Standard Bank of South Africa Limited v Troskie Consultants (Pty) Ltd and Another (2023/012036) [2025] ZAGPJHC 664 (8 July 2025)

Standard Bank of South Africa Limited v Troskie Consultants (Pty) Ltd and Another (2023/012036) [2025] ZAGPJHC 664 (8 July 2025)

The court found that the applicant and first respondent entered into seven instalment sale agreements, which the first respondent breached by failing to make payments. The respondent’s defence that the applicant’s omission of VAT numbers and addresses caused SARS to reject VAT claims, thereby making performance...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2025] ZAGPJHC 664
Parties
Applicant: Standard Bank of South Africa Limited; Respondent: Troskie Consultants (Pty) Ltd; Respondent: Conrad Troskie
Court
South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
2023/012036
Procedural Posture
Urgent Application / Application for Confirmation of Cancellation and Return of Assets
Outcome
Application granted; agreements cancelled; assets to be returned; costs awarded to applicant.
Judges
T Engelbrecht
Legal Topics
Instalment Sale Agreements, Contract Cancellation, Specific Performance, Duty of Care, Dispute of Fact
Commercial and Corporate Civil Procedure Instalment Sale Agreements Contract Cancellation Specific Performance Duty of Care Dispute of Fact

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Parties

Standard Bank of South Africa Limited

Applicant

Troskie Consultants (Pty) Ltd

Respondent

Conrad Troskie

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Urgent Application / Application for Confirmation of Cancellation and Return of Assets

  1. 1 Whether the applicant is responsible for the first respondent’s breach of various instalment sale agreements.
  2. 2 Whether the applicant’s alleged conduct made it impossible for the first respondent to perform its obligations under the instalment sale agreements.
  3. 3 Whether such impossibility is subjective and relative or objective and absolute.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the applicant and first respondent entered into seven instalment sale agreements, which the first respondent breached by failing to make payments. The respondent’s defence that the applicant’s omission of VAT numbers and addresses caused SARS to reject VAT claims, thereby making performance impossible, was rejected. The agreements did not make payment conditional on VAT refunds, and the respondent was responsible for ensuring correct information was included. The court held that any impossibility was subjective and self-created, not objective. Payments were made for a substantial period, and evidence showed SARS deposits were received but not used to remedy arrears....

Court Disposition

Application granted; agreements cancelled; assets to be returned; costs awarded to applicant.

Orders

  • Condonation is granted for the late filing of the Answering Affidavit of the First Respondent.
  • The cancellation of the agreements entered into between the applicant and the first respondent is confirmed.