Kilbourn v Zwemstra N.O. and Others (24858/2020) [2023] ZAGPPHC 1938 (14 November 2023)

Kilbourn v Zwemstra N.O. and Others (24858/2020) [2023] ZAGPPHC 1938 (14 November 2023)

The court found that PAIA applies to trusts, as trustees are natural persons carrying on the business of the trust. However, the applicant's request for information was refused in 2016, and the application was brought four years later without condonation, rendering it fatally defective. The applicant was not a...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] ZAGPPHC 1938
Parties
Applicant: Elizabeth Kilbourn; Respondent: Pieter Zwemstra N.O.; Respondent: Pieter Zwemstra; Respondent: Jan Harm Smith N.O.; Respondent: Jan Harm Smith; Respondent: Johannes Hendrik Botha N.O.; Respondent: Johannes Hendrik Botha; Respondent: Albert Richard Monteith N.O.; Respondent: Albert Richard Monteith; Respondent: Sarel Rautenbach N.O.; Respondent: Sarel Rautenbach; Respondent: Johan Eric van der Bank N.O.; Respondent: Johan Eric van der Bank; Respondent: Marthinus Frederik Rudolph Geyser N.O.; Respondent: Marthinus Frederik Rudolph Geyser; Respondent: Veronica Watson; Respondent: Die Regspersoon van Zambesi Aftree-Oord; Respondent: Die Registrateur van Aktes, Pretoria; Respondent: Die Meester van die Hooggeregshof, Pretoria; Respondent: Die Landmeter-Generaal, Pretoria; Respondent: Community Schemes Ombud Service; Respondent: Cura Senwes (Pty) Ltd; Respondent: Zambezi Frail Care MSW; Respondent: Zambezi Retirement Village CC; Respondent: Sinvent Investments 214 (Pty) Ltd; Respondent: Geldenhuys Botha Inc; Respondent: Drie Herberge MSW; Respondent: Residentia Stigting; Respondent: Friedland-Hart, Solomon & Nicholson; Respondent: JL Williams
Court
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Judgment Date
14 November 2023
Case Number
24858/2020
Procedural Posture
Review Application / Final Judgment on Merits
Outcome
Application dismissed with costs on the attorney/client scale.
Judges
Swanepoel
Legal Topics
Sectional Titles Act, Trust Termination, Fiduciary Duties, Promotion of Access to Information Act, Appointment of Administrator, Declaratory Orders
Land and Property Civil Procedure Commercial and Corporate Sectional Titles Act Trust Termination Fiduciary Duties Promotion of Access to Information Act Appointment of Administrator +1 more

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Parties

Elizabeth Kilbourn

Applicant

Pieter Zwemstra N.O.

Respondent

Pieter Zwemstra

Respondent

Jan Harm Smith N.O.

Respondent

Jan Harm Smith

Respondent

Johannes Hendrik Botha N.O.

Respondent

Johannes Hendrik Botha

Respondent

Albert Richard Monteith N.O.

Respondent

Albert Richard Monteith

Respondent

Sarel Rautenbach N.O.

Respondent

Sarel Rautenbach

Respondent

Johan Eric van der Bank N.O.

Respondent

Johan Eric van der Bank

Respondent

Marthinus Frederik Rudolph Geyser N.O.

Respondent

Marthinus Frederik Rudolph Geyser

Respondent

Veronica Watson

Respondent

Die Regspersoon van Zambesi Aftree-Oord

Respondent

Die Registrateur van Aktes, Pretoria

Respondent

Die Meester van die Hooggeregshof, Pretoria

Respondent

Die Landmeter-Generaal, Pretoria

Respondent

Community Schemes Ombud Service

Respondent

Cura Senwes (Pty) Ltd

Respondent

Zambezi Frail Care MSW

Respondent

Zambezi Retirement Village CC

Respondent

Sinvent Investments 214 (Pty) Ltd

Respondent

Geldenhuys Botha Inc

Respondent

Drie Herberge MSW

Respondent

Residentia Stigting

Respondent

Friedland-Hart, Solomon & Nicholson

Respondent

JL Williams

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Review Application / Final Judgment on Merits

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) applies to trusts.
  2. 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to relief under PAIA despite late filing and lack of condonation.
  3. 3 Whether the trustees were entitled to terminate the Zambezi Frail Care Trust.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that PAIA applies to trusts, as trustees are natural persons carrying on the business of the trust. However, the applicant's request for information was refused in 2016, and the application was brought four years later without condonation, rendering it fatally defective. The applicant was not a beneficiary of the trust and lacked standing to enforce the trust deed or settlement agreements. The trustees were entitled to terminate the trust under clause 21, and the court found no basis to reinstate the trust or appoint new trustees. The High Court retains jurisdiction to appoint an administrator under s 16 of the STSM Act, but the applicant failed to demonstrate serious...

Court Disposition

Application dismissed with costs on the attorney/client scale.

Orders

  • The application is dismissed with costs on the attorney/client scale.