Synopsis:
Application for confirmation of an order declaring section 89(5)(c) of the National Credit Act (NCA) constitutionally invalid. The section provided that for loans over R500 000, a credit provider lost his right to reclaim money lent to a consumer if he was not a registered credit provider in terms of the NCA at the time he made the loan, and failure to register as a credit provider rendered the credit agreement unlawful and void.
The majority held that by depriving unregistered credit providers of the ability to seek restitution, the law unjustifiably infringed the right to property in section 25(1) of the Constitution.
A minority would have interpreted the impugned section as simply ineffectual, since its defective wording did not actually preclude restitution claims, and preferred this simpler approach to invoking constitutionality.
The Court confirmed the High Court’s finding and declared the provision constitutionally invalid.
Majority judgment: Van der Westhuizen J (Mogoeng CJ, Moseneke DCJ, Khampepe J, Nkabinde J and Skweyiya J concurring).
Minority judgment: Cameron J (Froneman J and Jafta J concurring).