Dlodlo v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Another (16306/2022) [2023] ZAGPJHC 28 (19 January 2023)
The court found that the application before it was impermissible as the same matter had already been decided by Motojane J under a different case number, and the applicant had failed to appeal or review that judgment. The principle of res judicata applied, and the applicant could not circumvent the previous order by...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] ZAGPJHC 28
- Parties
- Appellant: Molefe Rufaro Mthulisi Dlodlo; Respondent: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development; Respondent: Rules Board for Courts of Law
- Court
- South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Case Number
- 16306/2022
- Procedural Posture
- Leave to Appeal / Application for Leave to Appeal
- Outcome
- Application for leave to appeal dismissed with costs.
- Judges
- Dlamini
- Legal Topics
- Res Judicata, Leave to Appeal, Costs Order
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Molefe Rufaro Mthulisi Dlodlo
Appellant
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
Respondent
Rules Board for Courts of Law
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Leave to Appeal / Application for Leave to Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the application before the court is barred by the principle of res judicata.
- 2 Whether there are reasonable prospects that another court would come to a different conclusion.
- 3 Whether the applicant is entitled to leave to appeal given the previous dismissal of a similar application.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the application before it was impermissible as the same matter had already been decided by Motojane J under a different case number, and the applicant had failed to appeal or review that judgment. The principle of res judicata applied, and the applicant could not circumvent the previous order by enrolling the same application anew. Furthermore, the applicant did not demonstrate reasonable prospects that another court would reach a different conclusion, as required by section 17 of the Superior Courts Act. Accordingly, the application for leave to appeal was dismissed with costs.
Court Disposition
Application for leave to appeal dismissed with costs.
Orders
- The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
39 paragraphs
IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG LOCAL DIVISION, JOHANNESBURG
CASE NO: 16306/2022
REPORTABLE: NO
OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: NO
REVISED
19 JANUARY 2023
In the matter between:
MOLEFE RUFARO MTHULISI DLODLO Appellant
and
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1st
Respondent
THE RULES BOARD FOR COURTS OF LAW 2nd Respondent
Coram: Dlamini J
Date of hearing: 24 November 2022 – in a ‘virtual Hearing’ during a videoconference on Microsoft Teams digital platform.
Date of delivery of reasons: 19 January 2022
This judgment is deemed to have been delivered electronically by circulation to the parties’ representatives via email and shall be uploaded onto the caselines system.
JUDGMENT
DLAMINI J
[1] This an application for leave to appeal my judgment that I handed down on 19 October 2022.
[2] It is common cause that when the matter came before me, the parties agreed that only the point in limine of res judica should be argued as this will the effect of disposing the matter without dealing with the merits thereof.
[3] The numb of the issue was whether Judge Motojane had already made a ruling dismissing a similar application seeking the same ordes against the same parties under case number 2018/ 16715. Justice Matojane dismissed this application with a punitive costs order. Instead of appealing Matojane J’s order, the applicant brought the same application before me under a different case number.
[4] It is trite that for an application for leave to appeal to be successful it is required of the parties seeking such leave to demonstrate that there are reasonable prospects that another Court will come to a different conclusion to that reached in the judgment that is sought to be taken on appeal.
[5] The provisions of section 17 of the Supreme Court Act has now elevated the test to be applied for granting of leave to appeal. The use of the word “would” when considering the prospects of success in section 17 (1)(a)(i) , now imposes a more stringent and vigorous threshold.
[6] I have read the heads of argument and heard and submissions both parties .
[7] It is my considered view there is no ambiguity in Motojane J’s judgment ,unless it is reviewed, appealed and set aside, the judgment remains valid and should be followed. It is therefore impermissilble for the applicant, to enroll the same application under a different case number instead of appealing Matojane’s order.
For all the reasons stated above and in my judgment, I make the following order:
ORDER
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs
JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
Date of hearing: 24 November 2022
Delivered: 19 January 2023
For the Applicants: Adv AJ Venter
Email: ajventer@law.co.za
Instructed by: Martins Weir-Smith
For theRespondent: SG Dos Santos
Email: suzydsantos@gmail.com
Instructed by: James Bush