NDOU J: The
applicant issued summons out of this court against the respondent, claiming
arrear rentals and ancillary relief. The
respondent filed an appearance to defend, a plea and a counter-claim. The applicant has filed an application for
summary judgment, which the respondent has opposed. The applicant persists with the application
for summary judgment. The applicant's
case is simply that the parties entered into a written contract and it was
signed by Mr Mafundu, as a witness on 4 April 2010. Mr Mafundu deposed to a supporting affidavit
confirming this. The respondent does not
deny that he was party to the agreement in his plea. This is what he said in his plea -
"Ad paragraph 2 - 4
This is denied in as far as it implies that the written
agreement was the only and complete agreement between the parties ."
The written
agreement states -
". Agreed to rent the yard with two sheds and 3 gates to
carry my business in shoes making from Wagley Investments at 125D Fort
Street/13th Ave for the six hundred US600 dollars a month. As from the 1st April 2010 till
the 31st December. Thereafter
the rent shall be agreed plus municipal rates and insurance and other
charges. I will put up the wall and
door, window and electrical ZESA meter at my own expenses. No refund or compensation is expected. All the alterations will be carried out at my
expenses. I promise to pay my rental, or
any other dues such as rates, insurance, by the 1st of every
month. I will repair and maintain the
premises and yard, and keep it in neat and clean.
I will have my own ZESA meter, water and toilet with Oriental
Builders and pay them my share to them regularly.
Received R3 000 Balance R1 500 towards the
rates.
T M (signed)
Witness Mr M. [signed]
04/04/10"
The respondent failed to pay rentals
as follows:
-
$300
for the month of June 2010
-
$600
for the month of July 2010
-
$600
for the month of August 2010.
A written demand was sent to the respondent, on 13 August
2010 by the applicant's legal practitioners.
The respondent has not paid the arrear rentals. In his plea and counter-claim the respondent
does not state that he paid these rentals.
In fact, he now brings into picture the existence of a "verbal" lease
agreement. In his opposing affidavit the
respondent gives a diametrically different version from the one in his
plea. In his opposing papers he is now
claiming costs for expenses he undertook to carry in the above-mentioned
written lease. It is trite law that not
every defence raised by a defendant will succeed in defeating a plaintiff's
claim for summary judgment. The defendant
must raise a bona fide i.e. plausible
case with sufficient clarity and completeness to enable the court to determine
whether the affidavit discloses a bona fide defence. The defendant must take the court into his
confidence and provide sufficient information to enable the court to assess his
defence. He must not content himself
with vague generalities and conclusary allegations not substantiated by solid
facts - Kingstons Ltd v L D Ineson (Pvt) Ltd 2006 (1) ZLR 451
(S); Jena v Nechipote 1986 (1) ZLR 29 (S); District
Bank Ltd v Hoosain & Ors 1984
(4) SA 544 (C ) and Mbayiwa v Eastern Highlands Motel (Pvt) Ltd
S-139-86. These principles are most
apposite in this matter. As alluded to,
the defence in the respondent's plea differs materially with the one he raises
in the opposing affidavit in this case.
The respondent has given a convoluted story in his defence. The written agreement captures clearly the
terms of the lease agreement. The
respondent has failed to abide by those terms and has sought to create two
other lease agreements to explain his non-payment of rentals. On the one hand he relies on a verbal
agreement. On the other hand he seeks to
introduce another written which was not signed by the parties.
It is not clear what his defence is really. He is blowing hot and cold on his
defence. The applicant has made out a
case for the summary judgment.
Accordingly, it is ordered that summary judgment is entered
for the applicant against the respondent in the following terms:-
1)
An
order is granted for the eviction of the respondent and all those claiming
title through him from 125D Fort Street/13th Avenue Bulawayo.
2)
That
the respondent pays applicant arrear rentals as follows:
2.1 US$300,00 for month of June 2010
2.2 US$600,00 for month of July 2010
2.3 US$600,00 for month of August 2010
3) That
the respondent pays damages of US$20 per day calculated from 1 September 2010
to date when respondent vacates the said premises.
4) That the respondent
bears cost of suit on the ordinary scale.
James, Moyo-Majwabu & Nyoni, applicant's legal practitioners
Marondedze, Mukuku, Ndove & Partners,
respondent's legal practitioners
