Truter v Die Administrateur, Kaapprovinsie, en 'n Ander

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Judge: Van Zijl RP en Grosskopf R
• Judgment Date: 16 May 1978
• Citation: 1978 (3) SA 489 (C)
• Hearing Date: 13 February 1978
• Court: Cape Provincial Division

Grosskopf R:

Die dispuut tussen die partye in hierdie aansoek het te doen met die uitleg van die testament van wyle Johannes Christian Bernardus Truter ("die oorledene"). Die testament is verly op 10 Julie 1925 en die oorledene het gesterf op 9 Augustus 1926. Hy was toe 69 jaar oud, en het E 'n weduwee en tien meerderjarige kinders agtergelaat. Die oorledene was 'n vermoënde man wat plaaseiendomme en ander bates tot 'n totale waarde van £59 092.8.3 nagelaat het. Dit was 'n aansienlike boedel as in ag geneem word hoe die waarde van geld verminder het sedert 1926, en dat daar heelwat plaaseiendomme in die boedel was, waarvan die waarde deur waardasie bepaal was.

F Die oorledene was op die plaas Doringrivier distrik George gebore en het sy hele lewe daar gewoon. Op Doringrivier was daar destyds, en is daar vandag, 'n dorpie, tans bekend as Herold. Dit lê op die ou pad tussen Oudtshoorn en George ongeveer 4 kilometer aan die Oudtshoornse kant van die kruin van die Montagupas oor die Outeniquabergreeks. Dit val binne die distrik George en is ongeveer 20 kilometer van die dorp George.

G In die oorledene se testament en sewe kodisille wat daarop gevolg het,

Grosskopf R

het die oorledene in besonderheid beskik oor sy bates, hoofsaaklik ten voordele van bepaalde persone waarvan die meeste familielede was. Daar was egter ook sekere bemakings vir liefdadigheidsdoeleindes. Die belangrikste hiervan kom voor in die klousule 14 van die testament. Dit lees as volg:

"I... hereby make A the following... bequests:

............

14.

A sum of £1 300 sterling to be invested by my executors on good security at six per cent interest per annum with one or more of my sons, should any of them desire to avail themselves of such loan. In the event of any of them not availing themselves thereof or part thereof under the B conditions as aforesaid then in that case my executors or their legal successors hereinafter named shall be at liberty to invest the said legacy or any part thereof from time to time on good and safe security in any other way and with any other person, persons, firm or company. The interest on the said sum of £1 300 sterling shall be used for six annual bursaries each tenable for two years, and shall be awarded to deserving and promising children residing in wards 4, 5 and 6 of this division and C residing more than three miles distant from the school at Doorn River and whose parents belong to the Dutch Reformed Church. A bursary will be retainable only on proof of good conduct, good progress and promise, and may be cancelled at any time by the administrators of this legacy within the period of two years as aforesaid should any such bursar fail to satisfy any of the above conditions. The object and aim of this legacy is to enable pupils to whom bursaries are awarded to proceed with a course of D secondary education and preferably agriculture as may from time to time be prescribed by the Education Department at the school at Doorn River. In the event of there not being the facilities at the said school at my death to carry on such a course of instruction and study as contemplated then in that case my executors or their legal successors shall reinvest the interest on the said legacy from time to time until such time as facilities for carrying on such a course of instruction and study are granted by the Education Department to the said school, any interest so accrued shall be added to the said legacy. I further direct that the E School Board of George or its successor in law shall be and remain the administrators of this legacy under the conditions...