South African legal developments

The High Court dealt with an urgent application by eNL Mutual Bank seeking to have the respondents declared in contempt of an earlier order. The court said the application was struck off the roll for lack of urgency and ordered the applicant to pay costs, including senior counsel costs on the party and party scale C.

The Western Cape High Court considered an urgent application for interim interdictory relief arising from the planned termination of a Financial Adviser Contract between the applicant and Sanlam. The judgment discusses the interpretation of an Afrikaans phrase used in a telephone call, as well as earlier complaints mentioned by Sanlam in its termination process. The application was dismissed with costs.

The judgment concerns an opposed summary judgment application arising from a loan of R10 million advanced by Alpha Upgrade Fund (Pty) Ltd to Veracity Investments (Pty) Ltd. The court discussed Rule 32(3) security and ordered the respondents to furnish security in one of several forms, including payment into trust, a bank guarantee, a special notarial bond, or mortgage bond(s).

The judgment concerns an application for condonation and leave to appeal against part of a Rule 43 order. The court granted condonation and leave to appeal to the Full Court in relation to paragraph 1.n.iii, but only as it relates to C... R....

The High Court dealt with an application to anticipate the return day of a rule nisi in divorce related proceedings. The court removed the application from the roll because the other respondents had not been properly served or heard. The rule nisi granted on 30 June 2026 remains in force pending the return date of 12 August 2026.

The High Court in the Western Cape Division dealt with an opposed contempt application arising from a divorce order that incorporated a consent paper. The judgment records disputes about medical aid arrangements for the children and bond instalments for the La Boheme property. The court held the respondent in contempt only in respect of clause 7.6 of the consent paper and imposed a suspended three month sentence.

The High Court in Johannesburg considered an opposed application by Standard Bank for the provisional sequestration of Ms Nomvula Florence Phangisa. The judgment discusses the bank’s home loan and guarantee claims, the respondent’s objections, and the court’s finding that a provisional sequestration order should follow. A rule nisi was issued for 19 October 2026.

The judgment concerns an urgent application about the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture's decision dated 25 May 2026 to dissolve the National Arts Council. The court ordered that the dissolution be suspended, the applicants and remaining council members be reinstated, and steps towards appointing a replacement council be restrained pending the review in Part B.

The High Court considered an application for leave to appeal against a judgment and order granted on 28 April 2026, where summary judgment had been granted in favour of the applicant. The court referred to the section 17(1) test and said the respondents had not satisfied it. The application for leave to appeal was dismissed and costs were awarded on scale B.

SAFlii has listed this judgment: Laughton v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services And Others (2024/059540; SS121/2013) [2026] ZAGPJHC 876 (31 July 2026).

SAFlii has listed this judgment: Zeelie NO and Another v AVN New Horizon and Others (2025/179683) [2026] ZAGPPHC 841 (31 July 2026).

The High Court in the Western Cape considered Nedbank's application for summary judgment against a respondent in relation to an instalment sale agreement for a 2017 Volkswagen Polo Vivo. The court refused summary judgment and granted the respondent leave to defend the main action. The judgment discusses a reckless credit defence, the credit assessment material, and the respondent's evidence about his circumstances and minor children.

The Labour Appeal Court dealt with an appeal about a review of an arbitration award that had ordered retrospective reinstatement with back pay. The Court said the employee had sought financial compensation, not reinstatement, and upheld the substitution of compensation for reinstatement.

The High Court in Johannesburg dealt with an urgent application by Onai Mupfunguri against Comit Capital (Pty) Ltd. The court struck the application from the urgent roll for lack of urgency and made a costs order.

The High Court dealt with a medical negligence claim arising from cerebral palsy allegedly linked to intrapartum hypoxic-ischaemic injury. It found that the applicant acquired the requisite knowledge on 25 October 2019 and that the personal claim had not prescribed. The Court also granted condonation for non-compliance with the statutory notice requirements and set conditions for further service.

The Western Cape High Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal in a matter about the return of minor children to Australia. It also dealt with a section 18(3) application and made orders about travel to South Africa, contact with the children, and costs.