Noe v Noe (CIV/A 177 of 84) [1986] LSCA 51 (7 May 1986)

IN THE HIGH C O U RT OF LESOTHO' In the A p p e al of : C I V / A / 1 7 7 / 84 M O L U L A - K H O T LA T H I B E L LA N OE A p p e l l a nt V J O BO T H I B E L LA N OE R e s p o n d e nt J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by t he H o n. M r. J u s t i ce B . K. M o l ai on t he 7 th d ay of M a y, 1 9 8 6. T h is a p p e al is a g a i n st t he d e c i s i on of t he J u d i c i al C o m m i s s i o n er in a c a se in w h i ch t he R e s p o n d e nt ( h e r e i n a f t er r e f e r r ed to as J o b o) h ad s u ed t he A p p e l l a nt ( h e r e i n a f t er r e f e r r ed to as M o l u l a - K h o t l a) b e f o re M o u nt M o o r o si L o c al C o u rt f or 60 s h e e p, 6 h e ad of c a t t l e, 2 h o r s es a nd 4 d o n k e ys b e i ng i n h e r i t a n c e. T he c a se h as b e en b e f o re t he c o u r ts of l aw s i n ce 1 9 64 a n d, in t he i n t e r e st of c l a r i t y, it is p e r h a ps u s e f ul to s et o ut i ts l o ng h i s t o r y. It is c o m m on c a u se t h at t he l a te M a b u s e t sa T h i b e l la Noe h ad t wo w i v es to w h om he w as m a r r i ed a c c o r d i ng to S e s o t ho L aw a nd C u s t o m. M a b u s e t sa T h i b e l la N oe h a d, t h e r e f o r e, t wo h o u s es v i z. t h at of h is s e n i or w i f e, ' M a s e t l e li N o e, a nd h is j u n i or w i fe ' M a t u m e l i so N o e. J o bo is M a b u s e t s a 's h e ir in t he h o u se of ' M a s e t l e li w h i l st M o i u l a - K h o t la is h is h e ir in t he h o u se of ' M a t u m e l i s o. It t r a n s p i r ed t h at d u r i ng h is l i fe t i m e, M a b u s e t sa T he c a se C C . 8 5 / 6 4, w as h e a rd b e f o re M o u nt s u ed by h is s e n i or w i f e, ' M a s e t l e l i. f or a l l e g e d ly w as u s i ng a n i m a ls t h at b e l o n g ed to t he s e n i or h o u se in t he j u n i or h o u s e. M o o r o si L o c al C o u rt w h i ch f o u nd t h at t wo of t he c a t t le t h at M a b u s e t sa w as u s i ng f or t he j u n i or h o u s e, in f a ct b e l o n g ed to t he s e n i or h o u se a nd s h o u l d, t h e r e f o r e , be r e s t o r ed t h e r e. v e s t i g a t i o ns s h o u ld be c a r r i ed o ut w i th a v i ew to e s t a b l i s h i ng It w as f u r t h er o r d e r ed t h at p r o p er i n- 2/ t he s t a t us -2- t he s t a t us of t he o t h er l i v e s t o ck of M a b u s e t s a. T he i n v e s t i g a t i o ns w e r e, h o w e v e r, n ot c a r r i ed o ut as d i r e c t ed by t he c o u rt or if at all c a r r i ed o u t, t he r e s u l ts w e re n e v er m a de k n o w n. It w o u ld a p p e ar t h at a f t er t he d e a th of M a b u s e t sa t h e re w as a t i me w h en J o bo a p p r o a c h ed s o me m e m b e rs of t he f a m i ly w i th a r e q u e st t h at M o l u l a - K h o t la s h o u ld be i n s t r u c- ted to r e s t o re to h im a n i m a ls t h at r e m a i n ed in t he j u n i or h o u se a f t er t he t wo t h at M a b u s e t sa had r e s t o r ed to t he s e n i or h o u se p e r s u a nt to t he d e c i s i on in C C . 8 5 / 64 - T h at i s, the a n i m a ls w h i ch w e re t he s u b j e ct of i n v e s t i g a t i o n s. It w as t h en t h at S e p h o t h o m a n e , w ho w as a p p a r e n t ly t he s e n i or m e m b er of t he f a m i ly h e a d i ng t h at m e e t i n g, s a id he w o u ld t h i nk o v er t he m a t t er and g i ve a d e c i s i on on a l a t er d a t e. H o w e v e r, b e f o re t he d e c i s i on c o u ld be g i v e n, J o bo t o ok t he m a t t er to M o u nt M o o r o si Local C o u rt w h e re he sued M o l u l a- K h o t la for 60 s h e e p, 6 head of c a t t l e, 2 h o r s es and 4 d o n k e ys w h i ch he s a id w e re a n i m a ls b e l o n g i ng to t he s e n i or h o u se b ut had b e en c a r e l e s s ly e a r m a r k ed to t he j u n i or h o u se by h is l a te f a t h e r, M a b u s e t s a. t h at c a se w as C C . 1 8 5 / 74 a l t h o u gh it is n ot c l e ar w h at t he d e c i s i on of t he L o c al C o u rt w a s. On t he p a p e rs b e f o re me W h a t e v er t he d e c i s i o n, one t h i ng c l e ar is t h at J o bo f e lt a g g r i e v ed by t h at d e c i s i on a g a i n st w h i ch he a p p e a l ed to t he C e n t r al C o u rt of Q u t h i n g. In C C . 1 6 / 75 t he C e n t r al C o u rt g r a n t ed w h at amounted to an a b s o l u t i on from t he i n s t a n c e, n a m e ly t h at as S e p h o t h o m a ne had n ot y et g i v en h is d e c i s i o n. t he p r o v i s i o ns of S . 1 4 ( 4) of t he L a ws of L e r o t h o li had n ot In o t h er w o r ds t he m a t t er had b e en b e en c o m p l i ed w i t h. p r e m a t u r e ly b r o u g ht b e f o re t he c o u r ts of law and s h o u ld It w as t h e r e f o r e, go b a ck to t he f a m i ly f or its d e c i s i o n. s p e c i f i c a l ly d i r e c t ed t h at a f a m i ly m e e t i ng p r e s i d ed o v er by S e p h o t h o m a ne s h o u ld be held to d e t e r m i ne t he c l a im m a de by J o bo a g a i n st M o l u l a - K h o t l a. A f t er he had in v a in t r i e d, on s e v e r al o c c a s i o n s, to s e c u re t he a t t e n d a n ce of M o l u l a - K h o t la to a f a m i ly m e e t i n g, S e p h o t h o m a ne e v e n t u a l ly c o n v e n ed t he f a m i ly m e e t i ng at 3/ w h i ch a -3- W e l l, as we h a ve s e en s e v e r al a t t e m p ts w e re w h i ch a d e c i s i on w as t a k en t h at M o l u l a - K h o t la s h o u ld r e s t o re 60 s h e e p, 6 h e ad of c a t t l e, 2 h o r s es and 4 d o n k e ys to J o b o. M o l u l a - K h o t la r e p u d i a t ed t h at d e c i s i on on t he g r o u n ds t h at it h ad b e en t a k en in h is a b s e n ce at a m e e t i ng w h i ch w as p r e s i d ed o v er by a p e r s on w ho w a s, in f a c t, n ot the h e ad of t he f a m i l y. m a de to s e c u re t he a t t e n d a n ce of M o l u l a - K h o t la at a f a m i ly T h at b e i ng m e e t i ng b ut he r e f u s ed or neglected t he c a s e, t he f a m i ly m e e t i ng w a s, in my v i e w, r i g h t ly h e ld in h is a b s e n ce f or to h o ld t he c o n t r a ry w o u ld be t a n t a m o u nt to s a y i ng he c o u ld h o ld t he f a m i ly at r a n s om r e g a r d i ng t he h o l d i ng of a f a m i ly m e e t i ng - a p o s i t i on w h i ch is t o t a l ly u n t e n a b le in my v i e w. As a r e s u lt of t he a t t i t u de a d o p t ed by M o l u l a - K h o t la in t h is m a t t er J o bo s u ed h im as a f o r e s a i d. T he c a se w as i n s t i t u t ed b e f o re t he L o c al C o u rt of M o u nt M o o r o si as C C . 1 4 1 / 7 5. to a t t e n d. It w o u ld a p p e ar t h at t he L o c al C o u rt w as i m p r e s s ed by t he c o n t e n t i on of M o l u l a - K h o t la t h at S e p h o t h o m a ne w as n ot t he p r o p er h e ad of t he f a m i ly and t he d e c i s i on t a k en at t he f a m i ly m e e t i ng o v er w h i ch he p r e s i d ed h ad no l e g al e f f e c t. F or t h is r e a s on t he c a se w as d i s m i s s ed on t he g r o u nd t h at t he p r o v i s i o ns of S . 1 4 ( 4) of t he L a ws of L e r o t h o li h ad n ot b e en c o m p l i ed w i t h. J o bo w as d i s- s a t i s f i ed w i th t he d e c i s i on a g a i n st w h i ch he a p p e a l ed to t he C e n t r al C o u r t. In C C . 5 0 / 7 6, t he C e n t r al C o u rt t o ok t he v i ew t h at as he had b e en s p e c i f i c a l ly i n s t r u c t ed by t he c o u rt to c o n- v e ne a f a m i ly m e e t i ng and c o me to a d e c i s i o n, S e p h o t h o m a ne h ad r i g h t ly p r e s i d ed o v er t he f a m i ly m e e t i n g. T he p r o v i s i o ns of S . 1 4 ( 4) of t he L a ws of L e r o t h o li h a d, t h e r e f o r e, b e en c o m p l i ed w i t h. I e n t i r e ly a g r e e. H o w e v e r, t he C e n t r al C o u rt a l l o w ed t he a p p e al on t he g r o u nd t h at J o bo h ad p r o v ed h is e n t i t l e m e nt to t he a n i m a ls t h at he c l a i m ed a g a i n st M o l u l a - K h o t l a. M o l u l a - K h o t la w as u n h a p py w i th t he d e c i s i on and a p p e a l ed to t he J u d i c i al C o m m i s s i o n e r 's c o u rt w h i ch h o w e v e r, d i s m i s s ed t he a p p e a l. d e c i s i on t h at M o l u l a - K h o t la h as a p p e a l ed to t h is c o u r t. It is a g a i n st t h at -4- It m ay be m e n t i o n ed t h at a f t er he had l o d g ed h is a p p e al o ut of t i me M o l u l a - K h o t la p a s s ed a w a y. A p p l i c a t i on to s u b s t i t u te h is h e ir T s e h la T h i b e l l a, as t he a p p e l l a nt and c o n d o ne t he l a te n o t i ng of a p p e al in t h is m a t t er h as a l r e a dy b e en g r a n t ed by L e vy A . J. It i s, t h e r e f o r e, n ot n e c e s s a ry to d e al w i th t h e se m a t t e r s. In as f ar as it is m a t e r i al J o bo t e s t i f i ed b e f o re t he t r i al c o u rt t h at he w as t o ld t h at t he a n i m a l s, t he s u b j e ct m a t t er of t h is c a s e, b e l o n g ed to t he s e n i or h o u se by h is m o t h e r, ' M a s e t l e l i, w ho w a s, h o w e v e r, n ot c a l l ed as a w i t n e s s. ( J o b o ' s) a u n ts and M a b u s e t sa c a r e l e s s ly e a r m a r k ed t h em f or T he a n i m a ls w e re a c q u i r ed as " b o h a l i" f or h is t he j u n i or h o u se of ' M a t u m e l i s o. A c c o r d i ng to J o bo he w as at t i m es p r e s e nt w h en t he e a r m a r k i ng w as t a k i ng p l a ce b ut c o u ld n ot do a n y t h i ng as he w as s t i ll y o u n g. T he a c q u i s i t i on of t he a n i m a ls w as d e s c r i b ed by He c l e a r ly J o bo as b e i ng 3 c a t t le t h at c a me f r om M p u t a na S e k h i t l a n e, 1 c a t t le t h at c a me f r om M o l u pe S e k h i t l a n e. a c c o u n t ed f or 4 c a t t le a nd it m ay t h us be p r e s u m ed t h at he c o n c e d ed t h at 2 of t he 6 c a t t le h ad b e en r e s t o r ed to t he T h at b e i ng s o , he s h o u ld h a ve s e n i or h o u se by M a b u s e t s a. Be t h at as it m a y, t he s u ed f or o n ly 4 and n ot 6 c a t t l e. w i t n e ss c o n t i n u ed to t e s t i fy t h at he k n ew t h at 4 d o n k e ys w e re g i v en to ' M a t u m e l i so by M a b u s e t s a. say w h e re M a b u s e t sa h ad a c q u i r ed t he d o n k e ys f r o m. t i o n ed 2 h o r s es t h at c a me f r om t he p a r e n ts of M p u t a na S e k h i t l a ne and 60 s h e ep t h at c a me f r om M p u t a na S e k h i t l a ne h i m s e l f. c o u rt t h at t h o se a n i m a ls h ad in f a ct all d i ed and w h at he w as c l a i m i ng w as t h e ir p r o g e n y. L a t er on in h is e v i d e n ce t he w i t n e ss t o ld t he H ow he k n ew t h at t h o se He m e n- He d id n o t, h o w e v e r, a n i m a ls had b e g o t t en as p r o g e ny t he a n i m a ls t h at he c l a i m ed w as n e v er m a de c l e ar to t he c o u r t. A c c o r d i ng to J o bo t he c o u rt h ad o r d e r ed M a b u s e t sa to r e s t o re t he a n i m a ls to t he s e n i or h o u se b ut t h at d e c i s i on w as n e v er e x e c u t e d. w ho is t he h e ir in t he j u n i or h o u se of ' M a t u m e l i s o. J o bo h ad in m i nd h e re w as c l e a r ly t he d e c i s i on in C C . 8 5 / 64 H e n ce h is a c t i on a g a i n st M o l u l a - K h o t la W h at -5- a nd a p a rt f r om o n ly t w o, he w as o b v i o u s ly w r o ng in s a y i ng M a b u s e t sa w as o r d e r ed to r e s t o re a ny o t h er a n i m a ls to t he s e n i or h o u s e. As h as b e en p o i n t ed o ut e a r l i e r, t he c o u rt d e c i s i on w as t h at i n v e s t i g a t i o ns s h o u ld be c a r r i ed o ut a b o ut t he t r ue p o s i t i on of M a b u s e t s a 's o t h er l i v e s t o c k. T he d e c i s i on w a s, h o w e v e r, n e v er c a r r i ed o u t. T he w i t n e s s, S e p h o t h o m a ne N o e, w as c a l l ed in s u p p o rt H e, h o w e v e r, t o ld t he c o u rt t h at We n ow k n ow t h at a p a rt f r om t he t wo c a t t le t h at of t he e v i d e n ce of J o b o. h is k n o w l e d ge of t he a n i m a ls is b a s ed on t he d i s p u te in C C . 8 5 / 6 4. w e re r e s t o r ed to t he s e n i or h o u s e, t he c o u rt c o u ld n ot c o me to a d e f i n i te d e c i s i on t h at a ny o t h er a n i m a ls in t he p o s s e s- s i on of M a b u s e t sa b e l o n g ed to t he s e n i or h o u s e. a m a t t er w h i ch h ad to be i n v e s t i g a t e d. T h at w as S e p h o t h o m a ne w as at p a i ns to d e s c r i be h ow M a b u s e t sa h ad He s a id a d o n k ey a nd He s a id of t he 6 c a t t le 2 a c q u i r ed p o s s e s s i on of t he a n i m a l s. c a me f r om M o l u pe a nd t h us c o n t r a d i c t ed J o bo w ho h ad s a id o n ly o ne c a me f r om M a l u p e; He s a id a n o t h er c ow c a me f r om Q a c ha w ho w a s, h o w e v e r, n e v er m e n t i o n ed by J o b o; its f i l ly c a me f r om M p u t a na b ut t h is w as n ot d i s c l o s ed by J o b o; He s a id o t h er 2 a n i m a ls ( we do n ot k n ow f r om M o l u p e; b a b i l i t i es a re h i gh t h at he w as o n ly t o ld a b o ut t h e se a n i m a l s. T he o n ly p o i nt in w h i ch t he e v i d e n ce of S e p h o t h o m a ne c o r r o b o- r a t ed t h at of J o bo w as t h at M a b u s e t sa h ad a c q u i r ed p o s s e s s i on of t he 2 h o r s es f r om M p u t a n a. It is s i g n i f i c a n t, h o w e v e r, to b e ar in m i nd t h at J o bo h i m s e lf h ad t o ld t he c o u rt t h at a ll t h e se a n i m a ls w e re a c q u i r ed as " b o h a l i" f or h is a u n t s. S e p h o t h o m a ne d id n ot g a i n s ay t h i s. He d id n ot e v en k n ow t h e ir c o l o u rs a nd t he p r o- w h et a n i m a l s) c a me A ll t h at t he w i t n e ss S e m pe N oe t o ld the c o u rt w as t h at he d id n ot k n ow h ow M a b u s e t sa h ad a c q u i r ed p o s s e s s i on of t he a n i m a l s. He c o u ld n ot t h e r e f o re be s a id to h a ve c o r r o b o r a t ed t he e v i d e n ce of J o bo on t he m a t e r i al i s s ue t h at w as b e f o re t he t r i al c o u r t, n a m e l y, t he a c q u i s i t i on of t h e se a n i m a l s. T he w i t n e ss L i ra N oe t r i ed to d e s c r i be h ow M a b u s e t sa h ad a c q u i r ed p o s s e s s i on of t he a n i m a ls b ut h is e v i d e n ce w as 6/ a further -6- was a further contradiction to the evidence of Jobo and Sephothomane. He s a id 3 of t he c a t t le c a me f r om M o l u pe t h us c o n t r a d i c t i ng J o bo w ho h ad s a id o n ly o ne c a t t le h ad c o me f r om M o l u p e; he w a s, i n d e e d, a l so c o n t r a d i c t i ng S e p h o t h o m a ne w ho h ad s a id 2 of t he c a t t le h ad c o me f r om M o l u p e; He s a id o n ly t wo c a t t le c a me f r om M p u t a na t h us c o n t r a d i c t i ng J o bo w ho h ad s a id 3 c a t t le h ad c o me f r om M p u t a n a; He a g a in s a id 2 d o n k e ys a nd a f i l ly c a me f r om M o l u pe w h e r e as S e p h o t h o m a ne h ad s a id o n ly o ne d o n k ey and a f i l ly had c o me f r om M p u t a n a. In h is e v i d e n ce M o l u l a - K h o t la d e n i ed k n o w l e d ge of t he a n i m a ls c l a i m ed by J o bo a nd s t a t ed t h at he h ad b o u g ht all t he a n i m a ls t h at w e re in h is p o s s e s s i o n. P a l e sa N oe w as c a l l ed to t e ll t he c o u rt t h at he and n ot S e p h o t h o m a ne w as t he h e ad of t he f a m i l y. He k n ew n o t h i ng a b o ut t he l i v e s t o ck of t he l i t i g a n t s. N k a lo N oe c o r r o b o r a t ed M o l u l a - K h o t la in h is e v i d e n ce t h at he had a c q u i r ed t he a n i m a ls in h is p o s s e s s i on t h r o u gh h is e a r n i n g s. He f u r t h er s t a t ed t h at t he a n i m a ls b e l o n g i ng to t he h o u se of ' M a s e t l e li g ot f i n i s h ed w h i l st he ( N k a l o) w as h e r d i ng t h em at t he c a t t le p o s t s. ' M a t u m e l i so N oe w as a l so c a l l ed to t e s t i fy t h at s he w as n ot a w a re t h at t he a n i m a ls c l a i m ed by J o bo w e re e v er e a r m a r k ed to h er h o u s e. It is c l e ar f r om t he r e c o rd of p r o c e e d i n gs t h at it e n t i t l ed to i n h e r it t h e m. w as J o bo w ho i n s t i t u t ed t h is c a se a g a i n st M o l u l a - K h o t la c l a i m i ng t he a n i m a ls w h i ch he s a id w e re h is i n h e r i t a n c e. T he o n us r e s t ed s q u a r e ly on h is s h o u l d e rs to p r o ve on a b a l a n ce of p r o b a b i l i t i es t h at t h e re w e re s u ch a n i m a ls a nd he w as b e h a lf on t he e x i s t e n ce of s u ch a n i m a ls w a s, h o w e v e r, so c o n t r a d i c t o ry t h at no c o u rt of law p r o p e r ly a d v i s i ng i t s e lf c o u ld d e c i de t he c a se in h is f a v o u r. n o t, t h e r e f o r e, be s a id t h at J o bo h ad s a t i s f a c t o r i ly d i s c h a r g ed t h at o n u s. T he e v i d e n ce a d d u c ed on h is On t he e v i d e n ce it c o u ld As h as b e en p o i n t ed o ut e a r l i er t he t r i al c o u rt d i s m i s s ed t he c a se on t he g r o u nd t h at t he p r o v i s i o ns of S . 1 4 ( 4) of t he L a ws of L e r o t h o li h ad n ot b e en c o m p l i ed w i th s i m p ly b e c a u se t he f a m i ly m e e t i ng w as p r e s i d ed o v er by S e p h o t h o m a ne w ho w as n ot r e g a r d ed as t he h e ad of t he f a m i l y. I do n ot t h i nk t he q u e s t i on of w ho p r e s i d es o v er t he f a m i ly -7- W h at is i m p o r t a nt is t h at t he m e m b e rs of m e e t i ng is m a t e r i al u n d er t he p r o v i s i o ns of S. 1 4 ( 4) of t he L a ws of L e r o t h o l i. t he f a m i ly s h o u ld c o n s t i t u te t he f a m i ly m e e t i ng to r e s o l ve t he T h e re is a m p le e v i d e n ce in t he p r e s e nt d i s p u t ed p r o p e r t y. c a se t h at a n u m b er of m e m b e rs of t he f a m i ly of N oe did c o n- s t i t u t ed a f a m i ly m e e t i ng p r e s i d ed o v er by S e p h o t h o m a n e. W h e t h er or n ot S e p h o t h o m a ne w as t he r i g h t f ul p e r s on to p r e s i de o v er t h at m e e t i ng is now i m m a t e r i al b e c a u se he did so on t he s p e c i f ic i n s t r u c t i on g i v en by a c o u rt of L a w. c o u rt s h o u ld n o t, t h e r e f o r e, h a ve d i s m i s s ed t he c a se on t he g r o u nd t h at no v a l id f a m i ly m e e t i ng had b e en h e l d. h a ve in f a ct d i s m i s s ed t he c a se on t he g r o u nd t h at J o bo h ad f a i l ed to p r o ve t h at M o l u l a - K h o t la h ad in h is p o s s e s s i on a n i m a ls w h i ch he ( J o b o) w as e n t i t l ed to i n h e r i t. C e n t r al C o u r t, in my v i e w, c o r r e c t ly a l l o w ed t he a p p e al in t h is c a se a l t h o u gh it m ay h a ve b e en f or a d i f f e r e nt r e a s o n. T he t r i al It s h o u ld T he T h is m ay h a ve b e en t he e v i d e n ce in C C . 8 5 / 64 In h is j u d g m e n t, t he J u d i c i al C o m m i s s i o n e r, i n d e e d, t he C e n t r al C o u rt t o ok t he v i ew t h at t h e re w as e v i d e n ce t h at t he a n i m a ls c l a i m ed by J o bo w e re a c q u i r ed as " b o h a l i" f or t he d a u g h t e rs of ' M a s e t l e li a n d, t h e r e f o r e, b e l o n g ed to t he s e n i or h o u se of M a b u s e t s a. and e v en t h en in r e s p e ct of o n ly t wo c a t t le t h at w e re a c t u a l ly r e s t o r ed to t he h o u se of ' M a s e t l e l i. e n d e v o u r ed to s h ow in t h is j u d g m e nt t h e re w as no e v i d e n ce at all in C C . 1 4 1 / 75 t h at t he a n i m a ls p r e s e n t ly c l a i m ed by J o bo w e re a c q u i r ed as " b o h a l i" f or h is s i s t e r s, t he d a u g h t e rs of ' M a s e t l e l i. h i m s e lf t h at t he a n i m a ls he w as c l a i m i ng w e re a c q u i r ed by M a b u s e t sa as " b o h a l i" f or J o b o 's a u n ts i.e. t he s i s t e rs of M a b u s e t s a. T h at b e i ng s o, t he a n i m a l s, if a n y. b e l o n g ed to n e i t h er of t he t wo h o u s es of M a b u s e t s a. " m a l a pa h'a j a n e" c o u ld n ot a p p ly to t h e m. of M a b u s e t s a 's u n a l l o c a t ed p r o p e r ty w h i ch he w as f r ee to d o n a te to e i t h er of his t wo h o u s e s. On t he c o n t r a ry it w as t he e v i d e n ce of J o bo H o w e v e r, as I h a ve T he S e s o t ho m a x im T h ey f o r m ed p a rt In t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s, it is o b v i o us t h at t he v i ew t h at I t a ke is t h at as J o bo had f a i l ed to p r o ve t he e x i s t e n ce of t he a n i m a ls he c l a i m ed f r om M o l u l a - K h o t la a n d / or h is r i g ht to i n h e r it any such a n i m a l s, t he d e c i s i on of t he c o u rt of -8- J u d i c i al C o m m i s s i o n er d i s m i s s i ng t he a p p e al w as w r o ng a nd c a n n ot be a l l o w ed to s t a n d. T he d e c i s i on of t he t r i al c o u rt d i s m i s s i ng J o b o 's c l a im w as c o r r e ct a nd i s, t h e r e f o r e, r e- i n s t a te a l b e it on t he g r o u nd t h at he h ad f a i l ed to d i s c h a r ge t he o n us v e s t ed in h im v i z. p r o of t h at t he a n i m a ls he c l a i m ed e x i s t ed and h is e n t i t l e m e nt t h e r e t o. T he a p p e al is a l l o w ed w i th c o s t s. B. K. M O L AI J U D GE 7 th M a y, 1 9 8 6. F or A p p e l l a nt F or R e s p o n d e nt : M r. M a q u t u, : M r. M d a.