City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and Others v Hlophe and Others (1035/2013) [2015] ZASCA 16; [2015] 2 All SA 251 (SCA) (18 March 2015)

City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and Others v Hlophe and Others (1035/2013) [2015] ZASCA 16; [2015] 2 All SA 251 (SCA) (18 March 2015)

The Supreme Court of Appeal held that a mandamus against municipal functionaries is competent and appropriate where they are statutorily responsible for ensuring compliance with court orders. The functionaries were not prejudiced by their joinder in the enforcement application, as the need for their involvement only...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2015] ZASCA 16
Parties
Appellant: City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality; Appellant: Executive Mayor, City of Johannesburg; Appellant: City Manager, City of Johannesburg; Appellant: Executive Director: Housing, City of Johannesburg; Respondent: Philani Hlophe; Respondent: Residents of Chung Hua Mansions, 191 Jeppe Street, Johannesburg; Respondent: Changing Tides Properties 74 (Pty) Ltd
Court
Supreme Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
1035/2013
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Appeal From South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
Outcome
Appeal succeeds only to the extent that paragraph 2 of the order of the court a quo is set aside. The appellants are ordered to pay the costs of the appeal, including the costs of two counsel where so employed.
Judges
Brand, Maya, Willis, Schoeman, Van der Merwe
Legal Topics
Mandamus Against Municipal Functionaries, Separation of Powers, Eviction and Alternative Accommodation, Public Accountability, Local Government Obligations, Constitutional Compliance of Temporary Shelter
Administrative Law Land and Property Constitutional Law Mandamus Against Municipal Functionaries Separation of Powers Eviction and Alternative Accommodation Public Accountability Local Government Obligations +1 more

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality

Appellant

Executive Mayor, City of Johannesburg

Appellant

City Manager, City of Johannesburg

Appellant

Executive Director: Housing, City of Johannesburg

Appellant

Philani Hlophe

Respondent

Residents of Chung Hua Mansions, 191 Jeppe Street, Johannesburg

Respondent

Changing Tides Properties 74 (Pty) Ltd

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Appeal From South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

  1. 1 Whether a mandamus obliging municipal functionaries to ensure compliance with court orders is competent and appropriate.
  2. 2 Whether the reporting order imposed by the court a quo exceeded the issues before the court and infringed the principle of separation of powers.
  3. 3 Whether the City and its functionaries were properly joined and procedurally prejudiced.

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court of Appeal held that a mandamus against municipal functionaries is competent and appropriate where they are statutorily responsible for ensuring compliance with court orders. The functionaries were not prejudiced by their joinder in the enforcement application, as the need for their involvement only arose after the City's persistent non-compliance. The principle of public accountability, enshrined in the Constitution and relevant statutes, justifies such orders to ensure effective implementation of judicial decisions. However, the reporting order imposed by the court a quo was set aside as it exceeded the scope of the dispute and infringed the separation of powers by...

Court Disposition

Appeal succeeds only to the extent that paragraph 2 of the order of the court a quo is set aside. The appellants are ordered to pay the costs of the appeal, including the costs of two counsel where so employed.

Orders

  • Paragraph 2 of the order of the court a quo is set aside.
  • The appellants are ordered to pay the costs of the appeal, including the costs of two counsel where so employed.