THE
HIGH COURT OF SWAZILAND
STANDARD
BANK OF SWAZILAND LIMITED
Plaintiff
And
ASHLEY
FRIEDMAN
Defendant
Civil
Case No. 918/2001
Coram
S.B. MAPHALALA – J
For
the Plaintiff MR. K. MOTSA
For
the Defendant MR. S. SIMELANE
JUDGMENT
(16/04/2004)
The
Plaintiff issued summons against the Defendant for monies lent and
advanced on overdraft in the sum of E33, 983-92 and interest at 24%
arising from a revolving credit agreement (the RCP). The Defendant
filed a notice of intention to defend.
Upon
filing a declaration the Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant had
borrowed the money, upon a revolving credit plan agreement having
been entered into by the parties which agreement was annexed to the
papers.
2
In
an application for summary judgment, it was averred that the
Defendant had actually acknowledged his indebtedness to the Plaintiff
and an acknowledgement of debt is, or what purports to be it, was
annexed to the papers.
The
Defendant does not deny signing the RCP agreement (hereinafter
referred as "A") The RCP agreement provided inter alia.
• That
the Defendant was being lent a sum of E15, 000-00 from 31st July 1996
at 24% per annum, and that;
• The
Defendant agreed that the account number 01300183558/01 was for the
RCP
The
Defendant pleads in his defence that the revolving credit plan
entered into by both parties was with the sole purpose of making
available to him a sum of E12, 000-00, which was required by the him
as a deposit towards a home loan account in the amount of E60,
000-00. Defendant further pleads that in October 1996 it was agreed
with the plaintiff's Manager Mr. Lindsay Verloso that all accounts
operated by the Defendant and his wife with the Plaintiff, would be
placed in "lock-up" to reserve interest, whilst the
Defendant sought a buyer for their house, the proceeds of which sale
were to be paid to the Plaintiff. At the time the total of such
accounts was the amount of E231, 192-48.
The
Defendant's house was eventually sold for the sum of E190, 000-00 of
which the sum of E182, 000-00 was paid to the Plaintiff leaving a
balance of E49, 192-48. It was then agreed that the balance of E49,
192-48 would be settled by the Defendant's wife, Lucelle Friedman, by
way of monthly instalments of El, 550-00 and the Defendant's wife
signed an acknowledgement of debt in respect of that amount. Further,
the Defendant's wife paid the total sum of E51, 150-00 between the
30th June 1997 and the 28th February 2000, in settlement of the
balance for which the acknowledgement was signed.
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The
Defendant denies that he failed to make timeous payments to the
Plaintiff in respect of his indebtedness. The Defendant denies that
he is indebted to the Plaintiff in the sum stated, nor any sum at
all. Defendant admits demand but denies liability to pay on the
demand.
In
reconvention the Defendant prays for a judgment against the Plaintiff
for payment of the sum of E29, 968-00, interest thereon at 9% per
annum a tempore morae and costs of suit.
The
basis of the defence on the merits of the matter is that, the
Defendant admits that he was party to the revolving credit plan
agreement and that he was lent the money by the bank but states that
the money was paid back by his wife after an agreement had been
reached with the bank to amalgamate his account as aforesaid with his
wife's account and other accounts which were operated by the
Defendant and his wife.
In
the present case there is no dispute as to whether the Defendant's
wife did pay money to the bank. It is only alleged by the bank that
the Defendant's wife was not paying for the Defendant's account, but
was paying for the other accounts.
It
is contended by the Plaintiff that there was never an amalgamation of
the accounts as pleaded by the Defendant. The Plaintiff alleged and
pleaded that the RCP account was never amalgamated with the other
accounts and that the only account that were amalgamated were the
overdraft of the Defendant's wife and the home account.
Therefore,
the issue to be decided by the court, firstly, is whether or not
there was an agreement to amalgamate the accounts, and if the court
finds that there was an agreement to amalgamation of the accounts,
then the court should find for the Defendant and the claim should be
dismissed, and where however, the court were to find that there was
no agreement to amalgamate the accounts, then the court should find
in favour of the Plaintiff and also satisfy itself that, the induplum
rule has not been contravened.
The
Plaintiff led the evidence of its Credit Manager, a Mr.Dlamini who
testified that the sum of E33, 928-92 arises out of the RCP and that
the Defendant still owes it as
4
interest
has been debited until February 2001. This witness testified on what
lock-up of interest means. He explained that "lock-up"
means that a debtor's account are treated as non-performing as they
have not paid according to the previous arrangement with the
Plaintiff. In other words, the interest is put into a suspense
account. The interest is charged on the customer, but the bank is not
treating it as profit because the customer is not able to repay the
loan. If the account is repaid thereon the interest is treated as
profit. But if it is not repaid it is considered as a loss.
This
witness testified that the accounts which were amalgamated were the
Manzini Oak account, the Home Loan account and Mrs. Friedman account.
The acknowledgement of debt by Mrs Friedman signed on the 26th June
1997 to pay instalments towards her own overdraft and the balance of
Manzini Oak left out Mr. Friedman. She finally settled in full the
whole amount covered by the acknowledgment of debt of the 26th June
1997. This acknowledgment of debt signed by Mrs Friedman has nothing
to do with the present claim before court.
This
witness was cross-examined at great length where he took the court
through the various accounts held by the Defendant and his wife with
the Standard Bank. Essentially, he testified that there was no
amalgamation of accounts as understood by the Defendant and his wife.
He
further testified in re-examination that the alleged meeting between
the Plaintiff, his wife and the bank officials where the amalgamation
of accounts is alleged to have been discussed is suspect because
there is nothing on record to prove that the meeting took place. He
testified in this regard that it is the policy of the bank to record
all meetings. The reason for this is for sufficient planning, if for
instance the officer in question were to leave the bank, somebody who
comes in should get these records in the bank files and proceed from
there.
The
Defendant led the evidence of his wife and he also gave evidence.
Essentially both their testimony centred around the existence of the
amalgamation of the accounts. The Defendant admits that he was party
to the revolving credit plan agreement and that he was lent the money
by the bank but he states that the money was paid back by his wife
after an agreement had been reached with the bank to
5
amalgamate
his account with his wife's account and other accounts which were
operated by the Defendant and his wife. His wife also gave evidence
to the same effect.
Each
testified on the circumstances surrounding the signing of the
acknowledgment of debt on the 26th June 1997 and the letter of the
17th April 1998. In the letter it is acknowledged that Mr. Friedman
owed a sum of E17, 691-58 under account no. 0130018355801 and that he
was prepared to pay a sum of E500-00 per month starting from 30th
April 1998.
They
were both cross-examined by Mr. Motsa for the Plaintiff. Under
cross-examination they were both adamant that the amalgamation of all
their accounts were made and generally they stuck to their defence
in-chief.
The
court then heard submissions from counsel. Both parties filed Heads
of Arguments. On the totality of the evidence adduced before me I am
inclined to hold that the accounts were never amalgamated as alleged
by the Defendant.
It
appears to me that the version given by the Plaintiff on a balance of
probabilities is more sound. Further, it appears to me that the
conduct of the various accounts in this case point to the direction
that the Defendant's account was never amalgamated to the accounts by
his wife. The evidence of Mr. Dlamini showed clearly that the term
"lock-up interest" in the file note of the 4th October
1996, means that interest was to be charged and credited taken to the
suspense account instead of interest receiving account (as the
Defendant and his wife accounts were not performing). In this regard
I agree with the submissions made by Mr. Motsa for the Plaintiff on
the home loan account, advance account and Mrs. Friedman's current
account or overdraft support the averment that the various accounts
show that interest was charged since 4th October 1996.
The
suggestion that the acknowledgment of debt dated the 26th June 1997,
was to cater even for Defendant's account and the hire purchase
account (VW Jetta) cannot be correct, for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the bank statement dated the 30th June 1997 (at page 9.3 of
Book "B") shows that the sum of El, 500-00 which Mrs
6
Friedman
undertook to pay was paying the combined account of A/C account and
Mrs Friedman's account. According to the Plaintiff only a sum of
E56,562-76 was fully paid up. Hence these accounts are no longer
owing. The court has not been shown neither by the Defendant or his
wife a figure which is different from the sum of E56, 562-76 and Mr.
Friedman when he testified about the accounts at page 9.3 of Book "B"
said he was not aware of it as his wife was dealing with it.
Secondly,
Mrs Friedman signed the acknowledgement of debt on the 26th June
1997, but on the 3rd April 1998, Mr. Friedman was sued under Case
Number 816/1998 and he confirmed this in evidence. This to some
extent show that the Defendant's account had not been amalgamated
with A/C account and Mrs Friedman's account on 26th June 1997. Mr.
Friedman on cross-examination agreed that the amount of E2, 204-96 in
the summons did appear in his statement at page 34 of Book "A"
being a bank statement dated the 22nd August 1998 for Mr. Friedman.
Further in this regard both Mr. Friedman and his wife confirm the
action under Case No. 816/1998 in writing. The said letter is signed
by both Mr. Friedman and his wife and is addressed to a certain Mr,
V. Van Den Heever of the Standard Bank and it reads as follows:
L.E.
FRIEDMAN P. O. Box 2036 MANZINI
17
April 1998
Mr.
V. Van Den Heever Standard Bank P. O. Box 1
MANZINI
Dear
sir
RE;
A. FRIEDMAN R.C.P. ACCOUNT 0130018355801 AND CASE 816/1998
7
I
refer to a meeting held between Mr. Victor Van Den Heever, Mrs Arlene
Karamitsos and myself, at your offices today regarding the above
matters, and confirm the following;
1.
That you withdraw the above Case 816/98 in the matter between A.
Friedman and yourselves in the High Court of Swaziland, and that
client attorney costs be for your account. We agree that costs of
suit be shared between the bank and ourselves.
2.
A. Friedman acknowledges that he is indebted to Standard Bank,
Manzini in the amount of E17, 691-58 account no. 0130018355801, and
that he is prepared to pay the sum of E500-00 per month starting from
the 30th April 1998 (month-end).
3.
That we appoint Mrs Arlene Karamitsos to negotiate on our behalf with
all management, regarding our accounts, (L.E. Friedman, A. Friedman
and Manzini AUC (PTY) LTD),
Kindly
acknowledge receipt of this letter, as we are aware that you are
shortly leaving Swaziland and we would appreciate your response in
writing.
Thanking
you.
L.E.
FRIEDMAN A. FRIEDMAN
In
the above-cited letter they acknowledged that only Mr. Friedman owed
a sum of E17, 691-56 under account no. 0130018355801 and he was
prepared to pay a sum of E500-00.
As
regards to the interpretation to be given to the letter, I am
inclined to agree with the submissions made by Mr. Motsa that the
letter of the 17th April 1998, should be given a literal and ordinary
meaning, that it is an acknowledgement of debt. An acknowledgment of
debt is a document containing an unequivocal admission of liability
(see Raghavjee vs Munsamy 1949 (4) S.A. 426 (D); Adams vs S.A Motor
Industry Employers Association 1981 (3) S.A. 1189 (A) at 1198 B to
1199 A to C).
According
to Butterworths Forms and Precedents Vol 2 page 5 - 6 an
acknowledgment
of debt usually consists of the amount and the signature. The other
conditions inserted are usually incidental and subject to the rules
of the law of contract. In casu, in my mind, the letter of the 17th
April 1998 is an acknowledgment of debt as it has all the attributes
of such a document as mentioned in Butterworths Form and Precedents
(supra). The said letter has the following attributes;
8
It
contains an unequivocal undertaking to pay; and
Stated
the amount which tallies with the Defendant's statement at page 34
ofBook"A";and
Signed
by the Defendant and his wife who confirmed the signatures during
their evidence.
I
further agree with Mr. Mots a that there was neither evidence nor
mention in the plea that they wrote this letter under duress. They
testified that they wrote it as a Mr. Van Den Heever said they
should write it. In the case of Richer vs Bloemfontein Council 1922
A.D. 57- 70 the following was enuancited:
"Extrinsic
evidence is only admissible to explain the construction of a document
where words occur which are ambiguous either in the or as read in
their context".
In
the instant case I hold the view that the letter of 17th April 1998
is not ambiguous in anyway. The explanation given of this letter they
wrote on the instructions of Mr. Van Den Heever ought to be rejected
as it introduces extrinsic evidence. In my view, the said letter is a
very straight forward document which should be given a literal and
ordinary meaning. Furthermore, on the principle of caveat subscriptor
the Defendant is precluded from disowning the contents of the letter
on the principle that when a man signs a contract he is taken to be
bound by the ordinary meaning on the effect of the words which appear
over his signature, (see Burger vs Central South African Railways
1903 T.S. 571 at 578).
It
appears further in casu that the Defendant and his wife on the 17th
April 1998, acknowledged the debt of E17, 695-58 and they never paid
thereafter hence the summons of E33, 982-92 owing as of 28th February
2001 arising from this figure. In addition Defendant as neither
himself nor his wife produced any proof that the monies they
acknowledged on 17th April 1998 were paid notwithstanding that the
Defendant in his testimony said statements in proof of payment were
given to his attorney.
On
the issue raised by Mr. Simelane for the Defendant in the Heads of
Arguments that no cause of action has been disclosed in the
pleadings, I am of the view that a cause of
9
action
has been established in this case. The argument by Mr. Simelane is
premised on the dicta by Shabangu ACJ in the unreported judgment in
the matter of Mgabhi Dlamini vs Swaziland Government Civil Case No.
3278/2001 and the South African case of Standard Bank of South Africa
vs Oneanate Investments (Pty) Ltd 1998 (1) S.A. 811. In the present
case the summons in this matter should be read with the plaintiff's
declaration as at some point in the history of this matter there were
summary judgment proceedings.
Mr.
Simelane further argued that, if the court were to find that there
was no amalgamation of the accounts, the court should satisfy itself
that the induplum rule has not been contravened. He cited the case of
F & I Advisers (EDMS) BPK vs East Nationale Bank Van S.A. 1999
(1) S.A. 515 (A) to support his arguments.
On
the facts of the present case it is my considered view that the
induplum principle has no application for the following reasons. When
the Defendant was granted the E15, 000-00 in terms of the RCP account
(page 1 of Book "B") he already operated a current account
(overdraft). On the 31st March 1998 the two accounts were combined to
the RCP only to an amount of E17, 691-58 which Defendant acknowledged
owing. Therefore, the duplium can start operating at E35, 383-16 not
at the present claim of E33, 982-92 presently claimed.
As
for the interest of 24% per annum claimed by the Plaintiff I agree
with Mr. Mots a for the Plaintiff that the interest is contractual
(consensual interest) not mora interest, that is, interest due to the
borrower's failure to make payments on due claim.
In
the case of Senekal vs Trust Bank of Africa Ltd 1978 (3) S.A. 375 the
following was stated at page 384:
"ordinary,
the customer is probably aware of the bank's practice of periodically
debiting, as money due and payable, interest to an overdrawn current
account and, if the customer may have been unaware of that practice
at the time of seeking and obtaining overdraft facilities, he must
need have become aware of it and obtaining overdraft facilities, he
must need have become aware of it when periodically charged and added
to his current account. It appears to me that a customer who receives
such periodical
10
statements
without protest or objection acquiesces in the system and thereby
tacitly agrees to be bound thereby"
In
the present case the Defendant when he signed the revolving credit
plan agreement at page 1 of Book "B" to a contractual
interest of 24% per annum and this was confirmed by him his evidence.
Defendant never protested about this interest.
The
other issue that was raised in argument by Mr. Simelane is that the
interest charged offends against the provisions of the Money Lending
and Financing Act No. 3 of 1991. In this regard it appears that Mr.
Motsa is correct that Section 10 (c) of the said Act does not apply
to an institution licenced under the Financial Institution
(Consolidation) Order 1975.
Section
10 of the 1991 Act provides as follows:
"Exemptions
10
The provisions of this Act shall not apply to; 11
Any
money-lending or credit transaction to which the Pawn Broking Act,
1894 applies;
Any
money-lending or credit transaction to which the Land and
Agricultural Loan Act, 1929 applies;
Any
institution licenced under the Building Societies Act, 1962 or the
Financial Institutions (Consolidation) Order, 1975;
Any
hire-purchase transaction of which the Hire-Purchase Act, 1969
applies;
Any
credit card scheme recognized and adopted by any institution
licenced under the Building Societies Act, 1962 or the Financial
Institutions (Consolidation) Order, 1975." (my emphasis).
Section
6 of the Financial Institutions (Consolidation) Order, 1975 provides
as follows;
Financial
Institutions deemed to be licensed under the order.
The
following institutions shall be deemed to be licensed in terms of the
order:
11
The
Swaziland Development and Savings Bank established under the
Swaziland Development and Savings Bank Order, No. 49 of 1973;
Barclays
Bank of Swaziland Limited; and
Standard
Bank Swaziland Limited.
Section
10 (c) of the 1991 Act read with Section 6 (c) of the 1975 order
clearly show that the provisions of the Money Lending Act and Credit
Financial Act do not apply to the Plaintiff.
From
what I have said above the following conclusions can be drawn on the
main action;
Defendant
acknowledges that he signed a RCP agreement on 31st July 1996;
Defendant
agrees that because he was unemployed he could not pay, hence the
account was non-performing and it was put on lock-up on 4th October
1996;
Therefore,
lock-up is not amalgamation, hence interest continues to be charged
to all accounts even to Defendant's accounts.
Mr.
Friedman was sued on 3rd April 1998 because his wife's payments did
not cover his account (see page 3 of Book "B");
On
the 17th April 1998, the Defendant and his wife acknowledged the
debt and there have been no payments from 17th April 1998 to date
hence the present claim of E33, 982-92.
The
induplum rule does not apply in the present case.
Section
10 (c) of the Money Lending Act does not apply to the Plaintiff
which is licenced under the Financial Institution (Consolidation)
Order.
On
the issue of the counter-claim I agree with Mr. Motsa that it has no
merit for a number of reasons. Firstly, the accounts never
amalgamated; secondly, the house was sold at El 179, 201-00 instead
of E151, 127-37; thirdly, Mrs Friedman paid E56, 562-76 not E49,
192-48, hence the above figures alone amount to E235, 764-71 which is
above the figure stated in file note of 4th October 1996.
Furthermore, the summons of 3rd April 1998 and the letter of 17th
April 1998 establish beyond doubt that Defendant
12
was
owing after 26th June 1997. His wife's instalments of El, 550-00
would not cover either his account or his vehicle's account hence the
latter was repossessed in September 1997 after his wife had signed
the acknowledgment of debt.
In
the result, judgment is entered in favour of the Plaintiff in terms
of prayers a), b) and c) of the plaintiff's declaration.
S.B.
MAPHALALA
JUDGE