C I V I L P R O C E D U R E 302

[Please note that the particulars as set out in this reader are provisional only and may be
subject to change. The lecturer reserves the right to introduce any changes as dictated by time
and circumstances]

1. Lecturers

Dr M Abduroaf (Course convener and lecturer)

Office: Room 18, Law Faculty Building
Tel: 021-959 2200
E-mail: mabduroaf@uwc.ac.za

Ms A Petersen (Lecturer)
Office: Rooms17, Law Faculty Building
Tel: 021-959 3322
E-mail: aapetersen@uwc.ac.za

Course Administrator

Ms E Witten
Office: Room 24, Law Faculty Building
Tel: 021-959 3299
E-mail ewitten@uwc.ac.za

2. Consultation Times

Consultation hours are displayed on our office doors. You are welcome to discuss problems
relating to the studying of Civil Procedure with me during consultation hours only. This
invitation presupposes that you have consulted the textbooks, read the prescribed cases and
that you have attended lectures regularly.
Students must have their portfolios with them when consulting with the lecturer.
Please note that consultations would be via email or online due to the current context.
You may email me the lecturer to book a consultation slot.

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 1

3. Lecture times and venues

Group A

Monday: 14:00 – 14:45 Online

Monday: 14:55 – 15:40 Online

Group B

Thursday: 14:00 – 14:45 Online

Thursday: 14:55 – 15:40 Online

Please note that all lectures will be via podcasts and posted on Ikamva. Students may listen to
the podcasts during the above times. These times will also be used when face to face lectures
recommence on campus.

4. Evaluation

The evaluation in this module consists of two parts:

• Continuous assessment: 50%
• Examination: 50%

Continuous Assessment Mark

The continuous assessment mark will be calculated as follows:

• Three Tests at 33⅓% each = 100%

• Four tests will be scheduled during the year.
• Three of them will each count 33⅓% towards your continuous assessment mark.
• The provisional test dates and times are:

Test 1: Thursday 07 April 2022

Test 2: Thursday 12 May 2022
Test 3: To be announced
Test 4: To be announced

• You must write at least three of the four tests.

• If you write all four tests, the best three test marks will be taken into account in the
calculation of your continuous assessment mark.

• Please note:
There will be no separate Sick/Special Tests in this module.
Test 2 will operate as the sick/special test for Test 1.
Test 3 will operate as the special/sick test for Test 2.
Test 4 will operate as the special/sick test for Test 3.
CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 2
 Do not apply to the Faculty Office for permission to write a sick/special test.
If you miss Test 1, you automatically qualify to write Test 2 as a special/sick test.
Similarly, if you miss Test 2 or Test 3, you automatically qualify to write Test 3 or Test
4 as a special/sick test.

• Please note:
There is no sick / special test after Test 4.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have written at least three of the four
scheduled tests.

Examination

• The examination consists of one paper of between 70 and 75 marks.

• It will be written during the examination period at the end of the academic year.
• Further details regarding the examination will be supplied during the course of the year.

Year mark:

Coursework mark: 50 %
Examination: 50 %
Year mark: 100 %

To pass this module a minimum performance mark of 50% must be achieved. A student who
does not obtain a sub-minimum average of 40% as a coursework mark will not be allowed to
write the final examination. (Rule A.5.2.3(c) UWC Academic Rules)

If you do not pass the final examination you may qualify to write a supplementary
examination.

Students who qualify to write a supplementary examination will be notified at least 48 hours
before the examination date.
All students must check their emails regularly to ascertain as to whether they qualify
for a supplementary examination.

5. Lectures

Class attendance for this course is imperative and compulsory. Short tests will be written,
without announcement, throughout the year. The aim of these tests is to reflect your
knowledge regarding the subject at the time of the test.

If you missed a class, it is your responsibility to catch-up and to find out what announcements
were made in class.

NO TAPING OF LECTURES ALLOWED

The overheads used will be e-mailed to students at regular intervals. An announcement will
be made in class to notify you that the notes were e mailed.

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 3

If you did not receive the e-mailed notes please contact Ms E Witten at 021 959 3299 or
alternatively e-mail her at ewitten@uwc.ac.za

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 4

6. Module Overview

This module looks at the role and context of civil procedure in the legal system.

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Explain the South African judicial system,
• Describe jurisdiction specific procedures,
• Distinguish between the cause of actions and applications,
• Critically evaluate the procedure of preparing for hearings and trials,
• Explain the conduct of a hearing or trial in the context of South Africa,
• Assess costs of proceedings,
• Describe changing of orders,
• Demonstrate the process of instituting civil actions and applications, and
• Describe the influence of the Constitution on the Law of Civil.

7. Portfolio

You must compile a portfolio for this course. A portfolio in this sense is a collection of
documents and material to indicate your performance in the course. The purpose of the
portfolio is to provide you with an opportunity to reflect on your individual progress,
recognize the trends in your performance for this course, and to be accountable for these
aspects of your performance.

You must bring your portfolio with you when consulting with the lecturer, so that the
consultation can take place based on your learning history and performance in the course.

To complete the portfolio, you must purchase a ring-binder, and include the following
documents:

1. Course Outline
2. Properly dated class notes
3. Overheads (these are e-mailed to all registered students)
4. All class tests written
5. All main tests written.

8. Collection of Tests

Tests must be collected within two weeks. Test must be added to portfolios.

9. Prescribed textbook

Theophilopoulos C, Rowan AWT, Van Heerden CM & Boraine A Fundamental Principles of

the Law of Civil Procedure (4th edition) LexisNexis Butterworths, ISBN: 978 0 409 0849 3,
e-Book ISBN 978 0 6390 0895 0
This textbook will henceforth be referred to as Theophilopoulos et al.

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 5

Highly recommended

Van Loggerenberg D Erasmus Superior Court Practice (2nd Edition-Online)

Jones & Buckle Civil Practice of the Magistrates’ Courts in South Africa Volumes I & II
(electronic copy available in the UWC library)
Pete S, Hulme D, Du Plessis M & Palmer R Civil Procedure: A Practical Guide (latest
edition) Oxford University Press ISBN: 978 0 19 598951 9.

Additional

Harms Civil Procedure in the Supreme Court (loose leaf, latest edition)
Paterson TJM Eckard’s Principles of the Civil Procedure in the Magistrates’ Courts (latest
edition) Juta ISBN: 07021 5631 0
Pete S, Hulme D, Du Plessis M & Palmer R Civil Procedure: A Practical Guide (latest
edition) Oxford University Press ISBN: 978 0 19 598951 9
Van Winsen, Cilliers & Loots Herbstein and Van Winsen The Civil Practice of the Superior
Courts in South Africa) (latest edition) Juta ISBN978 0 7021 7933 4

Prescribed Acts
(These acts are available online and at the UWC library)

The Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013 and rules to the Act

The Magistrates’ Court Act 32 of 1944 and rules to the Act
The Jurisdiction of the Regional Courts Amendment Act 31 of 2008
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996

Articles

Indicated at the relevant sections

Court cases

Indicated at the relevant sections.

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 6

 COURSE CONTENT

Topic 1: Introduction to the Law of Civil Procedure

Content

1. A Practical Scenario
2. What is the Law of Civil Procedure?
3. Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure
4. Principles underlying the Law of Civil Procedure
5. Sources of the Law of Civil Procedure
6. Structure of the South African Courts, and Specialised Courts
7. Officers of the South African Courts
8. Main Procedures and Tables

Prescribed Reading:

Cases
General Council of the Bar of South Africa v Jiba and Others 2019 (8) BCLR 919 (CC) NW
Civil Contractors CC v Anton Ramaano Inc and Another 2020 (3) SA 241 (SCA)
Pretoria Society of Advocates and Others v Nthai 2020 (1) SA 267 (LP)
Alves v Legal Practice Council and Similar Matters 2019 (6) SA 18 (WCC)
Johannesburg Society of Advocates v Edeling 2019 (5) SA 79 (SCA)
Ndinga v Cape Law Society [2018] 2 All SA 250 (ECM)

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: chapters 1 and 2
Constitution of South Africa Act 108 of 1996: Chapter 8; ss 167; 168; 169 & 170

Topic 2: Matters that must be considered before instituting proceedings

Content

1. Is the person entitled to relief?

2. Locus Standi
3. Impediments affecting the request for relief
4. Joinder of parties
5. Joinder of causes of action
6. Legal representation
7. Prior demand or notice
8. Jurisdiction
9. Choosing the proper procedure

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 7

Prescribed Reading:

Cases
N v Lukoto 2007 (3) SA 569 (T)
Soller v President of the Republic of South Africa 2005 (3) SA 567 (T)
Engelbrecht v Khumalo 2016 (4) SA 564 (GP)
FirstRand Bank Ltd t/a First National Bank v Moonsammy t/a Synka Liquors 2021 (1) SA
225 (GJ)
Investec Bank Ltd v Erf 436 Elandspoort (Pty) Ltd and Others 2021 (1) SA 28 (SCA)
Nativa Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd v Keymax Investments 125 (Pty) Ltd and Others 2020 (1) SA
235 (GP)
HL v MEC for Heatlh of the Free State Provincial Government [2018] 1 All SA 522 (FB)

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: chapters 3, 7 and 16

Other
Institution of Legal Proceedings Against Certain Organs of State Act 40 of 2002
National Credit Act 34 of 2005 s129

Topic 3: Parties and Citations

Content

1. Citation of parties
2. Joinder of parties
3. Joinder of causes of action
4. Intervention of parties
5. Third party joinder
6. Consolidation of causes of action
7. Parties to a suit
8. Separation of trials
9. Change of parties
10. Headings of pleadings

Prescribed Reading:

Cases
Amalgamated Engineering Union v Minister of Labour 1949 (3) SA 637 (A)
Nedcor Bank v Hennop and Another 2003 (3) SA 622 (T)
Helen Suzman Foundation v McBride and Others [2021] 2 All SA 727 (SCA)

Textbook

Theophilopoulos et al: chapter 7

Additional Reading [Not prescribed for evaluation purposes]

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 8

Vitorakis v Wolf 1973 (3) SA 928 (W)

Topic 4: Jurisdiction with regard to subject matter

Content

1. Introduction
2. General principles of jurisdiction
3. The competence of an institution to act as a court
4. Jurisdiction over subject-matter
4.1 Constitutional Court
4.2 Supreme Court of Appeal
4.3 High Court
4.4 Magistrates’ Court
4.5 Extension of the Magistrates’ Court jurisdiction

Prescribed Reading:

Cases

Badenhorst v Theophanus 1988 (1) SA 793 (C)

Chunguete v Minister of Home Affairs and Others 1990 (2) SA 836 (W)
Dusheiko v Milburn 1964 (4) SA 648 (A)
Minister of Law and Order v Thusi 1994 (2) SA 224 (N)
Olivier v Stoop 1978 (1) SA 196 (T)
Tucker’s Land & Development Corp (Edms) Bpk v Van Zyl 1977 (3) SA 1041 (T)
University of Stellenbosch Legal Aid Clinic v Minister of Justice and Others 2015 (5) SA 221
(WCC)
Zinman v Miller 1956 (3) SA 8 (T)
Baloyi v Public Protector and Others 2021 (2) BCLR 101 (CC)
World Net Logistics (Pty) Ltd v Donsantel 133 CC and Another [2020] 1 All SA 593 (KZP)
Patmar Explorations (Pty) Ltd and Others v The Limpopo Development Tribunal and Others
2018 (4) SA 107 (SCA)
Public Servants Association obo Ubogu v Head, Department of Health, Gauteng and Others
2018 (2) SA 365 (CC)

Textbook

Theophilopoulos et al: chapters 4, 5 and 6

Topic 5 Jurisdiction with regard to territory

Content

1. Introduction
2. Jurisdiction with regard to territory
2.1 Constitutional Court
2.2 Supreme Court of Appeal
2.3 High Court

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 9

2.4 Magistrates’ Court
2.5 Arrestio

Prescribed Reading:

Cases

American Flag plc v Great African T-shirt Corporation CC 2000 (1) SA 356(W)
Bid Industrial Holdings v Strang 2008 (3) SA 355 (SCA)
Briscoe v Marais 1992 (2) SA 413 (W)
Hay Management Consultants (Pty) Ltd v P3 Management Consultants (Pty) Ltd 2005 (2) SA
522 (SCA)
Hugo v Wessels 1987 (3) SA 837 (A)
Jamieson v Sabingo 2002 (4) SA 49 (A)
Mayne v Main 2001 (2) SA 1239 (SCA)
Thembani Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd v September and Another 2014 (5) SA 51 (ECG)
University of Stellenbosch Legal Aid Clinic v Minister of Justice and Others 2015 (5) SA 221
(WCC)
Veneta Mineraria Spa v Carolina Collieriers Pty Ltd (in Liquidation) 1987 (4) SA 883 (A)
Yorigami Maritime Construction Co Ltd v Nissho-Iwai Co Ltd 1977 (4) SA 682 (C)
OB v LBDS 2021 (6) SA 215 (WCC)
Obiang v Janse van Rensburg and Another [2019] 4 All SA 287 (WCC)

Textbook

Theophilopoulos et al: chapters 4, 5 and 6

Topic 6: Instituting proceedings

Content

1. Introduction
2. Various forms of procedure
3. Comparing the two main forms of procedure
4. How to choose a procedure
5. Different procedures in the courts
5.1 High Court
5.2 Magistrates’ Court
6. Commencement of Proceedings
7. Service of Process

Prescribed Reading:
Cases
Cullen v Haupt 1988 (4) SA 39 (C)
Fatti’s Engineering Co Ltd v Vendick Spares Ltd 1962 (1) SA 736 (T)
Luna Meubel Vervaardigers v Makin 1977 (4) SA 135 (W)
National Director of Public Prosecutions v Zuma 2009 (1) SACR 361 (SCA) [Par 26 only]
Room Hire Company v Jeppe Street Mansions (Pty) Ltd 1949 (3) SA 1156 (T)

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 10

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapters 8, 10, 11 and 22

Topic 7: Course of an Action Commenced with a Summons

Content

1. Introduction
2. Different possible reactions of the defendant after receipt of a summons
3. Steps if the defendant does not want to defend the claim
4. Summary judgment
5. Rescission

Prescribed Reading:
Cases
Abrahams v City of Cape Town 1995 (2) SA 319 (C)
Buckle v Kotze 2000 (1) SA 453 (W)
Mnandi Property Development CC v Beimore Development CC 1999 (4) SA 462 (W)
Nyingwa v Moolman 1993 (2) SA 508 (Tk)
Sundra Hardeware v Mactro Plumbing 1989 (1) SA 474 (T)

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapters 12 and 13

Topic 8: Further Steps in a Defended Action

Content

1. The exchange of pleadings

2. Incidents that may occur in the course of the exchange of pleadings
3. Defective pleadings

Prescribed Reading:
Cases
Gardiner v Survey Engineering 1993 (3) SA 549 (SE)
Magida v Minister of Police 1987 (1) SA 1 (A)
Princeps (Edms) Bpk v Van Heerden No 1991 (3) SA 842 (T)
Group Five Building Ltd v Government of the RSA (Minister of Public Works & Land Affairs
1993 (2) SA 593 (A)
Satandard Bank of SA Ltd v Van Dyk 2016 (SA) 510 (GP)

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapters 9, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17

Topic 9: Preparation for Trial

Content

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 11

1. Steps that must be taken at any stage of the proceedings
1.1 Medical examinations
1.2 Obtaining medical reports, hospital records and X-ray photographs
1.3 Examination of things
1.4 Inspection of documents and tape recording referred to in pleadings
1.5 Evidence
1.6 Notice of intention to use a plan, diagram, model or a photograph in evidence
1.7 Pre-trial procedure for formulating issues
1.8 Brief to advocate
1.9 Checking the court file
2. Steps after close of pleadings
2.1 Set down for trial
2.2 Discovery
2.3 Pre-trial conference
2.4 Request for further particulars for trial
2.5 Procuring evidence

Prescribed Reading:
Cases
Fernandez v Fittinghoff & Fihrer 1993 (2) SA 704 (W)

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapter 18

Topic 10: Trial and Judgment

Content

1. Trial
2. Judgment during the course of trial
3. Judgment after close of defendant’s case

Prescribed Reading:
Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapter 19

Topic 11: Provisional Sentence

Content

1. Introduction
2. Requirements
2.1 Liquid documents
2.2 Probability of success in the principal case
3. Procedure

Prescribed Reading:

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 12

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapter 20

Topic 12: Costs

Content

1. Introduction
2. Different types of costs
3. Awarding of costs
4. Collecting of costs
5. Taxing of bills of cost

Prescribed Reading:
Cases
Clemson v Clemson [2000] 1 All SA 622 (W)
Nxumalo and Another v Mavundla and Another 2000 (4) SA 349 (D)
Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapter 24

Topic 13: Execution

Content

1. Introduction
2. Execution procedure

Prescribed Reading:
Cases
University of Stellenbosch Legal Aid Clinic v Minister of Justice and Others 2015 (5) SA 221
(WCC)

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapter 22

Topic 14: Changing of Orders of Judgment

Content

1. Introduction
2. Variation and rescission of court orders:
3. Appeals
4. Review

Prescribed Reading:
Cases
Abrahams v City of Cape Town 1995 (2) SA 319 (K)

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 13

Buckle v Kotze 2000 (1) SA 453 (W)
Mnandi Property Development CC v Beimore Development CC 1999 (4) SA 462 (W)
Nyingwa v Moolman 1993 (2) SA 508 (Tk)

Textbook
Theophilopoulos et al: Chapter 21

CIV 302 Course Outline - 2022 Page 14