R AL S E R V I C ES 1st R e s p o n d e nt 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 the H o n o u r a b le M r, J u s t i ce T. M o n a p a t hi on the 27th day of J u l y, 1 9 94 On the 6th June 1994 (the F i r st day of h e a r i n g) the p a r t i es r e a c h ed a s e t t l e m e n t, the c o n t e n ts of w h i ch w e re as f o l l o w s: "With a v i ew to c u r t a i l i ng the p r o c e e d i n gs h e r e in and w i t h o ut any p r e j u d i ce w h a t s o e v er to e i t h er p a r ty a r g u i ng any point of law or fact r a i s ed by the a f f i d a v i ts the p a r t i es a g r ee as f o l l o w s: 1. T h at the c o r p se of the late L i l i an M u t ua be r e l e a s ed to W i n n ie M u t ua for burial in K e n y a. -2- 2. T he p r a y e rs p e r t a i n i ng to p r o p e r ty and c o s ts be s t o od o v er for d e t e r m i n a t i on by t h is H o n o u r a b le C o u r t ." It w as on t h is b a s is t h at the m a t t er w as a r g u ed on t he o t h er d a ys t h at f o l l o w e d. T he f i r st R e s p o n d e nt ( h e r e i n a f t er c a l l ed the R e s p o n d e n t) r a i s ed a p o i n t - i n - l i m i n e, t h at t h is A p p l i c a nt w ho is a s i s t er of the d e c e a s ed had no c a p a c i ty ( l o c us s t a n d i) to c l a im the b o dy of her d e c e a s ed s i s t e r, for b u r i al in the c o u n t ry of K e n y a, w h e re b o th t he d e c e a s ed and the A p p l i c a nt c o me f r o m, b e i ng t h e ir c o u n t ry of b i r t h. T he f a m i ly w o u ld b u ry the b o dy as s u g g e s t ed in the p a p e r s. T he d e c e a s ed L I L I A N . T U T TI M U T UA w as d u r i ng h er l i f e t i me m a r r i ed to the R e s p o n d e nt by c i v il r i t es in c o m m u n i ty of p r o p e r t y. T h e ir m a r r i a ge w as d i s s o l v ed by O r d er of t h is C o u r t, on the 2 7 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 9 3. T h e re a re c o n f l i c t i ng a c c o u n ts as to h ow t h is m a r r i a ge c a me to be d i s s o l v e d. T he R e s p o n d e nt ( w ho w as D e f e n d a n t) s a ys t h at he w as n ot a w a re t h at t he c a se w as set d o wn for h e a r i ng on the 2 7 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 9 3, n or on the p r e v i o us d a ys the m a t t er had b e en set d o wn f or h e a r i n g. It l o o ks l i ke as at the t i me w h en the m a t t er w as f i n a l ly h e a rd the t h en c o u n s el for the R e s p o n d e nt M r. M a l e b a n ye had w i t h d r a wn as C o u n s el f or the R e s p o n d e n t. -3- M r. M o h au h as i n d i c a t ed t h at it w o u ld be u n w i se to p r o c e ed on the b a s is t h at the o r d er of d i v o r ce ( q u e s t i o n a b le as he f e lt it w a s) w as i n v a l i d. He w as t h e r e f o re p r o c e e d i ng on the b a s is t h at he w o u ld n ot h a ve o p p o s ed the o r d er f or the b u r i al r i g h ts of the d e c e a s ed h ad t h e re n ot b e en a p r a y er for c o s ts a g a i n st the R e s p o n d e n t, H ad the O r d er for C o s ts b e en f o r m u l a t ed to say for e x a m p l e: " c o s ts a re c l a i m ed o n ly in t he e v e nt of o p p o s i ng the a p p l i c a t i o n ," the R e s p o n d e nt w o u ld n ot h a ve o p p o s ed the p r a y er for r e l e a se of the b o dy for b u r i al in K e n y a. M r. M o h au h as u r g ed me in my a w a rd of c o s ts to c o n s i d er t h at the R e s p o n d e nt in r e m o v i ng the b o dy of the d e c e a s ed to the s e c o nd R e s p o n d e nt m o r t u a ry w as a c t i ng n ot mala f i de but w as a c t u a t ed by s u ch g o od s p i r it a nd l a r ge h a n d e d n e ss as a h u s b a nd w o u l d, w ho did n ot k n ow that t h e re w as an o r d er of d i v o r ce a l r e a dy m a de a g a i n st h i m. I h a ve a l so b e en a s k ed to c o n s i d er the p r o b a b i l i t i es of w h e t h er the R e s p o n d e nt is g e n u i ne in c l a i m i ng t h at he c o u ld not h a ve k n o wn t h at t h e re w as an o r d er of d i v o r ce i s s u ed a g a i n st him in f a v o ur of the d e c e a s e d. I am n ot i n c l i n ed to b e l i e ve that he R e s p o n d e nt c o u ld n ot h a ve k n o wn of t he O r d e r. It c a n n ot be c o r r e c t, in my v i e w, t h at the a t t i t u de of t he R e s p o n d e nt h as b e en to o p p o se the o r d e rs s o u g ht m e r e ly b e c a u se c o s ts w e re a p p l i ed for by the -4- A p p l i c a nt in t he m a n n er I h a ve d e s c r i b ed e a r l i er in t he j u d g m e n t. T h is as a f t er t h o u g ht in a ll p r o b a b i l i t y. H is a t t i t u de c an be g a t h e r ed f r om h is p a p e rs and t he a r g u m e n t. M r. M o h au h as v e ry w i s e ly c o n c e d ed t h at he w o u ld n ot h a ve b e en on a f i rm g r o u n d, in o p p o s i ng t he o r d er for b u r i al of t he d e c e a s e d, f or t he v e ry r e a s on t h at t he d e c e a s ed and t he R e s p o n d e nt w e re d i v o r c ed at the t i me of t he d e a th of d e c e a s e d. It is i m p o r t a nt to n o te t h at e x c e pt f or t he f i r st p r a y er in t he n o t i ce of m o t i on w h i ch w as c o n c e r n ed w i th t he r e l a x a t i on of r u l es of C o u rt and t he p r a y er for r e s t r a i n i ng t he R e s p o n d e nt f r om r e m o v i ng t he d e c e a s e d 's b o dy to a ny p e r s on o t h er t h an t he A p p l i c a nt and t he p r a y er s e e k i ng for r e l e a se of t he b o dy to A p p l i c a nt and for r e m o v al of t he b o dy for b u r i al in K e n ya by the A p p l i c a n t 's f a m i l y, t h e re w as a l so t h is p r a y er ( d) for r e s t r a i n i ng t he R e s p o n d e nt f r om r e m o v i ng or in a ny m a n n er i n t e r f e r i ng w i th t he d e c e a s e d 's a s s e ts p e n d i ng t he f i n a l i z a t i on of t he a p p l i c a t i on and a ny d i r e c t i v es w h i ch m ay be g i v en by t he R e g i s t r ar of D e e ds for d i s p o s al of t he d e c e a s e d 's a s s e t s. T he i m p o r t a n ce of t h is p r a y er c o n c e r n i ng t he p r o p e r ty of t he e s t a te l i es in the f a ct t h at t h e re had to be a r g u m e nt w h e t h er t he A p p l i c a nt h e r s e lf h ad a ny i n t e r e st in t he p r o p e r ty and f u r t h e r m o re w h e t h er s he h ad t he c a p a c i ty ( l o c us standi.) to c l a im in C o u r t. E q u a l ly i m p o r t a nt w o u ld be t he q u e s t i on w h e t h er the s a me g r o u n ds on w h i ch t he A p p l i c a nt c l a i m ed s he had c a p a c i ty to c l a im for r e l e a se of t he b o dy of t he d e c e a s ed w o u ld be a v a i l a b le . to h er as r e g a r ds t h is p r a y er ( d) c o n c e r n i ng the p r o p e r t y, -5- T he A p p l i c a nt is a s i s t er of t he d e c e a s e d. T he d e c e a s ed d i ed i n t e s t a t e. M r. M o h au w as c o r r e ct in c o n c e d i ng t h at the R e s p o n d e nt is not an h e ir of t he d e c e a s ed by v i r t ue of the s a id d i v o r ce o r d er n or w o u ld t he R e s p o n d e nt be e n t i t l ed to c l a im the r i g ht of b u r i al of t he d e c e a s e d 's b o d y. B ut I do a l so o b s e r ve t h at the R e s p o n d e nt w o u ld h o w e v er s t i ll h a ve an i n t e r e st in t he e s t a te of t he m a r r i a g e. T h is is so d e s p i te t h at t he C o u rt O r d er of the 2 7 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 93 w h o se c l a u se 2 t h e r e of r e a ds t h u s: " T he D e f e n d a nt f o r f e i ts the b e n e f i ts a r i s i ng out of the m a r r i a ge in c o m m u n i ty of p r o p e r t y ." T he i n t e r p r e t a t i on g i v en by the C o u r ts to s u ch an o r d er h as n ot b e en t h at the p a r ty a g a i n st w h om an o r d er of f o r f e i t u re h as b e en g i v en l o s es e v e r y t h i n g. In s o me i n s t a n c es the e f f e ct of s u ch an o r d er c o u ld be t h at of d i v i s i on of the e s t a te (see the r e m a r ks in S. M O N A P A T HI v M. M O N A P A T HI C ' of A ( C I V) 18 of 1 9 89 d a t ed 2 6 / 0 1 / 9 0) It is c o r r e ct that the c a p a c i ty to s ue n o r m a l ly d e p e n ds on and f o l l o ws the s p e c i f ic i n t e r e st t h at o ne h as in t he m a t t er t h at o ne s e e ks to p r o t e c t. B e i ng an h e ir and or a p o t e n t i al h e ir is o ne of t he i n t e r e s t s. T he r e l a t i o n s h ip of a p e r s on and a d e c e a s ed r e l a t i ve is of a s e n t i m e n t al n a t u re g i v i ng o ne a s p e c i f ic i n t e r e s t. B e i ng an h e ir to a d e c e a s ed p e r s on c a s ts a d u ty on t he h e ir to b u ry t he d e c e a s e d. It is a l o ng t h is l i ne in t h at t he q u e s t i on of the c a p a c i ty of the a p p l i c a nt to c l a im in t h is a p p l i c a t i on w as d e b a t e d. T he R e s p o n d e nt a r g u ed t h at the A p p l i c a nt did not h a ve the c a p a c i ty to sue or f i le t h is A p p l i c a t i on in t h is C o u r t. -6- M r. M o h au for t he R e s p o n d e nt a r g u ed t h at it w as n ot e n o u gh t h at t he A p p l i c a nt m a de t he f o l l o w i ng s t a t e m e n ts in h er a f f i d a v i t: ( a) T h at she is a f e m a le a d u lt and a y o u n g er s i s t er of the d e c e a s e d, - w i t h o ut s t a t i ng w ho a re her b r o t h e rs (if a n y) and o t h er r e l a t i v es w ho w o u ld be h e i rs of the d e c e a s e d. ( b) T h at s he is m a k i ng the a f f i d a v it in h er c a p a c i ty as t he y o u n g er s i s t er of t he d e c e a s ed - w i t h o ut e x p l a i n i ng w hy t h at r e l a t i o n s h ip per se w o u ld g i ve h er t i t le to s u e. ( c) T h at it is by a u t h o r i ty of h er m o t h er w ho s e nt h er to L e s o t ho - w i t h o ut e x p l a i n i ng w hy h er m o t h er w o u ld be e m p o w e r ed to s e nt h er to L e s o t ho and to c l a im as s he h as d o ne a nd w i t h o ut w r i t t en e v i d e n c e, -7- ( d) T h at t he A p p l i c a n t 's m o t h er a nd f a t h er a re l o ng d i v o r c ed a nd t he w h e r e a b o u ts of t he f a t h er a re n ot k n o w n. M r. M o h au h as a s k ed t he C o u rt to n o te t h at in a ll t he c l a i ms or f a c ts u p on w h i ch t he A p p l i c a nt s e e ks to b a se h er e n t i t l e m e nt s he h as no w r i t t en e v i d e n ce or a u t h o r i ty w h a t s o e v e r. T h at t h e re is n o t h i ng in a f o rm of w r i t i ng is t r u e. B ut w o u ld t h at by i t s e lf (if it is a r e q u i r e m e n t) d e f e at t he A p p l i c a n t 's c l a i m. S e c o n d ly t he A p p l i c a nt d o es n ot c l a im to r e p r e s e nt h er f a m i l y. T h e re is no a l l e g a t i on t h at A p p l i c a nt h as c o n s u l t ed h er f a m i ly a nd w hy s he h as n ot d o ne s o. T h i r d l y, in as m u ch as t he A p p l i c a nt a nd A p p l i c a n t 's f a t h er w o u ld be t he h e ir a nd p o s s e s s ed of d u ty to b u ry t he d e c e a s e d, it w as i m p o r t a nt be to i n f o rm as to w h at s t e ps h a ve b e en t a k en to f i nd h im by w ay of a d i l i g e nt s e a r c h. In t he a b s e n ce of t h at i n f o r m a t i on it s h o u ld be s a f e ly c o n c l u d ed t h at no s u ch a t t e m pt h as b e en m a d e. F o u r t h l y, t he s t a t e m e nt in t he A p p l i c a n t 's r e p l y i ng A f f i d a v i t, a nd t he f a c ts t h at b e f o re s he l e ft N a i r o bi t h e re w as a f a m i ly m e e t i ng in w h i ch h er m o t h e r, h er u n c le ( P h i l l ip M u t u a) a nd t he A p p l i c a nt d e c i d ed t h at t he A p p l i c a nt s h o u ld c o me to L e s o t ho a nd a r r a n ge f or r e m o v al of t he d e c e a s e d 's b o dy a nd t h at t he s a id -8- P h i l l ip M u t ua d id a r r i ve t wo d a ys a f t er t he f i l i ng of t he A p p l i c a t i o n, to c o n f i rm t he m e e t i ng a nd t he d e c i s i o n, d id n ot c a r ry t he m a t t er a ny f u r t h e r. It is on t he b a s is of t h is s et of f a c ts t h at M r. P h o o f o lo a r g u ed in a s k i ng f or t he a w a rd of c o s ts t h at it is o n ly on t he b a s is of t he i n t e r e st t h at t he a p p l i c a n ts h a s, b a s ed on t he d u ty to b u ry t h at t he A p p l i c a nt d e r i v ed h er r i g ht a nd t i t le to s u e, 1 a g r ee w i th M r. M o h au t h at in t he e v e nt t h at t he A p p l i c a nt c l a i m ed t h at s he w as a c t i ng or e n t i t l ed to a ct in t e r ms of K e n y an l aw ( w h i ch is a f o r e i gn l a w) t he t e r ms of t h at l aw h a ve to be p r o v ed by e x p e rt w i t n e s s, a nd in t he a b s e n ce of s u ch e v i d e n c e ,, t he C o u rt w i ll p r e s u me t h at t he f o r e i gn l aw in t he i s s ue t he s a me as l o c al l aw ( s ee M a s e r a b e le S e r o b a n v a ne vs T e b o ho S e r o b a n y a ne & A n o t h er C I V / A P N / 2 9 0 / 91 ( u n r e p o r t e d) p er M r. J u s t i ce K h e o l a ). It is a l so t r i te l aw t h at t he h e ir of t he d e c e a s ed p e r s on is t he o ne w ho h as t he r i g ht to d e t e r m i ne w h e re a nd w h en t he d e c e a s ed m ay be b u r i ed ( s ee L i t s i t so C h o k o b a ne vs J o s h ua N o a b a m bi a nd A n o t h er C I V / A P N / 2 5 1 / 89 ( u n r e p o r t e d) p er M r. J u s t i ce M. L. L e h o h la a nd M o j e la T h a e le & O ne vs T s o l o a ne T h a e le & T wo O t h e rs C I V / A P N / 3 1 8 / 91 ( u n r e p o r t e d) p er M r. J u s t i ce B. K. M o l a i ). T he f o l l o w i ng s t a t e m e n ts of t he l aw r e g a r d i ng t he r i g h ts of b u r i al a re c o r r e c t. T h at w h e re t he d e c e a s ed d i es w i t h o ut l e a v i ng -9- a ny m a le i s s u e s, h is f a t h er b e c o m es h e i r, if t he f a t h er is l a te t h en t he d e c e a s e d 's g r a n d f a t h er b e c o m es t he h e i r .' F u r t h e r m o re if t he g r a n d s on is a l so l a t e, t he d e c e a s e d 's b r o t h er b e c o m es h e i r. T h is is a l so s u p p o r t ed by t he l e a r n ed a u t h or S. M. P o u l t er in h is F a m i ly L aw a nd L i t i g a t i on in B a s o t ho S o c i e ty at p a ge 2 3 2. B ut t h en is n ot t he q u e s t i on m u ch m o re c o m p l i c a t e d? As t he A p p l i c a n t 's C o u n s el r i g h t ly a s k e d, m u ch as t he R e s p o n d e nt h i m s e lf is n ot e n t i t l ed to b u ry t he d e c e a s ed w h at w o u ld h a p p en t he b o dy of t he d e c e a s ed if A p p l i c a nt d e c i d ed n ot to t a ke a c t i o n? Is n ot t h is f a ct t h at s he is a s i s t er of t he d e c e a s ed e n o u gh to c l o th h er w i th a u t h o r i ty ( h e r s e l f) s h o u ld t he C o u rt f i nd t h at s he w as n ot r i g h t ly a u t h o r i s ed on t he g r o u n ds of t he r e a s o ns (of h e i r s h i p) p ut f o r w a rd by M r. M o h a u? M r, P h o o f o lo s u b m i t t ed t h at in t he l e a st t h e re is f i r s t ly t he q u e s t i on of t he r e l a t i o n s h i p, s e c o n d ly t he f a ct t h at t h e re w as no w i l l, t h i r d ly t he f a ct t h at s he w as d i v o r c ed f r om t he R e s p o n d e nt ( m a k i ng it u n l i k e ly t h at s he w o u l d" h a ve p r e f e r r ed t he R e s p o n d e n t) a nd f o u r t h ly a nd m o st i m p o r t a n t ly a s e n se of w h at is r i g ht t h at g i v es t he A p p l i c a nt t he r i g ht to s u e. In my m i n d, f o l l o w i ng on t he c o n c e s s i on by M r. M o h au ( t h at t he R e s p o n d e nt w o u ld be i n e l i g i b l e ), I am p e r s u a d ed by t he f o l l o w i ng f a c t o rs in f i n d i ng f or A p p l i c a nt on t h is a s p e c t: ( a) T he A p p l i c a nt is t he n e a r e st r e l a t i ve of t he d e c e a s ed in t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of t h is c a s e. T h is is n ot a c a se of c o m p e t i ng h e i r s. It is j u st i m p o r t a nt to a dd on t h is n o te t h at t he A p p l i c a nt w o u ld be an h e ir of t he d e c e a s ed a c c o r d i ng to c o m m on law. But the A p p l i c a nt h as o n ly c l a i m ed for h e r s e lf the r i g ht of r e m o v al of the b o dy (see A p p l i c a n t 's p r a y er ( e )) E v en t h is o ne I w o u ld not d e ny the A p p l i c a n t. -10- (b) A c c o r d i ng to S e s o t ho C u s t o m a ry L aw t he A p p l i c a nt w o u ld n e i t h er be an h e ir and n e i t h er w o u ld she h a ve a r i g ht to b u ry t he d e c e a s e d. But w h at we a re c o n c e r n ed w i th h e re is her r i g ht to r e m o ve the b o dy for b u r i al by h er f a m i l y, so that the r i g ht to b u ry r e m a i ns t h at of h er f a m i ly (see A p p l i c a n t 's p r a y er ( e ) ). I w o u ld n e v e r t h e l e ss not d e ny her the r i g ht to b u ry the d e c e a s ed for the r e a s o ns I h a ve a l r e a dy s t a t e d. (c) A p p l i c a nt a l so s p e a ks of h a v i ng b e en i n s t r u c t ed by her m o t h er to s e ek to r e m o ve the b o dy to K e n ya for b u r i al by the f a m i l y. I w o u ld in a c c o r d a n ce w i th c o m m on law find that the d e c e a s ed m o t h er had a r i g ht of b u r i a l. But t h is w o u ld not be so a c c o r d i ng to the law of L e s o t ho w h e re a f e m a le a d u lt h as to be a w i d ow ( w h e re she is an h e i r) or a w i d ow as a g u a r d i an of a m i n or h e ir or i n s t r u c t ed by the h e i r. I c a n n ot p r o f e ss to h a ve had a v e ry c l o se l o ok i n to and to s e ek to d i s t i n g u i sh the c a s es of H u m an vs H u m an and O t h e rs 1 9 7 5 ( 2) SA 2 5 1 ( E) T s e o la & A n o t h er vs M a q u tu 1 9 7 6 ( 2) -11- SA 4 1 8 ( T ), M b a n j wa vs M o na 1 9 77 ( 4) SA 4 0 3 ( T) a nd T. M o t l o ki vs E. L e n o no & A n o t h er 1 9 78 L LR 3 91 a nd as to h ow t he i n s t a nt c a se w o u ld be t r e a t e d. B ut t h e se h a ve b e en c a s es of c o m p e t i ng h e i r s. I am i n f l u e n c ed m o s t ly by t he f i n d i ng t h at t he A p p l i c a nt is t he c l o s e st r e l a t i ve of t he d e c e a s e d. It is a g a i n st p u b l ic p o l i cy t h at t h e re c o u ld h a ve b e en no o ne to t a ke c a re of t he i n t e r e s ts of t he d e c e a s ed ( i n c l u d i ng h er b u r i a l) a nd t h at a s e n se of w h at is r i g ht s e e ms to d i c t a te t h at t he A p p l i c a nt c an p r o p e r ly t a ke c h a r ge of t he i n t e r e s ts of t he d e c e a s e d. D e s p i te my a b o ve f i n d i ng I c a n n ot h e lp b ut r e f er to t he f o l l o w i ng m a t t er in p a s s i n g. I w o u ld a g r ee w i th M r. M o h au t h at t he a b s e n ce of a w r i t t en i n s t r u c t i on or a u t h o r i ty w o u ld n o r m a l ly m a ke t he a p p l i c a n t 's w o rd in m o st i n s t a n c es u n r e l i a b le a nd d i f f i c u lt to d i s p r o v e. It is n ot on t h at a c c o u nt a l o ne p r e j u d i c a l. It is a l so p r e j u d i c i al in t h is c o n t e xt t h at t he p a r ty t e n d e r i ng in t he e v i d e n ce o b t a i ns an u n f a ir a d v a n t a ge by i ts a d m i s s i o n. E v en if I d e c i de ( as I d o) t h at s u ch w r i t i ng w as n ot r e q u i r ed f or t he p u r p o se of my d e c i s i on in t h is m a t t e r; b ut t he d a n g e rs a re t h e re to s e e. T h is m e a ns t h at l o o k ed at f r om a s t r i c t ly t e c h n i c al p o i nt t he s t a t e m e n ts w o u ld a m o u nt to h e a r s a y. I w o u ld h o w e v er f i nd t he s t a t e m e n ts c o g e nt by a n a l o gy to t he c a se of R o s s" E l l i s o n, 1 9 70 AC 1 w h e r e in L o rd B u c k m a s t er s a id t h at d e c l a r a t i o ns of i n t e n t i o ns h ad to be ". , e x a m i n ed by c o n s i d e r i ng t he p e r s on to w h o m, t he p u r p o se f or w h i c h, and t he c i r c u m s t a n c es in w h i ch t h ey a re m a d e ." I w o u ld s ay t h at t h e re a re e x c e p t i o n al c i r c u m s t a n c es s u ch as in t he i n s t a nt m a t t e r. -12- T he p r a y er ( d) to t he A p p l i c a n t 's N o t i ce of M o t i on r e a d s: F i r st R e s p o n d e nt s h o u ld n ot be r e s t r a i n ed f r om r e m o v i ng or in a ny m a n n er i n t e r f e r i ng w i th the d e c e a s e d 's a s s e ts w h e t h er m o v a b le or i m m o v a b le a nd w h e r e v er m ay be s i t u a t ed p e n d i ng t he f i n a l i z a t i on of t he a p p l i c a t i on a nd a ny d i r e c t i ve w h i ch m ay be g i v en by t he R e g i s t r ar of D e e ds f or d i s p o s al of t he d e c e a s e d 's a s s e t s" I w o u ld u se t he s a me r e a s o ns a d o p t ed e a r l i er on t h at the A p p l i c a nt had an i n t e r e st to t he r e m o v al of h er s i s t e r 's b o dy f or b u r i a l, to say t h at s he h as an i n t e r e st in t he p r o p e r ty of h er s i s t e r. I t h o u g ht t he p r a y er w as n ot o n ly i n e l e g a n t ly d r a wn but t h at it did n ot m a ke s e n s e. T he a re t wo c l e ar r e a s o n s, n a m e l y: ( a) T he p r o p e r ty of t he d e c e a s e d, as m a t t e rs s t a n d, is n ot in t he h a n ds of t he R e g i s t r ar of D e e ds n or t he M a s t er of t he H i gh C o u r t. I r e j e ct t he s u b m i s s i o n. W h e re p r o p e r ty of an e s t a te is s u b j e ct to an o r d er of -13- f o r f e i t u re the v a r i o us i t e ms of p r o p e r ty m ay be f o u nd all o v er t he p l a ce i n c l u d i ng and a l so in p o s s e s s i on of the p a r ty a g a i n st w h om an o r d er h as b e en g i v e n. To the e x t e nt t h at the m a t t er h as n ot b e en f i n a l ly d i s p o s ed of e i t h er by a f i n al l i q u i d a t i on or a d i s t r i b u t i on by a g r e e m e n t. T he i m p r e s s i on I h ad w as that the e s t a te is s t i ll in t he h a n ds of the C o u rt or that it is a s u b j e ct of the O r d er of C o u r t. C o u n s e ls w e re not a b le to d i s a b u se me of t h at i m p r e s s i on (if it w as m i s t a k e n ). My f u r t h er i m p r e s s i on w as t h at w h e re a l i q u i d a t or is a p p o i n t e d, t h at l i q u i d a t or is an o f f i c er of C o u rt or s u b j e ct to the p o w e rs or O r d er of C o u r t, It m e a ns t h e r e f o re t h at the p r o p e r ty is n ot and c a n n ot be in t he h a n ds of the M a s t er or R e g i s t r ar of D e e ds in t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s. I do n ot t h i nk t h at m u ch w as m a de in the a f f i d a v i ts to s u p p o rt the s u b m i s s i o n. I w o u ld c o n s e q u e n t ly h a ve had a p r o b l em in c o n f i r m i ng the O r d er as it s t o o d. ( b) B e s i d es t he o b v i o us p r o b l em of t he i n t e r im o r d er the p r a y er p o s ed a c l e ar p r o b l em as to w h at i ts l i m i t a t i o ns w o u ld b e. It w o u ld b e c o me a p e r m a n e nt o r d er u n l e ss it w as r e f r a m e d. T h at i s, if t he O r d er w as o n ly g i v en p e n d i ng the f i n a l i z a t i on of t h is a p p l i c a t i on w hy w o u ld the R e s p o n d e nt c o n t i n ue to be -14- r e s t r a i n ed if n ot f or a c l e ar a nd d e f i n i te p u r p o s e? In as m u ch as t he R e s p o n d e nt h as an i n t e r e st in t he m a t t er of t he e s t a t e, a ny r e s t r a i n ts i m p o s ed by t h is C o u rt in h is c o n n e c t i on w i th t he p r o p e r ty of t he e s t a te s h o u ld t a ke i n to a c c o u nt t h is i n t e r e s t. It is c l e ar t h e r e f o re t h at t he O r d er in p r a y er ( d) o u g ht to h a ve b e en d i s c h a r g e d. In my d i s c r e t i on I a l l o w ed t he o r d er to be a m e n d e d, B ut I w o u ld n ot g i ve t he c o s ts in t he p r a y er to t he A p p l i c a n t. On t he 6 th J u ne 1 9 94 t he p a r t i es e n t e r ed i n to a d e ed of s e t t l e m e nt as a f o r e s a i d. It a l so b e c a me c l e ar t h at a n y t h i ng c o n c e r n i ng t he p a r t i e s' e s t a te ( p r o p e r t y) c o u ld o n ly be d e a lt w i th to t he e x t e nt of t he o r d er of f o r f e i t u re ( a nd to f a c i l i t a te i t) a nd n ot b e y o n d, T h e re is y et a n o t h er q u e s t i o n. In t he l i g ht of t he d e a th of t he d e c e a s e d, w ho w o u ld be in t he p l a ce of t he d e c e a s ed r e s p e c t i ng t he i n t e r e st of t he d e c e a s ed in t he p r o p e r t y? I t o ok t he v i ew t h at t he A p p l i c a nt w o u ld n a t u r a l ly (in t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s) be t he p r o p er p e r s on to a ct as a c u r a t or w i th a ll t he p o w e rs t h at a c u r a t or w o u ld h a v e, in t he p l a ce of a ll t he o t h er h e i rs of t he d e c e a s e d, I m a de t he f o l l o w i ng o r d e r s: 1. T he p r a y er 1 (a) | of the Notice of M o t i on is confirmed,-, 2 It is r e c o r d ed that p r a y e rs (b) (c)(e) of the N o t i ce of M o t i on have b e en d e a lt w i th by w ay of the p a r t i e s' a g r e e m e n ts c o n t a i n ed in the Deed of S e t t l e m e nt dated the 6th J u ne 1 9 9 4. 3. P r a y er (d) of the N o t i ce of M o t i on is a m e n d ed to r e a d: T he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt is r e s t r a i n ed from r e m o v i ng or in any manner interfering with the deceased's assets w h e r e v er they m ay be s i t u a t ed p e n d i ng l i q u i d a t i on of the e s t a te ( p u r s u a nt to an o r d er of f o r f i e t u r e ) ." T he A p p l i c a nt is appointed currator p l a ce of the d e c e a s ed on b e h a lf of the h e i rs of the d e c e a s ed for the p u r p o se of facilitating the order in p a r a g r a ph 3 a b o ve 5 . A t t o r n ey M r. M i c h a el M. R a m o d i b e di or his s u b s t i t u te is a p p o i n t ed as l i q u i d a t or of the e s t a te of the d e c e a s ed and the First R e s p o n d e nt shall h a ve all a p p r o p r i a te p o w e r s. 6. The Applicant is awarded only two thirds of the costs of this Application which shall exclude the costs of the 1st day of hearing (which the First Respondent shall not pay);. -16- T. M O N A P A T HI JUDGE 27th June, 1994 For the Applicant Mr. E. H. Phoofolo For the First Respondent : Mr. K. Mohau