Wilge Hervormde Gemeente and Others v Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Van Afrika and Another (5167/2016) [2021] ZAGPPHC 329 (13 May 2021)

Wilge Hervormde Gemeente and Others v Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Van Afrika and Another (5167/2016) [2021] ZAGPPHC 329 (13 May 2021)

The court found that the Litigation Committee did not act beyond its mandate. The Commission of the NHKA took the decision to litigate and was authorised by the General Church Meeting to do so. The Litigation Committee was tasked with the day-to-day management of litigation, not with discretionary decision-making. The Commission and GCM were kept informed and ratified all actions taken. The rule 7 application disputing the attorney's authority was dismissed as fatally late and prejudicial, given the history and costs incurred. The NHKA had the necessary locus standi to litigate, and its attorney was properly authorised. The application and point in limine were dismissed with costs, and...

Citation
[2021] ZAGPPHC 329
Parties
Plaintiff: Die Wilge Hervormde Gemeente; Plaintiff: Die Wilge Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Grootvlei; Plaintiff: Die Gemeenskap van Gelowiges Grootvlei; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Koster; Plaintiff: Die Diamant Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Meyerspark; Plaintiff: Meyerspark Christelike Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Noordelike Pietersburg; Plaintiff: Ysterberg Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Schweizer-Reneke; Plaintiff: Hervormde Kerk Vereniging Schweizer-Reneke; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Premiermyn; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Pretoria Tuine; Plaintiff: Saamstaan Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Theresapark; Plaintiff: Theresapark Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Rustenburg; Plaintiff: Rustenburg Christelike Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Vrede; Plaintiff: NH Vrede Eiendomsvereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Dendron/Vivo; Plaintiff: De Loskop/Blouberg Vereniging; Plaintiff: Hervormde Gemeente Oostelike Pietersburg; Plaintiff: Moregloed Hulpvereniging; Defendant: Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Van Afrika; Defendant: Die Registrateur van Aktes, Pretoria
Court
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Judgment Date
13 May 2021
Case Number
5167/2016
Procedural Posture
Civil Application / Application and Point in Limine Regarding Authority to Litigate
Outcome
Application and point in limine dismissed with costs. NHKA ordered to pay wasted costs from trial postponement.
Judges
N Janse Van Nieuwenhuizen
Legal Topics
Locus Standi, Authority of Attorney, Church Constitution, Delegation of Powers
Civil Procedure Commercial and Corporate Locus Standi Authority of Attorney Church Constitution Delegation of Powers

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 2 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Die Wilge Hervormde Gemeente

Plaintiff

Die Wilge Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Grootvlei

Plaintiff

Die Gemeenskap van Gelowiges Grootvlei

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Koster

Plaintiff

Die Diamant Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Meyerspark

Plaintiff

Meyerspark Christelike Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Noordelike Pietersburg

Plaintiff

Ysterberg Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Schweizer-Reneke

Plaintiff

Hervormde Kerk Vereniging Schweizer-Reneke

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Premiermyn

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Pretoria Tuine

Plaintiff

Saamstaan Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Theresapark

Plaintiff

Theresapark Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Rustenburg

Plaintiff

Rustenburg Christelike Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Vrede

Plaintiff

NH Vrede Eiendomsvereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Dendron/Vivo

Plaintiff

De Loskop/Blouberg Vereniging

Plaintiff

Hervormde Gemeente Oostelike Pietersburg

Plaintiff

Moregloed Hulpvereniging

Plaintiff

Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Van Afrika

Defendant

Die Registrateur van Aktes, Pretoria

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Application / Application and Point in Limine Regarding Authority to Litigate

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Litigation Committee of the NHKA was authorised to instruct attorneys to defend the action and institute a counterclaim.
  2. 2 Whether the rule 7 application disputing the authority of the NHKA's attorney was fatally late.
  3. 3 Whether the Commission of the NHKA could delegate its powers to a sub-committee for litigation purposes.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the Litigation Committee did not act beyond its mandate. The Commission of the NHKA took the decision to litigate and was authorised by the General Church Meeting to do so. The Litigation Committee was tasked with the day-to-day management of litigation, not with discretionary decision-making. The Commission and GCM were kept informed and ratified all actions taken. The rule 7 application disputing the attorney's authority was dismissed as fatally late and prejudicial, given the history and costs incurred. The NHKA had the necessary locus standi to litigate, and its attorney was properly authorised. The application and point in limine were dismissed with costs, and...

Court Disposition

Application and point in limine dismissed with costs. NHKA ordered to pay wasted costs from trial postponement.

Orders

  • The application and point in limine are dismissed with costs.
  • The first defendant is ordered to pay the wasted costs occasioned by the postponement of the trial in October 2020.