Ndebele v Road Accident Fund (11404/2022) [2025] ZAGPJHC 557 (13 May 2025)
The court found that the expert evidence submitted in support of a quantifiable claim for future loss of income was not supported by factual evidence or relevant literature. The calculation of future loss of income was based on an unsupported assumption regarding the plaintiff's working life. However, the court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] ZAGPJHC 557
- Parties
- Applicant: Maxwell Ndebele; Respondent: Road Accident Fund
- Court
- South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Case Number
- 11404/2022
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Claim / Quantification of Damages After Liability Conceded
- Outcome
- Application granted in part; damages awarded for impairment of earning capacity and undertaking for future medical expenses ordered.
- Judges
- Weideman
- Legal Topics
- Road Accident Fund Act, Future Loss of Income, Impairment of Earning Capacity, Expert Evidence, Quantification of Damages
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Maxwell Ndebele
Applicant
Road Accident Fund
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Claim / Quantification of Damages After Liability Conceded
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to compensation for future loss of income resulting from injuries sustained in a road accident.
- 2 Whether expert evidence supports a quantifiable claim for future loss of income.
- 3 Whether a lump sum for impairment of earning capacity is appropriate in the absence of actuarial quantification.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the expert evidence submitted in support of a quantifiable claim for future loss of income was not supported by factual evidence or relevant literature. The calculation of future loss of income was based on an unsupported assumption regarding the plaintiff's working life. However, the court accepted that the sequelae of the injury may impede the plaintiff's ability to compete freely in the employment market. In the absence of actuarial quantification, the court exercised its discretion to award a lump sum of R500 000 for impairment of future earning capacity. The court also granted the application for admission of medico-legal reports and ordered the respondent to...
Court Disposition
Application granted in part; damages awarded for impairment of earning capacity and undertaking for future medical expenses ordered.
Orders
- The plaintiff's application in terms of rule 38(2) is granted.
- The defendant shall pay the plaintiff the sum of R500 000 in respect of impairment of earning capacity.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
40 paragraphs
IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG LOCAL DIVISION, JOHANNESBURG
CASE NO: 11404/2022
DATE: 13-05-2025
(1) REPORTABLE: NO.
(2) OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: NO.
(3) REVISED.
In the matter between
MAXWELL NDEBELE
Applicant
and
ROAD ACCIDENT FUND
Respondent
JUDGMENT
WEIDEMAN, AJ: The collision from which this claim arose, occurred on 19 December 2019, at which stage the plaintiff, then a minor, was a pedestrian. The aspect of liability had previously been resolved through a concession by the defendant on 13 April 2022. The documentation in respect thereof appear on CaseLines 02-1.
In paragraph 7 of the particulars of claim the injuries are pleaded as follows:
1. fracture of the right clavicle;
2. multiple abrasions.
In paragraph 9 of the particulars of claim the claim is set out as follows:
Past medical expenses R5 000.
Future medical expenses R50 000.
Future loss of income R1 590 400.
General damages
R800 000.
At the commencement of the hearing of the matter, counsel indicated that the claim for past medical expenses had been abandoned and that the minor does not qualify for general damages. The remaining heads of damage of future medical expenses and future loss of income were before court.
The medico legal reports filed of record and which have been placed before court by way of a rule 38(2) application, moved from the bar, confirmed that future medical treatment may be required as a result of the sequelae of the injuries. An undertaking as is provided for in section 17(4)(a) of the Road Accident Fund Act follows.
The remaining question is that of potential future loss of income.
In this regard the caselaw in respect of the value of expert opinion is fairly well established, and the Supreme Court of Appeal, in many instances, indicated that an expert's opinion, or the value thereof, is directly linked to the factual foundation on which the opinion is based. Nevertheless, a court is never bound to the opinion of an expert. To the extent that the experts in this matter suggested that there may be a directly quantifiable future loss of income as a result of a fractured collarbone, the opinions are not accepted.
There is no factual basis to support such opinion, nor is there any reference to literature or any other research that might substantiate the position taken by the experts. Similarly, the calculation was done on the premise that the plaintiff would have worked until the age of 67.5. In enquiring from counsel as to whether there is any evidence to support this approach, the answer was in the negative.
Based on the evidence before this court, there is no quantifiable direct claim for future loss of income. Does that automatically imply that there is no claim per se? No, it does not. It may well be possible that the sequelae of the injury will impede the plaintiff's ability to freely offer his services in the employment market, but the value of such an impediment cannot be actuarially quantified.
A court has the ability to award a lump sum when no quantifiable figure is possible. To that extent and considering the available evidence and counsel's very able submissions from the bar, I have decided to exercise my discretion and award an amount of R500 000 as impairment of future earning capacity.
ORDER
My order reads as follows:
1. The plaintiff's application in terms of rule 38(2), is granted.
2. The defendant shall pay the plaintiff the sum of R500 000 in respect of impairment of earning capacity.
3. The defendant shall provide the plaintiff with an undertaking, as is provided for in section 17(4)(a) of the Road Accident Fund Act, for such future hospital, medical or ancillary expenses as the minor may require as a result of injuries sustained in the accident that occurred on 19 December 2019.
4. The plaintiff, having been substantially successful, is entitled to his party and party costs as taxed or agreed, including the cost of the medical legal reports filed off record and counsel's fees on scale B.
WEIDEMAN, AJ
JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT
DATE: ……………….