Schoonhoven N.O and Others v Schoonhoven and Others (7608/2020) [2024] ZAKZPHC 1; [2024] 2 All SA 250 (KZP); 2024 (4) SA 240 (KZP) (19 January 2024)

Schoonhoven N.O and Others v Schoonhoven and Others (7608/2020) [2024] ZAKZPHC 1; [2024] 2 All SA 250 (KZP); 2024 (4) SA 240 (KZP) (19 January 2024)

The court found that the trust deed is explicit in granting trustees discretion to select income beneficiaries, but is silent regarding any power to select capital beneficiaries. The definition of capital beneficiaries in the trust deed presupposes selection from specified categories, but does not state who is to make the selection. The deceased's will exercised the testamentary reservation to prescribe equal division among capital beneficiaries but did not identify them by name, relying on the trust deed's definition. The applicants' interpretation, seeking to import a discretionary power for trustees to determine capital beneficiaries, is not supported by the wording, context, or...

Citation
[2024] ZAKZPHC 1
Parties
Applicant: Samuel Alfred Schoonhoven N.O.; Applicant: Johannes Frans Alfonsies Schoonhoven N.O.; Applicant: Jean Johannes Schoonhoven N.O.; Applicant: Frans Riaan Marx N.O.; Respondent: Pieter Cornelius Antonius Schoonhoven; Respondent: Nanette Venter; Respondent: Antoine Schoonhoven; Respondent: Johannes Bernardus Alphonsus Schoonhoven; Respondent: Bregda Elizabeth Schoonhoven; Respondent: Chanel Veater; Respondent: Mariska Mouton; Respondent: Alfons Schoonhoven; Respondent: Anje Schoonhoven; Respondent: Jane Schoonhoven; Respondent: The Master of the High Court, Pietermaritzburg; Respondent: Lindie Odendaal
Court
Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Judgment Date
19 January 2024
Case Number
7608/2020
Procedural Posture
Civil Application / Final Judgment
Outcome
Application dismissed with costs.
Judges
E Bezuidenhout
Legal Topics
Trust Deed Interpretation, Declaratory Relief, Testamentary Directives, Rectification of Instruments
Land and Property Civil Procedure Trust Deed Interpretation Declaratory Relief Testamentary Directives Rectification of Instruments

Case Brief

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Parties

Samuel Alfred Schoonhoven N.O.

Applicant

Johannes Frans Alfonsies Schoonhoven N.O.

Applicant

Jean Johannes Schoonhoven N.O.

Applicant

Frans Riaan Marx N.O.

Applicant

Pieter Cornelius Antonius Schoonhoven

Respondent

Nanette Venter

Respondent

Antoine Schoonhoven

Respondent

Johannes Bernardus Alphonsus Schoonhoven

Respondent

Bregda Elizabeth Schoonhoven

Respondent

Chanel Veater

Respondent

Mariska Mouton

Respondent

Alfons Schoonhoven

Respondent

Anje Schoonhoven

Respondent

Jane Schoonhoven

Respondent

The Master of the High Court, Pietermaritzburg

Respondent

Lindie Odendaal

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Application / Final Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the trustees of the Schoonies Familie Trust have the discretion to determine the capital beneficiaries upon termination of the trust.
  2. 2 Whether the trust deed and the deceased's will confer a power of selection on the trustees regarding capital beneficiaries.
  3. 3 Whether the declaratory relief sought amounts to rectification of the trust deed, which should be pursued by action rather than application.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the trust deed is explicit in granting trustees discretion to select income beneficiaries, but is silent regarding any power to select capital beneficiaries. The definition of capital beneficiaries in the trust deed presupposes selection from specified categories, but does not state who is to make the selection. The deceased's will exercised the testamentary reservation to prescribe equal division among capital beneficiaries but did not identify them by name, relying on the trust deed's definition. The applicants' interpretation, seeking to import a discretionary power for trustees to determine capital beneficiaries, is not supported by the wording, context, or...

Court Disposition

Application dismissed with costs.

Orders

  • The application is dismissed with costs.