REHOBOTH BASTERGEMEENTE and Another v Government of the Republic of Namibia and Others (APPEAL 163 of 1993) [1993] NAHC 6 (22 October 1993)

THE REHOBOTH BASTERGEMEENTE & 1 OTHER - v s- A. 1 6 3 / 93 THE GOVERNMENT OF THE R E P U B L IC OA NAMIBIA AND 4 OTHER. 1 9 9 3 / 1 0 / 22 C o r a m: S t r y d o m, J . P ., et H a n n a h, J a nd T e e k, J. P R A C T I C E. L o c us J o i n d er s t a n di of of o t h er a p p l i c a nt - i n t e r e s t ed w h at m u st - p a r t i es be w h en s h o w n. n e c e s s a r y. IN THE HIGH COURT OF NAMIBIA CASE NO. In t he m a t t er b e t w e en THE REHOBOTH BASTERGEMEENTE F I R ST A P P L I C A NT JOHANNES GERARD ADOLF DIERGAARDT SECOND A P P L I C A NT a nd THE GOVERNMENT OF THE R E P U B L IC OF NAMIBIA F I R ST RESPONDENT THE REGISTRAR OF D E E D S, REHOBOTH SECOND RESPONDENT CORNELIUS M I C H A IL BRANDT THIRD RESPONDENT THE KHOMAS REGIONAL COUNCIL FOURTH RESPONDENT THE HARDAP REGIONAL COUNCIL F I F TH RESPONDENT THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER FOR THE CENTRAL REGION F I F TH RESPONDENT CORAM: STRYDOM, J . P. et HANNAH, J. et T E E K, J. H e a rd o n: 1 9 9 3 / 1 0 / 22 D e l i v e r ed o n: 1 9 9 3 / 1 0 / 22 JUDGMENT STRYDOM, J . P. et HANNAH, J et T E E K, J .: We h a ve b e f o re us a N o t i ce of M o t i on in w h i ch t he R e h o b o th B a s t e r g e m e e n te ( R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i t y ), t he f i r st a p p l i c a n t, s e e ks c e r t a in r e l i ef in c o n n e c t i on w i th l a nd s i t u a t ed in t he D i s t r i ct of R e h o b o th to w h i ch it c l a i ms o w n e r s h i p. T he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt c l a i ms to be t he d u ly e l e c t ed K a p t e in of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty a nd to r e p r e s e nt t h at c o m m u n i ty in t h is a p p l i c a t i o n. He a l so s e e ks c e r t a in r e l i ef in h is p e r s o n al c a p a c i t y. Of t he s ix r e s p o n d e n ts o n ly t he G o v e r n m e n t, c i t ed as t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t, h as c h o s en to o p p o se t he a p p l i c a t i o n. It o p p o s es t he g r a nt of t he r e l i ef s o u g ht on t he m e r i ts a nd it a l so r a i s es t wo p o i n ts in l i m i n e. T he t wo p o i n ts a re t h at t he a p p l i c a n ts do n ot h a ve l o c us s t a n di a nd t h at o t h er i n t e r e s t ed p a r t i es s h o u ld h a ve b e en j o i n ed as r e s p o n d e n t s. At t he o u t s et of t he h e a r i ng it w as d e c i d ed t h at it w o u ld be m o re c o n v e n i e nt to l i m it a r g u m e nt to t he t wo p r e l i m i n a ry o b j e c t i o ns r a i s ed by t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt a nd to an a p p l i c a t i on m a de by t he a p p l i c a n ts to c r o s s - e x a m i ne t wo d e p o n e n ts to a f f i d a v i ts f i l ed on b e h a lf of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t. T h is j u d g m e nt is t h e r e f o re c o n f i n ed to t h o se m a t t e r s. We w i ll d e al f i r st w i th t he q u e s t i on of l o c us s t a n d i. In o r d er to p ut t he a r g u m e n ts a nd c o u n t e r - a r g u m e n ts a d v a n c ed by c o u n s el in t h e ir p r o p er p e r s p e c t i ve it is n e c e s s a ry to s et o ut t he h i s t o ry of t he R e h o b o th B a s t e rs w i th p a r t i c u l ar r e f e r e n ce to a n u m b er of l e g i s l a t i ve e n a c t m e n ts w h i ch h a ve in o ne w ay or a n o t h er a f f e c t ed t h em o v er t he y e a r s. T h e ir h i s t o ry is g u i te l o ng a nd w h at f o l l o ws is v e ry m u ch an a b b r e v i a t ed a c c o u n t. It is b a s ed on t he e v i d e n ce w h i ch h as b e en p l a c ed b e f o re t he C o u r t. T o w a r ds t he e nd of t he e i g h t e e n th a nd t he b e g i n n i ng of t he n i n e t e e n th c e n t u r i es a n u m b er of B a s t er c o m m u n i t i es e m e r g ed in t he a r ea b e t w e en t he N o r t h - w e s t e rn f r o n t i er of t he C a pe C o l o ny a nd t he l o w er c o u r se of t he O r a n ge r i v e r. O ne of t h e se i n h a b i t ed t he a r ea k n o wn as de T u in a nd in 1 8 68 i ts p e o p le d e c i d ed to e m i g r a te n o r t h. T h ey s e t t l ed in R e h o b o th w h e r e, a f t er n e g o t i a t i o ns w i th t he S w a r t b o oi t r i b e, t h ey a c q u i r ed l a n d. W h i l st en r o u te to R e h o b o th t h is B a s t er C o m m u n i ty d r a f t ed a p r o v i s i o n al c o n s t i t u t i on to r e g u l a te t h e ir a f f a i rs a nd t h is c o n s t i t u t i o n, in a r e v i s ed f o r m, w as p r o m u l g a t ed at R e h o b o th on 3 1 st J a n u a r y, 1 8 7 2. It b e c a me k n o wn as t he P a t e r n al L a ws of 1 8 72 a n d, a c c o r d i ng to t he e v i d e n ce a d d u c ed on b e h a lf of t he f i r st a p p l i c a n t, t h e se l a w s, as a m e n d ed f r om t i me to t i m e, r e m a i n ed in f o r ce to t he p r e s e nt d a y. We do n ot p r o p o se to s et o ut t he P a t e r n al L a ws of t he R e h o b o th B a s t e rs in d e t a il a nd w i ll c o n t e nt o u r s e l v es w i th m e r e ly h i g h - l i g h t i ng a f ew of t h e m. T h ey p r o v i d ed f or t he a p p o i n t m e nt of an e l e c t ed s u p r e me r u l er k n o wn as t he K a p t e in w ho w as to h o ld s u ch o f f i ce f or l i f e. A l so f or a R a ad ( C o u n c i l) c o n s i s t i ng of t wo c i t i z e ns to a s s i st t he K a p t e in a nd a V o l k s r a ad ( P a r l i a m e n t) c o n s i s t i ng of a f u r t h er t wo c i t i z e n s. T h ey p r o v i d ed t h at e v e ry B a s t e r, or a n y o ne m a r r i ed to a B a s t e r, s h o u ld be a c i t i z en a nd t h at a ll t a x- p a y i ng c i t i z e ns s h o u ld h a ve t he r i g ht to v o te in t he e l e c t i on of t he K a p t e in a nd m e m b e rs of P a r l i a m e n t. P r o v i s i on w as a l so m a de f or n o n - B a s t e rs to b e c o me c i t i z e n s. T he K a p t e i n, h is c o u n c i l l o rs a nd m e m b e rs of P a r l i a m e nt w e re e n j o i n ed - " . .. t h r o u gh t he s l a p p i ng of h a n ds i n s t e ad of t he t a k i ng of an o a t h, to f u l f il t h e ir o f f i ce a nd p r o f e s s i on w i t h o ut s e l f - i n t e r e st a nd f or t he b e n e f it of t he D o m a i n ." T he P a t e r n al L a ws a l so p r o v i d ed f or t he a p p o i n t m e nt of j u d g es by t he K a p t e in to h e ar c r i m i n al a nd c i v il m a t t e rs a nd f or t he a p p o i n t m e nt of f i e l d - c o r n e t s, t he e q u i v a l e nt of m o d e r n - d ay d e p u t y - s h e r i f f s. A n u m b er of o f f e n c es w e re s p e c i f i ed t o g e t h er w i th t he p e n a l t i es to be i m p o s e d. A s y s t em of t a x a t i on w as c r e a t ed " in o r d er to d e f r ay t he n e c e s s a ry g o v e r n m e nt e x p e n d i t u r e ." T h e re w e re l a ws p e r t a i n i ng to m a r r i a ge a nd r e s t r i c t i o ns w e re i m p o s ed on t he s a le of l a n d. T h e re w as a c a l l - up s y s t em in t he e v e nt of a t t a ck by e n e m i e s. A n d, as t he t o wn of R e h o b o th g r e w, l a ws g o v e r n i ng t he k e e p i ng of l i v e s t o ck in t he t o wn w e re p a s s e d. As m u st be c l e ar f r om t he f o r e g o i n g, t he P a t e r n al L a ws p r o v i d ed a f r a m e w o rk of r u l es d e f i n i ng t he o r g a ns of g o v e r n m e nt of t he B a s t er p e o p le a nd t h e ir r i g h ts a nd d u t i e s. G e r m a ny a n n e x ed S o u th W e st A f r i ca in 1 8 84 a nd in t he f o l l o w i ng y e ar a " T r e a ty of P r o t e c t i on a nd F r i e n d s h i p" w as c o n c l u d ed b e t w e en t he G e r m an I m p e r i al G o v e r n m e nt a nd t he K a p t e in a nd C o u n c il of t he B a s t e rs w h o se f r e e d om i n, a nd r i g h ts t o, t h e ir t e r r i t o ry w e re a c k n o w l e d g e d. T he t r e a ty a l so p r o v i d ed t h at s h o u ld t h e re be f u t u re m a t t e rs to be s e t t l ed b e t w e en t he G e r m an E m p i re a nd t he B a s t e rs t h e se w o u ld be r e s o l v ed by a g r e e m e nt b e t w e en t he t wo G o v e r n m e n t s. In f a c t, o ne s u ch m a t t er w as m i l i t a ry s e r v i ce by B a s t e rs on b e h a lf of t he I m p e r i al G e r m an G o v e r n m e nt a nd t h is w as s e t t l ed by a t r e a ty e n t e r ed i n to by t he t wo G o v e r n m e n ts in 1 8 95 w h e r e by t he K a p t e in u n d e r t o ok to a s s i gn a c o n t i n e nt of r e c r u i ts a n n u a l ly to t he G e r m a n s. D e s p i te t he 1 8 84 t r e a ty t he G e r m an A d m i n i s t r a t i on d id in f a ct e x e rt a c o n s i d e r a b le i n f l u e n ce on t he s y s t em of B a s t er G o v e r n m e nt b ut n o n e t h e l e ss it s u r v i v ed a nd w as s t i ll f u n c t i o n i ng in 1 9 15 w h en t he G e r m a ns w e re d e f e a t e d. W i th t he d e f e at of G e r m a n y, m a n d a t o ry p o w e rs o v er t he T e r r i t o ry of S o u th W e st A f r i ca w e re g i v en to t he U n i on of S o u th A f r i ca by t he L e a g ue of N a t i o ns a nd in 1 9 23 an a g r e e m e nt w as e n t e r ed i n to b e t w e en t he A d m i n i s t r a t i on of S o u th W e st A f r i ca a nd t he K a p t e in a nd C o u n c il of t he B a s t e r s. T h is a g r e e m e nt w as g i v en f o r ce of l aw by P r o c l a m a t i on 28 of 1 9 23 w h i ch p r o v i d e d, i n t er a l i a, t h at t he A d m i n i s t r a t i on a c k n o w l e d g ed t he r i g ht a nd t i t le of t he R e h o b o th C o m m u n i ty to t he l a nd t h en o c c u p i ed by it a nd t he r i g ht of t he C o m m u n i ty to l o c al s e l f - g o v e r n m e nt in a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he P a t e r n al L a w s. T he A d m i n i s t r a t i on a l so r e c o g n i s ed t he d u ly e l e c t ed K a p t e in a nd p r o v i s i on w as m a de f or t he a p p o i n t m e nt by t he A d m i n i s t r a t or of a m a g i s t r a te to r e p r e s e nt t he A d m i n i s t r a t i on in i ts r e l a t i o ns w i th t he K a p t e in a nd C o u n c il of t he C o m m u n i t y. T he b o u n d a r i es of t he t e r r i t o ry o c c u p i ed by t he C o m m u n i ty w e re d e f i n ed c o m p r i s i ng an a r ea of a p p r o x i m a t e ly 1 4 2 00 s q u a re k i l o m e t r e s. T he p e r s on o c c u p y i ng t he p o s i t i on of K a p t e in d i ed n ot l o ng a f t er t h is a g r e e m e nt w as c o n f i r m ed by P r o c l a m a t i on a nd t h is l ed to a c e r t a in a m o u nt of p o l i t i c al d i s s e n s i on a m o n g st t he m e m b e rs of t he C o m m u n i t y. As a r e s u l t, a f u r t h er P r o c l a m a t i on w as i s s u ed in 1 9 2 4, t he R e h o b o th A f f a i rs P r o c l a m a t i o n, N o. 31 of 1 9 2 4, w h e r e by as f r om 1 6 th D e c e m b e r, 1 9 24 - " a ll a nd s e v e r al t he p o w e rs f u n c t i o ns a nd d u t i es v e s t ed by l aw in t he K a p i t e i n, C o u n c il of t he K a p i t e in a nd V o l k s r a ad r e s p e c t i v e ly of t he s a id C o m m u n i ty s h a ll v e st in t he M a g i s t r a te of t he D i s t r i ct of R e h o b o th w ho s h a ll e x e r c i se a ll s u ch p o w e r s, f u n c t i o ns a nd d u t i es in a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he l a ws of t he s a id C o m m u n i ty at p r e s e nt in f o r ce w i t h in t he G e b i e t . . ." T he r e f e r e n ce to " t he G e b i e t" w as a r e f e r e n ce to t he t e r r i t o ry o c c u p i ed by t he C o m m u n i t y. T h e n, by P r o c l a m a t i on N o. of 1 9 2 8, t he A d m i n i s t r a t or e s t a b l i s h ed an A d v i s o ry B o a rd f or t he G e b i et t he d u t i es a nd f u n c t i o ns of w h i ch w e re to a d v i se t he M a g i s t r a te in t he e x e r c i se a nd e x e c u t i on of t he p o w e r s, f u n c t i o ns a nd d u t i es v e s t ed in h im by t he 1 9 24 P r o c l a m a t i o n. T he B o a rd c o n s i s t ed of s ix m e m b e rs c h o s en by m e m b e rs of t he C o m m u n i t y. T h ey h ad to be m a l es n ot l e ss t h an t h i r ty y e a rs of a ge w i th f u ll b u r g h e r - r i g h ts u n d er t he l a ws a nd c o n s t i t u t i on of t he C o m m u n i t y, o r d i n a r i ly r e s i d e nt in t he G e b i et a nd e i t h er r e g i s t e r ed in t he D e e ds R e g i s t ry at W i n d h o ek as t he o w n er of l a nd s i t u a te in t he G e b i et or r e g i s t e r ed in a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he P a t e r n al L a ws as t he h o l d er of s u ch l a nd in t he r e g i s t er m a i n t a i n ed at R e h o b o th by t he M a g i s t r a t e. At t h is p o i nt s o me m e n t i on m u st be m a de of l a n d - o w n e r s h ip w i t h in t he G e b i e t. T he P a t e r n al L a ws m a ke no m e n t i on of t he m e t h od by w h i ch o w n e r s h ip of l a nd c o u ld be g r a n t ed to i n d i v i d u al m e m b e rs of t he c o m m u n i ty b u t, as is s t a t ed by P . A . L. v an d en H e u v el in h is a r t i c le e n t i t l ed " T he s u r v ey a nd t e n u re of l a nd in R e h o b o t h, S o u th W e st A f r i ca 1 8 70 - 1 9 8 4" p u b l i s h ed in SA S u r v ey J o u r n a l, A p r i l, 1 9 8 5, an a r t i c le w h i ch we h a ve d r a wn u p on in s e t t i ng o ut t h is h i s t o r y, l a nd c o u ld v e ry w e ll h a ve b e en g r a n t ed v e r b a l ly by t he K a p t e in a nd h is C o u n c il in t he e a r ly y e a r s. Be t h at as m a y, a c u s t om e v o l v ed of i s s u i ng " p a p i e r e n" to e v i d e n ce t he g r a nt of l a nd a nd m u ch of t he l a nd o c c u p i ed by t he C o m m u n i ty p a s s ed i n to p r i v a te o w n e r s h i p. M e n t i on m u st a l so be m a de of t he R e h o b o th A f f a i rs P r o c l a m a t i o n, 1 9 3 9. T h is p r o v i d ed t h at t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty - " s h a ll be e n t i t l e d, as an a s s o c i a t i on of p e r s o n s, to a c q u i re i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty . . .. in a d d i t i on to t he l a n d, t he r i g ht a nd t i t le to w h i ch is r e c o g n i s ed in t e r ms of [ t he 1 9 23 A g r e e m e n t] . . . ". T he P r o c l a m a t i on a l so p r o v i d ed - " t h at t he t i t le to s u ch i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty so a c q u i r ed s h a ll be r e g i s t e r ed in t he n a me of t he K a p i t e in a nd R a ad of t he s a id C o m m u n i ty f or a nd on b e h a lf of t he s a id C o m m u n i t y ." O r d i n a n ce N o. 20 of 1 9 61 p r o v i d ed f or t he r e - i n s t a t e m e nt of an e l e c t ed K a p t e in b ut it d o es n ot a p p e ar t h at t he O r d i n a n ce e v er t o ok e f f e c t. W h e t h er it d id or n ot is of no r e al r e l e v a n ce as no s t e ps w e re t a k en to h o ld s u ch e l e c t i o n. T he M a g i s t r a te c o n t i n u ed to e x e r c i se a ll t he p o w e r s, f u n c t i o ns a nd d u t i es v e s t ed in t he K a p t e in a nd it w as n ot u n t il 1 9 76 t h at a ny r e al c h a n ge o c c u r r e d. In 1 9 76 t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A c t, N o. of 1 9 7 6, w as p a s s ed a nd it is n e c e s s a ry to r e f er to c e r t a in p a r ts of t h is A ct in d e t a i l. T he l o ng t i t le of t he A ct w as as f o l l o w s: " To g r a nt s e l f - g o v e r n m e nt in a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he P a t e r n al L aw of 1 8 72 to t he c i t i z e ns of t he " R e h o b o th G e b i e t" w i t h in t he t e r r i t o ry of S o u th W e st A f r i c a; f or t h at p u r p o se to p r o v i de f or t he e s t a b l i s h m e nt of a K a p t e i n 's C o u n c il a nd a L e g i s l a t i ve C o u n c il f or t he s a id " G e b i e t "; to d e t e r m i ne t he p o w e rs a nd f u n c t i o ns of t he s a id c o u n c i l s; a nd to p r o v i de f or m a t t e rs c o n n e c t ed t h e r e w i t h. " T he P r e a m b le t h en r e a d s: "WHEREAS it is t he d e s i re of t he c i t i z e ns of t he ' R e h o b o th G e b i e t* t h at s e l f - g o v e r n m e nt w i t h in t he t e r r i t o ry of S o u th W e st A f r i ca be g r a n t ed to t h e m; AND WHEREAS t he c i t i z e ns of t he s a id " G e b i e t" h a ve g r e at r e s p e ct f or t h e ir o wn t r a d i t i o ns a nd t he m a n a g e m e nt i n s t i t u t i o ns of t h e ir a n c e s t o rs as e m b o d i ed in t h e ir p a t e r n al l a w s; AND WHEREAS it is d e s i r a b le to g r a nt s e l f- g o v e r n m e nt to t he p e o p le of R e h o b o th on t he b a s is of t he p r o p o s a ls by t he B a s t er A d v i s o ry C o u n c il of R e h o b o th a nd at t he r e q u e st of t he s a id p e o p le a nd w i t h o ut p r e j u d i c i ng a ny f u r t h er c o n s t i t u t i o n al d e v e l o p m e nt of t he t e r r i t o ry of S o u th W e st A f r i c a, to e s t a b l i sh on s u ch b a s is a nd at s u ch r e q u e st a g o v e r n m e nt f or R e h o b o th t h at - w i ll m a i n t a in l aw a nd o r d er in R e h o b o th a nd w i ll e n s u re j u s t i ce to a l l; w i ll p r o m o te t he m a t e r i al a nd s p i r i t u al w e l l- b e i ng of R e h o b o th a nd i ts i n h a b i t a n t s; w i ll p r o t e ct a nd d e v e l op t h e ir o wn t r a d i t i o ns a nd c u l t u r e; w i ll p r o p a g a te t he i d e a ls of t he C h r i s t i an c i v i l i z a t i o n; a nd w i ll s t r i ve a f t er p e a ce w i th a nd g o o d w i ll to t he o t h er i n h a b i t a n ts of t he t e r r i t o ry of S o u th W e st A f r i c a ." M o v i ng n ow to t he b o dy of t he A c t, s e c t i on 1 p r o v i d ed t h at t he R e h o b o th G e b i et s h a ll be a s e l f - g o v e r n i ng t e r r i t o ry a nd s e c t i o ns 2, a nd p r o v i d ed f or t he e l e c t i on of a K a p t e i n 's C o u n c il a nd a L e g i s l a t i ve C o u n c il w h i ch t o g e t h er c o n s t i t u t ed t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty of R e h o b o t h. At t he h e ad of t he K a p t e i n 's C o u n c il w as t he K a p t e i n. U n l i ke t he p r o v i s i o ns of t he P a t e r n al L a w s, h o w e v e r, t he K a p t e in w as n ot to h o ld o f f i ce f or l i fe b ut f or a f i ve y e ar t e rm o n ly a nd t he n u m b er of m e m b e rs in t he C o u n c il a nd P a r l i a m e nt a l so d i f f e r ed f r om t h at o r i g i n a l ly p r o v i d ed f o r. S e c t i on of t he A ct m a de p r o v i s i on f or c i t i z e n s h i p. T h e se s e c t i o ns w e re c o n t a i n ed in P a rt I of t he A ct u n d er t he h e a d i ng "GRANT OF SELF-GOVERNMENT TO REHOBOTH AND R E - I N S T I T U T I ON OF THE P R O V I S I O NS OF THE PATERNAL LAW OF 31 JANUARY 1 8 7 2 ". P a rt II of t he A ct c o n t a i n ed g e n e r al p r o v i s i o ns a nd of n o te is s e c t i on 12 w h i ch v e s t ed t he e x e c u t i ve g o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o th in t he K a p t e i n 's C o u n c i l. S e c t i on t h en e m p o w e r ed t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty to m a ke l a ws in r e s p e ct of m a t t e rs s et o ut in t he S c h e d u le to t he A c t. As f or t r a n s f er of l a nd t he f o l l o w i ng p r o v i s i on w as m a de in s e c t i on 2 3: " ( 1) F r om t he d a te of c o m m e n c e m e nt of t h is A ct t he o w n e r s h ip a nd c o n t r ol of a ll m o v a b le a nd i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty in R e h o b o th t he o w n e r s h ip or c o n t r ol of w h i ch is on t h at d a te v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of t he R e p u b l ic or t he a d m i n i s t r a t i on of t he t e r r i t o ry of S o u th W e st A f r i ca or t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty a nd w h i ch r e l a t es to m a t t e rs in r e s p e ct of w h i ch t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty of R e h o b o th is e m p o w e r ed to m a ke l a w s, s h a ll v e st in t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o t h. ( 2) T he s a id p r o p e r ty s h a ll be t r a n s f e r r ed to t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o th w i t h o ut p a y m e nt of t r a n s f er d u t y, s t a mp d u ty or a ny o t h er f ee or c h a r g e, b ut s u b j e ct to a ny e x i s t i ng r i g h t, c h a r g e, o b l i g a t i on or t r u st on or o v er s u ch p r o p e r ty a nd s u b j e ct a l so to t he p r o v i s i o ns of t h is A c t. ( 3) T he R e g i s t r ar of D e e ds c o n c e r n ed s h a ll u p on p r o d u c t i on to h im of t he t i t le d e ed to a ny i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty m e n t i o n ed in s u b s e c t i on ( 1) e n d o r se s u ch t i t le d e ed to t he e f f e ct t h at t he i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty t h e r e in d e s c r i b ed is v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o th a nd s h a ll m a ke t he n e c e s s a ry e n t r i es in h is r e g i s t e r s, a nd t h e r e u p on t he s a id t i t le d e ed s h a ll s e r ve a nd a v a il f or a ll p u r p o s es p r o of of t he t i t le of t he G o v e r n m e nt as of R e h o b o th to t he s a id p r o p e r t y ." Of p a r t i c u l ar n o te is t he q u a l i f i c a t i on of t he w o r ds " o w n e r s h ip a nd c o n t r ol of a ll m o v a b le a nd i m m o v a b le p r o p e r t y" by t he w o r ds " a nd w h i ch r e l a t es to m a t t e rs in r e s p e ct of w h i ch t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty of R e h o b o th is e m p o w e r ed to m a ke l a w s ." A n o t h er e n a c t m e nt w h i ch a f f e c t ed t he B a s t e rs of R e h o b o th w as t he R e g i s t r a t i on of D e e ds in R e h o b o th A c t, N o. 93 of 1 9 7 6. 11 T h is w as e n a c t ed s h o r t ly a f t er t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct a nd p r o v i d ed f or t he r e g i s t r a t i on of d e e ds in t he R e h o b o th G e b i e t. Of p a r t i c u l ar i n t e r e st in t he c o n t e xt of t he p r e s e nt a p p l i c a t i on is s e c t i on 48 w h i ch p r o v i d es t h at t he r e g i s t r ar s h a ll n ot r e g i s t er t he t r a n s f er of a ny l a nd or a ny d o c u m e nt w h i ch r e l a t es to l a nd or i s s ue a ny l a nd t i t le - " u n l e ss t he p e r s on w ho a p p l i es t h e r e f or s u b m i ts a d o c u m e nt i s s u ed by t he o f f i ce of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty in w h i ch it is s t a t ed t h at a ll t a x es a nd o t h er m o n e ys p a y a b le to t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty in r e s p e ct of t he l a nd in q u e s t i on h a ve b e en p a i d ." a nd s e c t i on 49 w h i ch p r o v i d e s: " A ny a m o u nt p a y a b le in t e r ms of t h is A ct in r e s p e ct of t he p e r f o r m a n ce of a ny a ct s h a ll be p a id to t he r e g i s t r ar f or t he b e n e f it of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i t y ." O t h er r e f e r e n c es in t he A ct to t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty a re c o n t a i n ed in s e c t i on 13 w h i ch p r o v i d es t h at l a nd s h a ll n ot be t r a n s f e r r ed u n l e ss a p r e s c r i b ed c e r t i f i c a te is s u b m i t t ed to t he R e g i s t r ar a c c o m p a n i ed b y: "a d o c u m e nt i s s u ed by t he o f f i ce of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty s t a t i ng t h at t he l e g al p r o v i s i o ns a nd c u s t o ms a p p l y i ng to t he t r a n s f er h a ve b e en c o m p l i ed w i t h ." a nd s e c t i on 52 w h i ch m a k es t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty l i a b le f or a ny d a m a ge s u f f e r ed as a r e s u lt of m a la f i de a c ts or o m i s s i on of t he r e g i s t r a r. We n ow c o me to t he f i n al c h a p t er of t he p r e s e nt h i s t o ry of t he B a s t er C o m m u n i t y. S e l f - g o v e r n m e nt c o n t i n u ed u n t il 1 9 89 w h e n, by P r o c l a m a t i on N o. A G. 32 of 1 9 8 9, t he A d m i n i s t r a t o r- G e n e r al p r o c l a i m ed t h at t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct a nd v a r i o us o t h er l a ws p e r t a i n i ng to R e h o b o th s h o u ld c e a se to be of a ny f o r ce a nd e f f e ct u n t il t he d a te i m m e d i a t e ly b e f o re t he d a te u p on w h i ch N a m i b ia b e c a me i n d e p e n d e n t. A ll t he p o w e r s, d u t i es a nd f u n c t i o ns of t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty b e c a me v e s t ed in t he A d m i n i s t r a t o r - G e n e r al a nd t he A d m i n i s t r a t o r - G e n e r al w as d e e m ed to be t he G o v e r n m e nt a nd L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty of R e h o b o t h. T he P r o c l a m a t i on w as an i n t e r im m e a s u re to h a ve f o r ce a nd e f f e ct o n ly u n t il t he d a te of i n d e p e n d e n ce of N a m i b ia a nd it f u r t h er p r o v i d ed t h a t: " 6 ( 2) S u b j e ct to t he p r o v i s i o ns of t h is P r o c l a m a t i o n, a ny P a t e r n al L a w, as d e f i n ed in s e c t i on of t he R e h o b o th A ct w h i ch w as in f o r ce in R e h o b o th i m m e d i a t e ly b e f o re t he c o m m e n c e m e nt t h is P r o c l a m a t i o n, s h a ll c o n t i n ue of in f o r ce in so f ar as it w as so in f o r c e ." N a m i b ia b e c a me i n d e p e n d e nt on 2 1 st M a r c h, 1 9 90 a nd on t h at d a te t he N a m i b i an C o n s t i t u t i on c a me i n to f o r c e. T he C o n s t i t u t i on r e p e a l ed t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A c t, 1 9 76 a nd P r o c l a m a t i on AG of 1 9 89 a nd S c h e d u le of t he C o n s t i t u t i on d e a lt w i th t he v e s t i ng of c e r t a in p r o p e r ty in t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b i a. T he S c h e d u le r e a d s: " ( 1) A ll p r o p e r ty of w h i ch t he o w n e r s h ip c o n t r ol i m m e d i a t e ly p r i or to t he d a te or of I n d e p e n d e n ce v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of t he T e r r i t o ry of S o u th W e st A f r i c a, or in a ny R e p r e s e n t a t i ve A u t h o r i ty c o n s t i t u t ed in t e r ms of t he R e p r e s e n t a t i ve A u t h o r i t i es P r o c l a m a t i o n, 1 9 80 ( P r o c l a m a t i on AG of 1 9 8 0 ), or in t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o t h, or in a ny o t h er b o d y, s t a t u t o ry or o t h e r w i s e, c o n s t i t u t ed by or f or t he b e n e f it of a ny s u ch G o v e r n m e nt or A u t h o r i ty i m m e d i a t e ly p r i or to t he d a te of I n d e p e n d e n c e, or w h i ch w as h e ld in of t r u st f or or on b e h a lf of t he G o v e r n m e nt an i n d e p e n d e nt N a m i b i a, s h a ll v e st in or be u n d er t he c o n t r ol of t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b i a. ( 2) F or t he p u r p o se of t h is S c h e d u l e, " p r o p e r t y" s h a l l, w i t h o ut d e t r a c t i ng f r om t he g e n e r a l i ty of t h at t e rm as g e n e r a l ly a c c e p t ed a nd u n d e r s t o o d, m e an a nd i n c l u de m o v a b le a nd i m m o v a b le p r o p e r t y, w h e t h er c o r p o r e al or i n c o r p o r e al a nd w h e r e s o e v er s i t u a t e, a nd s h a ll i n c l u de a ny r i g ht or i n t e r e st t h e r e i n. ( 3) A ll s u ch i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty s h a ll be t r a n s f e r r ed to t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b ia w i t h o ut p a y m e nt of t r a n s f er d u t y, s t a mp d u ty or a ny o t h er f ee or c h a r g e, b ut s u b j e ct to a ny e x i s t i ng r i g h t, c h a r g e, o b l i g a t i on or t r u st on or o v er s u ch p r o p e r ty a nd s u b j e ct a l so to t he p r o v i s i o ns of t h is C o n s t i t u t i o n. ( 4) T he R e g i s t r ar of D e e ds c o n c e r n ed s h a ll u p on p r o d u c t i on to h im or h er of t he t i t le d e ed to a ny i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty m e n t i o n ed in p a r a g r a ph ( 1) e n d o r se s u ch t i t le d e ed to t he e f f e ct t h at t he i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty t h e r e in d e s c r i b ed is v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b ia a nd s h a ll m a ke n e c e s s a ry e n t r i es in h is or h er r e g i s t e r s, a nd t h e r e u p on t he s a id t i t le d e ed s h a ll s e r ve a nd a v a il f or a ll p u r p o s es p r o of of t he t i t le of t he G o v e r n m e nt as of N a m i b ia to t he s a id p r o p e r t y ." On 1 6 th O c t o b e r, 1 9 91 t he R e g i s t r ar of D e e d s, R e h o b o t h, t he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e n t, a c t i ng on t he i n s t r u c t i o ns of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t, a nd p u r p o r t i ng to a ct in t e r ms of S c h e d u le 5, e n d o r s ed t i t le d e e ds to c e r t a in l a nd in R e h o b o th to t he e f f e ct t h at t he l a nd in q u e s t i on n ow v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b i a. T he f i r st a p p l i c a nt c l a i ms t h at t he t i t le d e e ds so e n d o r s ed r e l a te to l a nd w h i ch b e l o n gs to it a nd it w as in t h e se c i r c u m s t a n c es t h at t he p r e s e nt a p p l i c a t i on w as l a u n c h ed on 8 th D e c e m b e r, 1 9 9 2. T he a p p l i c a n ts s e ek an o r d er d e c l a r i ng t h at a ll t he e n d o r s e m e n ts m a de by t he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e nt on 1 6 th O c t o b e r, 1 9 91 on t he t i t le d e e ds in q u e s t i on a re n u ll a nd v o i d, an o r d er d i r e c t i ng t he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e nt to c a n c el t he e n d o r s e m e n t s, an i n t e r d i ct r e s t r a i n i ng t he f i r st a nd s e c o nd r e s p o n d e n ts f r om t a k i ng a ny s t e ps to e n d o r se a ny t i t le d e e ds r e g i s t e r ed in t he n a me of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt e x c e pt f or c e r t a in n a m ed p r o p e r t i e s, a nd c e r t a in o t h er r e l i e f. T he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt in h is p e r s o n al c a p a c i ty s e e ks an o r d er d e c l a r i ng t h at c e r t a in p r o p e r t i es a l l e g e d ly o w n ed by h im a re n ot v e s t ed in t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt as a r e s u lt of e n d o r s e m e n ts m a de by t he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e nt on 1 6 th O c t o b e r, 1 9 91 a nd d i r e c t i ng t he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e nt to r e c t i fy t he d e e ds r e c o r ds a c c o r d i n g l y. T he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt a l so s e e ks r e l i ef a g a i n st t he t h i rd r e s p o n d e nt in r e s p e ct of o ne of t he p r o p e r t i e s. T he f o u r t h, f i f t h, a nd s i x th r e s p o n d e n ts w e re j o i n ed m o re as a m a t t er of f o r m. W i th t h at b a c k g r o u nd we n ow c o me to t he t wo p o i n ts in l i m i n e. T he f i r st p o i nt r a i s ed by Mr M a r i t z, on b e h a lf of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t, c o n c e r ns t he l o c us s t a n di of t he f i r st a p p l i c a n t. He s u b m i t t ed t h at t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt d o es n ot h a ve l o c us s t a n di to b r i ng t he a p p l i c a t i on f or t wo r e a s o n s. F i r s t l y, b e c a u se it is n ot an a s s o c i a t i on of p e r s o ns w i th l e g al p e r s o n a l i ty a nd c a p a c i ty to s u e. S e c o n d l y, b e c a u se t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt c o u ld no l o n g er a ct as K a p t e in of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt a f t er t he d a te of i n d e p e n d e n ce a nd c o u ld n o t, t h e r e f o r e, b r i ng t he a p p l i c a t i on on b e h a lf of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt in t h at c a p a c i t y. F u r t h e r, t h at i n s o f ar as t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt p u r p o r ts to a ct as an i n d i v i d u al m e m b er of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt r a t h er t h an in h is c a p a c i ty as K a p t e i n, he c a n n ot do so b e c a u se he l a c k ed p r o p er a u t h o r i t y. We s h o u ld m e n t i on h e re t h at c o u n s e l 's s u b m i s s i on d o es n ot e x t e nd to t he r e l i ef s o u g ht by t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt in h is p e r s o n al c a p a c i ty a nd it is c o n c e d ed t h at t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt n ot o n ly h as l o c us s t a n di in r e s p e ct of t h o se c l a i ms b ut t h at he is e n t i t l ed to t he r e l i ef s o u g h t. Mr M a r i tz t h e r e f o re m a k es a t w o - p r o n g ed a t t a ck on t he l o c us s t a n di of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt a nd we w i ll d e al f i r st w i th h is s u b m i s s i on t h at t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt is n ot an a s s o c i a t i on of p e r s o ns w i th l e g al p e r s o n a l i ty a nd c a p a c i ty to s u e. In d e a l i ng w i th t h is i s s ue c o u n s e l s' s u b m i s s i o ns w e re d i r e c t e d, in t he m a i n, to t he q u e s t i on w h e t h er t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt p o s s e s s es t he c h a r a c t e r i s t i cs of a u n i v e r s i t as b u t, a nd as we u n d e r s t a nd it Mr M a r i tz a c c e p ts t h i s, it d o es n ot n e c e s s a r i ly f o l l ow t h at if t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt is n ot a u n i v e r s i t as t h en it d o es n ot h a ve t he c a p a c i ty to s ue in i ts o wn n a m e. T h is w as c o n s i d e r e d, a l b e it in d i f f e r e nt c i r c u m s t a n c e s, by t he F u ll B e n ch of t h is C o u r t 's p r e d e c e s s or in P a r e n t s' C o m m i t t ee of N a m i b ia a nd O t h e rs v N u i o ma a nd O t h e rs 1 9 9 0 ( 1) SA 8 73 (SWA) w h en t he C o u r t, f o l l o w i ng De M e i l l on v M o n t e l a ir S o c i e ty of t he M e t h o d i st C h u r ch of S o u t h e rn A f r i ca 1 9 7 9 ( 3) SA 1 3 65 ( D ), h e ld t h at e v en if t he a p p l i c a nt w as n ot a u n i v e r s i t as it w a s, in a ny e v e n t, an u n i n c o r p o r a t ed v o l u n t a ry a s s o c i a t i on a nd as s u ch c l e a r ly f e ll w i t h in t he a m b it of " a s s o c i a t i o n" as u s ed in R u le of t he U n i f o rm R u l es of C o u r t, a r u le c o u c h ed in i d e n t i c al t e r ms to R u le of t he H i gh C o u rt R u l e s. T h at R u le p r o v i d es t h at an a s s o c i a t i on m ay s ue or be s u ed in i ts o wn n a me a nd d e f i n es a s s o c i a t i on as " a ny u n i n c o r p o r a t ed b o dy of p e r s o n s, n ot b e i ng a p a r t n e r s h i p ". Mr M a r i tz a c c e p t ed t h at t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty e x i s ts as a c o m m u n i ty w i t h in t he o r d i n a ry m e a n i ng of t h at w o rd b ut he c o n t e n d ed t h at it c a n n ot be r e g a r d ed as an a s s o c i a t i on of p e r s o ns in t he l e g al s e n s e. He s u b m i t t ed t h at w h en r e g a rd is h ad to t he h i s t o ry of t he R e h o b o th B a s t e rs it is c l e ar t h at t h ey w e re a b o dy of p e r s o ns o r g a n i s ed i n to a p o l i t i c al u n i ty m o re in t he n a t u re of a n a t i on t h an a v o l u n t a ry a s s o c i a t i on f o u n d ed on a c o n t r a c t u al b a s i s. He s u b m i t t ed t h at t h is v i ew of t he B a s t e rs is r e i n f o r c ed w h en a c c o u nt is t a k en of t he P a t e r n al L a w s, a s s u m i ng t h em s t i ll to be in f o r c e, w h i ch i s, in e s s e n c e, t h e ir c o n s t i t u t i o n. T he a r g u m e nt p r e s e n t ed by Mr M a r i tz in s u p p o rt of t h is s u b m i s s i on w a s, if we m ay s ay s o, a s e d u c t i ve o n e. T h e re c an be no q u e s t i on t h at p r i or to t he i n d e p e n d e n ce of N a m i b ia t he R e h o b o th B a s t e rs w e re b o u nd t o g e t h er n ot o n ly in a s o c i al u n i ty b ut in a p o l i t i c al u n i ty a nd t h e re c an a l so be no q u e s t i on t h at f r om t he d a te of i n d e p e n d e n ce t h at p o l i t i c al u n i ty c a me to an e n d. P u r s u a nt to A r t i c le 1 of t he N a m i b i an C o n s t i t u t i on t he R e p u b l ic of N a m i b ia b e c a me e s t a b l i s h ed - " as a s o v e r e i g n, s e c u l a r, d e m o c r a t ic a nd u n i t a ry S t a te f o u n d ed u p on t he p r i n c i p l es of d e m o c r a c y . . ." a nd a ll p o w er w as v e s t ed in t he p e o p le of N a m i b ia g e n e r a l l y- " w ho s h a ll e x e r c i se t h e ir s o v e r e i g n ty t h r o u gh t he d e m o c r a t ic i n s t i t u t i o ns of S t a t e ." ( A r t i c le 1 ( 2 ) ). T h e re w as no p l a ce in t h is u n i t a ry S t a te f or c o m m u n i t i es to o r g a n i se t h e m s e l v es i n to s e p a r a te p o l i t i c al u n i t i es of a g o v e r n m e n t al k i nd o u t s i de t he f r a m e w o rk of t he C o n s t i t u t i o n. B ut t he f a ct r e m a i ns t h at t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty d o es c o n t i n ue to e x i s t. As we h a ve s a i d, Mr M a r i tz w as c o n s t r a i n ed to a c c e pt t h is to be s o. A nd u n t il at l e a st 1 9 76 t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty q ua a c o m m u n i ty d id o wn l a n d. T he B a s t e r s' r i g h ts to t h e ir t e r r i t o ry w e re a c k n o w l e d g ed by t he E x e c u t i ve P o w er as f ar b a ck as t he T r e a ty of P r o t e c t i on a nd F r i e n d s h i p, 1 8 94 a nd t h is w as r e - a f f i r m ed in 1 9 23 w h e n, by P r o c l a m a t i on of t h at y e a r, t he A d m i n i s t r a t i on a c k n o w l e d g ed t he r i g ht a nd t i t le of t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty to t he l a nd t h en o c c u p i ed by i t. T he R e h o b o th A f f a i rs P r o c l a m a t i o n, 1 9 39 w e nt f u r t h er a nd g a ve t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty t he r i g h t, " as an a s s o c i a t i on of p e r s o n s ", to a c q u i re i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty in a d d i t i on to t he l a n d, t he r i g ht a nd t i t le to w h i ch w as r e c o g n i s ed by t he 1 9 23 P r o c l a m a t i on a nd e x p r e s s ly p r o v i d ed t h at - " t he t i t le to s u ch i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty so a c q u i r ed s h a ll be r e g i s t e r ed in t he n a me of t he K a p i t e in a nd R a ad of t he s a id C o m m u n i ty f or a nd on b e h a lf of t he s a id C o m m u n i t y ." S e c t i on 23 of t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A c t, N o. of 1 9 7 6, c l e a r ly p r e s u p p o s ed t h at t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty o w n ed a nd c o n t r o l l ed i m m o v a b le p r o p e r t y. A nd t he R e g i s t r a t i on of D e e ds in R e h o b o th A ct of t he s a me y e a r, an A ct w h i ch is s t i ll in f o r c e, r e c o g n i s ed t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty as an e n t i ty w h i ch is c a p a b le of i s s u i ng c e r t i f i c a t es r e l a t i ng to l a n d, c a p a b le of b e n e f i t i ng f r om p a y m e n ts m a de to t he R e g i s t r ar of D e e ds a nd c a p a b le of b e i ng s u ed f or d a m a g es in r e s p e ct of a ny m a la f i de a ct by t he R e g i s t r a r. W h at h a p p e n ed to t he C o m m u n i t y 's l a nd in a nd a f t er 1 9 76 i s, of c o u r s e, t he s u b j e ct of f i e r ce d e b a t e. T he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt c o n t e n ds t h at t he l a nd o w n ed by t he C o m m u n i t y, or at a ny r a te t he l a nd t he s u b j e ct of t h is a p p l i c a t i o n, v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o th by v i r t ue of s e c t i on 23 of t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct a n d, in 1 9 90 in t e r ms of S c h e d u le 5 to t he C o n s t i t u t i on of N a m i b i a, it v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b i a. F or i ts p a r t, t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt c o n t e n ds t h at s e c t i on h ad a m u ch m o re l i m i t ed e f f e ct b e c a u se it w as o n ly t h at p a rt of i ts l a nd " w h i ch r e l a t es to m a t t e rs in r e s p e ct of w h i ch t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty of R e h o b o th is e m p o w e r ed to m a ke l a w s" w h i ch v e s t ed in t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o t h. T h at i s s ue c an o n ly be d e t e r m i n ed o n ce t he m e r i ts of t he a p p l i c a t i on a re a r g u ed a nd f or t he p u r p o s es of d e c i d i ng t he l o c us s t a n di p o i nt it m u s t, in o ur v i e w, be a s s u m e d, a l t h o u gh n ot d e c i d e d, t h at t h e re w as at l e a st a r e s i d ue of l a nd l e ft in t he o w n e r s h ip of t he c o m m u n i ty a f t er 1 9 76 a nd t h at s u ch r e s i d ue m ay i n c l u de t he l a nd to w h i ch t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt a s s e r ts r i g h ts of o w n e r s h ip in t h is a p p l i c a t i o n. O n ce t he q u e s t i on of l o c us s t a n di is a p p r o a c h ed on t he h y p o t h e s is t h at t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt is a c o m m u n i ty of p e r s o ns w h i ch o w ns l a nd it m u s t, in o ur o p i n i o n, be s e en in a d i f f e r e nt l i g ht to t h at c o n t e n d ed by Mr M a r i t z. A l t h o u gh t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt h as l o st i ts p o l i t i c al c o m p l e x i on it c a n n ot be l i g h t ly d i s m i s s ed as an a m o r p h o us b o dy of p e r s o ns h a v i ng no c o m m on b a s is a p a rt f r om a n c e s t r y, as Mr M a r i tz w o u ld h a ve i t. It m u s t, in o ur o p i n i o n, be s e en m o re in t he n a t u re of an a s s o c i a t i on of p e r s o ns w h i ch h a s, as a c o m m on b a s i s, t he o w n e r s h ip of l a nd a nd in o ur j u d g m e nt t h at is s u f f i c i e nt to b r i ng t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt w i t h in t he a m b it of " a s s o c i a t i o n" as u s ed in R u le of t he H i gh C o u rt R u l e s. E v en if t he P a t e r n al L a ws h a ve f a l l en a w a y, as Mr M a r i tz s u b m i ts t h ey h a v e, it is n ot e s s e n t i al t h at an a s s o c i a t i on h as a w r i t t en c o n s t i t u t i on a n d, on t he a s s u m p t i on t h at t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt o w ns l a n d, it c a n, in o ur v i e w, be i n f e r r ed t h at i ts m e m b e rs m u s t, in a ll p r o b a b i l i t y, r e g a rd t h e m s e l v es as b o u nd t o g e t h er by a c o m m on i n t e r e st in t h at l a nd n ot l e a st of w h i ch i n t e r e st is t he p r o t e c t i on of s u ch l a n d. I n s o f ar as an a s s o c i a t i on m u st be f o u n d ed on a c o n t r a c t u al b a s is it m ay be t h at it is d i f f i c u l t, in t he c a se of t he B a s t er C o m m u n i t y, to p o i nt to a c o n t r a ct w h i ch f a l ls w i t h in a ny of t he w e l l - d e f i n ed c l a s s es of c o n t r a ct k n o wn to o ur l a w; b ut t h at d o es n ot c o n s t i t u te an i n s u r m o u n t a b le o b s t a c l e. T he c o n t r a ct c an be r e g a r d ed as s ui g e n e r i s, as w as t he c a se in In re C a pe of G o od H o pe P e r m a n e nt B u i l d i ng S o c i e ty ( 1 8 9 8) 15 SC 3 2 3, 3 3 6, a nd c an be i m p l i ed f r om t he c i r c u m s t a n c es w h i ch we h a ve o u t l i n e d. As f or Mr M a r i t z 's r a t h er i n t i m i d a t i ng a r g u m e nt t h at a ny f i n d i ng t h at t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt h as t he c a p a c i ty to s ue w o u ld o p en t he w ay f or o t h er g r o u ps to m a ke s i m i l ar c l a i m s, we c an s ee no m e r it in i t. It s e e ms to us t h at t h is w as m o re an e m o t i o n al a p p e al t h an o ne b a s ed in r e a s on a nd w h at r i g h ts o t h e rs m ay or m ay n ot h a ve is n ot a p r o p er c o n s i d e r a t i on in d e t e r m i n i ng t h is m a t t e r. We n ow c o me to t he s e c o nd p r o ng of Mr M a r i t z 's a t t a ck on t he l o c us s t a n di of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt w h i ch is t h at t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a n t, s u b s e q u e nt to t he d a te of i n d e p e n d e n c e, c o u ld no l o n g er a ct as K a p t e in of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt a n d, in c o n s e q u e n c e, c o u ld n ot b r i ng t h is a p p l i c a t i on on b e h a lf of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt in t h at c a p a c i t y, as he c l a i ms to d o. F u r t h e r, t h at i n s o f ar as t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt p u r p o r ts to a ct as an i n d i v i d u al m e m b er of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt he l a c ks p r o p er a u t h o r i t y. D e a l i ng w i th t he f i r st of t h e se t wo p o i n t s, Mr M a r i tz s u b m i t t ed t h at t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in o w es i ts e x i s t e n ce to t he P a t e r n al L a ws of 1 8 72 a nd s u b s e q u e nt l e g i s l a t i on m a de in r e l a t i on t h e r e t o. He s u b m i t t ed t h at a ll t h is w as s w e pt a w ay by t he N a m i b i an C o n s t i t u t i on a nd t he o f f i ce no l o n g er e x i s t s. If he is w r o ng in t h is b r o ad s u b m i s s i on a nd t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in s u r v i v ed t he C o n s t i t u t i on t h en c o u n s el s u b m i t t ed t h at t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in is h e ld by t he M a g i s t r a te of R e h o b o th in t e r ms of t he R e h o b o th A f f a i rs P r o c l a m a t i o n, 1 9 2 4. As we u n d e r s t a nd i t, t he a r g u m e nt in s u p p o rt of t he f i r st p o i nt is b a s ed on t he p r e m i se t h at t he R e h o b o th S e l f- G o v e r n m e nt A ct g a ve s t a t u t o ry r e c o g n i t i on to t he o f f i ce of K a p t e i n, t he K a p t e i n 's C o u n c il a nd t he L e g i s l a t i ve C o u n c i l, o f f i c es or o r g a ns of S t a te w h i ch h ad f i r st b e en c r e a t ed by t he P a t e r n al L a ws b ut w h i ch h a d, s i n ce 1 9 2 4, v e s t ed in t he M a g i s t r a te of t he D i s t r i ct of R e h o b o t h. T h at f r om 1 9 76 o n w a rd t h o se o f f i c es or o r g a ns e x i s t ed by v i r t ue of t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A c t, a nd t h at A ct a l o n e, a nd w i th t he r e p e al of t h at A ct in 1 9 90 t h o se o f f i c es or o r g a ns w e re a b o l i s h e d. We a g r ee t h at t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct h ad t he e f f e ct c o n t e n d ed f or by Mr M a r i t z. To o ur m i n d, t h at m u ch is c l e ar f r om t h o se p r o v i s i o ns of t he A ct w h i ch c r e a t ed a K a p t e i n 's C o u n c il at t he h e ad of w h i ch w as a K a p t e in a nd a L e g i s l a t i ve C o u n c i l. A l s o, t he r e f e r e n ce in t he h e a d i ng to P a rt I of t he A ct to t he " R e - i n s t i t u t i on of t he P a t e r n al L aw of 31 J a n u a ry 1 8 7 2" c an o n ly be c o n s t r u ed as m e a n i ng t h at it w as t he i n t e n t i on of t he L e g i s l a t u re t h at t h o se t r a d i t i o n al o f f i c es a nd o r g a ns of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty w h i ch h ad b e en t a k en a w ay f r om t h em in 1 9 24 a nd v e s t ed in t he M a g i s t r a te w e re to be r e c o n f e r r ed a l t h o u gh in a s o m e w h at d i f f e r e nt f o r m. We a l so a g r ee t h at w i th t he r e p e al of t he A ct t h o se o f f i c es a nd o r g a ns d i s a p p e a r ed as o f f i c es a nd o r g a ns of g o v e r n m e n t. T h ey no l o n g er h ad a ny p l a ce or p a rt to p l ay in a m o d e rn N a m i b i a. H o w e v e r, it by no m e a ns f o l l o ws f r om t h is t h at t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in in a d i f f e r e nt f o rm or g u i se is n ot s t i ll e x t a nt in t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i t y. T r a d i t i o n al c o m m u n i ty l e a d e rs e x i st t he w o r ld o v e r, n ot l e a st on t he C o n t i n e nt of A f r i c a, a nd a l t h o u gh m a ny h a ve l o ng s i n ce b e en s t r i p p ed of t he p o l i t i c al p o w er t h ey o n ce h ad s o me s t i ll h a ve s i g n i f i c a nt r o l es to p l ay in t he d o m e s t ic a f f a i rs of t h e ir r e s p e c t i ve c o m m u n i t i e s. To a s s e rt t h at t he o f f i ce of t r a d i t i o n al l e a d er a u t o m a t i c a l ly d i s a p p e a rs f r om t he c o m m u n i ty h i e r a r c hy o n ce it h as l o st i ts p o l i t i c al r o le i s, in o ur v i e w, f a l l a c i o u s. T he c i r c u m s t a n c es of e a ch i n d i v i d u al c a se h a ve to be c a r e f u l ly e x a m i n ed to a s c e r t a in t he t r ue p o s i t i o n. In t he c a se of t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in of t he R e h o b o th B a s t e rs t h e re a r e, in o ur o p i n i o n, a n u m b er of p o i n t e rs to i ts c o n t i n u ed e x i s t e n ce in i ts t r a d i t i o n al n o n - p o l i t i c al r o l e. T he t wo p r i c i p al o n es a re t h e s e. T he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty h e ld a nd o w n ed l a n d. T he r i g ht a nd t i t le of t he C o m m u n i ty to t he l a nd t h en o c c u p i ed by it w as a c k n o w l e d g ed by t he A d m i n i s t r a t i on in t he 1 9 23 A g r e e m e nt a nd o ne p a r ty to t h at a g r e e m e nt w as - " C o r n e l i us V an W i j k, K a p i t e in of t he B u r g h e rs of R e h o b o th a nd t he m e m b e rs of t he R a ad of t he R e h o b o th C o m m u n i ty f or t h e m s e l v es a nd t h e ir l a w f ul s u c c e s s o rs as r e p r e s e n t i ng t he C o m m u n i ty of R e h o b o t h ." It s e e ms to us r e a s o n a b ly c l e ar f r om t h is t h at t he l a nd o w n ed by t he C o m m u n i ty w as h e ld in t he n a me of t he K a p t e in a nd h is C o u n c il f or a nd on t h e ir b e h a l f. I n d e ed c o n f i r m a t i on of t h is is to be f o u nd in t he R e h o b o th A f f a i rs P r o c l a m a t i o n, 1 9 39 w h i ch s p e c i f i c a l ly p r o v i d ed t h at t he t i t le to a ny f u r t h er i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty a c q u i r ed by t he C o m m u n i ty " s h a ll be r e g i s t e r ed in t he n a me of t he K a p i t e in a nd R a ad of t he C o m m u n i ty f or a nd on b e h a lf of t he C o m m u n i t y ". A l so v a r i o us e x a m p l es of t i t le d e e ds to l a nd in t he G e b i et h e ld by " T he K a p t e in a nd R a ad of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty f or a nd on b e h a lf of t he s a id R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i t y" a re to be f o u nd in t he r e c o r d. T he f a ct t h at l a nd o w n ed by t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty is h e ld in t he n a me of t he K a p t e in a nd R a ad i s, in o ur v i e w, a s t r o ng p o i n t er to t he c o n t i n u ed e x i s t e n ce of t h o se o f f i c e s. T h e re is a n e ed f or t h em to e x i st in o r d er to h o ld t he p r o p e r t y. T h e re is a l so e v i d e n ce t h at on 1 8 th M a y, 1 9 91 a p u b l ic m e e t i ng w as h e ld in R e h o b o th a t t e n d ed by h u n d r e ds of B a s t e rs at w h i ch it w as r e s o l v ed t h at t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty w o u ld t a ke a ll n e c e s s a ry s t e ps to p r o t e ct t he C o m m u n i t y 's c o m m u n al p r o p e r t y. A f u r t h er m e e t i ng w as h e ld on 2 2 nd J u n e, 1 9 91 a nd on t h is o c c a s i on t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt w as e l e c t ed as K a p t e i n. A c c o r d i ng to t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt m o re t h an o ne t h o u s a nd a d u lt m e m b e rs of t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty a t t e n d ed t h is m e e t i n g. It is t r ue t h at o ne of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t 's d e p o n e n t s, N i c o l a as A n g e r m u n d, s e e ks to p o ur s c o rn on t h is m e e t i ng a l l e g i ng t h at it w as a p a r ty p o l i t i c al m e e t i ng h e ld by t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt to f u r t h er h is b a t t le f or p o w er w i th t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b i a; b ut t he d e p o n e nt d o es n ot d e ny t h at t he m e e t i ng e l e c t ed t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt as K a p t e i n. H is d i s m i s s al of t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a n t 's c l a im to be t he e l e c t ed K a p t e in s e e ms to be b a s ed m o re on h is v i ew t h at t he P a t e r n al L a ws no l o n g er h ad a ny f o r ce or e f f e ct a nd t h at an e l e c t i on c o u ld n ot p r o p e r ly be h e ld in t e r ms of a d e f u n ct l a w. I f, as a p p e a rs to be t he c a s e, m o re t h an o ne t h o u s a nd m e m b e rs of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty a p p r o v ed t he e l e c t i on of a K a p t e in t h en t h is a g a in s e e ms to us to be a p o i n t er to t he c o n t i n u ed e x i s t e n ce of s u ch o f f i c e. A nd it is n ot w i t h o ut s i g n i f i c a n ce t h at f or t he d u r a t i on of t he p e r i od of s e l f - g o v e r n m e nt in t e r ms of t he R e h o b o th S e l f- G o v e r n m e nt A ct t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt w as t he K a p t e in of t he B a s t er C o m m u n i ty d u ly e l e c t ed by t he e n f r a n c h i s ed c i t i z e ns of R e h o b o t h. In o ur j u d g m e n t, t he P a t e r n al L a ws of 1 8 72 d id s u r v i ve I n d e p e n d e n ce a l t h o u gh in a s e v e r e ly t r u n c a t ed f o r m. T h ey s u r v i v e d, in p a r t i c u l a r, as a c o n s t i t u t i on r e g u l a t i ng t he m a n n er in w h i ch s u ch l a nd as t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty m ay o wn s h o u ld be h e l d. F or t h is p u r p o se t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in r e m a i n ed e x t a nt a n d, s u b j e ct to Mr M a r i t z 's s e c o nd a r g u m e n t, we a re s a t i s f i ed t h at t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt w as t he p r o p er p e r s on to b r i ng t h is a p p l i c a t i on on b e h a lf of t he f i r st a p p l i c a n t. Mr M a r i t z 's a l t e r n a t i ve a r g u m e nt w as to t he e f f e ct t h at if t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in h as s u r v i v ed t he r e p e al of t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct t h en t he o f f i ce m u st v e st in t he M a g i s t r a te f or t he D i s t r i ct of R e h o b o th in t e r ms of t he R e h o b o th A f f a i rs P r o c l a m a t i o n, 1 9 2 4. T he d i f f i c u l ty we h a ve w i th t h is a r g u m e nt c an be v e ry s h o r t ly s t a t e d. T he p u r p o se a nd i n t e n t i on of t he 1 9 24 P r o c l a m a t i on w as c l e a r ly to v e st t he g o v e r n m e n t al p o w e r s, f u n c t i o ns a nd d u t i es of t he K a p t e i n, t he R a ad a nd t he V o l k s r a ad in t he M a g i s t r a te w ho w a s, by v i r t ue of P r o c l a m a t i on of 1 9 2 3, t he A d m i n i s t r a t i o n 's r e p r e s e n t a t i ve in R e h o b o t h. O n ce it is a c c e p t e d, as it h as to b e, t h at t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in a nd h is C o u n c il d i s a p p e a r ed as o f f i c es a nd o r g a ns of g o v e r n m e nt w h en t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct w as r e p e a l ed by t he C o n s t i t u t i on it is d i f f i c u lt to s ee h ow t he M a g i s t r a te c o u ld or s h o u ld c o n t i n ue to o c c u py w h at t h en b e c a m e, in e s s e n c e, a t i t u l ar p o s i t i o n. To h o ld t h at t he M a g i s t r a te s t i ll o c c u p i es t he o f f i ce of K a p t e i n, b ut in n a me o n l y, w o u ld in o ur v i e w, n ot o n ly be w h o l ly i n c o n s i s t e nt w i th t he p u r p o se of t he 1 9 24 P r o c l a m a t i on b ut w o u ld b e s t ow on t he o f f i ce s o me k i nd of p o l i t i c al or g o v e r n m e n t al s i g n i f i c a n ce w h i c h, as we h a ve b e en at p a i ns to p o i nt o u t, we a re s a t i s f i ed it no l o n g er p o s s e s s e s. T he a n s w er to Mr M a r i t z 's a r g u m e nt i s, we t h i n k, t h at t he C o n s t i t u t i on of N a m i b ia s w e pt a w ay a ll f o r m al l e g i s l a t i ve r e c o g n i t i on of t he o f f i ce of K a p t e in a nd t he r e s i d ue of t h at o f f i ce w h i ch s u r v i v ed o n ly e x i s ts t o d ay in t e r ms of p r i v a te l aw a nd by r e a s on of t he w i ll of t he R e h o b o th B a s t e rs t h e m s e l v e s. F or t he f o r e g o i ng r e a s o ns we a re s a t i s f i ed t h at t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt d o es h a ve a u t h o r i ty to b r i ng t h is a p p l i c a t i on on b e h a lf of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt a nd t h e r e f o re t he f i r st p o i nt in l i m i ne m u st be d i s m i s s e d. C o m i ng n ow to t he s e c o nd p o i nt in l i m i ne Mr M a r i tz * s a r g u m e n t, in a n u t s h e l l, w as as f o l l o w s. T he a p p l i c a n ts s e ek an o r d er w h i c h, in e f f e c t, n e c e s s i t a t es a f i n d i ng t h at a ll t he i m m o v a b le p r o p e r ty w h i ch w as r e g i s t e r ed in t he n a me of t he K a p t e in a nd R a ad of t he R e h o b o th B a s t er C o m m u n i ty f or a nd on b e h a lf to t he C o m m u n i ty p r i or to t he d a te of c o m m e n c e m e nt of t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct d id n o t, a f t er t he c o m m e n c e m e nt of t h at A c t, b e c o me t he p r o p e r ty of t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o th a n d, t h e r e f o r e, d id n ot v e st in t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b ia by v i r t ue of S c h e d u le of t he C o n s t i t u t i o n. It is c o m m on g r o u nd b e t w e en t he p a r t i es t h at m a ny of t h e se p r o p e r t i es or p o r t i o ns of t h em w e re s o ld by t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o th d u r i ng t he p e r i od 1 9 76 to 1 9 89 a nd t h a t, a f t er i n d e p e n d e n c e, t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a m i b ia d id l i k e w i s e. If t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt w e re to be g r a n t ed t he o r d er w h i ch it s e e ks t he e f f e ct of s u ch an o r d er w o u ld be to r e n d er t h e se s a l es v o id a n d, in t h e se c i r c u m s t a n c e s, t he t h i rd p a r t i es to w h om t he p r o p e r t i es w e re s o ld h a ve a d i r e ct a nd s u b s t a n t i al i n t e r e st in t he o u t c o me of t he p r o c e e d i n g s. T h ey s h o u ld h a ve b e en j o i n ed as p a r t i es to t he a p p l i c a t i o n. We i n t e nd no d i s r e s p e ct to c o u n s el if we d e v o te r a t h er l e ss t i me to t h is a r g u m e nt t h an t h ey d i d. In o ur v i e w, t he p o i nt r a i s ed c an be d i s p o s ed of q u i te b r i e f l y. In U n i t ed W a t ch a nd D i a m o nd C o. ( P t v) L td a nd O t h e rs v P i sa H o t e ls L td a nd A n o t h er 1 9 7 2 ( 4) SA 4 09 ( C) at p. 4 15 C o r b e tt J, as he t h en w a s, h ad t he f o l l o w i ng to s ay on t he s u b j e ct of n o n - j o i n d e r: " It is s e t t l ed l aw t h at t he r i g ht of a d e f e n d a nt to d e m a nd t he j o i n d er of a n o t h er p a r ty a nd t he d u ty of t he C o u rt to o r d er s u ch j o i n d er or to e n s u re t h at t h e re is w a i v er of t he r i g ht to be j o i n ed ( a nd t h is r i g ht a nd t h is d u ty a p p e ar to be c o - e x t e n s i v e) a re l i m i t ed to c a s es of j o i nt o w n e r s, j o i nt c o n t r a c t o rs a nd p a r t n e rs a nd w h e re t he o t h er p a r ty h as a d i r e ct a nd s u b s t a n t i al i n t e r e st in t he i s s u es i n v o l v ed a nd t he o r d er w h i ch t he C o u rt m i g ht m a ke . .. In H e n ri V i l i o en ( P t y) L td v A w e r b u ch B r os 1 9 5 3 ( 2) SA 1 51 ( 0 ), H o r w i tz A JP ( w i th w h om V an B l e rk J c o n c u r r e d) a n a l y z ed t he c o n c e pt of s u ch a ' d i r e ct a nd s u b s t a n t i al i n t e r e s t' a nd a f t er an e x h a u s t i ve r e v i ew of t he a u t h o r i t i es c a me to t he c o n c l u s i on t h at it c o n n o t ed ( s ee at 1 6 9) - ' . .. an i n t e r e st in t he r i g ht w h i ch is t he s u b j e ct m a t t er of t he l i t i g a t i on a nd . .. n ot m e r e ly a f i n a n c i al i n t e r e st w h i ch is o n ly an i n d i r e ct i n t e r e st in s u ch l i t i g a t i o n '. T h is v i ew of w h at c o n s t i t u t es a d i r e ct a nd s u b s t a n t i al i n t e r e st h as b e en r e f e r r ed to a nd a d o p t ed in a n u m b er of s u b s e q u e nt d e c i s i o ns . .. a nd it is g e n e r a l ly a c c e p t ed t h at w h at is r e q u i r ed is a l e g al i n t e r e st in t he s u b j e c t - m a t t er of t he a c t i on w h i ch c o u ld be p r e j u d i c i a l ly a f f e c t ed by t he j u d g m e nt of t he C o u rt . . ." S ee a l so A g u a t ur ( P t v) L td v S a c ks a nd O t h e rs 1 9 89 ( 1) SA 56 ( A ). We r e s p e c t f u l ly a g r ee w i th w h at is s et o ut in t h is p a s s a ge a nd we a l so a g r ee w i th Mr De B r u in t h at t he n a r r ow q u e s t i on to be d e t e r m i n ed is w h e t h er it c an p r o p e r ly be s a id t h at t he t h i rd p a r t i es to w h om Mr M a r i tz r e f e rs h a ve " an i n t e r e st in t he r i g ht w h i ch is t he s u b j e ct m a t t er of t he l i t i g a t i on a nd n ot m e r e ly a f i n a n c i al i n t e r e st w h i ch is o n ly an i n d i r e ct i n t e r e st . . . "? Mr De B r u in b a s ed h is a r g u m e nt t h at t he t h i rd p a r t i es r e f e r r ed to do n ot h a ve a d i r e ct a nd s u b s t a n t i al i n t e r e st in t he o u t c o me of t h is a p p l i c a t i on on t he f o l l o w i ng p r o p o s i t i o n. A s a le is n ot v o id m e r e ly b e c a u se t he s e l l er is n ot t he o w n er of t he p r o p e r ty s o l d. F r y e 's ( P t y) L td v R i es 1 9 5 7 ( 3) SA 5 75 ( A) at p. 5 8 1. If t he s e l l er a c t ed in g o od f a i th b e l i e v i ng h i m s e lf to be t he o w n er he is b o u nd o n ly - " to d e f e nd t he b u y er a g a i n st t h o se w ho s e ek to d e p r i ve h im of h is p o s s e s s i o n, or to p r e v e nt h im f r om e x e r c i s i ng t he r i g h ts of o w n e r s h i p ." ( P o t h i e r, T r e a t i se on t he C o n t r a ct of S a l e, 1 .) A nd s o, s u b m i t t ed Mr De B r u i n, a ny o r d er m a de by t h is C o u rt in t he p r e s e nt a p p l i c a t i on w o u ld n ot r e n d er a ny s a le to a t h i rd p a r ty v o i d, as Mr M a r i tz c o n t e n d s. So l o ng as t he p o s s e s s i on of s u ch t h i rd p a r ty r e m a i ns u n d i s t u r b ed he c an h a ve no c o m p l a i n t. It is o n ly if t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt s h o u ld s e ek to d i s t u rb s u ch p o s s e s s i on t h at a t h i rd p a r t y 's r i g h ts w o u ld be a f f e c t ed a nd e v en t h en t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t, as s u c c e s s or to t he G o v e r n m e nt of R e h o b o t h, or in i ts o wn r i g h t, w o u ld be b o u nd to d e f e nd t he t h i rd p a r t y. In o t h er w o r d s, s u ch i n t e r e st as a t h i rd p a r ty m ay h a ve w i ll a r i se o n ly in t he e v e nt of t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt s e e k i ng to e v i ct h i m. A c c o r d i ng to Mr De B r u in s u ch i n t e r e st is t oo r e m o te to be c o n s i d e r ed a d i r e ct a nd s u b s t a n t i al i n t e r e st as r e f e r r ed to in t he U n i t ed W a t ch a nd D i a m o nd c a se ( s u p r a) P r i ma f a c ie t h is a r g u m e nt a p p e a rs to be i n v i t i ng a nd n ot w i t h o ut m e r i t, b ut it i s, in o ur o p i n i o n, n ot to be a c c e d ed to f or t he f o l l o w i ng r e a s o n s. In m a ny i n s t a n c es t he t h i rd p a r t i es in q u e s t i on w i ll e n t e r t a in no d o u bt w h a t s o e v er t h at t h ey e n j oy g o od t i t le to t he p r o p e r t i es s o ld to t h em b e c a u se t r a n s f er of t i t le w i ll a c t u a l ly h a ve b e en e f f e c t ed by e n d o r s e m e nt on t he l a nd t i t l e. T h is is n ot t he u s u al r un of c a se w h e re t he s e l l er is n ot t he t r ue o w n er a nd t r a n s f er of t i t le c a n n o t, f or t h at r e a s o n, be e f f e c t e d. It w o u ld d o u b t l e ss be a m a t t er of g r e at c o n c e rn to t h e se t h i rd p a r t i es t h at a c e r t a in d e c i s i on m a de in t he i n s t a nt a p p l i c a t i on w o u ld e x p o se t h em to t he r i sk of e v i c t i on d e s p i te t r a n s f er of t i t le h a v i ng b e en e f f e c t ed a nd r e g i s t e r e d. F u r t h e r, t h at r i sk is by no m e a ns an i l l u s o ry o n e. In h is r e p l y i ng a f f i d a v it t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt s t a t es t h at an a t t a ck on t he v a l i d i ty of a ny t r a n s a c t i on a f f e c t i ng t he r i g h ts of a ny t h i rd p a r ty c an c o n v e n i e n t ly be d e a lt w i th in s e p a r a te a c t i o n s. It c an be i n f e r r ed f r om t h is t h at t he s e c o nd a p p l i c a nt a n t i c i p a t es s u ch an a t t a c k. If s u ch an a t t a ck is l a u n c h ed w h at w i ll t he p o s i t i on of t he t h i rd p a r t i es t h en b e? W h i le it is t r ue t h at t he m a t t er w o u ld n ot be r es j u d i c a ta t h ey w o u l d, n o n e t h e l e s s, be f a c ed w i th a d e c i s i on of t he F u ll B e n ch of t h is C o u rt d e a l i n g, i n t er a l i a, w i th t he p r o p er c o n s t r u c t i on to be p l a c ed on s e c t i on of t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct a nd it is d i f f i c u lt to e n v i s a ge a s i n g le j u d ge of t h is C o u rt h e a r i ng t he m a t t er a l l o w i ng h i m s e lf to be p e r s u a d ed t h at t he F u ll B e n ch d e c i s i on w as w r o n g. In o ur v i e w, it is c l e ar t h at t he t h i rd p a r t i es w o u ld be s e v e r e ly p r e j u d i c ed in t h e ir c o n d u ct of t he l i t i g a t i o n. In o ur o p i n i o n, t he r i g ht w h i ch t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt s e e ks to e s t a b l i sh is so i n t e r w o v en w i th t he r i g ht w h i ch t he t h i rd p a r t i es p r e s e n t ly p o s s e ss t h at t he o n ly p r o p er c o n c l u s i on to be r e a c h ed is t h at t he t h i rd p a r t i es h a ve an i n t e r e st in t he r i g h t. It m ay be t h at t he i n t e r e st is n ot as d i r e ct as w o u ld n o r m a l ly be r e q u i r ed w h e re t he q u e s t i on of n o n - j o i n d er is r a i s ed b ut we a re s a t i s f i ed t h at it is " . .. n ot m e r e ly a f i n a n c i al i n t e r e st w h i ch is o n ly an i n d i r e ct i n t e r e st . . . ". In t h e se c i r c u m s t a n c es we a re s a t i s f i ed t h at t he t h i rd p a r t i es in q u e s t i on s h o u ld e i t h er h a ve b e en c i t ed in t he a p p l i c a t i on or t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt s h o u ld at l e a st h a ve s o u g ht a r u le n i si c a l l i ng on s u ch t h i rd p a r t i es to s h ow c a u se w hy t he r e l i ef p r a y ed f or s h o u ld n ot be g r a n t e d. T he n e xt q u e s t i on to be c o n s i d e r ed is w h at s t e ps s h o u ld be t a k en to r e m e dy t he m a t t e r. Mr M a r i tz s u b m i t t ed t h at t he a p p l i c a t i on s h o u ld be d i s m i s s ed l e a v i ng t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt to s t a rt o v er a g a i n; b ut t h a t, in o ur v i e w, w o u ld be f ar t oo d r a c o n i an a s t ep to t a k e. T he a n s w e r, we t h i n k, is f or t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt e i t h er to j o in t he t h i rd p a r t i es in t he a p p l i c a t i on or to a p p ly to t he C o u rt f or a r u le n i si to i s s u e. We r e f r a in f r om i s s u i ng s u ch a r u le m e ro m o tu b e c a u se it m ay r e q u i re c a r e f ul f o r m u l a t i on a f t er h e a r i ng f u r t h er a r g u m e n t. We n ow c o me to t he a p p l i c a t i on m a de by t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt to c r o s s - e x a m i ne c e r t a in of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t 's d e p o n e n ts on s p e c i f i ed i s s u es r a i s ed in t h e ir a f f i d a v i t s. A p a rt of t h at a p p l i c a t i on w as a b a n d o n ed d u r i ng t he c o u r se of a r g u m e nt b ut Mr De B r u in p e r s i s t ed w i th t he a p p l i c a t i on to c r o s s- e x a m i ne t he d e p o n e nt V an W y k. Mr M a r i tz c o n c e d ed t h at t he C o u rt h as a d i s c r e t i o n a ry p o w er to o r d er t he c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on of a d e p o n e nt in c a s es w h e re a d i s p u te of f a ct is s h o wn to e x i st a nd he f u r t h er a c c e p t ed t h at o r al e v i d e n ce s h o u ld be a l l o w ed if t h e re a re r e a s o n a b le g r o u n ds f or d o u b t i ng t he c o r r e c t n e ss of a l l e g a t i o ns m a de by a d e p o n e nt p a r t i c u l a r ly w h en t he f a c ts a re p e c u l i a r ly w i t h in t he k n o w l e d ge of t h at d e p o n e n t. He a l so c o n c e d ed t h at t h e re w as a r e al d i s p u te of f a ct w i th r e g a rd to v a r i o us a l l e g a t i o ns m a de by t he d e p o n e nt V an Wyk c o n c e r n i ng t he q u e s t i on w h e t h er t he p r o p e r t i e s, t he s u b j e ct of t h is a p p l i c a t i o n, w e re p r o p e r t i es w h i ch r e l a t ed to m a t t e rs in r e s p e ct of w h i ch t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty of R e h o b o th w as e m p o w e r ed to m a ke l a ws in t e r ms of t he R e h o b o th S e l f- G o v e r n m e nt A c t. Mr M a r i t z 's o n ly r e al o p p o s i t i on to t he o r d er s o u g ht w as on t he b a s is t h at to o r d er c r o s s- e x a m i n a t i on of o ne d e p o n e nt on t h is i s s ue w o u ld u n f a i r ly d i s a d v a n t a ge t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t. He s u g g e s ts t h at t he p r o p er c o u r se w o u ld be to r e f er t he i s s ue to o r al e v i d e n c e. We a g r ee w i th Mr M a r i tz t h at s i m p ly to o r d er c r o s s- e x a m i n a t i on of o ne d e p o n e nt on w h at m ay be a v i t al i s s ue m ay p r o ve to be to t he d i s a d v a n t a ge of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt a nd it m ay a l so p l a ce t he C o u rt in a d i f f i c u lt p o s i t i o n. In o ur v i e w, t he r i g ht c o u r se w o u ld be to r e f er t he i s s ue to o r al e v i d e n c e. F or t he f o r e g o i ng r e a s o ns t he f o l l o w i ng o r d e rs a re m a d e: ( 1) T he p o i nt in l i m i ne c o n c e r n i ng t he l o c us s t a n di of t he a p p l i c a n ts is d i s m i s s e d; ( 2) T he s e c o nd p o i nt in l i m i ne c o n c e r n i ng n on j o i n d er is u p h e ld a nd t he a p p l i c a t i on is p o s t p o n ed s i ne d ie u n t il t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt j o i ns a ll i n t e r e s t ed t h i rd p a r t i es or t h is C o u rt i s s u es a r u le n i si c a l l i ng on a ll s u ch t h i rd p a r t i es to s h ow c a u se w hy t he r e l i ef s o u g ht by t he f i r st a p p l i c a nt s h o u ld n ot be g r a n t e d; ( 3) T he f i r st a p p l i c a nt is g i v en l i b e r ty to a p p ly to t he C o u rt f or t he i s s ue of s u ch a r u le n i s i; ( 4) T he i s s ue w h e t h er t he p r o p e r t i e s, t he s u b j e ct of t h is a p p l i c a t i o n, w e re p r o p e r t i es w h i ch r e l a t ed to m a t t e rs in r e s p e ct of w h i ch t he L e g i s l a t i ve A u t h o r i ty of R e h o b o th w as e m p o w e r ed to m a ke l a ws in t e r ms of t he R e h o b o th S e l f - G o v e r n m e nt A ct is r e f e r r ed to o r al e v i d e n c e; ( 5) T he d e p o n e nt J u r ie C h a r l o t te V an Wyk is o r d e r ed to a p p e ar at t he h e a r i ng f or c r o s s- e x a m i n a t i on on t he a f o r e s a id i s s u e; ( 6) E a ch p a r ty is to f u r n i sh t he o t h er w i th a c o py of an a f f i d a v it s w o rn to by t he w i t n e ss or w i t n e s s es it i n t e n ds to c a ll in o r al e v i d e n ce s e t t i ng o ut t he e v i d e n ce to be g i v en by s u ch w i t n e ss or w i t n e s s e s. T he a f f i d a v i ts a re to be s e r v ed n ot l e ss t h an 14 d a ys b e f o re t he d a te f i x ed f or h e a r i n g; ( 7) D i s c o v e r y, i n s p e c t i on a nd p r o d u c t i on of d o c u m e n ts r e l a t i ng to t he a f o r e s a id i s s ue is to t a ke p l a ce in a c c o r d a n ce w i th R u le 35 of t he H i gh C o u rt R u l e s; a nd ( 8) W h en t he o r d er s et o ut in p a r a g r a ph h as b e en c o m p l i ed w i th e i t h er p a r ty is at l i b e r ty to a p p ly f or a d a te of h e a r i n g. STRYDOM, J . P. T E E K, J.