Civil Procedure 371: Semester 2
Table of Contents
STUDY UNIT 8: ACTION PROCEEDINGS COMPARED TO APPLICATION PROCEEDINGS ...........................................................................3
8.1 THE DECISION: ACTION OR APPLICATION? ................................................................................................................................................ 3
8.2 ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACTIONS & APPLICATIONS...................................................................................................................... 4
8.2.1 Actions (BUS).......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
8.2.2 Applications (RACE CAR) ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
8.3 ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRIAL COURTS & MOTION COURTS .......................................................................................................... 5
8.4 MAKING THE CHOICE: ACTION OR APPLICATION? ...................................................................................................................................... 5
STUDY UNIT 9: APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................12
9.1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12
9.2 TYPES OF APPLICATIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13
A. Ex parte applications ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
B. On/With notice ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19
C. Urgent application .................................................................................................................................................................... 25
9.3 SWORN AFFIDAVITS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 28
9.3.1 Inadmissible evidence .......................................................................................................................................................... 31
9.3.2 Inadmissible evidence in sworn affidavits ........................................................................................................................... 31
9.4 DRAFTING TIPS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
STUDY UNIT 10: ACTIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................33
10.1 PLEADING STAGE ............................................................................................................................................................................ 34
10.1.1 Introduction & definition ................................................................................................................................................... 34
10.1.2 Purpose & function ............................................................................................................................................................ 35
10.1.3 General requirements for pleadings .................................................................................................................................. 36
10.1.4 First pleading: summons.................................................................................................................................................... 37
10.1.5 Undefended actions ........................................................................................................................................................... 44
10.1.6 Defended actions ............................................................................................................................................................... 47
10.1.7 Amendment of pleadings................................................................................................................................................... 70
10.2 PREPARATION................................................................................................................................................................................. 71
10.2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 71
10.2.2 Set down/ enrolment of the matter .................................................................................................................................. 71
10.2.3 Discovery of documents ..................................................................................................................................................... 72
10.2.4 Expert evidence .................................................................................................................................................................. 74
10.2.5 Medical examinations........................................................................................................................................................ 75
10.2.6 Examinations of objects ..................................................................................................................................................... 75
10.2.7 Plan, diagram, model or photo.......................................................................................................................................... 76
10.2.8 Further particulars ............................................................................................................................................................. 76
10.2.9 Witness Subpoenas and the Presence of Witnesses ......................................................................................................... 77
10.2.10 Pre-trial conference ......................................................................................................................................................... 77
10.3 TRIAL ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 78
10.3.1 Plaintiff’s case .................................................................................................................................................................... 78
10.3.2 Defendant’s case ............................................................................................................................................................... 79
10.3.3 Closing arguments ............................................................................................................................................................. 79
10.4 JUDGMENT .................................................................................................................................................................................... 80
10.5 LEGAL/LITIGATION COSTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 80
10.5.1 General............................................................................................................................................................................... 80
10.5.2 Types of cost ...................................................................................................................................................................... 82
10.5.3 Taxation ............................................................................................................................................................................. 84
1
,STUDY UNIT 11: APPEALS AND REVIEWS ...............................................................................................................................................85
11.1 GENERAL ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 85
11.2 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN APPEAL & REVIEW .......................................................................................................................................... 86
11.3 APPEAL PROCESS............................................................................................................................................................................. 86
11.4 REVIEW PROCESS ............................................................................................................................................................................ 87
STUDY UNIT 12: WRITS & WARRANT OF EXECUTION ............................................................................................................................89
12.1 GENERAL ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 89
12.2 IMPRISONMENT .............................................................................................................................................................................. 89
12.3 PROCESS ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 90
12.4 EXECUTION .................................................................................................................................................................................... 91
STUDY UNIT 13: SECTION 65 PROCEDURE .............................................................................................................................................93
13.1 COLLECTIONS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 93
STUDY UNIT 14: ADMINISTRATION ORDERS ..........................................................................................................................................97
14.1 ADMINISTRATION ORDERS ................................................................................................................................................................ 97
STUDY UNIT 20: INTERDICTS ..................................................................................................................................................................99
STUDY UNIT 21: DRASTIC PROCEDURES ............................................................................................................................................. 101
2
,Study Unit 8: Action Proceedings compared to Application Proceedings
STAGE 1: BEFORE LITIGATION
Part A: Preliminary questions
1) Cause of action
2) Locus standi
3) Jurisdiction
Part B: Pre-litigation issues
1) Demand
2) Calculation of time limits
3) Service of legal documents
4) Action or application
STAGE 2: LITIGATION
Part A: Applications
1) General principles
2) Types of applications
3) Sworn affidavits
• “The proceedings are considered from the time of commencement of the matter by way of application or
action. The differences and interaction between these two forms of procedure run like a golden thread
through the law of civil procedure.” Eckard: Principles of Civil Procedure
• “The decision whether to proceed by way of action or application is crucial…” Peté
8.1 The decision: action or application?
• Bring an action OR launch an application
• Application procedure for High Court = HCR 6
• Application procedure for Regional & District MC = MCR 55 (based on HCR 6)
• How to decide?
3
, o Establish: Whether your client has (on the face of it) a legal remedy
o Choose form of remedy: action or application proceedings
§ Very NB decision
§ Major consequences if incorrect form chosen
§ There are major differences in the processes
• Actions/ Busses:
o Reason for bus analogy à action process, like a bus, is slow, it’s big, always in the way, can take a lot
of people, it can handle a lot of content & it stops at a lot of places before it gets to where it needs to
be.
• Applications/ Race cars:
o Reason for race car analogy à application process, like a race car, doesn’t have a lot of space, can’t fit
a lot of content, it’s quick & fast, & gets where it needs to go ASAP.
8.2 Essential differences between actions & applications
8.2.1 Actions (BUS)
• Who:
o Plaintiff & defendant
• Characterised by:
o Separation between pleading stage, trial stage, & evidence stage
• Process:
(1) Exchanging of pleadings between parties:
§ Summons & plea
• Paper war
• Only set out material facts/ COA in the pleadings
• Main allegations on which the claim is based are set out by the plaintiff
• Main allegations on which the defence is based are set out by the defendant
o Kinds of evidence that will be relied upon is not stated in this stage
• Drafted by legal representatives
o Not affirmed under oath
• Can take a lot of time, for instance there may be a need for the amendment of
pleadings
(2) Discovery of evidence/ preparation for trial phase
§ Making sure evidence lines up correctly before you go to court
§ Parties try to prove the allegations & responses contained in the pleadings
§ Once this phase is finalised, then the trial phase will commence
(3) Trial
§ Done through witnesses or handing in of evidence documents
§ Oral evidence
§ Opening statements, closing arguments etc.
§ Witnesses are examined-in-chief, cross-examined & then re-examined
§ Court gives judgment
8.2.2 Applications (RACE CAR)
• Who:
o Applicant & respondent
• Characterised by:
o No separation of pleadings stage & evidence stage
• Process:
4
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller stellenboschlaw. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.12. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.