IN THE INDUSTRIAL COURT OF SWAZILAND
HELD AT MBABANE CASE NO. 167/2000
In the matter between:
SAMUEL DLAMINI APPLICANT
and
THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY-MINISTRY OF
WORKS AND TRANSPORT 1ST RESPONDENT
THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL 2ND RESPONDENT
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 3RD RESPONDENT
CORAM:
NDERI NDUMA: PRESIDENT
JOSIAH YENDE: MEMBER
NICHOLAS MANANA: MEMBER
FOR THE APPLICANT: MR. L. M. SEVIELANE
FOR THE RESPONDENT: MISS Z. MATSE
RULING
10. 07. 2000
The Respondent has raised objection in limine to the urgent application filed by the Applicant in the following terms :
"That the application filed by the Applicant be set aside as irregular and improper for the reason that the Applicant has not complied with the limitation of legal proceedings against the Government Act No. 21 of 1992".
The breach is alleged to be that the Applicant wrote a letter of demand dated the 6th April, 2000 and before the expiry of ninety days (90) in terms of Section 2 (1)(b) thereof, lodged this urgent Application.
Respondent has further submitted that there is no basis to treat this Application on an urgent basis as the refund sought from government was deducted in the month of January 2000 and the Application has been brought four months later.
2
Where an Applicant wishes to lodge an urgent application against Government, he is not obliged to give a written demand. If the Applicant issues a letter of demand to the Attorney-General, unless the Government in writing denies liability, then the Applicant is obliged to wait for ninety days before it can bring any legal proceedings against the Government.
For this reason, coupled with the fact that this Application has been brought approximately four (4) months from the date when the cause of action arose, the Application must fail with no order as to costs.
NDERI NDUMA
JUDGE PRESIDENT - INDUSTRIAL COURT