South Africa Case Law

Rohlig-Grindrod (Pty) Ltd vs Selemo Valley Farms (Pty) Ltd and Another (2023/115519; 2024/020392)

Rohlig-Grindrod (Pty) Ltd vs Selemo Valley Farms (Pty) Ltd and Another (2023/115519; 2024/020392) [2025] ZAGPJHC 317 (24 March 2025)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

2023/115519; 2024/020392

Judge

Swanepoel

The court granted summary judgment on unpaid services and provisionally wound up the respondent after finding the debt undisputed and commercial insolvency shown.

• Winding Up Of Company
• Summary Judgment
• Suretyship Formalities
• Contractual Terms And Conditions
• Commercial Insolvency
• Winding-up-of-company

Billion Property Developments v Nevzomark (Pty) Ltd and Another (2023/104985)

Billion Property Developments v Nevzomark (Pty) Ltd and Another (2023/104985) [2024] ZAGPPHC 1045 (13 October 2024)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

2023/104985

Judge

Amien

The High Court dismissed exceptions in a lease and suretyship dispute, holding that the second defendant’s initials satisfied signature requirements and jurisdiction was adequately pleaded.

• Exception To Particulars Of Claim
• Suretyship Formalities
• Lease Agreement
• Jurisdiction
• General Law Amendment Act
• Exception-to-particulars-of-claim

Firstrand Bank Limited v Initiative for Specialized Resource Management (Pty) Ltd and Others (046733/2023)

Firstrand Bank Limited v Initiative for Specialized Resource Management (Pty) Ltd and Others (046733/2023) [2024] ZAGPPHC 987 (26 September 2024)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

046733/2023

Judge

Williams

The court held that initials on a suretyship satisfied the signature requirement and condoned an omitted hearing date in the notice of motion, granting judgment.

• Suretyship Formalities
• Condonation Of Irregularity
• Notice Of Motion Requirements
• Joint And Several Liability
• Suretyship-formalities
• Notice-of-motion

Solum Civils (Pty) Ltd v Tiger Business Enterprises CC and Another (55947 /2022)

Solum Civils (Pty) Ltd v Tiger Business Enterprises CC and Another (55947 /2022) [2023] ZAGPJHC 1462 (14 December 2023)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

55947 /2022

Judge

Johann Gautschi AJ

The High Court granted provisional sentence against the first defendant on an acknowledgement of debt, but dismissed the claim against the surety.

• Acknowledgement Of Debt
• Liquid Document
• Suretyship Formalities
• Provisional Sentence
• Justus Error
• Interest On Judgment Debt

Africas Best Foods (Pty) Ltd v ED Food S.R.L and Another (2022/1245)

Africas Best Foods (Pty) Ltd v ED Food S.R.L and Another (2022/1245) [2023] ZAGPJHC 1112 (5 October 2023)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

2022/1245

Judge

Moorcroft

The High Court dismissed a joinder application against an Italian company, finding defective service, no jurisdiction over the peregrinus, and no basis for joinder.

• Joinder Of Parties
• Suretyship Formalities
• Indemnity
• Service Of Process
• Jurisdiction Over Peregrinus
• Joinder-of-parties

Legal Practice Council v Van Deventer (EL 2569/2021)

Legal Practice Council v Van Deventer (EL 2569/2021) [2022] ZAECMKHC 124 (29 November 2022)

Court

Eastern Cape High Court, Makhanda

Case number

EL 2569/2021

Judges

Hartle, Gqamana

The High Court found an attorney guilty of misconduct for witnessing a suretyship signature in the signatory’s absence and imposed a suspended suspension.

• Legal Practitioner Misconduct
• Attestation Of Signatures
• Suretyship Formalities
• Disciplinary Sanctions
• Legal-practitioner-misconduct
• Attestation-of-signatures

Omeda Trading CC v Goldendice Investments CC and Others (4147/2017)

Omeda Trading CC v Goldendice Investments CC and Others (4147/2017) [2020] ZAKZPHC 69 (13 November 2020)

Court

Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg

Case number

4147/2017

Judge

Bezuidenhout

The High Court refused provisional sentence on an acknowledgment of debt, finding the first defendant showed a probable defence and the sureties were not properly sued.

• Provisional Sentence
• Acknowledgment Of Debt
• Suretyship Formalities
• Appropriation Of Payments
• In Duplum Rule
• Provisional-sentence

Edan Vehicle And Asset Finance (Pty) Ltd v Orthosmart (Pty) Ltd and Another (47986/2012)

Edan Vehicle And Asset Finance (Pty) Ltd v Orthosmart (Pty) Ltd and Another (47986/2012) [2014] ZAGPPHC 291 (19 March 2014)

Court

North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

Case number

47986/2012

Judge

Pretorius

The court found that, applying the principles from the relevant authorities, the suretyship agreement in question, although not expressly naming the principal debtor in the relevant paragraph, sufficiently identifies the principal debtor and the underlying rental agreement by reference to the agreement number and particulars. The essential terms of the suretyship are ascertainable from the document and supporting evidence, and the second defendant did not dispute signing the document or receiving an explanation of its contents. The court held that extrinsic evidence may be used to clarify ide…

Source excerpt

• Suretyship Formalities
• Contract Enforcement
• Rectification
• Extrinsic Evidence
• Deed Of Suretyship