Brits v Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (42146/2010) [2012] ZAGPPHC 37 (9 March 2012)
- Citation
- [2012] ZAGPPHC 37
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
- Panel
- W R C Prinsloo
- Case number
- 42146/2010
More details
- Court
- North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
- Panel
- W R C Prinsloo
- Case number
- 42146/2010
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the defendant had erroneously charged and received interest payments from the plaintiff under three loan agreements. The amounts due were calculated and verified by expert witnesses. As the defendant did not raise a special plea of prescription, the court awarded the plaintiff repayment of the specified amounts for each loan. Interest on these amounts was ordered at the prescribed rate from the date of service of summons. The court further held that the complexity of the matter justified the costs of two advocates and the qualifying fees of the expert witnesses.
Court disposition
Judgment for the plaintiff; repayment of specified amounts, interest, and costs awarded.
Orders
- Judgment is granted in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant for R98,594.92 in respect of the first claim.
- Judgment is granted in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant for R53,705.33 in respect of the second claim.
- Judgment is granted in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant for R46,476.62 in respect of the third claim.
- The defendant is ordered to pay interest on all judgment amounts at 15.5% per annum from 23 July 2010.
- The defendant is ordered to pay the costs of suit, including the costs of two advocates and the qualifying fees of the experts Whelpton and Roodt.
02
Material facts
Parties
Jan Frederik Nell Brits
Plaintiff Counsel: A F Arnoldi SC and C F J BrandLand and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa
Defendant Counsel: T W Beckerling SC and M SawyerAmounts and remedies
- First Claim Judgment Amount: ZAR 98,594.92
- Second Claim Judgment Amount: ZAR 53,705.33
- Third Claim Judgment Amount: ZAR 46,476.62
- Interest Rate Per Annum: ZAR 15.5
03
Procedural history
Posture
Civil Trial / Final Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the defendant is liable to repay interest amounts erroneously charged and paid by the plaintiff under three loan agreements.
- 02
Whether the plaintiff is entitled to interest on the judgment amounts from the date of service of summons.
- 03
Whether costs for two advocates and expert witness fees should be awarded.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The plaintiff contended that interest was incorrectly levied on three separate loans and sought repayment under the condictio indebiti. He argued that the calculation of the amounts due was supported by expert evidence and that interest should accrue from the date of service of summons. The plaintiff also submitted that the complexity of the matter justified the costs of two advocates and expert fees.
- Respondent
- The defendant did not raise a special plea of prescription and largely relied on arguments similar to those advanced in related cases. The defendant disputed the quantum of the amounts claimed but did not contest the basis for repayment or the entitlement to interest and costs as claimed by the plaintiff.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Ryton Estates v Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (33482/2010)
A party who has paid money not due, under a mistake, is entitled to recover such payment under the condictio indebiti.
- 02
Section 2 of the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act 55 of 1975
Interest on judgment debts is calculated from the date of service of summons, unless otherwise agreed.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the defendant had erroneously charged and received interest payments from the plaintiff under three loan agreements. The amounts due were calculated and verified by expert witnesses. As the defendant did not raise a special plea of prescription, the court awarded the plaintiff repayment of the specified amounts for each loan. Interest on these amounts was ordered at the prescribed rate from the date of service of summons. The court further held that the complexity of the matter justified the costs of two advocates and the qualifying fees of the expert witnesses.
Obiter and limits
- The court noted that its findings were consistent with previous related judgments and that the methodology for calculating the amounts due was jointly established by the experts.
- The absence of a special plea of prescription simplified the determination of the plaintiff's entitlement to repayment.
Court disposition
Judgment for the plaintiff; repayment of specified amounts, interest, and costs awarded.
- Judgment is granted in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant for R98,594.92 in respect of the first claim.
- Judgment is granted in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant for R53,705.33 in respect of the second claim.
- Judgment is granted in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant for R46,476.62 in respect of the third claim.
- The defendant is ordered to pay interest on all judgment amounts at 15.5% per annum from 23 July 2010.
- The defendant is ordered to pay the costs of suit, including the costs of two advocates and the qualifying fees of the experts Whelpton and Roodt.
Source and reliance status
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
Judgment
IN DIE NOORD GAUTENG HOE HOF.
PRETORIA /ES (REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA')
SAAKNO: 42146/2010
DATUM:09/03/2012
IN
DIE SAAK TUSSEN
JAN
FREDERIK NELL BRITS..........................................................................................EISER
EN
THE
LAND AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
BANK
OF SOUTH AFRICA................................................................................VERWEERDER
UITSPRAAK
PRINSLOO, R
[1] Hierdie uitspraak moet gelees word saam met die hoofuitspraak in die saak van Ryton Estates saakno 33482/2010 asook saam met die uitsprake in Le Roux, saakno 42140/2010, Buhrmann saakno 45190/2010 en Uitgezocht saakno 45192/2010.
[2] Ek is nie voornemens om opmerkings wat reeds in die ander uitsprake gemaak is te herhaal nie.
[3] In hierdie saak van Brits, het die verweerder nie 'n spesiale pleit van verjaring geopper nie, sodat daardie onderwerp glad nie ter sprake kom nie.
lnleiding
[4] Die eiser het drie eise ingestel op grond van die condictio indebiti vir terugbetaling van rente wat verkeerdelik deur die verweerder
gehef is.
[5] Die lening ten opsigte van die eerste eis is op 13 Januarie 1998 toegestaan in die bedrag van R200 000,00. Daar is ook ooreengekom dat rente terugbetaalbaar sou wees en bereken sou wees op die saldo van tyd tot tyd op die kapitaal uitstaande.
Die totale bedrag wat die eiser op die lening van R200 000,00 terugbetaal het teen Junie 2010 het R752 291,56 beloop.
[6] Wat die tweede eis betref, is dit op 13 Januarie 1998 toegestaan in die bedrag van R200 000,00. Daar is ook bepaal dat rente bereken sou word op die saldo van die kapitaal wat van tyd tot tyd uitstaande was.
Op hierdie lening van R200 000,00 het die eiser tot 29 Junie 2010 'n bedrag van R534 838,76 terugbetaal.
[7] Die derde lening is op 14 April 1999 aan die eiser toegestaan deur die Land Bank in die bedrag van R300 000,00. Daar is ook ooreengekom dat die rente bereken word op die saldo kapitaal.
[8] Op hierdie lening van R300 000,00 het die eiser teen 29 Junie 2010 'n bedrag van R559 831,02 terugbetaal.
[9] Dit is gemene saak dat al drie die lenings afgelos is.
[10] Die pleit kom grootliks ooreen met die pleit in die "toetssaak" van Ryton Estates wat ek in die hoofuitspraak ontleed het.
[11] Waar daar nie 'n spesiale pleit van verjaring is nie, gaan ek daartoe oor om die toekennings wat gemaak moet word uiteen te sit.
Die toekennings wat gemaak moet word
[12] Ten opsigte van die eerste eis bepaal die oornag berekening dat 'n bedrag van R212 962,19 aan die eiser betaalbaar is. Die bedrag van Rl 14 367,27 is reeds terugbetaal, sodat die toekenning R98 594,92 moet beloop.
[13] Ten opsigte van die tweede eis toon die oornag berekening dat die bedrag van R69 660,35 aan die eiser betaalbaar is. Die bedrag van R15 955,02 is reeds aan horn terugbetaal sodat die toekenning R53 705,33 moet beloop.
[14] Ten opsigte van die derde eis toon die oornag berekening dat die bedrag van R53 257,47 aan die eiser betaalbaar is. R6 780,85 is reeds aan horn terugbetaal sodat die toekenning R46 476,62 moet beloop.
[15] In die ander uitsprake het ek reeds daarop gewys dat die oornag berekening (asook hierdie aftrekkings) deur die deskundiges Whelpton en Strydom gesamentlik bereken en geboekstaaf is.
Die mora datum
[16] Die ooreengekome mora datum vir berekening van rente op die toekenning is die datum van betekening van die dagvaarding, naamlik
23 Julie 2010.
Koste
[17] Ek het reeds aangedui waarom ek van mening is dat die koste van twee advokate in al hierdie sake toegestaan behoort te word. Ek sal dieselfde doen in hierdie saak.
Die bevel
[18] Ek maak die volgende bevel:
1. Ten opsigte van die eerste eis word vonnis teen die verweerder ten gunste van die eiser toegestaan in die bedrag van R98 594,92.
2. Ten opsigte van die tweede eis word vonnis teen die verweerder toegestaan ten gunste van die eiser in die bedrag van R53 705,33.
3. Ten opsigte van die derde eis word vonnis teen die verweerder toegestaan ten gunste van die eiser in die bedrag van R46 476,62.
4. Die verweerder word gelas om rente op al die vonnis bedrae te betaal teen 15,5% per jaar bereken vanaf 23 Julie 2010.
5. Die verweerder word gelas om die koste te betaal wat die koste van twee advokate sal insluit asook, waar van toepassing, die
kwalifiserende fooie van die deskundiges Whelpton en Roodt.
W
R C PRINSLOO
REGTER
VAN DIE NOORD GAUTENG HOE HOF
42146-2010
GEHOOR OP: 21 NOVEMBER TOT 12 DESEMBER 2011 (11 DAE)
VIR DIE EISER: A F ARNOLDI SC EN C F J BRAND
IN OPDRAG VAN: BOTHA COETZER & SMITH INGELYF
VIR DIE VERWEERDER: T W BECKERLING SC EN M SAWYER
IN OPDRAG VAN: VELILE TINTO EN VENNOTE ING
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