Phakathi v VDO Car Communications SA (J112/01) [2001] ZALC 199 (8 November 2001)

45 Reportability

Brief Summary

Labour Law — Arbitration — Rescission of court order — Respondent seeking to rescind order made in absence due to lack of proper notification — Court finding that absence of notification justified rescission — Review application pending does not negate the right to rescind — Order rescinded without costs.

Sneller Verbatim/MC
IN THE LABOUR COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
BRAAMFONTEIN CASE NO: J112/01
2001-11-08
In the matter between
REBECCA T PHAKATHI Applicant
and
VDO CAR COMMUNICATIONS SA Respondent
________________________________________________________________
J U D G M E N T
________________________________________________________________
REVELAS J:
1.In   this   matter   an   award   of   the   Commission   for   Conciliation   Mediation   and  
Arbitration   had   been   made   in   favour   of   the   applicant,   Rebecca   T  
Phakathi.  The respondent did not comply with the arbitration award and  
an   application   in   terms   of   section   158(1)(c)   was   brought   by   the  
applicant   to   have   the   arbitration   award   made   an   order   of   court   which  
application was  successful and  on 24  February 2001,  JAMMY AJ  made the  
arbitration award an order of Court.
2.The   respondent   seeks   to   rescind   that   order.     The   Court   is   entitled   to  
rescind   an   order   if   the   order   was   obtained   in   the   absence   of   a   party  
where there was no proper notification to that party.  It is quite clear  
on   the   papers   that   the   notice   of   set   down   was   not   served   on   the  
respondent.  The respondent party would therefore have no knowledge that  
the matter appeared and its remedy is to bring such an application
3.This is also not a case where I can form the view that the respondent party  
brought this application solely for the purposes of delay, since it had

filed within the time period prescribed by the Act, an application for  
review of the arbitration award.  
4.It   is   argued   on   behalf   of   the   applicant   that   there   are   no   prospects   of  
success in  the review  application, but,  no grounds   were  advanced why  
this is indeed so.  
5.The fact that an arbitration award was granted in favour of the party does  
not mean that the award is not reviewable.  
6.In the circumstances I make an order to the effect that the order made by  
JAMMY   AJ   on   24   February   2001   is   rescinded   and   I   make   no   order   as   to  
costs.
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E. Revelas