Makhethe Cleaning Services (Pty) Ltd v National University of Lesotho (C of A (CIV) 62 of 2011) [2012] LSCA 29 (27 April 2012)

IN THE COUR T OF AP PE AL OF LE S OTH O C OF A (CIV) NO. 6 2 / 2 0 1 1 In t h e m a t ter b etween : MAKHE THE CLE ANING SE R VICE S (P TY) LTD AP PE LLANT a n d NATIONAL UNIVE R S ITY OF LE S OTHO R E S P ONDE NT COR AM: RAMODIBE DI, P HOWIE , J A FARLAM, J A Hea r d : Deliver ed : 1 6 Ap r il 2 0 1 2 2 7 Ap r il 2 0 1 2 S UMMAR Y Pr a ct ice – Ap p lica t ion – d is p u t e of fa ct – ca s e r efer r ed for t r ia l. J UDGME NT F AR LAM, J A [1 ] Th e a p p ella n t in t h is ca s e, Ma k h et h e Clea n in g Ser vices (Pty) Ltd , b r ou gh t a n a p p lica tion in th e High Cou r t in J a n u a r y 2 0 0 9 s eek in g a n or d er : ‘(a ) Decla r in g th a t it h a s th e exclu s ive r igh t to ren d er clea n in g s er vices for a ll b u ild in gs on a ll th e ca m p u s es of th e Na tion a l th e fir s t res p on d en t, Un ivers ity of Les oth o; (b ) In ter d ictin g th e fir s t res p on d en t fr om s ign in g a n y n ew con tr a cts with oth er com p a n ies for th e clea n in g of its b u ild in gs on a ll its ca m p u s es ; In terd ictin g th e fir s t res p on d en t fr om ren ewin g (c) th e con tr a cts s ign ed with th ree oth er clea n in g com p a n ies , fou r th fir s t res p on d en ts , res p on d en t’s b u ild in gs on ce th e cu r ren t con tr a cts exp ire; a n d th ir d clea n in g of s econ d , th e th e for a n d th e (d ) Directin g th e fir s t res p on d en t [a n d th e oth er res p on d en ts if th ey op p os ed th e relief s ou gh t b y th e a p p ella n t] to p a y th e cos ts .’ [2 ] In t h e fou n d in g a ffid a vit ‘Ma p on tś o Ma t ob o, wh o is a d ir ector of t h e a p p ella n t , s a id t h a t in 2 0 0 2 t h e fir s t r es p on d en t a gr eed t o gr a n t to t h e a p p ella n t t h e exclu s ive r igh t r efer r ed t o in p a r a gr a p h (a ) of its n otice of m otion . S h e s a id t h a t in 2 0 0 2 t h e fir s t r es p on d en t d ecid ed to ter m in a te t h e s er vices of 3 6 of its em p loyees wh o wor k ed a s clea n er s a n d wer e em p loyed b y it a s ca s u a l la b ou r er s wit h n o p er m a n en t con tr a cts of em p loym en t a lt h ou gh t h ey h a d wor k ed for it for yea r s . Th e fir s t r es p on d en t , s h e s a id , p r om is ed t h es e em p loyees t h a t if t h ey for m ed a com p a n y it wou ld offer t h e com p a n y t h e exclu s ive r igh t to wh ich I h a ve r efer r ed . Th e fir s t r es p on d en t , s h e con tin u ed , a ls o offer ed t h e a ffect ed em p loyees b a s ic tr a in in g in t h e con d u ct of b u s in es s t h r ou gh its In s tit u te of E xtr a Mu r a l S t u d ies a n d h elp ed t h em t o in cor p or a t e t h e com p a n y a n d p r ovid ed it wit h its s ta r tin g ca p ita l t h a t wa s u s ed to b u y clea n in g equ ip m en t a n d m a t er ia ls . [3 ] S h e a p p en d ed a lis t of t h e for m er em p loyees of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t wh o s u b s cr ib ed t o t h e m em or a n d u m of a s s ocia tion of t h e com p a n y for m ed to give effect to t h e u n d er ta k in g m a d e b y t h e fir s t r es p on d en t . S h e s a id fu r t h er t h a t a fter t h e a p p ella n t wa s in cor p or a ted it r a tified t h e a gr eem en t . [4 ] In s u p p or t of t h es e a llega tion s s h e a n n exed a ffid a vits d ep os ed t o b y Dr . Tefet s o Mot h ib e, wh o wa s th e Vice Ch a n cellor of t h e u n iver s ity a t t h e tim e, a n d Dr . Nqos a Ma h a o, wh o wa s t h e u n iver s ity’s Pr o-Vice Ch a n cellor a t t h e tim e. Th ey b ot h con fir m ed wh a t s h e h a d s a id a b ou t t h e u n d er ta k in g given b y t h e u n iver s it y a n d t h e cir cu m s t a n ces in wh ich it wa s given . [5 ] In h is a ffid a vit Dr . Ma h a o s a id : ‘We ga ve on ly on e con d ition for th e com p a n y to en joy th e m on op oly of b ein g th e s ole p rovid er of clea n in g s ervices to th e u n iver s ity. Th a t con d ition wa s th a t th e p r ivileged m on op oly p r otection wou ld b e reviewed if th e com p a n y d elivered s ervice of a lower qu a lity th a n th a t p r ovid ed b y th e m em b ers th ereof wh en u n iver s ity.’ In t h e fou n d in g a ffid a vit Mr s . Ma t ob o s a id t h a t th e em p loy of th ey were th e in [6 ] t h e a gr eed r em u n er a tion p a id to t h e a p p ella n t b y t h e u n iver s ity wa s M5 .1 3 p er s qu a r e m etr e b u t t h a t la ter t h e u n iver s ity h a d , a s s h e p u t it , ‘u n ila t er a lly r ed u ced ’ t h e r a te t o M2 .9 3 p er s qu a r e m etr e. S h e a ls o s a id t h a t it h a d b een a gr eed t h a t t h e a p p ella n t wou ld n ot h a ve to t en d er for t h e wor k b u t t h a t t h e fir s t r es p on d en t h a d n ow m a d e wh a t s h e ca lled ‘a n a b ou t t u r n on t h e p r eviou s u n d er ta k in g’ b y n ot on ly r ed u cin g t h e p a ym en t r a te p er s qu a r e m etr e, a s p r eviou s ly s ta ted , b u t a ls o b y in s is tin g t h a t t h e a p p ella n t h a d to ten d er toget h er wit h ot h er clea n in g com p a n ies for clea n in g wor k t o b e d on e for t h e u n iver s ity. Fu r t h er m or e, con tr a r y t o t h e in itia l u n d er t a k in g given t o t h e a p p ella n t , t h e s econ d a n d t h ir d r es p on d en t s h a d b een given con tr a ct s to d o clea n in g wor k t h a t wa s s u p p os ed to h a ve b een d on e exclu s ively b y t h e a p p ella n t. [7 ] Th e fir s t r es p on d en t op p os ed t h e a p p lica t ion . Its a n s wer in g a ffid a vit wa s d ep os ed t o b y Mr s . ‘Ma m olik o Pu le, a d om es tic b u r s a r . S h e d en ied t h a t t h e u n d er ta k in g d ep os ed t o b y Mr s . Ma tob o a n d con fir m ed b y t h e Vice-Ch a n cellor of t h e u n iver s ity a t t h e r eleva n t tim e wa s given . S h e s a id t h a t a t t h e r eleva n t tim e t h e fir s t r es p on d en t d ecid ed t o ou ts ou r ce a ll t h e clea n in g s er vices a n d t h a t it a d vis ed its clea n er s , wh o wer e ‘ca s u a l la b ou r er s ’, to for m a clea n in g com p a n y wh ich wou ld b e a b le to ten d er for clea n in g wor k for t h e u n iver s ity. S h e s t a t ed t h a t d ecis ion s of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t a r e m a d e b y its cou n cil a n d t h a t t o t h e b es t of h er k n owled ge t h e cou n cil d id n ot d ecid e ‘t o gu a r a n tee p er p et u a l em p loym en t t o [t h e a p p ella n t] or its s h a r eh old er s a s a lleged b y [t h e a p p ella n t]. I wou ld h a ve b een n otified of s u ch a d ecis ion a s I wou ld h a ve b een t h e on e t o im p lem en t it in m y ca p a cit y a s Fir s t Res p on d en t’s Dom es tic Bu r s a r r es p on s ib le, in ter a lia , for over s eein g clea n in g s er vices of Fir s t Res p on d en t’s p r em is es .’ [8 ] To illu s tr a te h er p oin t t h a t fir s t r es p on d en t n ever p r om is ed t h e a p p ella n t t h e exclu s ive r igh t t o d o clea n in g wor k on a ll its ca m p u s es s h e s a id t h a t t h e fir s t r es p on d en t is s u ed a ten d er n otice for t h e clea n in g of it s Ma s er u IE MS ca m p u s a t t h e b egin n in g of 2 0 0 3 a n d t h a t t h e a p p ella n t t en d er ed wit h ot h er com p a n ies , in clu d in g t h e s econ d r es p on d en t , wh ich wa s t h e s u cces s fu l ca n d id a t e. [9 ] Mr s . Pu le a ls o s a id t h a t a fter op er a tin g fr om 2 0 0 2 t o 2 0 0 5 wit h ou t a wr itten con tr a ct wit h t h e fir s t r es p on d en t , wh a t s h e d es cr ib ed a s a ‘wr itt en a n d for m a l con tr a ct ’ wa s con clu d ed on 1 5 Ma r ch 2 0 0 5 t o op er a t e (r etr os p ectively) fr om 1 Ma r ch 2 0 0 5 to t h e en d of J u n e. [1 0 ] It wa s h ea d ed ‘Ap p oin t m en t Con tr a ct in t h e Rom a a n d IE MS Ca m p u s es ’ a n d r ea d a s follows : ‘I a m a u th or ized to offer you a s h or t ter m con tr a ct for th ree m on th s with retr os p ective effect fr om 1 s t Ma r ch 2 0 0 5 to en d of J u n e 2 0 0 5 , a t th e r a te of M3 .0 4 in clu s ive of VAT p er s qu a re m eter . Th is letter is s en t to you in tr ip lica te a n d if you wis h to a ccep t th e offer p lea s e retu r n to m e two cop ies d u ly s ign ed b y you a n d witn es s ed b y a n oth er p er s on in th e s p a ce p r ovid ed for th e p u r p os e. You r s S in cerely, A. M. MPHUTHING ACTING UNIVE RS ITY RE GIS TRAR’. It wa s exten d ed on 2 7 J u n e 2 0 0 5 u n til 3 1 Decem b er 2 0 0 5 . [1 1 ] A d ocu m en t h ea d ed ‘Mem or a n d u m of Un d er s ta n d in g (CONTRACT)’ wa s s ign ed b y t h e Regis tr a r on b eh a lf of t h e u n iver s ity a n d Mr s . Ma t ob o on b eh a lf of t h e a p p ella n t on 1 6 Decem b er 2 0 0 5 . It con ta in ed a cla u s e, h ea d ed ‘Na t u r e of Con tr a ct’ in wh ich it wa s s ta ted t h a t ‘t h e p u r p os e of t h e con tr a ct ’ wa s for t h e a p p ella n t t o p r ovid e clea n in g s er vices a t t h e Rom a ca m p u s of t h e u n iver s ity, wh ile ot h er p la ces wou ld b e clea n ed ‘on n egotia tion s b etween t h e Com p a n y a n d t h e Un iver s ity’. An ot h er cla u s e, h ea d ed ‘Un d er t a k in gs b y Com p a n y’ con t a in ed a n u n d er ta k in g b y t h e a p p ella n t to b e r es p on s ib le for d a ily clea n in g of s t a t ed b u ild in gs a n d t h eir im m ed ia te s u r r ou n d in gs a t t h e Rom a a n d Ma s er u ca m p u s es . [1 2 ] An ot h er cla u s e p r ovid ed t h a t t h e con tr a ct wou ld com e in to effect ‘on t h e d a y m en tion ed in t h e let t er of offer ’ a n d t h a t it wou ld ‘r em a in in for ce for a p er iod of twelve (1 2 ) m on t h s a t th e en d of wh ich it [wou ld ] exp ir e.’ A fu r t h er cla u s e p r ovid ed t h a t eit h er p a r ty m igh t ter m in a te t h e a gr eem en t b y givin g t h r ee ca len d a r m on t h s ’ wr it ten n otice of its in ten tion to ter m in a t e. [1 3 ] Mr s . Pu le a n n exed a fu r t h er let ter d a ted 9 J a n u a r y 2 0 0 6 , wh ich exten d ed wh a t wa s d es cr ib ed a s t h e clea n in g con tr a ct b etween t h e a p p ella n t a n d t h e u n iver s ity for a yea r , fr om 1 J a n u a r y 2 0 0 6 t o 3 1 Decem b er 2 0 0 6 a n d s t a t ed th a t ‘t h e ter m s a n d con d ition s of t h e exis tin g con tr a ct r em a in u n ch a n ged .’ In ter n a l u n iver s ity cor r es p on d en c e wa s a ls o a n n exed to Mr s . Pu le’s a ffid a vit , in d ica tin g a fu r t h er r en ewa l for a yea r u n til th e en d of 2 0 0 7 , a lt h ou gh n o cor r es p on d en ce b etween t h e u n iver s ity a n d t h e a p p ella n t or a con tr a ct u a l d ocu m en t , exten d in g t h e a gr eem en t , wa s a n n exed . [1 4 ] Mr s . Pu le a ls o s ta ted t h a t in Sep tem b er 2 0 0 7 t h e fir s t r es p on d en t in vited ten d er s for clea n in g s er vices . Th e s u cces s fu l ten d er er s , t o wh om con tr a cts , wh ich r a n fr om 1 J a n u a r y 2 0 0 8 t o 3 1 Decem b er 2 0 0 8 , wer e a wa r d ed wer e t h e a p p ella n t a n d t h e s econ d , t h ir d a n d fou r t h r es p on d en ts . As t h e u n iver s ity fa iled to in vite ten d er s t h r ee m on t h s b efor e t h es e con tr a cts exp ir ed t h e con tr a ct s wer e exten d ed t o 3 0 J u n e 2 0 0 9 . [1 5 ] As r ega r d s Mr s . Ma tob o’s a llega tion t h a t t h e u n iver s ity u n ila ter a lly r ed u ced t h e r a te p a ya b le Mr s . Pu le a d m it ted t h a t t h e a p p ella n t wa s in itia lly r em u n er a ted a t a r a te of M5 .1 3 p er s qu a r e m etr e. S h e s a id t h a t t h e s ca le ch a n ged wh en t h e a p p oin t m en t con tr a ct of 1 5 Ma r ch 2 0 0 5 , wh ich h a s b een qu oted a b ove, wa s con clu d ed a n d th e a p p ella n t wa s offer ed t h e n ew r a t e of M3 .0 4 in clu s ive of VAT p er s qu a r e m etr e, wh ich wa s a ccep ted b y t h e a p p ella n t . La t er , a s fr om t h e b egin n in g of J a n u a r y 2 0 0 8 , t h e r a te wa s r ed u ced t o M2 .9 3 p er s qu a r e m etr e in t er m s of t h e con tr a ct for 2 0 0 8 wh ich followed t h e a ccep t a n ce of t h e t en d er s t o wh ich I r efer r ed a b ove. [1 6 ] A fu r t h er a ffid a vit filed on b eh a lf of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t wa s d ep os ed to b y Mis s An n e Ma s efin ela Mp h u t h in g, r egis tr a r of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t, wh o wa s t h e r egis tr a r in 2 0 0 2 . S h e s a id t h a t a s t h e s ecr eta r y of t h e u n iver s ity’s cou n cil s h e is in p os s es s ion of a ll its m in u tes a n d r ecor d s a n d th a t n o d ecis ion or r es olu tion exis t s givin g t h e a p p ella n t t h e u n d er t a k in g or p r om is e t o wh ich Mr s . Ma tob o d ep os ed . S h e con tin u ed : ‘I a ccor d in gly d en y, on b eh a lf of Fir s t Res p on d en t , th a t Fir s t Res p on d en t “p r om is ed ” or th a t it lega lly a wa r d ed [th e a p p ella n t] or its m em b er s a con tr a ct to clea n Fir s t Res p on d en t’s p rem is es in p er p etu ity a s a lleged b y [th e a p p ella n t].’ s olely [1 7 ] S h e d en ied t h a t t h e u n iver s ity h a d p r ovid ed t h e a p p ella n t wit h its s ta r tin g ca p it a l wit h wh ich it p u r ch a s ed clea n in g equ ip m en t a n d m a ter ia ls . S h e s a id t h a t t h e u n iver s ity m a d e a loa n in t h is r ega r d t o t h e a p p ella n t , wh ich h a s n ot yet b een r ep a id . S h e a ls o d en ied t h a t t h e con ten ts of t h e a ffid a vits d ep os ed t o b y Dr . Mot h ib e a n d Dr . Ma h a o wer e cor r ect. [1 8 ] In h er r ep lyin g a ffid a vit Mr s . Ma tob o r eit er a ted wh a t s h e h a d s a id in h er fou n d in g a ffid a vit . S h e s a id t h a t t h e con tr a cts t o wh ich Mr s . Pu le r efer r ed wer e n ever exp la in ed b y t h e fir s t r es p on d en t n or u n d er s tood b y t h e a p p ella n t a s a n a b a n d on m en t of t h e or igin a l u n d er ta k in g. Th ey wer e u n d er s t ood to b e n eces s a r y for a ccou n tin g p u r p os es on t h e p a r t of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t a n d n o m or e. S h e a d m itt ed t h a t ten d er s wer e in vited in Sep tem b er 2 0 0 7 a n d s a id t h a t th is wa s in d ica tive of t h e la ck of b on a fid es on t h e p a r t of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t. S h e s ta ted t h a t t h e a p p ella n t ‘on ly ten d er ed ou t of fea r s of los in g ou t on t h e wor k a n d n ot b eca u s e it wa s a ccep tin g t h e fir s t r es p on d en t ’s r ep u d ia tion of t h e p a r ties ’ or igin a l a gr eem en t .’ [1 9 ] As fa r a s t h e r ed u ction of t h e r a te wa s con cer n ed s h e s a id t h a t t h is wa s im p os ed b y t h e fir s t r es p on d en t ‘wh ich exp loit ed t h e fa ct t h a t t h e [a p p ella n t’s ] b a r ga in in g p ower wa s vir t u a lly n il a n d t ook wh a tever wa s p a id t o it even if t h a t wa s in b r ea ch of exis tin g a gr eem en ts .’ S h e d r ew a t ten tion to t h e fa ct t h a t n eit h er Mr s . Pu le n or Mis s Mp h u t h in g wa s tes tifyin g fr om h er own k n owled ge t h a t t h e fir s t r es p on d en t h a d n ot given t h e a p p ella n t t h e u n d er t a k in g r elied on . S h e m en tion ed two p er s on s wh o h a d k n owled ge of wh a t h a p p en ed a n d wh o wer e s till a va ila b le b u t h a d n ot b een a s k ed b y t h e fir s t r es p on d en t t o m a k e a ffid a vits s et tin g ou t wh a t r ea lly h a p p en ed . [2 0 ] At t h e en d of h er a ffid a vit s h e a s k ed t h e cou r t ‘to r efer a n y m a ter ia l d is p u t es of fa ct t o or a l evid en ce s o a s t o es t a b lis h t h e tr u e fa cts in t h is m a t ter .’ [2 1 ] Th e a p p lica tion wa s h ea r d b y Gu n i J in th e High Cou r t , wh o d is m is s ed it wit h cos ts . Th e lea r n ed ju d ge fou n d t h a t t h e a p p ella n t h a d n ot p r oved t h e a gr eem en t on wh ich it r elied . S h e fou n d fu r t h er t h a t t h e a ffid a vits of t h e for m er Vice-Ch a n cellor a n d Pr o Vice - Ch a n cellor wer e n ot, a s s h e p u t it, h elp fu l. S h e d id n ot r efer to Mr s . Ma t ob o’s r equ es t t h a t t h e m a t ter b e r efer r ed for or a l evid en ce in or d er t o r es olve t h e d is p u tes of fa ct . [2 2 ] E ven t h ou gh t h e d ep on en t s of t h e two a ffid a vits filed on b eh a lf of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t wer e u n a b le in t h e m a in to d ea l fr om t h eir own k n owled ge wit h wh a t h a p p en ed b etween t h e p a r ties it is clea r t h a t a d is p u te of fa ct d id a r is e in t h e m a t ter . It wa s of t h e t h ir d k in d r efer r ed t o in t h e lea d in g ca s e of Room Hir e Co (Pty) Ltd v J ep p e S tr eet Ma n s ion s (Pty) Lt d 1 9 4 9 (3 ) S A 1 1 5 5 (T), wh ich h a s oft en b een cited wit h a p p r ova l in t h is Cou r t : s ee, e.g., Afr ica n Oxygen Lt d v S TM Ma r k etin g a n d Agen cies Lt d LAC (2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 4 ) 1 7 4 . At p 1 1 6 3 Mu r r a y AJ P s et s ou t t h e p r in cip a l wa ys in wh ich a d is p u t e of fa ct s a r is es . Th e t h ir d is wh er e a r es p on d en t – ‘m a y con ced e th a t h e h a s n o k n owled ge of th e m a in fa cts s ta ted b y th e a p p lica n t b u t m a y d en y th em , p u ttin g a p p lica n t to th e p r oof a n d h im s elf givin g or p r op os in g th e a p p lica n t a n d h is d ep on en ts a re b ia s s ed a n d u n tr u th fu l or oth er wis e u n relia b le a n d th a t cer ta in fa cts u p on wh ich a p p lica n t a n d h is d ep on en ts rely to p r ove th e m a in fa cts a re u n tr u e.’ to give evid en ce to s h ow th a t [2 3 ] E a r lier , a t p 1 1 6 2 , t h e lea r n ed ju d ge s a id t h a t ‘(excep t in in ter locu t or y m a t ter s ) it is u n d es ir a b le t o a t tem p t t o s et tle d is p u t es of fa ct s olely on p r ob a b ilities d is clos ed in con tr a d ictor y a ffid a vits in d is r ega r d of t h e a d d it ion a l a d va n ta ges of viva voce evid en ce’. [2 4 ] It is n ot cor r ect , in m y view, to a t tem p t to b r u s h a s id e t h e a ffid a vit s m a d e b y t h e for m er Vice -Ch a n cellor a n d t h e for m er Pr o Vice-Ch a n cellor a s b ein g u n h elp fu l. In ter m s t h ey con fir m ed wh a t Mr s . Ma t ob o s a id . [2 5 ] Cou n s el for t h e r es p on d en t en d ea vou r ed t o m eet t h is p oin t b y s u b m ittin g t h a t t h e d is p u te con cer n in g t h e exis ten ce or n ot of a n a gr eem en t b etween t h e p a r ties a t t h e tim e of t h e for m a tion of t h e n ew com p a n y b eca m e ‘tota lly ir r eleva n t ’, a s h e p u t it , in view of t h e ter m s of t h e m em or a n d u m of u n d er s t a n d in g d a ted 1 6 Decem b er 2 0 0 5 . He s u b m itt ed t h a t t h is con tr a ct gover n ed t h e r ela tion s h ip b et ween t h e p a r ties a s fr om t h a t d a te a n d r en d er ed ir r eleva n t wh a t occu r r ed b etween t h em wh en t h e com p a n y wa s es ta b lis h ed . [2 6 ] Th e a r gu m en t p r es u p p os es t h a t t h e m em or a n d u m of u n d er s t a n d in g wa s in d eed a con tr a ct b et ween t h e p a r ties a n d n ot , a s Mr s . Ma t ob o s a id , on e of t h e d ocu m en ts u n d er s tood ‘to b e n eces s a r y for a ccou n tin g p u r p os es on t h e p a r t of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t a n d n o m or e’. [2 7 ] Th e cir cu m s ta n ces r ela tin g t o t h e r ep ea ted exten s ion s of t h e con tr a ct b etween t h e p a r ties , a n d t h e fa ct t h a t it wa s n ot a t lea s t u n til Decem b er 2 0 0 7 p r eced ed b y a n y in vita tion to t h e a p p ella n t t o ten d er le n d s om e p la u s ib ility to t h e a p p ella n t’s a llega tion s . (2 ) Th e ju d ge d id n ot , a s s h e s h ou ld h a ve d on e, con s id er t h e r equ es t t h a t t h e m a t ter b e r efer r ed for or a l evid en ce. Th is Cou r t is a ccor d in gly a t la r ge to exer cis e t h e d is cr etion a s t o t h e fu tu r e cou r s e of t h e p r oceed in gs wh ich a r is es in m otion p r oceed in gs wh er e t h er e is a d is p u te of fa ct on t h e a ffid a vit s . In m y op in ion t h e a p p r op r ia t e or d er in a ca s e s u ch a s t h is is to s en d t h e p a r ties to tr ia l, in t er m s of High Cou r t Ru le 8 (1 4 ) wit h a d ir ection t h a t p lea d in gs b e filed . [2 8 ] Th e followin g or d er is m a d e: 1 . 2 . Th e a p p ea l is a llowed wit h cos ts . Th e or d er of t h e cou r t a qu o is s et a s id e a n d t h e followin g or d er s u b s titu ted : to file p lea d in gs d efin in g ‘Th e a p p lica tion is refer red to tr ia l in ter m s of Ru le 8 (1 4 ) a n d th e p a r ties a re d irected th e is s u es to b e d ecid ed . Th e a p p lica n t is to file its d ecla r a tion with in 2 0 d a ys of th is or d er a n d a ll s u b s equ en t p lea d in gs a re to b e filed in term s of th e r u les .’ ___________________ I. G. F AR LAM J US TICE OF APPE AL I a gr ee: ____________________ M. M. R AMODIBE DI PRE SIDE NT OF THE COURT OF APPE AL I a gr ee: ___________________ C. T. H OWIE J US TICE OF APPE AL For Ap p ella n t For Fir s t Res p on d en t : : Ad v K. K. Moh a u KC Ad v P. J . Lou b s er