Matela v Lesotho Telecommunicatios Authority (C of A (CIV) 46/2022) [2022] LSCA 39 (11 November 2022)

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF LESOTHO

HELD AT MASERU C of A (CIV) 46/2022

CIV/APN/0120/2022

In the matter between:

‘MAMARAME MATELA APPELLANT

And

LESOTHO TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AUTHORITY 1^STRESPONDENT

OFFICER COMMANDING MASERU POLICE

CHARGE OFFICE 2^NDRESPONDENT

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 3^RDRESPONDENT

ATTORNEY GENERAL 4^THRESPONDENT

CORAM: K. E. Mosito P

M H Chinhengo AJA

N T Mtshiya AJA

HEARD: 13 October 2022

DELIVERED: 11 November 2022

SUMMARY

Jurisdiction – Rejection of lack of jurisdiction by the Court a quo confirmed on appeal - Jurisdiction point correctly rejected by the Court a quo – However, order of the Court a quo modified - The appeal is dismissed- The costs to be costs in the cause.

JUDGMENT

K. E. MOSITO P

Introduction

[1] This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court (Mokoko J) dismissing the appellant’s point in limine that the Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the application brought by the first respondent.

Factual background

[2] On 1 April 2019, the appellant was appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the first respondent (Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA)). By virtue of this position, she was also a member of the Board of the first respondent. Also, by virtue of this position, she possessed specific trade instruments, including a car, an LCA credit card, a laptop, an LCA uniform, Ipad Pro recording devices, office keys, an LCA Identification card and an iPhone 12. She also had access to, and possession of, board minutes and other documents of a confidential nature of the first respondent.

[3] Later on, the relationship between the appellant and first respondent broke down to the extent as detailed in another case¹ that served before this Court in the last session. Ultimately, the employment contract between the parties ended on 31 March 2022. After that, the parties became embroiled in correspondence in which the first respondent demanded the return of the properties mentioned in paragraph 2 above.

[4] In the correspondence, the appellant denied having all the above properties, save for the vehicle, LCA Identification card, LCA uniform and the iPhone 12. Also, in the correspondence, the appellant had agreed to return all the items in her possession, save the iPhone 12, which she had considered she was entitled to. The preceding notwithstanding, the first respondent approached the High Court ex parte and obtained an interim order to return all the items mentioned in paragraph 2 above.

[5] In her answering affidavit, the appellant raised the defences of lack of jurisdiction, dispute of fact, abuse of the ex parte procedure and lack of urgency in limine. At the Court, a quo hearing, only the defence of lack of jurisdiction was argued. In his order, the learned Judge dismissed the defence of lack of jurisdiction without anything more. I revert to this aspect later in this judgment.

Issue for determination

[6] The central issue in this appeal is whether the Court a quo was correct in holding that it did not lack jurisdiction to entertain the application before it. Put differently, the issue is whether the Court a quo was correct in dismissing the in limine defence to its jurisdiction.

The law

[7] Before considering the appeal before this Court, it is necessary to say something about the lack of jurisdiction as a defence. Generally, a party instituting proceeding bears the burden of proving that the Court has jurisdiction to hear their matter. In our law, an interdict founds jurisdiction, and a lack of jurisdiction cannot prevent a Court from granting an interdict in terms of which the recognised requirements for an interdict are satisfied by facts establishing the jurisdiction of the Court.² The founding affidavit attached to the notice of motion must, among other things, state facts that establish the Court's jurisdiction.³ If the Court is not satisfied with the facts stated in the application that it has jurisdiction, it will not entertain the proceedings.⁴On this basis, the narrow legal issue raised in this appeal falls to be determined.

Consideration of the appeal

[8] There are two grounds of appeal before us in this appeal. The first ground is that the Court a quo erred in holding that the point of lack of jurisdiction was misplaced and improperly taken. I am unable to agree with this complaint. Prayer 10.1 of the notice of motion was seeking an interdict. The prayer is for the Court to direct the deputy sheriff to attach, remove and place certain items in the possession and custody of the first respondent. In our law, an interdict founds jurisdiction, and a lack of jurisdiction cannot prevent a court from granting an interdict in terms of which the recognised requirements for an interdict are satisfied.⁵ It is trite that jurisdiction is determined based on the pleadings and not the substantive merits of the case.

[9] If the Court's jurisdiction is challenged at the outset, the applicant’s pleadings are the determining factor.⁶ The appellant's defence raising the lack of jurisdiction in the present matter was a defence that existed independently of the first respondent’s case. In my opinion, the Court a quo correctly dismissed the defence of lack of jurisdiction. What then became of the matter after the High Court had dismissed the defence of lack of jurisdiction?

[10] Because the High Court had only adjudicated the point in limine and not the other aspects of the matter, it suffices to merely re-affirm the trite principle that an appropriate order to be granted after rejecting a preliminary point like jurisdiction is to direct that the matter should proceed on the other aspects of the case. This is more so because the other preliminary points, as well as the merits, would not have been entertained. Therefore, the High Court's order cannot dismiss the point of jurisdiction and leave the matter hanging. It follows, therefore, that, as presently formulated, the High Court order cannot stand. It needs to be corrected. Having disposed of the issue of lack of jurisdiction and reached the view that the order needs to be corrected, it is, in my view, unnecessary to consider the other two grounds of appeal.

Disposition

[11] As indicated above, three other preliminary points were raised in the application, and only the lack of jurisdiction was dealt with. Whether or not they were abandoned is not clear. This is an impermissible, piecemeal approach. We hold that the High Court had jurisdiction to deal with the matter before it. However, the order needs to be modified. In our view, this justifies a deviation from the general rule that costs follow the result.

Order

[12] In the result, the following order is made:

(a) The appeal is dismissed.

(b) The matter is remitted to the High Court to proceed with the remaining aspects of the case.

(c) The order of the High Court is set aside, and the following order is substituted:

“(i) The point in limine on the lack of jurisdiction is dismissed with costs.

(ii) The matter should proceed on the remaining aspects of the case”.

(d) The costs to be costs in the cause.

______________________________

K. E. MOSITO

PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

I agree:

_____________________________

M H CHINHENGO

ACTING JUSTICE OF APPEAL

I agree:

_____________________________

N T MTSHIYA

ACTING JUSTICE OF APPEAL

For Appellant: Adv M.V. Khesuoe

For Respondents: Mr Q. Letsika