Boplaas Landgoed 1743 (Pty) Ltd and Another v van der Hanse and Others (LCC47/2023 ; LCC48/2023) [2024] ZALCC 5 (29 January 2024)

Boplaas Landgoed 1743 (Pty) Ltd and Another v van der Hanse and Others (LCC47/2023 ; LCC48/2023) [2024] ZALCC 5 (29 January 2024)

The court found that the requirements for eviction under section 9 of ESTA were satisfied: the respondents' right of residence was lawfully terminated, notices were properly served, and the respondents did not vacate within the notice period. The respondents had no reasonable expectation of continued residence, and their occupation prejudiced the appellants, who needed the housing for employees. The court considered the respondents' long-term residence and the hardship of eviction but noted that they were registered for municipal housing and that emergency accommodation was available. The court held that eviction would be just and equitable if linked to the provision of alternative...

Citation
[2024] ZALCC 5
Parties
Appellant: Boplaas Landgoed 1743 (Pty) Ltd; Appellant: Frans Jacobus van der Merwe; Respondent: Harold van der Hanse; Respondent: Ellenette van der Hanse; Respondent: All other persons residing with or under the first to second respondents in the premises on Du Cap Farm, Paarl; Respondent: Drakenstein Municipality; Respondent: Provincial Director of the Department of Land and Rural Development; Respondent: Sara Fortuin; Respondent: Hendrik Terblanche
Court
Land Claims Court
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Judgment Date
29 January 2024
Case Number
LCC47/2023 ; LCC48/2023
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Appeal From Magistrates Court Refusal of Eviction Applications
Outcome
Appeal upheld; eviction order granted subject to provision of alternative accommodation.
Judges
Y S Meer, B Spilg
Legal Topics
Eviction Under Esta, Just and Equitable Eviction, Alternative Accommodation, Municipal Housing Obligation, Termination of Right of Residence

Case Brief

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Parties

Boplaas Landgoed 1743 (Pty) Ltd

Appellant

Frans Jacobus van der Merwe

Appellant

Harold van der Hanse

Respondent

Ellenette van der Hanse

Respondent

All other persons residing with or under the first to second respondents in the premises on Du Cap Farm, Paarl

Respondent

Drakenstein Municipality

Respondent

Provincial Director of the Department of Land and Rural Development

Respondent

Sara Fortuin

Respondent

Hendrik Terblanche

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Appeal From Magistrates Court Refusal of Eviction Applications

  1. 1 Whether the requirements for eviction under section 9 of ESTA were met.
  2. 2 Whether it is just and equitable to evict the respondents from the farm.
  3. 3 Whether suitable alternative accommodation is available for the respondents.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the requirements for eviction under section 9 of ESTA were satisfied: the respondents' right of residence was lawfully terminated, notices were properly served, and the respondents did not vacate within the notice period. The respondents had no reasonable expectation of continued residence, and their occupation prejudiced the appellants, who needed the housing for employees. The court considered the respondents' long-term residence and the hardship of eviction but noted that they were registered for municipal housing and that emergency accommodation was available. The court held that eviction would be just and equitable if linked to the provision of alternative...

Court Disposition

Appeal upheld; eviction order granted subject to provision of alternative accommodation.

Orders

  • The respondents shall vacate the dwellings they occupy on the appellants' farm by no later than 28 February 2025.
  • If the respondents fail to vacate by 28 February 2025, the Sheriff is authorized to secure their eviction on 1 March 2025.