Februarie and Others v Phillips and Others (009/2023EC) [2024] ZAEC 2 (22 February 2024)

Februarie and Others v Phillips and Others (009/2023EC) [2024] ZAEC 2 (22 February 2024)

The court found that the Constitution of the Siyathemba Community Movement (SCM) clearly provided for the first District Management (DM) structure to govern for a two-year term following its installation at the founding meeting. The applicants' interpretation that the DM was merely an interim structure was incorrect and contradicted the express wording of the Constitution. The meetings and structures established by the applicants after the local government elections were unlawful, invalid, and of no force and effect, as they disregarded the binding agreement among the founding members. Furthermore, the SCM, as a registered political party, had a direct and substantial interest in the...

Citation
[2024] ZAEC 2
Parties
Applicant: Ronald John Februarie; Applicant: Mandisi Neels; Applicant: Maria Lottering; Applicant: Geraldine De Wee; Applicant: George Plaatjies; Applicant: Danny Jonas; Applicant: Piet Olyn; Applicant: Jacobus Special Nokayi; Applicant: Wayne Lubbe; Applicant: Andrew Nel; Applicant: Ghonni Booysen; Applicant: Heloise Hurst; Applicant: Lu-Whelin Bunet Vass; Applicant: Petrus Lottering; Applicant: Maureen Van Staden; Applicant: Caroline Bonn; Applicant: Sandra Riet; Applicant: Collin Bostander; Applicant: Helnita Spies; Applicant: Hendrika Lottering; Applicant: Frank Andreas; Applicant: Ida Gainsford; Applicant: Martha Kock; Applicant: Delphia Visagie; Applicant: Eggie Swarts; Applicant: Stephanie Swarts; Applicant: Marinda Webb; Applicant: Elmarie Botha; Applicant: Cizelle Van Staden; Applicant: Lynette George; Applicant: Stefanis Madjiet; Applicant: Eben Farao; Applicant: Julian Thys; Applicant: Mieta De Bruin; Applicant: Frederick De Bruin; Applicant: Hannie George; Applicant: Dorothy Hinoria Block; Applicant: Christopher Somanzi; Applicant: Nombongo Rogedine Botha; Applicant: Magraret Joyce Phillips; Applicant: Jack Louw; Applicant: Falicity Malgas; Applicant: Eveline George; Applicant: Elizabeth Kortman; Applicant: Cynthia Coetzee; Applicant: Cindy Links; Applicant: Jan Ludick; Applicant: Katriena Bitterbos; Applicant: Madelien Bitterbos; Applicant: Magrieta Witbooi; Applicant: Maneulle Maarman; Applicant: Melvin Zimaandie; Applicant: Chamilla Guest; Applicant: Bernadette Adams; Applicant: George Van Wyk; Applicant: Levonia Ludick; Applicant: Poppie Roos; Applicant: Victoria Lottering; Applicant: Rikus Adams; Applicant: Vuyiswa Victoria Mohlawudi; Applicant: Martin David Grasvoet; Respondent: Johan Andrew Phillips; Respondent: Chumisa Mooi; Respondent: Sylvia Mooi; Respondent: Solly Bibi; Respondent: Ricardo Booyse; Respondent: Ralph Steenkamp; Respondent: Lesley Nel; Respondent: Dimon Jantjies; Respondent: Independent Electoral Commission
Court
Electoral Court
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Judgment Date
22 February 2024
Case Number
009/2023EC
Procedural Posture
Review Application / Opposed Application for Declaratory and Interdictory Relief
Outcome
Application dismissed with no order as to costs.
Judges
Zondi JA, Shongwe AJ, Adams AJ, Professor Phooko
Legal Topics
Electoral Commission Act, Party Membership Dispute, Interpretation of Constitution, Non Joinder, Declaratory Relief
Administrative Law Constitutional Law Electoral Commission Act Party Membership Dispute Interpretation of Constitution Non Joinder Declaratory Relief

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 5 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Ronald John Februarie

Applicant

Mandisi Neels

Applicant

Maria Lottering

Applicant

Geraldine De Wee

Applicant

George Plaatjies

Applicant

Danny Jonas

Applicant

Piet Olyn

Applicant

Jacobus Special Nokayi

Applicant

Wayne Lubbe

Applicant

Andrew Nel

Applicant

Ghonni Booysen

Applicant

Heloise Hurst

Applicant

Lu-Whelin Bunet Vass

Applicant

Petrus Lottering

Applicant

Maureen Van Staden

Applicant

Caroline Bonn

Applicant

Sandra Riet

Applicant

Collin Bostander

Applicant

Helnita Spies

Applicant

Hendrika Lottering

Applicant

Frank Andreas

Applicant

Ida Gainsford

Applicant

Martha Kock

Applicant

Delphia Visagie

Applicant

Eggie Swarts

Applicant

Stephanie Swarts

Applicant

Marinda Webb

Applicant

Elmarie Botha

Applicant

Cizelle Van Staden

Applicant

Lynette George

Applicant

Stefanis Madjiet

Applicant

Eben Farao

Applicant

Julian Thys

Applicant

Mieta De Bruin

Applicant

Frederick De Bruin

Applicant

Hannie George

Applicant

Dorothy Hinoria Block

Applicant

Christopher Somanzi

Applicant

Nombongo Rogedine Botha

Applicant

Magraret Joyce Phillips

Applicant

Jack Louw

Applicant

Falicity Malgas

Applicant

Eveline George

Applicant

Elizabeth Kortman

Applicant

Cynthia Coetzee

Applicant

Cindy Links

Applicant

Jan Ludick

Applicant

Katriena Bitterbos

Applicant

Madelien Bitterbos

Applicant

Magrieta Witbooi

Applicant

Maneulle Maarman

Applicant

Melvin Zimaandie

Applicant

Chamilla Guest

Applicant

Bernadette Adams

Applicant

George Van Wyk

Applicant

Levonia Ludick

Applicant

Poppie Roos

Applicant

Victoria Lottering

Applicant

Rikus Adams

Applicant

Vuyiswa Victoria Mohlawudi

Applicant

Martin David Grasvoet

Applicant

Johan Andrew Phillips

Respondent

Chumisa Mooi

Respondent

Sylvia Mooi

Respondent

Solly Bibi

Respondent

Ricardo Booyse

Respondent

Ralph Steenkamp

Respondent

Lesley Nel

Respondent

Dimon Jantjies

Respondent

Independent Electoral Commission

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Review Application / Opposed Application for Declaratory and Interdictory Relief

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the applicants are entitled to declaratory and interdictory relief regarding the leadership and structures of the Siyathemba Community Movement.
  2. 2 Whether the Constitution of the SCM was properly interpreted and applied by the applicants.
  3. 3 Whether the point in limine of non-joinder of the SCM as a party is valid and dispositive.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the Constitution of the Siyathemba Community Movement (SCM) clearly provided for the first District Management (DM) structure to govern for a two-year term following its installation at the founding meeting. The applicants' interpretation that the DM was merely an interim structure was incorrect and contradicted the express wording of the Constitution. The meetings and structures established by the applicants after the local government elections were unlawful, invalid, and of no force and effect, as they disregarded the binding agreement among the founding members. Furthermore, the SCM, as a registered political party, had a direct and substantial interest in the...

Court Disposition

Application dismissed with no order as to costs.

Orders

  • The applicants’ application is dismissed.
  • No order as to costs.