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South Africa Order

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Vusela Construction (Pty) Ltd v Volker and Others (13813/07) [2011] ZAWCHC 303 (29 July 2011)

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The court found that the applicants had satisfied the requirements for leave to serve third party notices on the Road Accident Fund under Uniform Rule 13(3)(b), as the Fund may be liable for a portion of the damages claimed in the main action. The court further held that leave should be granted to deliver apportionment notices in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956, to ensure that all potentially liable parties are properly notified and joined in the proceedings. The applicants were ordered to pay the costs of the application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action, jointly and severally.

Court disposition

Leave granted to serve third party and apportionment notices; costs awarded against applicants.

Orders

  • The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
  • The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
  • The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
  • The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
  • The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.

02

Material facts

Parties

Vusela Construction (Pty) Ltd

Applicant

Premier of the Western Cape

Applicant

Leonard Theodor Volker

Respondent

Johannes H Louw

Respondent

Road Accident Fund

Respondent

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil Application / Application for Leave to Serve Third Party Notice and Apportionment Notice

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The applicants argued that they are entitled to serve third party notices on the Road Accident Fund in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) and to deliver apportionment notices under Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956, as the Fund may be liable for a portion of the damages claimed in the main action. They submitted that procedural fairness and the interests of justice require that all potentially liable parties be joined and notified.
Respondent
The respondents opposed the application, contending that the applicants had not made out a proper case for the joinder of the Road Accident Fund and that the delivery of apportionment notices was premature or unnecessary. They further argued that the applicants should bear the costs of the application and any wasted costs in the main action.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Uniform Rule 13(3)(b)

    A party may serve a third party notice with leave of the court under Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) where it appears that another party may be liable to contribute to or indemnify against any judgment.

  2. 02

    Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956)

    Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 permits a defendant to deliver a notice to any person alleged to be liable for a portion of the damages, with leave of the court.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the applicants had satisfied the requirements for leave to serve third party notices on the Road Accident Fund under Uniform Rule 13(3)(b), as the Fund may be liable for a portion of the damages claimed in the main action. The court further held that leave should be granted to deliver apportionment notices in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956, to ensure that all potentially liable parties are properly notified and joined in the proceedings. The applicants were ordered to pay the costs of the application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action, jointly and severally.

Court disposition

Leave granted to serve third party and apportionment notices; costs awarded against applicants.

  • The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
  • The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
  • The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
  • The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
  • The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.

Source and reliance status

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

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Judgment text

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Source document

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Order

[2011] ZAWCHC 303

Republic of South Africa

IN THE HIGH COURT OF

SOUTH AFRICA

(WESTERN CAPE HIGH COURT, CAPE TOWN)

Case Number: 13813/07

In the matter of:

VUSELA CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD ….......................................................First Applicant

and

LEONARD

THEODOR VOLKER …............................................................First Respondent

THE

PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE ….......................................Second Respondent

JOHANNES

H LOUW …............................................................................Third Respondent

THE

ROAD ACCIDENT FUND …............................................................Fourth Respondent

PREMIER

OF THE WESTERN CAPE …....................................................Second Applicant

VUSELA CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD ….............................................Second Respondent

In re:

LEONARD

THEODOR VOLKER …............................................................................Plaintiff

And

THE

PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE …........................................First Respondent

JOHANNES

H LOUW …................................................................................Third Defendant

Order MIA (AJ) Having regard to all the above the following orders are made: 1. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.

2. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.

3. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.

4. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act. 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.

5. The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondents wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.

MIA AJ 29 July 2011

Order

MIA (AJ)

Having regard to all the above the following orders are made:

1. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.

2. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.

3. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.

4. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act. 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.

5. The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondents wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.

MIA AJ

29 July 2011

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Uniform Rule 13(3)(b)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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