South Africa Case Law

Astral Operations Ltd t/a Early Bird Farm v O'Farrell N.O and Others (13794/2011)

Astral Operations Ltd t/a Early Bird Farm v O'Farrell N.O and Others (13794/2011) [2020] ZAKZDHC 62; [2021] 1 All SA 350 (KZD) (20 November 2020)

Court

Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Durban

Case number

13794/2011

Judge

Olsen

The court held that “usual price” meant Astral’s weekly mandate price, not the best price or all rebates given to others. Nambitha’s counterclaim failed.

• Contract Interpretation
• Trade Usage
• Sale Of Goods
• Credit Agreements
• Counterclaim Dismissal
• Contract-interpretation

Pure Event Gear CC v Oratilwe Consultants CC t/a Exclusive Management Services (2015/31003)

Pure Event Gear CC v Oratilwe Consultants CC t/a Exclusive Management Services (2015/31003) [2016] ZAGPJHC 80 (29 April 2016)

Court

South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg

Case number

2015/31003

Judge

L Adams

The High Court granted final liquidation after finding the respondent’s debt of R814,970 was due and payable, and rejecting a claimed payment-deferral usage.

• Close Corporation Liquidation
• Commercial Insolvency
• Contractual Interpretation
• Trade Usage
• Payment Terms
• Close-corporation-liquidation

Emadyl Industries CC t/a Raydon Industries v Formex Industries (Pty) Ltd t/a Formex Engineering (1699/09)

Emadyl Industries CC t/a Raydon Industries v Formex Industries (Pty) Ltd t/a Formex Engineering (1699/09) [2011] ZAECPEHC 58; 2012 (4) SA 29 (ECP) (20 December 2011)

Court

Eastern Cape High Court, Port Elizabeth

Case number

1699/09

Judge

J W Eksteen

The High Court held that the defendant repudiated an oral supply contract and must pay damages for completed components and raw material on hand.

• Breach Of Contract
• Repudiation
• Trade Usage
• Quantification Of Damages
• Impossibility Of Performance
• Breach-of-contract

Msunduzi Municipality v Telkom SA Limited (6923/2004)

Msunduzi Municipality v Telkom SA Limited (6923/2004) [2009] ZAKZPHC 7 (17 March 2009)

Court

Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg

Case number

6923/2004

Judges

Msimang, Tshabalala

The High Court dismissed Msunduzi Municipality’s appeal over damage to Telkom’s underground cable, holding the municipality failed to comply with the wayleave procedure and was negligent.

• Negligence
• Onus Of Proof
• Apportionment Of Damages Act
• Trade Usage
• Wayleave Procedure
• Onus-of-proof

Distell Beperk v Neethling (A460/2006)

Distell Beperk v Neethling (A460/2006) [2007] ZAWCHC 11 (28 February 2007)

Court

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Case number

A460/2006

Judges

Blignault, Fourie, Allie

The court held that Distell failed to prove fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation about grape blocks 4 and 5 and could not cancel the whole contract.

• Rectification Of Contract
• Misrepresentation
• Divisibility Of Contract
• Cancellation Of Contract
• Trade Usage
• Contractual Performance

Barloworld Capital (Pty) Ltd t/a Barloworld Equipment Finance v Napier NO (509/04)

Barloworld Capital (Pty) Ltd t/a Barloworld Equipment Finance v Napier NO (509/04) [2006] ZASCA 47; [2007] 1 All SA 301 (SCA); 2006 (5) SA 384 (SCA) (30 March 2006)

Court

Supreme Court of Appeal

Case number

509/04

Judges

Howie, Zulman, Cameron, Navsa, Jafta

The Supreme Court of Appeal held that neither a contract nor a binding trade usage was established obliging the insurer to pay the seller before the insured. The evidence did not support the existence of a contract, as there was no request for notation on the policy and no acceptance or implementation by the insurer. The alleged trade usage did not extend to imposing a legal obligation on the insurer by mere awareness of the seller's interest, especially in the absence of consensus and in the face of opposition from the insured. The court distinguished the Marine and Trade Insurance case, fin…

Source excerpt

• Insurance Contracts
• Trade Usage
• Damages For Breach
• Third Party Rights