Summary Civil Procedure 371 Term 3, Semester 2

Civil Procedure 371: Semester 2
Table of Contents
STUDY UNIT 8: ACTION PROCEEDINGS COMPARED TO APPLICATION PROCEEDINGS..............2
8.1 THE DECISION: ACTION OR APPLICATION?................................................................................................. 3
8.2 ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACTIONS & APPLICATIONS.......................................................................3
8.2.1 Actions (BUS)........................................................................................................................... 3
8.2.2 Applications (RACE CAR).......................................................................................................... 4
8.3 ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRIAL COURTS & MOTION COURTS............................................................4
8.4 MAKING THE CHOICE: ACTION OR APPLICATION?......................................................................................... 5
STUDY UNIT 9: APPLICATIONS.........................................................................................13
9.1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES.......................................................................................................................... 13
9.2 TYPES OF APPLICATIONS...................................................................................................................... 14
A. Ex parte applications.................................................................................................................. 14
B. On/With notice............................................................................................................................ 21
C. Urgent application...................................................................................................................... 29
9.3 SWORN AFFIDAVITS............................................................................................................................ 32
9.3.1 Inadmissible evidence............................................................................................................ 35
9.3.2 Dealing with the above.......................................................................................................... 35
9.4 DRAFTING TIPS.................................................................................................................................. 36
STUDY UNIT 10: ACTIONS................................................................................................39
10.1 PLEADING STAGE............................................................................................................................. 40
10.1.1 Introduction & definition...................................................................................................... 40
10.1.2 Purpose & function............................................................................................................... 42
10.1.3 General requirements for pleadings.....................................................................................42
10.1.4 First pleading: summons...................................................................................................... 43
10.1.5 Undefended actions............................................................................................................. 52
10.1.6 Defended actions................................................................................................................. 55




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,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

Part B: Actions

1) Pleadings
2) Pre-trial procedures
3) Trial
4) Judgment, interest & costs

STAGE 3: POST-LITIGATION PHASE

1) Appeals & Reviews
2) Writs & Warrant of Execution
3) S65 Procedure
4) Administration Orders




Study Unit 8: Action Proceedings compared to Application
Proceedings

Background to forms of litigation:

 “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

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,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?
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  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’s slow, & 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  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
 The plea is a specific kind of pleading
o Defendant will set out his/her defence
 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

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,  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:
(1) Notice of motion
 Applications also called motion proceedings
 Sets out legal remedies you require & the procedure you want to follow in
court
 Attached to it, you will have sworn affidavit
(2) Sworn affidavit
 Paper-based procedure (typically no witnesses).
 Evidence is contained within the sworn affidavit.
 When a person signs an affidavit, he/she is swearing that the content is
true & correct. If it is found that the information is false, then that person
could be held liable for perjury/ be prosecuted.
 Affidavits contain:
 Supporting documents – annexures
 Set out issues of fact between parties (same as pleadings in
actions)
 Contain evidence which the respective parties need to adduce in
proof of their factual allegations (averments)
 Results in court being in possession of pleadings AND evidence
when the matter is set down for hearing
 Hearing of an application = legal argument by legal reps of parties
& oral evidence is only allowed in exceptional circumstances
(3) Opposing (not through plea, done through opposing affidavit)
(4) Trial

8.3 Essential differences between trial courts & motion courts
 *Why is it NB to distinguish between the two?
 Action: trial court
o Raised bench for judge/magistrate
o Tables for plaintiff’s and defendant’s legal representatives
o Witness box
o Can be very quick (day or two) or long (weeks/months)
 Application: motion court
o Large number of practioners appear in a motion court
o 2 main types of applications
 Opposed applications
 Respondent is at court to argue against applicant
 Set down for hearing, a few days in advance
 May only argue issues in the documents before the court
 Resembles the closing argument stage
 Unopposed applications

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