South Africa Case Law

Special Investigating Unit v Zakheni Strategic Supplies (Pty) Ltd and Others (GP09/2021)

Special Investigating Unit v Zakheni Strategic Supplies (Pty) Ltd and Others (GP09/2021) [2025] ZAST 12 (23 July 2025)

Court

Special Tribunal

Case number

GP09/2021

Judge

A H Petersen

The Special Tribunal dismissed the SIU’s contempt application, finding it had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the respondents acted wilfully and mala fide.

• Civil Contempt
• Wilfulness And Mala Fides
• Jurisdiction Of Tribunal
• Compliance With Court Orders
• Civil-contempt
• Wilfulness-and-mala-fides

Deacon Trust and Another v Ngwenya (LCC114/2008)

Deacon Trust and Another v Ngwenya (LCC114/2008) [2025] ZALCC 21 (29 May 2025)

Court

Land Claims Court

Case number

LCC114/2008

Judge

SJ Cowen

The Land Claims Court ordered compliance with an earlier land-vacation order, but declined civil contempt relief, finding wilfulness made out yet mala fides not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

• Restitution Of Land Rights Act
• Civil Contempt
• Compliance Orders
• Condonation
• Service Of Process
• Civil-contempt

Association of Mineworkers Construction Union obo Fakude v NI-DA Transport (Pty) Ltd and Others (D788/2019)

Association of Mineworkers Construction Union obo Fakude v NI-DA Transport (Pty) Ltd and Others (D788/2019) [2025] ZALCD 19 (19 May 2025)

Court

Labour Court Durban

Case number

D788/2019

Judge

Whitcher

The court found that at least 58 employees properly tendered their services within the ten-day period stipulated in the certified arbitration award. The respondents' challenge to the authenticity of the tender list was unpersuasive, and the director's authority to enforce compliance was reasonably inferred and unchallenged. The respondents' obligation to reinstate crystallized after the exhaustion of all legal remedies, specifically after the Constitutional Court dismissed their appeal. Their failure to take proactive steps to reinstate employees post-appeal constituted wilful non-compliance…

Source excerpt

• Civil Contempt
• Certified Arbitration Award
• Reinstatement
• Wilful Non Compliance
• Burden Of Proof
• Director Liability

Yabo v Rhodes University and Another (2489A/2024)

Yabo v Rhodes University and Another (2489A/2024) [2025] ZAECMKHC 18 (20 February 2025)

Court

Eastern Cape High Court, Makhanda

Case number

2489A/2024

Judge

Roberson

The High Court dismissed an application to hold Rhodes University in contempt and refused to order admission for 2025. It found no wilful non-compliance with the 2024 order.

• Civil Contempt
• University Admission
• Vexatious Proceedings Act
• Costs Order
• Civil-contempt
• University-admission

M.O v R.O (15617/2022)

M.O v R.O (15617/2022) [2025] ZAWCHC 37 (27 January 2025)

Court

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Case number

15617/2022

Judge

P. S. Van Zyl

The court dismissed a contempt application over Rule 43 non-compliance, found a material change in circumstances, and varied interim maintenance obligations.

• Rule 43 Variation
• Civil Contempt
• Interim Maintenance
• Material Change In Circumstances
• Costs In Interlocutory Applications
• Rule-43-variation

Erf 7 [ ... ] Robindale Five (Pty) Limited v City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (2024/136466; 2023/077080; 2020/15428)

Erf 7 [ ... ] Robindale Five (Pty) Limited v City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (2024/136466; 2023/077080; 2020/15428) [2025] ZAGPJHC 30; [2025] 2 All SA 162 (GJ) (6 January 2025)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

2024/136466; 2023/077080; 2020/15428

Judge

Badenhorst AJ

Three urgent Johannesburg utility-disconnection disputes were consolidated. The court granted interdicts, found contempt in one matter, and ordered punitive costs.

• Municipal Billing Disputes
• Abuse Of Power
• Procedural Fairness
• Utility Disconnection
• Civil Contempt
• Costs Punitive Scale

Verwey v Minister of Police and Others (2024/104069)

Verwey v Minister of Police and Others (2024/104069) [2024] ZAGPPHC 1209 (22 November 2024)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

2024/104069

Judge

K Strydom

The High Court dismissed leave to appeal and contempt, but granted urgent section 18(3) relief making the firearms-return order immediately executable.

• Urgent Interdict
• Rei Vindicatio
• Spoliation
• Civil Contempt
• Superior Courts Act Section 18
• Doctrine Of Legality

African National Congress and Others v Schreiber (2024/023832)

African National Congress and Others v Schreiber (2024/023832) [2024] ZAGPJHC 996 (4 October 2024)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

2024/023832

Judge

B C Wanless

The High Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal against a contempt judgment, finding no prospects of a different result and awarding punitive costs.

• Leave To Appeal
• Civil Contempt
• Costs Award
• Punitive Costs
• Burden Of Proof
• Leave-to-appeal

E.V.A v J.V.A (17286/2017)

E.V.A v J.V.A (17286/2017) [2024] ZAWCHC 299 (18 September 2024)

Court

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Case number

17286/2017

Judge

Andrews

The court found the respondent in contempt for non-payment of maintenance, held the order remained enforceable, and referred the matter to the Maintenance Court.

• Maintenance Order Enforcement
• Civil Contempt
• Variation Of Court Order
• Costs Award
• Maintenance Act Application
• Civil-contempt

R.K v I.K (17760/2019)

R.K v I.K (17760/2019) [2024] ZAWCHC 306 (20 June 2024)

Court

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Case number

17760/2019

Judge

Andrews

The court adjourned a writ-of-commitment application in a maintenance contempt matter, seeking further reports on insolvency and correctional supervision.

• Maintenance Orders
• Civil Contempt
• Correctional Supervision
• Sequestration
• Rule 43 Proceedings
• Civil-contempt