South African legal developments

The Western Cape High Court dealt with an opposed motion about the interpretation of a settlement agreement linked to a divorce and a dispute over the transfer of a property in Stilbaai. The court found that the papers raised a genuine dispute of fact and dismissed the application with costs. It also held that two late affidavits were inadmissible.

The judgment concerns an application for leave to appeal in a matter about the disposal and transfer of two motor vehicles by a company in liquidation. The court considered arguments about the ordinary course of business, retrenchment packages, and the threshold for leave to appeal under section 17 of the Superior Courts Act. Leave to appeal was granted to the Full Court of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg.

The High Court in Johannesburg dealt with an exception in a dispute arising from an alleged cyber-fraud. The court said the plaintiff had pleaded enough facts for claims based on the payment of R6,235,391.61 and the later forensic investigation costs of R345,977.50, and dismissed the exception.

The Western Cape High Court dismissed an application to strike out and granted a final interdict in favour of Cape Union Mart International and Mr Krawitz. The order restrains the respondents from making certain statements linking the applicants to Israel, genocide, the Israeli army, or the killing of children, and from preventing access to Cape Union Mart stores. The court also ordered that the respondents comply with the Regulation of Gatherings Act during protest action at the stores, and each party is to pay their own costs.

The High Court dealt with an opposed application for summary judgment arising from a residential mortgage-loan transaction and related indemnity documents. It granted summary judgment, declared the immovable property specially executable, and set a reserve price for a sale by the Sheriff. The order is suspended for six months from the date of the order.

The court considered an urgent interim application about a steam train locomotive that is the subject of pending ownership actions. It amended an earlier interim order so that the respondent is restrained from using the locomotive in specified ways while those actions continue. The court also reserved costs for the trial judge deciding the ownership issue.

The Western Cape High Court dealt with an unopposed appeal arising from eviction proceedings involving the Tommy Joubert Trust and Mr Hassne. It granted condonation, upheld the appeal, set aside the magistrate's order, and remitted the matter to the court a quo for determination of the merits. The judgment says the Trust's later resolution and ratification cured the procedural defect raised about locus standi.

The Western Cape High Court heard an urgent application by Agrisa Commodities Pty Ltd for a stay of arbitration proceedings pending a review application. The judgment records a dispute about a jurisdictional challenge, the wording of a notice under clause 16 of the SAGOS agreement, and whether the point in limine was prescribed. The court granted a stay of the arbitration proceedings pending finalisation of the review application in Part B and ordered costs against the third respondent.

SAFlii has listed this judgment: Deon Garden and Construction CC v Stellenbosch Municipality (9140/2021) [2026] ZAWCHC 487 (4 September 2026).

The Supreme Court of Appeal dealt with an appeal in a patent infringement matter concerning a vehicle rollover protection system called FALOSA ROPS. The court dismissed the appeal with costs and said the high court had found infringements of several patent claims and contributory infringement. The judgment also discussed claim interpretation, expert evidence, and a failure to call a witness after an undertaking under rule 36.

The High Court in Pretoria heard an application by the Legal Practice Council to strike Mduduzi Brandon Tshabangu from the roll of legal practitioners. The court found serious professional misconduct, including misappropriation of trust funds and other complaints, but ordered a three year suspension instead of striking off.

The court considered an application for leave to appeal against its earlier judgment in a dispute between Clear Access (Pty) Ltd and Lasernet (Pty) Ltd. It discussed the threshold for leave to appeal under section 17 of the Superior Courts Act and the parties' arguments about the joint venture agreement, including its non-variation and in perpetuity clauses. The application for leave to appeal was dismissed, and costs were awarded against the applicant.

The full court dismissed an automatic appeal arising from a section 18 execution order in a dispute about the City of Johannesburg's tariff treatment of private schools. The court confirmed the earlier order and said the respondents had met the statutory requirements for execution pending appeal. It also dealt with condonation, a strike-out application, and costs.

The notice records a decision by the South African Reserve Bank to forfeit certain money to the State in terms of Exchange Control Regulation 22B under the Currency and Exchanges Act, 1933. It identifies amounts of R147 644.63 and R78 500.80 held in two Standard Bank accounts in the name of Darius George Grobler. The notice says the money is to be deposited into the National Revenue Fund.

The Electoral Laws Amendment Bill (B24-2026) is listed by PMG as an ordinary bill affecting the provinces under Section 76. The page says it is under consideration by the National Assembly and that it was introduced on 03 September 2026 by the Minister of Home Affairs.

The High Court in Johannesburg dealt with an application for leave to appeal in a dispute between Enernet Africa and Ironveld Smelting. The court refused leave to appeal and ordered costs against the respondent.