Trustees for the time being of the Burmilla Trust and Another v President of the RSA and Another (64/2021) [2022] ZASCA 22

4th March 2022

Trustees for the time being of the Burmilla Trust and Another v President of the RSA and Another (64/2021) [2022] ZASCA 22

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International law – appellants claimed before Southern African Development Community Tribunal (SADC tribunal) that Kingdom of Lesotho (Lesotho) had violated SADC treaty by expropriation of valid mining lease without compensation and were liable for moral damages – allegation that respondents violated appellants’ rights under s 34 of Constitution by participating in prevention of prosecution of claims before SADC tribunal – exception to claim for constitutional damages under s 172(1)(b) in respect of value of mining lease, moral damages, costs of claim before SADC tribunal and wasted costs of subsequent legal proceedings – whether SADC tribunal could in law have held that mining lease was valid despite Lesotho court decisions to contrary – under international law SADC tribunal not bound by Lesotho court decisions – could reach different conclusion on proper ground – proper grounds alleged – whether Van Zyl v Government of Republic of South Africa 2008 (3) SA 294 (SCA) precluded claim in respect of value of mining lease – decision not res iudicata in respect of any issue in present action – exception should have been dismissed in respect of claim for value of mining lease and costs of prosecution of that claim before SADC tribunal – exception otherwise correctly allowed – claim for moral damages would in law have been denied by SADC tribunal for failure to exhaust domestic remedies – no basis pleaded for wasted legal costs to be awarded as constitutional damages.