Sello v Sello and Others (C of A (CIV) 55 of 2011) [2012] LSCA 18 (27 April 2012)

IN THE COUR T OF AP P E AL OF LE S OTHO C OF A (CIV) NO.2 2 / 2 0 1 1 In th e m a tter b etween : MOR E NA S E LLO AP P LICANT AND 'MAME TS ING S E LLO F IR S T R E S PONDE NT R E GIS TR AR OF DE E DS S E COND R E S P ONDE NT ATTOR NE Y GE NE R AL THIR D R E S PONDE NT COR AM: RAMODIBE DI, P S MALBE RGE R J A FARLAM, J A HE AR D: DE LIVE R E D: 1 6 APRIL 2 0 1 2 2 7 APRIL 2 0 1 2 S UMMA R Y Appe al – Applica tion filin g of an for con d on a tion of a pplica tion for leav e to a ppe al – Prin ciple s applica b le – Pros pects of s u cce s s – No good cau s e s h ow n to ju s tify con d on a tion – Applica tion d is m is s e d w ith cos ts . la te th e J UDGME NT R AMODIBE DI P [1 ] Th is is a n a p p lica tion for con d on a tion of t h e la t e filin g of a n a p p lica tion for lea ve t o a p p ea l a ga in s t t h e ju d gm en t of t h e High Cou r t d a ted 5 Ma y 2 0 1 0 . In t h a t ju d gm en t t h e High Cou r t d is m is s ed t h e a p p lica n t’s a p p lica tion for lea ve to a p p ea l a ga in s t a n or d er of r es cis s ion of d efa u lt ju d gm en t gr a n ted in fa vou r of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t. [2 ] Th e cen tr a l b on e of con t en tion b etween t h e p a r ties is a d is p u te over a cer t a in s ite No. 1 3 2 8 -7 0 2 s itu a t ed a t Sea - Poin t , Ma s er u Ur b a n Ar ea . Th e d is p u t e h a s in cr ed ib ly b een d r a gged ou t in cou r t s in ce 1 9 9 3 , a p er iod s p a n n in g a lm os t 1 9 yea r s to d a te. [3 ] A ch r on ology of t h e r eleva n t fa cts s h ows t h e followin g:- (1 ) In 1 9 9 3 t h e la t e a p p lica n t’s m ot h er Ma les h oa n e Sello, (“t h e d ecea s ed ”) b r ou gh t t h e p r es en t p r oceed in gs in t h e High Cou r t a ga in s t th e r es p on d en t s u n d er ca s e No. CIV/ T/ 5 9 3 / 9 3 . (2 ) In 1 9 9 7 t h e High Cou r t (Gu n i J ) gr a n t ed d efa u lt ju d gm en t in fa vou r of t h e d ecea s ed . (3 ) On 2 0 S ep tem b er 2 0 0 0 t h e d ecea s ed d ied . Not h in g fu r t h er h a p p en ed for a p er iod of n in e yea r s . (4 ) In 2 0 0 9 t h e a p p lica n t , wh o cla im s t o h a ve in h er ited t h e d is p u t ed s ite a s t h e d ecea s ed ’s h eir , b r ou gh t p r oceed in gs for eject m en t a ga in s t t h e fir s t r es p on d en t. Th is p r om p ted t h e la tt er t o file a n a p p lica tion for r es cis s ion of t h e d efa u lt ju d gm en t gr a n ted in 1 9 9 7 u n d er ca s e No. CIV/ T/ 5 9 3 / 9 3 . S h e a lleged t h a t s h e h a d n ot b een a wa r e of t h e d efa u lt ju d gm en t a ll a lon g. (5 ) On 3 Au gu s t 2 0 0 9 t h e High Cou r t gr a n ted r es cis s ion of d efa u lt ju d gm en t in fa vou r of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t. It d id s o p r in cip a lly on two b a s es , n a m ely:- (a ) t h a t t h e p r es en t a p p lica n t fa iled to file a n a n s wer in g a ffid a vit in t h e m a tt er a n d (b ) t h a t t h e fir s t r es p on d en t h a d n ot b een join ed a s a p a r ty in ca s e No. CIV/ T/ 5 9 3 / 9 3 in qu es tion . Neit h er wa s s h e s er ved wit h t h e p a p er s in t h e m a t ter . (6 ) On 2 6 Au gu s t 2 0 0 9 t h e a p p lica n t b r ou gh t a n a p p lica tion in t h e High Cou r t for lea ve to a p p ea l a ga in s t t h e or d er r es cin d in g d efa u lt ju d gm en t d a ted 3 Au gu s t 2 0 0 9 . (7 ) On 5 Ma y 2 0 1 0 a s in d ica ted in p a r a gr a p h [1 ] a b ove t h e High Cou r t d is m is s ed t h e a p p lica n t ’s a p p lica tion p r in cip a lly on t h e gr ou n d t h a t h e h a d fa iled to file a n a n s wer in g a ffid a vit. As a r es u lt , t h e cou r t on ly h a d t h e fir s t r es p on d en t’s ver s ion to con s id er . Accor d in gly, t h e cou r t a ccep ted t h e la t ter ’s ver s ion t h a t s h e h a d n ot b een a wa r e of t h e d efa u lt ju d gm en t in t h e m a tt er a ll a lon g u n til t h e a p p lica n t b r ou gh t eject m en t p r oceed in gs a ga in s t h er . (8 ) On 1 8 Ma y 2 0 1 1 , wh ich wa s a p er iod of 1 2 m on t h s a fter t h e High Cou r t h a d d is m is s e d h is a p p lica tion , t h e a p p lica n t filed t h e p r es en t a p p lica tion in t h is Cou r t . He s eek s a n or d er in t h e followin g ter m s :- “(a) Gran tin g a ppe lla n t (s ic) con d on a tion for la te filin g of le av e to appe al a ga in s t th e ju d gm e n t of h er Lad y s h ip Mad a m e J u s tice N. Ma ja ra d e liv e re d on th e 0 5 th Ma y 2 0 1 0 refu s in g to gran t Applican t le av e to a ppe al h e r d ecis ion of 0 3 rd Au gu s t 2 0 0 9 . (b) Ord e rin g Re s pon d en ts to p a y cos ts in th e even t of oppos ition . (c) Gran tin g Applican t fu rth e r an d / or a lte rn a tiv e relief.” [4 ] It is tr ite t h a t a n or d er r es cin d in g d efa u lt ju d gm en t is in ter locu t or y. As s u ch it is n ot a p p ea la b le wit h ou t lea ve. Th is is s o in t er m s of s 1 6 (1 ) of t h e Cou r t of Ap p ea l Act 1 9 7 8 . [5 ] An a p p lica tion for lea ve t o a p p ea l t o t h is Cou r t is gover n ed b y Ru le 3 of t h e Cou r t of Ap p ea l Ru les 2 0 0 6 . S u b r u les (1 ) a n d (2 ) p r ovid e t h a t t h e a p p lica tion s h a ll b e m a d e b y wa y of n otice of m otion wh ich s h a ll in tu r n b e d eliver ed wit h in twen ty-on e d a ys of t h e d a t e of t h e d eliver y of t h e ju d gm en t or or d er of t h e High Cou r t. [6 ] A s im p le ca lcu la tion will s h ow t h a t 2 1 cou r t d a ys fr om 5 Ma y 2 0 1 0 exp ir ed on Th u r s d a y 3 J u n e 2 0 1 0 . It follows t h a t t h e a p p lica n t s h ou ld h a ve filed t h e a p p lica tion for lea ve t o a p p ea l on t h e n ext wor k in g d a y, n a m ely, on 4 J u n e 2 0 1 0 . He fa iled t o d o s o. As in d ica ted a b ove h e on ly filed t h e a p p lica tion on 1 8 Ma y 2 0 1 1 . He wa s h op eles s ly ou t of tim e. On h is own ver s ion in p a r a gr a p h 7 .3 .2 of h is fou n d in g a ffid a vit t h e a p p lica n t a d m its t h a t h e “le a rn t” a b ou t t h e High Cou r t’s r efu s a l t o gr a n t h im lea ve t o a p p ea l a s fa r b a ck a s Ma y 2 0 1 0 . [7 ] Th e a p p lica n t h a s tr ied t o s h ift t h e b la m e for t h e d ela y to h is cou n s el. Th er e is , h owever , n o a ccep t a b le exp la n a tion fr om Mr Ma n yeli, t h e cou n s el wh o filed a s u p p or tin g a ffid a vit on b eh a lf of t h e a p p lica n t , wh y t h e a p p lica tion for lea ve to a p p ea l wa s n ot lod ged tim eou s ly. In t h is con n ection I a m m a in ly a ttr a ct ed b y th e followin g a p p os it e r em a r k s of St eyn CJ in S a lo o je e a n d An o t h e r NNO v Min is t e r o f Co m m u n it y De ve lo p m e n t 1 9 6 5 (2 ) SA 1 3 5 (A) a t 1 4 1 B-E :- “I s h ou ld poin t ou t, h ow e ve r, th a t it h a s n ot a t a n y tim e be en h e ld th a t con d on a tion w ill n ot in an y circu m s ta n ce s be w ith h e ld if th e bla m e lie s w ith th e a ttorn ey . Th e re is a lim it be y on d w h ich a litigan t ca n n ot e s cape th e re s u lts of h is a ttorn e y ’s lack of d ilige n ce or th e in s u fficie n cy of th e ex plan a tion te n d e red . To h old oth e rw is e m igh t h av e a d is a s trou s effect u pon th e th e Ru le s of th is Cou rt. Con s id e ra tion s a d obs e rv an ce of m is e r ic or d ia m s h ou ld n ot be allow e d to be com e a n in v ita tion to lax ity . In fact th is Cou rt h a s la te ly bee n bu rd en ed w ith a n u n d u e an d in cre a s in g n u m be r of ap plica tion s for con d on a tion in w h ich th e fa ilu re to com ply w ith th e Ru le s of th is Cou rt w a s d u e to n e glect on th e p art of th e a ttorn e y . Th e a ttorn e y , af te r all, is th e re pre s en ta tiv e w h om th e litigan t h as ch os en for h im s e lf, an d th e re is little re as on w h y , in re gard to con d on a tion of a fa ilu re to com ply w ith a Ru le of Cou rt, th e litigan t s h ou ld be abs olved from th e n orm a l con s e qu en ce s of s u ch a re la tion s h ip , n o m a tte r w h a t th e circu m s ta n ce s of th e fa ilu re are .” [8 ] Now, t h e p r in cip les a p p lica b le in a n a p p lica tion for con d on a tion of t h e la te filin g of a n a p p lica tion for lea ve t o a p p ea l a r e well k n own in t h is ju r is d iction . E s s en tia lly , t h e a p p lica n t m u s t es ta b lis h two r equ ir em en ts , n a m ely:- (1 ) He m u s t es ta b lis h good ca u s e for con d on a tion . In t h is r ega r d h e m u s t exp la in h is fa ilu r e t o a ct tim eou s ly. He m u s t s h ow t h a t h e wa s n ot wilfu l. (2 ) He m u s t s h ow t h a t h e h a s good p r os p ects of s u cces s on a p p ea l. [9 ] Fu r t h er m or e, it is of fu n d a m en ta l im p or ta n ce to r ecogn is e t h a t t h e cou r t h a s a d is cr etion wh et h er or n ot t o gr a n t con d on a t ion for t h e la te filin g of lea ve t o a p p ea l. Th is is , h owever , a ju d icia l d is cr etion wh ich m u s t b e exer cis ed u p on a con s id er a tion of a ll t h e r eleva n t fa ctor s . It is a s s u ch n ot a n a r b itr a r y d is cr etion . Th e r eleva n t fa ctor s will often in clu d e “th e d egree of d ela y in a p p roa ch in g th e cou rt for con d on a tion , th e a d e qu a cy of th e re a s on s a d v a n ced for s u ch d ela y , th e p ros pects of Ap plica n t’s s u cces s on a p p e a l, a n d th e Re s p on d e n t’s in te res t in th e fin a lity of th e ju d gm e n t.” S ee Ko a h o v S o lic it o r Ge n e r a l 1 9 8 0 – 1 9 8 4 LAC 3 5 a t 3 6 -3 7 . [1 0 ] It is es s en tia l to ob s er ve t h a t t h e a p p lica n t’s a p p lica tion s u ffer s fr om two fa ta l d efects in t h e cir cu m s t a n ces of t h is ca s e, n a m ely:- (1 ) He h a s fa iled t o fu r n is h a n a ccep ta b le exp la n a tion for h is in or d in a te d ela y in filin g a n a p p lica tion for lea ve to a p p ea l. (2 ) He h a s fa iled to es t a b lis h t h a t h e h a s good p r os p ect s of s u cces s on a p p ea l. Th is is s o b eca u s e h e fa iled t o es ta b lis h good ca u s e for con d on a tion of h is fa ilu r e t o file a n a n s wer in g a ffid a vit in s u p p or t of h is op p os ition to r es cis s ion of t h e d efa u lt ju d gm en t in t h e cou r t a qu o. His tr a d em a r k exp la n a tion for t h is r em is s n es s is t h a t h e exp ect ed t h e High Cou r t t o p u t h im to ter m s a s to t h e filin g of a n a n s wer in g a ffid a vit . Qu ite p la in ly, t h is is a b a d exp la n a t ion . It is a fla gr a n t d is r ega r d of Ru le 8 (1 0 ) (b ) of t h e High Cou r t Ru les 1 9 8 0 wh ich p r ovid es in m a n d a t or y ter m s t h a t t h e r es p on d en t s h a ll d eliver h is a n s wer in g a ffid a vit wit h in fou r t een d a ys of t h e n otice of in ten tion to op p os e t h e a p p lica tion . [1 1 ] It is a t ellin g fa ct or a ga in s t t h e a p p lica n t , in m y view, t h a t h e wa s con s is ten tly la te , in com p let e d is r ega r d of t h e Ru les of Cou r t a s h igh ligh t ed a b ove . [1 2 ] Fin a lly, I h a ve t a k en in to a ccou n t t h e fa ct t h a t t h e a p p lica n t is n ot wit h ou t a r em ed y. He is a t lib er ty to en ter t h e p r in cip a l ca s e s in ce t h e cou r t a qu o h a s on ly gr a n ted r es cis s ion of d efa u lt ju d gm en t. [1 3 ] It follows fr om t h e for egoin g con s id er a tion s t h a t t h e a p p lica n t’s a p p lica tion ca n n ot s u cceed . It is a ccor d in gly d is m is s ed wit h cos ts . ____________________________ M. M. R AMODIBE DI PR E SIDE NT OF THE COUR T OF AP PE AL I a gr ee: _________________________ J . W. S MALBE R GE R J US TICE OF AP PE AL I a gr ee: _________________________ I. G. F AR LAM J US TICE OF AP PE AL F o r t h e Ap p e lla n t : F o r t h e 1 s t R e s p o n d e n t : Ad v. M. P. Ph ek a n i Mis s M. Ra m a fole