Vukile Property Fund Limited v Joli Music (Pty) Ltd t/a Music World (2018/23392) [2025] ZAGPJHC 462 (12 May 2025)

35 Reportability
Civil Procedure

Brief Summary

Costs — Withdrawal of action — Plaintiff's notice of withdrawal without tendering costs — Defendant applying for costs of withdrawn action and present application — Court held that a notice of withdrawal does not automatically entitle the defendant to costs unless expressly stated.

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JOLI MUSIC (PTY) LTD t/a MUSIC WORLD Plaintiff
and
VUKILE PROPERTY FUND LIMITED First Defendant
SIVALUTCHME MOODLIAR N.O Second Defendant
KGASHANE CHRISTOPHER MONYELA N.O Third Defendant
POGISO TUMISANG TIMOTHY MFOLO N.O Fourth Defendant
(In their capacities as joint liquidators in the estate of NMC
Proprietary Limited in liquidation)

JUDGMENT


WRIGHT J
1. In 2018 the respondent, Joli Music instituted action as plaintiff against the
present applicant, Vukile as first defendant.
2. On 2 September 2021 Joli’s attorneys delivered a notice of withdrawal of the
action but did not tender costs.
3. Vukile now applies for the costs of the withdrawn action. It also now seeks the
costs of the present application, on the attorney and client scale.
4. The attorneys for Joli filed an answering affidavit saying that they had attempted
to advance the litigation but because of missing file delays, covid delays and the
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