Ntsihlele v Ntsihlele and Others (CIV/APN/244/94; CIV/APN/265/94) [1994] LSCA 156 (14 October 1994)

CIV/APN/265/94 CIV/APN/244/94 IN THE HIGHl COURT OF . LESOTHO In t he m a t t er b e t w e e n: 'MASECHABA NTSIHLELE A P P L I C A NT ( b o rn M A J A R A) AND RETSELISITSOE KNIGHT NTSIHLELE MINISTER OF DEFENCE ATTORNEY GENERAL 1ST RESPONDENT 2ND RESPONDENT 3RD RESPONDENT JUDGMENT D e l i v e r ed by t he H o n o u r a b le M r. J u s t i ce W . C . M . M a q u tu on t he 14 th d ay of O c t o b e r, 1 9 9 4. On t he 1 3 th September , 1 9 94 A p p l i c a nt b r o u g ht an application ex parte, a nd t he Court m a de t he f o l l o w i ng interim order : " 1. T h at a R u le N i s i, r e t u r n a b le on t he 2 3 rd / . . . S e p t e m b er , 1994 at 2 . 30 p . m. be i s s u ed c a l l i ng u p on t he R e s p o n d e n ts to s h ow c a u s e, if a n y, w hy ( a) t he 2nd R e s p o n d e nt h is o f f i c i a l s, s u b o r d i n a t es a nd / or a g e n ts s h a ll n ot be r e s t r a i n ed a nd i n t e r d i c t ed f o r t h- w i th f r om p a y i ng or c a u s i ng to be p a id to t he 1 st R e s p o n d e nt or to a ny o t h er p e r s on s u ch t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts as a re p a y a b le f o l l o w i ng t he d e a th of t he l a te B O K A NG M I C H A EL N T S I H L E LE p e n d i ng f i n a l i s a t i on of t h is a p p l i c a t i on ( b) an o r d er s h a ll n ot be m a de d e c l a r i ng t h at t he A p p l i c a nt i s t he o n ly p e r s on w ho is e n t i t l ed to r e c e i ve t he s a id t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts and d i r e c t i ng t he 2nd a nd 3rd R e s p o n d e n ts to p ay or c a u se t he s a me to be p a id to A p p l i c a nt ( c) t he R e s p o n d e n ts s h a ll not. be d i r e c t ed to p ay t he c o s ts of t h is a p p l i c a t i on o n ly in t he e v e nt of o p p o s i ng it /... ( d) t he A p p l i c a nt s h a ll n ot be g r a n t ed s u ch f u r t h er a nd / or a l t e r n a t i ve r e l i ef as t h is H o n o r a b le C o u rt m ay d e em j u st 2. T h at p r a y er 1 ( b) o p e r a t es w i th i m m e d i a te e f f e c t, as i n t e r im o r d e r ." F i r st R e s p o n d e n t 's a n s w e r i ng A f f i d a v it w as s e r v ed on t he A p p l i c a nt on t he 2 0 th S e p t e m b e r, 1 9 9 4. T he A p p l i c a n t 's R e p l y i ng A f f i d a v it w as s e r v ed on t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt on t he 23rd S e p t e m b e r, 1 9 9 4. T he m a t t er w as c r o w d ed o ut a nd c o u ld o n ly be h e a rd on t he 2 7 th S e p t e m b e r, 1 9 94 w h en it w as a r g u ed a nd j u d g m e nt r e s e r v ed to 1 4 th O c t o b e r, 1 9 9 4. This a p p l i c a t i on is a s e q u el to C I V / A P N / 2 2 4 / 94 in w h i ch A p p l i c a nt a nd f i r st R e s p o n d e nt w e re b e f o re t h is C o u rt on t he r i g ht to b u ry t he l a te B o k a ng M i c h a el N t s i- h l e l e. A p p l i c a nt is t he w i fe of t he l a te B o k a ng M i c h a el Ntsihlele w h i le F i r st R e s p o n d e nt is t he f a t h e r. T h is t i me A p p l i c a n t, c l a i ms m o n ey b e l o n g i ng to the e s t a te of h er l a te h u s b a nd w h i ch is p r e s e n t ly in t he h a n ds of t he S e c o nd R e s p o n d e nt w ho w as t he l a te B o k a ng M i c h a el N t s i h l e l e 's e m p l o y e r. T h is m o n ey is s t y l ed as t he d e c e a s e d 's t e r m i n al / . . . b e n e f i t s. F i r st R e s p o n d e nt s a ys t h at he is t he o ne e n t i t l ed to r e c e i ve t he d e c e a s ed ' s t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts , b e c a u se t h at w as t he d e c e a s e d 's w i s h. A c c o r d i ng to f i r st R e s p o n d e n t, d e c e a s ed s a id F i r st R e s p o n d e n t, s h o u ld r e c e i ve t he s a id t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts on b e h a lf of d e c e a s e d 's y o u n g er b r o t h er T e b o h o. T he p r o b l e ms I h a ve w i th w h at f i r st R e s p o n d e nt s a ys a b o ut d e c e a s e d 's i n s t r u c t i o ns t h at F i r st R e s p o n d e nt s h o u ld r e c e i ve t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts on b e h a lf of T e b o ho N t s i h l e le a re t h at - ( 1) T e b o ho N t s i h l e le in h is a f f i d a v i t: s u p p o r t i ng F i r st R e s p o n d e n t 's A n s w e r i ng A f f i d a v it a v e r s: "I am a M o s o t ho a d u lt of W e p e n er R o a d, n e ar B o r e ng H i gh S c h o ol in t he M a f e t e ng d i s t r i c t. I am p r e s e n t ly e m p l o y ed at t he M a c h a b e ng H i gh S c h o ol a nd s t a y i ng at Ha M a b o te in t he M a s e ru d i s t r i c t . ( 2) F i r st R e s p o n d e nt d o es n ot s t a te w h en d e c e a s ed i s s u ed t h is i n s t r u c t i on t h at h is t e r m i n al b e n e- f i ts s h o u ld bo r e c e i v ed by t he F i r st R e s p o n d e n t. / . . . If T e b o ho N t s i h l e le w as a m i n o r, I c o u ld u n d e r s t a nd w hy f i r st R e s p o n d e nt c o u ld be d i r e c t ed or r e q u e s t ed to c o l l e ct m o n ey on T e b o ho N t s i h l e l e ' s; b e h a l f. W h at m a k es the a l l e g a t i on t h at F i r st R e s p o n d e nt w as e v er d i r e c t ed to c o l l e ct d e c e a s e d 's m o n ey on b e h a lf of T e b o ho N t s i h l e le is t h at t he M i n i s t ry of D e f e n ce is in M a s e ru w h e re T e b o ho Ntsihlele's w o r k s. T h e re s e e ms to be no r e a s on w hy F i r st R e s p o n d e nt s h o u ld h a ve b e en m a de T e b o ho Ntsihlele's a g e nt w h en F i r st R e s p o n d e nt l i v es 70 k i l o m e t r es f r om w h e re t he m o n ey w as s u p p o s ed to be c o l l e c t e d. In R e ns v E s s e l en & O r s ., 1 9 57 ( 4) SA 8 at 14A L u d o rf J. p o i n t ed o ut t h at C o u r ts h a ve to be c a r e f ul of p o t e n t i al b e n e f i c i a r i es to d e c e a s e d 's e s t a te w ho c l a im t h at d e c e a s ed p e o p le m a de s t a t e m e n ts f a v o u r a b le to t h e m. C o u r ts h a ve to s c r u t i n i se s u ch s t a t e m e n ts w i th c a re as it is e a sy to c o n c e i ve of a t t e m p ts by p o t e n t i al h e i rs b e i ng m a de to d i s h o n e s t ly g a in a d v a n t a g e s. In J o h n s t on v J o h n s t on 1& A n o t h e r, 1 9 72 ( 3) SA 104 at p a ge 106A M a c d o n a ld A . CJ s a i d: is of c o u r s e, a t h at a c o u rt r u le of in a ll c a s e s, c a re " I t. c a t i on c r i m i n a l, a nd d e c i s i o n. A c l a im d i f f e rs o r d i n a ry f a ct u n i v e r s al b o th in c o m i ng a g a i n st a d e c e a s ed t or m o re o n ly t he n e e d, a r i s es c a r e, a n e ed w h i ch t he to p a r ty a p p l i- c i v il to i ts e s t a te t h an f r om t he a l l e g ed e x e r c i s es t he o t h er t h at in /. . . t r a n s a c t i on h er is v e r s i o n ." no l o n g er a l i ve to g i ve h is or In De M a t ta v O t t o, 1 9 72 ( 3) SA 8 58 at 8 6 8A V an B l e rk J . A. e m p h a s i s i ng the t e n d e n cy of c o u r ts to s c an w i th s u s p i c i on claims a g a i n st the d e c e a s ed s a id of a p a r ty similar to First R e s p o n d e nt , gives no "He a nd d e c e a s ed a r r a n g e m e n t ." details a r r i v ed as at to w h en t h is v a g ue a nd w h e re a nd ho l o o se T he o t h er p r o b l em t h at I f i nd in Firsy R esp o n d e n t 's statement a b o ut h is l a te s o n 's i n t e n t i on is t h at he a l l e g es t h at d e c e a s ed a c t u a l ly s t a t ed w h at F i r st R e s p o n- d e nt v e n t u r es as an o p i n i on to t he f o l l o w i ng e f f e c t .; " My l a te s on d e l i b e r a t e ly o m i t t ed to s u b s t i t u te A p p l i c a n t 's n a me as t he r e c i p i e nt a f t er he m a r r i ed h er . He d id n ot t r u st t h at s he w o u ld u se t he m o n ey b e n e f i c i a l ly ." K h e o la C . J. in C I V / A P N / 2 2 4 / 94 w as for t he s a me r e a s on n ot p r e p a r ed to a c c e pt either party's allegations as to the d e c e a s e d 's w ish es on w h e re d e c e a s ed w a n t ed to be /. . . burried By B a s o t ho c u s t om a c h i l d l e ss w i d ow is t he d e c e a s e d 's h e i r e s s, S ee the lawsof L e r o t h o li 1 11 ( 2) w h e re i t; is s a id , t h e re i s s ue is no m a le "If in a ny h o u se t he s e n i or w i d ow s h a ll he t he h e i r, b ut a c c o r d i ng to t he r e l a t i v es of h er d e c e a s ed h u s b a nd who a re h er p r o p er t he c u s t om she is e x p e c t ed a d v i s e r s ." to c o n s u lt A p p l i c a nt is t he s o le w i d ow of the d e c e a s e d, t h e r e f o re s he is by c u s t om t he h e i r e s s. M r. M a l e b a n ye a r g u ed t h at s i n ce t he m a r r i a ge is by c i v il r i t es t he r e c e i v ed R o m an D u t ch L aw of I n t e s t a cy s h o u ld g o v e rn t h is estate . In t e r ms of Section 3(b) of t he A d m i n i s t r a t i on of Estates P r o c l a m a t i on of 1 9 3 5, in accordance with law and custom of " t h is proclamation shall not apply— "To estates ot" Africans which shall continue the to he administered prevailing African the t e r r i t o r y: Provided that such law and custom shall not apply to e s t a t es of Africans who have shown to the s a t i s f a c t i on of the Master to have abandoned t r i b al custom and adopted a l i f e, and who, if married, European mode of law." have married under European / . . . In the f i r s t, p l a ce t h e re is no suggestion t h at B o k a ng M i c h a el Ntsihlele's estate w as ever r e p o r t ed to the M a s t er in order for that p a r t i c u l ar estate to c o me u n d er the jurisdiction of the M a s t er in t e r ms of the A d m i n i s t r a t i on of Estates P r o c l a m a t i on of 1 9 3 5. T h e r e 's is no suggestion t h at the d e c e a s ed h ad a b a n d o n ed t r i b al c u s t om a nd a d o p t ed a E u r o p e an m o de of l i f e. T he o n ly r e q u i r e m e nt d e c e a s ed met is that of m a r r y i ng h is w i fe by c i v il rights . It s e e ms to me if the Intestate Succession P r o c l a ma - Lion 2 of 1953 a p p l i ed to this e s t a t e, A p p l i c a n t, ex lege would inherit three quarters of the es t a te . H a lf the estate by v i r t ue of c o m m u n i ty of p r o p e r ty a nd h a l f, of the deceased's s h a re of the j o i n t, estate by virtue of S e c t i on 1 ( 1 ) ( c) of the Intestate P r o c l a m a t i on N o .2 of 1953. A ll this w o u ld o n ly h a p p en a f t er t he d e c e a s e d 's d e b ts h ad b e en p a id b e c a u se u n d er the r e c e i v ed l aw the heir o n ly i n h e r i ts the r e s i d u e. T h is l i ne of p r o c e e d i ng w as n o t. f o l l o w ed in t he A n s w e r i ng A f f i d a v it a nd no e v i d e n c i a ry g r o u nd f or arguing that the "received" law a nd the Intestate Suc- cession P r o c l a m a t i on of 1953 a p p l i ed w as e v er l a i d. The intention of First Respondent was to exclude A p p l i c a nt f r om g e t t i ng a n y t h i ng o u t. of h er l a te h u s b a n d 's /... e s t a t e. His g r o u nd f or d o i ng this is t h at d e c e a s ed n a m ed h is y o u n g er b r o t h er T e b o ho Ntsihlele as h is n e xt of k i n. N e xt of k in if we f o l l ow t he Intestate Succession Proclamation N o .2 of 1 9 53 it w o u ld s e em to me f o l l ow t h is o r d er : C h i l d r en S u r v i v i ng P a r e nt B r o t h er or S p o u se Sister . It s e e ms to me t h at A p p l i c a nt as s u r v i v i ng s p o u se c o m es b e f o re the First R e s p o n d e nt w ho is t he p a r e nt of d e c e a s ed a nd T e b o ho as t he b r o t h er of d e c e a s ed c o m es l a s t. B e f o re t he l'ntcr,tnte Proclamation of . 1 9 5 3, t he s p o u se w as n ot t r e a t ed as n e xt of k in f or p u r p o s es of s u cce s s i o n, b ut s i n ce 1 9 53 a s p o u se r a n ks a f t er c h i l d r e n. S ee In re Scallan's Estate, 1 9 54 (3) SA 2 82 at 2 9 0. It s e e ms to me t h at m u ch m o re h as b e en r e ad i n to a n n e x u re "R N N 3" t h an w as i n t e n d e d. T h is is m e r e ly an entistment r eco rd w h e re p a r t i c u l a rs of d e c e a s ed w h en he e n l i s t ed in the Le s o t ho P a r a m i l i t a ry F o r ce a re r e c o r d e d. T h is e n l i s t m e nt r e c o rd is n ot a t e s t a m e n t a ry d o c u m e n t. It /. . . is i n t e n d ed to s h ow t he n a me a nd a d d r e ss of n e xt of k i n. It w as n ot i n t e n d ed to be a n o m i n a t i on of a p e r s o n 's h e i r. T h is e n l i s t m e nt f o rm w as f i l l ed on t he 2 3 rd O c t o b e r, 1 9 8 3. D e c e a s ed m a r r i ed A p p l i c a nt on t he 7 th A p r i l, 1 9 89 s ix y e a rs a f t er h is e n l i s t m e n t. T he v i ew I t a ke is t h at A p p l i c a nt on m a r r i a ge s u p p l a n t ed b o th t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a nd T e b o ho Ntsihlele as t he d e c e a s e d 's n e xt of k i n. S o c i e ty s e es h u s b a nd a nd w i fe as o n e. T h is is t he r e a s on t h at s p o u s es a re n ot c o m p e l l a b le w i t n e s s es in c r i m i n al p r o c e e d i n gs w h e re o ne s p o u se is t he a c c u s e d. T he p a r e nt and a b r o t h er of t he a c c u s ed a re c o m p e l l a b le w i t n e s s es a g a i n st the a c c u s e d. To s u g g e st t h at t he w i fe is n ot t he n e xt of k in of h er h u s b a nd g o es a g a i n st p u b l ic p o l i cy in m o d e rn t i m e s. So l o ng as t he m a r r i a ge s u b s i s ts t h ey a re t r e a t ed as o n e. T he d e c e a s e d 's i m m e d i a te f a m i ly by law is his w i fe a nd t he c h i l d r en t h ey c o u ld h a ve h a d. It should be clear t h at T e b o ho Ntsihlele w as n e v er n a m ed or n o m i n a t ed as t he d e c e a s e d 's h e ir or b e n e f i c i a ry to a ny p o r t i on of t he d e c e a s e d 's e s t a t e. T he p a r t i c u l a rs of e n l i s t m e nt a re n ot i n t e n d ed to h a ve a t e s t a m e n t a ry e f f e c t. /... Jn Kaphe v Employment bureau of Africa & Another, C I V / A P N / 3 7 / 91 ( u n r e p o r t e d) S e c o nd R e s p o n d e nt h ad b e en n a m ed as t he d e a th b e n e f i c i a ry to t. he d e c e a s e d 's i n s u r a n ce p o l i c y. K h e o la J. f o l l o w ed S c h u tz P . 's j u d g m e nt in Manthabiseng Ramahata v Thabiso R a m a h a t a, C of A ( C I V) N o .8 of . 1 9 86 ( u n r e p o r t e d) i n v o l v i ng p r o c e e ds of an i n s u r- a n ce p o l i cy of M 6 0 0 0 . 0 0, w h e re he s a i d: t he b e n e f it of a t h i rd p a r t y) b e t w e en c a se is a s i m p le o n e. " T h is h as e s t a b l i s h ed a stipulatio f or s on a nd t he i n s u r a n ce r i g h ts from t h e r e f o re t he M 6 0 0 0 . 00 h as n o t h i ng e s t a t e ." d e c e a s ed f l ow The alteri a p p e l l a nt ( c o n t r a ct c o m p a n y. t he . .. H er t he c o n t r a ct a nd to do w i th t he in t h is c a se no c o n t r a ct h as b e en a l l e g ed a n d- p r o v ed b e t w e en t he M i n i s t ry of D e f e n ce ( S e c o nd R e s p o n d e n t) a nd t he d e c e a s ed in t e r ms of w h i ch T e b o ho Ntsihlele or a n y b o dy w as e n t i t l ed to r e c e i ve b e n e f i ts f r om t h at c o n t r a c t. T he p a r t i c u l a rs of e n l i s t m e nt of d e c e a s ed m e r e ly s t a te t he n e xt of k in w ho w as to be i n f o r m ed s h o u ld d e c e a s ed s u d d e n- ly s u f f er i n j u ry or d i e. T h is c o l u mn of t he p a r t i c u l a rs of e n l i s t m e nt d o es n ot m a ke T e b o ho t he d e a th b e n e f i c i a ry of deceased or an h e ir or b e n e f i c i a ry in t he d e c e a s ed ' s e s t a t e. /... A p r o p er r e a d i ng of Kaphe v The Employment Bureau of 1 2 A f r i ca & A n o t h er r e v e a ls t h at in t he d i s p u te b e t w e en t he w i fe of d e c e a s ed a nd d e c e a s e d 's p a r e n t, t he w i f e 's s t a t us as n e xt of k in of t he d e c e a s ed w as n ot in d i s p u t e. T he c a se r e v o l v ed on t he f a ct t h at d e c e a s e d 's p a r e nt h ad b e en n o m i n a t ed as d e a th b e n e f i c i a ry by d e c e a s ed in t he I n s u r- a n ce p o l i c y. T he f a ct t h at A p p l i c a nt a nd h er l a te h u s b a nd h ad a t u r b u l e nt m a r r i a ge e v en if b e l i e v ed w o u ld n ot h e lp F i r st R e s p o n d e n t. T he r e a s on b e i ng t h at q u a r r e ls a re t he r o u gh a nd t u m b le of m a r r i a g e. T h e re is a t e n d e n cy to c h a l l e n ge t he m a r r i a g es of d e c e a s ed p e r s o ns w h en it t u r ns o ut t h at t he w i d ow is l i k e ly to g et d e c e a s e d 's t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts t h at i n v o l ve a g r e at d e al of m o n e y. D e a l i ng w i th t h is p r o b l em W. C. M. Maqutu in Contemporary Family Law of Lesotho, page 110 : " If there is a great deal of money which is being paid as compensation for the death of the men some- the parents of the deceased, times say the women are not married and want to lay their hands on the money. There have the men at been cases where the parents of the f i r st to share deceased, but when the women refuse compensation money with then allege there were never any marriages between the case of the women. their sons and the women as wives of recognise them, they In /. . . v Qhoai is Deke t h is q u e s t i on e n t i t l ed i n - l aw o n ly when - CIV/APN/125/88 e x a c t ly what h a p p e n e d. is r e a l ly w h e t h er to a c c e pt it c r i sp is t he woman as a d a u g h t e r- s u i ts him or n o t ." ( u n r e p o r t e d) The t he boys f a t h er T he C o u rt h as to be c a r e f ul not; to a l l ow t he j u d i c i al p r o c e ss to be m i s u s ed . T he c a se b e f o re me s e e ms to f it t h is d e s c r i p t i o n, that is : t he l a t e, c a s es have The p e o p le who have to be d e c e a s e d 's h e i r s. "Of m i s h i ng o v er s u c c e s s i on b e g i ns w i th t he to b u r y. t a ke p o s s e s s i on of d e c e a s e d 's bury a re s e en f or n ot u n u s u al body to be used as a pawn in f or b r i n g i ng an u r g e nt High Court c l a i m i ng from r i v a l s ." b u r i al Law of Lesotho, s k i r- i n c r e a s ed where r i g ht t he r i g ht to body and is It. t he d e c e a s e d' s l e g al b a t t le t he is done by s u c c e s s i o n .' T h is t he a p p l i c a t i on b e f o re f or t he d e c e a s e d 's body family Contemporary t h e se d a ys p a ge 1 90 r i g h ts of ( s u p r a ). T h is c a se f o l l o w ed t he a b o ve p a t t e r n. We h ad C I V / A P N /- 224/94 f or t he b o dy of d e c e a s e d. Now we h a ve t he p r e s e nt a p p l i c a t i on f or m o n ey b e l o n g i ng to the deceased estate . Mr. Malebanye s a ys b e c a u se A p p 1 i c a nt f a i l ed to a t t e nd deceased f u n e r al a f t er failing in h er a p p l i c a t i on for /. . . p o s s e s s i on of t he d e c e a s e d 's b o d y, s he s h o u ld l o se h er r i g h ts of s u c c e s s i o n. I am n ot sure this s h o u ld h a p p en b e c a u se t he b e h a v i o ur of F i r st R e s p o n d e nt m a de it i m p o s s- i b le for A p p l i c a nt to attend t he f u n e r a l. A p p l i c a nt w a n t ed to b u ry h er h u s b a nd b ut F i r st R e s p o n d e nt s e i z ed the b o dy a nd d u r i ng t he C o u rt p r o c e e d i n gs t h at f o l l o w ed F i r st Respondent s a id s u ch u n p l e a s a nt t h i n gs a b o ut A p p l i c a nt t h at r e l a t i o ns h ad s o u r ed c o n s i d e r a b ly at the t i me of d e c e a s e d 's f u n e r a l. A p p l i c a nt w i s e ly s t a y ed a w ay to a v o id p o s s i b le u n p l e a s a nt i n c i d e n ts t h at m i g ht h a ve m a r r ed t he f u n e r al . K h e o la C . J. in C I V / A P N / 2 2 4 / 94 is a c c o r d i ng to b o th s i d es a l l e g ed to h a ve s a id t h at in v i ew of t he d i s p u te of f a ct as to w h at t he d e c e a s e d 's w i s h es w e re r e g a r d i ng t he b u r i al s i t e, t he F i r st R e s p o n d e n t 's v e r s i on be p r e f e r r ed a nd t he d e c e a s ed be b u r i ed in M a f e t e n g. I h a ve n ot s e en t he j u d g e m e n t. I do n ot u n d e r s t a nd K h e o la C . J. to h a ve b e en l a y i ng a g e n e r al p r i n c i p l e. He w as m e r e ly d o i ng w h at w as c o n v e n i e nt at t he t i m e. T h e re m u st h a ve b e en o t h er f a c t o rs t h at l ed K h e o la C . J. to t h at r u l i ng , as t h e re is no j u d g m e nt t h e se f a c t o rs a re n ot a v a i l a b l e. In H u m an v H u m a n. ( 2) SA 2 51 at 2 5 2H C l o e te A. JP d e a l i ng w i th w h at d e c e a s ed m ay h a ve s a id a b o ut t he p l a ce of b u r i al /. . . s a i d; is n ot t h is " B ut d e c e a s ed d o es a nd b i n d i ng is h is of a n c e ." on d e s i re e v i d e n ce of p r o p er t he p a r t i e s. l e g al the of w i s h es t e s t a m e n t a ry p o s i t i on as At m o s t, s e n t i m e n t al t he f o rm w h i ch p r o of i m p o r t- of m e re n ot in d i c t a te t he is In t h a t, s i t u a t i on t he p e r s on w i th a d u ty to b u ry h as to p r e v a i l. T h at b e i ng t he c a se t he w i d ow c a n n ot u n l e ss m o re e v i d e n ce is a v a i l a b le be s a id to h a ve lost h er r i g h ts of s u c c e s s i on . T he n e ed f or e a ch of t he p e o p le i n v o l v ed to k n ow h is or h er r i g h ts a nd h ow f ar to c a r ry t h em w i ll f a c i l i t a te the o f r e s o l u t i on of t h is f a m i ly m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g. T he w i d ow deceased ( A p p 1 i c a n t} is o b l i g ed to c o - o p e r a te w i th her l a te h u s b a n d 's f a m i l y. C o - o p e r a t i on is a t w o - w ay p r o c e s s. This m e a ns F i r st R e s p o n d e nt c a n n ot a nd o u g ht n ot to o v e r r i de t he r i g h ts of A p p l i c a n t. It is u n f o r t u n a te t h at b e c a u se F i r st R e s p o n d e nt h ad an e x a g g e r a t ed n o t i on of h is rights, he c r e a t ed a s i t u a t i on t h at s t r a i n ed r e l a t i o ns b e t w e en A p p l i c a nt a nd F i r st R e s p o n d e nt to t he e x t e nt t h at s he f a i l ed to w e ar m o u r n i ng c l o th f or h er l a te h u s b a nd . /. . . J6 We w i ll n e v er k n ow f or c e r t a in if t h is w as b e c a u se of A p p l i c a n t 's q u e r u l o us a nd o v e r b e a r i ng n a t u r e. I am n ot in a p o s i t i on to d e c i de w h e t h er i n d e ed F i r s t. R e s p o n d e nt is i n v e n t i ng t he u n h a p p i n e ss a nd s t r a i n ed r e l a t i o ns t h at might h a ve l ed to a d i v o r ce b e t w e en the p a r t i es and the d e c e a s ed l i v e d. In a ny e v e nt t h e re are legal w a ys of disinheriting a p e r s o n. T he w ay F i r st R e s p o n d e nt w e nt a b o ut t h i n gs is h i g h ly s u s p e c t. I h a ve a l r e a dy h e ld t h at e v en if A p p l i c a nt i s, as F i r st R e s p o n d e nt d e s c r i b es h e r, v e ry f ew m a r r i a g es ( if at a l l) a re e v er a b ed of r o s e s. 1 t h e r e f o re m a ke the f o l l o w i ng O r d er in c o n f i r m i ng t he Rule Nisi: ( a ) S e c o nd R e s p o n d e nt a nd his o f f i c i al are r e s t r a i n ed f r om p a y i ng or c a u s i ng to be p a id to F i r st R e s p o n d e nt t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts of t he l a te B o k a ng M i c h a el Ntsihlele. ( b) A p p l i c a nt is by B a s o t ho c u s t om t he h e i r e ss to t he Estate of t he l a te B o k a ng Michael Ntsihlele a nd t h at t he s a id t e r m i n al b e n e f i ts f o rm p a rt of t he s a id e s t a t e. /. . . ( c) Firts Respondent is d i r e c t ed to p ay t he c o s ts of t h is a p p l i c a t i o n. F or A p p l i c a nt F or 1 st R e s p o n d e n t: M r. : M r. S . S. M a f i sa S . M a l e b a n ye