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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
