FROM bras in the toilet to black eyes from peas, the small claims courts appear to have seen it all.
The court, that deals with minor civil claims under R15000 and promises "speedy, affordable and simple" justice without lawyers, is popular for resolving spats between neighbours, friends and lovers, and settling claims.
Recent cases from the Cape Town small claims court, also provide some insight into human behaviour.
In a spat between ex- lovers, a Cape Town man demanded his ex-girlfriend reimburse him R9000 for the money he'd spent on their bed and microwave, and for his spare car key.
His ex-girlfriend hit back, claiming he owed her almost R3000 for groceries, medical aid and plumbing.
Dirty laundry in the form of heated e-mails formed part of the evidence before the court.
In one, the woman says: "I ask that while you remain in the house you ... refrain from vindictive, childish behaviour such as ... throwing my bra into the toilet."
In a bid to broker a fair deal, the court's commissioner ordered that their claims almost cancelled each out, but that the woman should pay her ex R1000.
Another couple's relationship worked out but their wedding celebrations were dampened after a fallout with the manager of the wedding venue.
The coupleheld their wedding reception at a popular Cape Town guesthouse.
Neighbours complained that their celebrations were too loud. As a result, the venue manager refused to return their R10 000 deposit, saying it cost him R200000 after he had to cancel upcoming wedding events .
No decision has yet been reached by the court.
Another Cape Town woman won a small victory after being injured when "badly packed" tinned peas came tumbling onto her head while she was shopping at a popular supermarket.
In her claim, she said: "The tins of peas we re badly packed, otherwise all the tins would not have come tumbling down."
The two sides reached an out-of-court settlement earlier this year.
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Small claims are big deal
FROM bras in the toilet to black eyes from peas, the small claims courts appear to have seen it all.
The court, that deals with minor civil claims under R15000 and promises "speedy, affordable and simple" justice without lawyers, is popular for resolving spats between neighbours, friends and lovers, and settling claims.
Recent cases from the Cape Town small claims court, also provide some insight into human behaviour.
In a spat between ex- lovers, a Cape Town man demanded his ex-girlfriend reimburse him R9000 for the money he'd spent on their bed and microwave, and for his spare car key.
His ex-girlfriend hit back, claiming he owed her almost R3000 for groceries, medical aid and plumbing.
Dirty laundry in the form of heated e-mails formed part of the evidence before the court.
In one, the woman says: "I ask that while you remain in the house you ... refrain from vindictive, childish behaviour such as ... throwing my bra into the toilet."
In a bid to broker a fair deal, the court's commissioner ordered that their claims almost cancelled each out, but that the woman should pay her ex R1000.
Another couple's relationship worked out but their wedding celebrations were dampened after a fallout with the manager of the wedding venue.
The coupleheld their wedding reception at a popular Cape Town guesthouse.
Neighbours complained that their celebrations were too loud. As a result, the venue manager refused to return their R10 000 deposit, saying it cost him R200000 after he had to cancel upcoming wedding events .
No decision has yet been reached by the court.
Another Cape Town woman won a small victory after being injured when "badly packed" tinned peas came tumbling onto her head while she was shopping at a popular supermarket.
In her claim, she said: "The tins of peas we re badly packed, otherwise all the tins would not have come tumbling down."
The two sides reached an out-of-court settlement earlier this year.
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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