Member of the Executive Council for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape and another v Plotz and another
1 December 2017
Supreme Court of Appeal
Citation: (495/2017) [2017] ZASCA 175 (1 December 2017)
Date: 1 December 2017
Judges: Meyer AJA (Shongwe AP, Swain and Mathopo JJA and Mokgohloa AJA concurring)
This matter involved an application for the review of a decision by the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to impose a levy a fine in terms of section 24G(2) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998. The High Court found that the fine was unreasonable and therefore lowered the fine significantly. On appeal, the Supreme Court of Appeal found that Plotz N.O. did not exhaust his internal remedies before approaching court as required in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (PAJA). the High Court’s order was therefore set aside on appeal. The Court also found that the litigation was not undertaken to assert constitutional rights, but a commercial interest. The Biowatch principle on costs therefore was not applicable.
The original fine therefore stands and Plotz was ordered to pay the costs of the matter.
High Court of the Republic of South Africa, Western Cape Division, Cape Town
Case No. 12736/2014
Date: 20 May 2016
Judge: van Staden AJ
Judicial review application relating to a decision to impose a fine in terms of section 24G(2) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998