MC DESIGN & CONTRACTING (PTY) LTD
(“MC Design”)
ENG 06 Rev 1
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL EXISTING AND PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS
The attached terms and conditions shall govern all existing and future orders placed by you upon MC Design unless expressly otherwise agreed in writing, or until superseded by new terms and conditions.
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE, TENDER AND GRANTING OF CREDIT
1.Scope and Application
1.1 These terms and conditions shall apply in respect of each and every contract for the sale or provision of goods and/or services and/or the undertaking of projects by MC Design, unless specifically otherwise agreed between the parties in writing.
1.2. The provisions of this document shall overrule any terms and conditions of contract of the customer, unless otherwise agreed between the parties in writing.
1.3. MC Design may agree to a specific contract on special terms set out in the quotation or tender for such contract, and in the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of these terms and conditions and any such special terms, the special terms of the specific contract shall prevail.
1.4. In this document, headings embodied in the clauses are for convenience and shall not be used in its interpretation and, unless the context clearly indicates a contrary intention:-
1.4.1. the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;
1.4.2. the reference to one gender shall be capable of being construed as reference to any of the others; and
1.4.3. the references to a natural person shall be capable of being construed as a reference to a juristic person and vice versa.
1.5. Unless the context of this document clearly indicates a contrary intention, the following words or phrases shall have the meaning assigned to them:-
1.5.1. “MC Design” means MC Design & Contracting (Proprietary) Limited, or any of its divisions or subsidiaries;
1.5.2. “the customer” means any party who purchases goods and/or services or with whom a contract is concluded;
1.5.3. “goods” shall be those goods to be supplied by MC Design as specified in MC Design’s quotation or in a contract;
1.5.4. “services” shall be those services to be supplied by MC Design as specified in MC Design’s quotation or in a contract;
1.5.5. “projects” means any complete project or projects, or parts thereof, to be undertaken by MC Design and as specified in MC Design’s quotation or a contract;
1.5.6. “order” means a written request or instruction by the customer for the supply of the goods and/or services and/or the undertaking of projects by MC Design;
1.5.7. “quotation” means a written quotation or tender by MC Design for the supply of the goods and/or services and/or the undertaking of projects;
1.5.8. “contract” means any contract for the supply of goods and/or services and/or the undertaking of projects by MC Design;
1.5.9. “commissioning” means such acceptance tests to be made by MC Design before the works are handed over to the customer as provided for in the quotation or the contract or, where no specific provision in the quotation or contract exists, such tests as are normally made by MC Design to certify that the works have been satisfactorily completed;
1.5.10.“acceptance certificate” means a certificate evidencing that the works have been commissioned;
1.5.11.“take-over date” means the date that the customer signs an acceptance certificate certifying that the works have been completed in accordance with the quotation or the contract and have been commissioned, or, where the customer fails and/or refuses to issue such a certificate through no fault of MC Design, the date upon which the works have been completed in accordance with the quotation or the contract and, in the sole opinion of MC Design, have been ready for use, or 30 (thirty) days after delivery of the works, whichever is the earlier;
1.5.12.“works” means all goods, works and services to be provided by MC Design in terms of the quotation or the contract;
1.5.13.“due date” means: in relation to the supply of goods, the agreed terms from the date of invoice or from the date of statement, on which date goods were supplied and such date appearing on the invoice for the first time; and in relation to the supply of non project type services, the agreed terms from the date of invoice or from the date of statement, on which date non project type services were supplied and such date appearing on the invoice for the first time; and in relation to the supply of other services and/or projects, the agreed terms after the take-over date or, where the takeover date is delayed by the customer or by another contractor having an involvement in the project or as a result of anything else out of the control of MC Design, the agreed terms after the services and/or project have been completed and, in the sole opinion of MC Design, have been ready for use;
1.5.14.“the agreed terms” means the number of days credit allowed from the date of invoice or from the date of statement, either net or subject to a settlement discount as agreed to in writing by MC Design;
1.5.15.“retentions” means the withholding of portions of the contract price if so agreed upon between the parties, the purpose of which shall be to ensure the due fulfilment by MC Design of its obligations in terms of the quotation or the contract;
1.5.16. “delivery”:
1.5.16.1.1. in the case of the supply of goods, unless inconsistent with, or otherwise indicated by the contents of the quotation or the contract, shall, subject to the provisions of clause 5.3 be regarded as having taken place when delivery is effected to the customer’s address or the address nominated by the customer and agreed to by MC Design in terms of clause 5.2;
1.5.16.1.2.in the case of the undertaking of projects, unless inconsistent with, or otherwise indicated by the contents of the quotation or the contract, shall be regarded as having taken place when customer has signed an acceptance certificate in accordance with the provisions of clause 15.
1.5.17.“these terms and conditions” means this document;
1.5.18.“the OHSA” means the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993, as amended;
1.5.19.“the CPA” means the Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008, as amended;
1.5.20.“the NCA” means the National Credit Act, 34 of 2005, as amended;
1.5.21.“business day” means any day of the week excluding Saturday, Sundays and public holidays.
2. Quotations
- 1. Where MC Design delivers a quotation, no contract between the parties shall exist until acceptance of the quotation by the customer is received in writing by MC Design, together with the official order number of the customer, unless circumstances exist which call for the immediate commencement with the works, in which event the parties shall attempt to conclude the contract as soon as is possible under the circumstances. For the sake of clarity, it is recorded that where a contract exists between MC Design and the customer the terms of such a contract shall prevail over the terms of the quotation, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- 2. If the customer purports to accept any quotation subject to any qualification or to any terms other than those contained in this document and in the quotation, no contract shall come into existence and MC Design shall not be bound until it expressly binds itself in writing to those terms.
- 3. Any drawings or information supplied with a quotation or in terms of a contract shall not be transmitted or communicated to any person, whether natural or juristic, who is not subject to the provisions of this document, without MC Design’s prior written authority. Ownership of all plans, diagrams and patterns shall remain vested in MC Design and no copies of such shall be made without MC Design’s prior written consent.
- 4. Unless otherwise stated in a quotation or contract, data such as dates, dimensions, weights, capacities, calculations and quantities specified in a bill of quantities accompanying the quotation or forming part of the contract shall be approximate guides only and unless the correctness of such data is expressly guaranteed by MC Design, such data shall not give rise to any claim or action against MC Design. In the event of actual quantities of goods used by the supplier, or the extent of the services required, exceeding any amounts specified in any quotation, contract or bill of quantities, the customer shall pay any additional costs arising out of the use of such extra goods or services.
- 5. A quotation provided by MC Design to a customer shall remain valid, and unless withdrawn prior to acceptance, shall be capable of acceptance within the period stated therein, or where no period is stated, for a period of thirty (30) days as calculated from the date of the quotation.
- 6. The acceptance of any quotation must be accompanied by sufficient information in writing to enable MC Design to proceed with the execution of the order forthwith, failing which MC Design shall be entitled to amend the quoted process to cover any increases in cost incurred as a result of such delay.
- 7. Unless otherwise stated, budget prices are estimates only and shall not bind MC Design.
3. Limit of Contract
MC Design shall only be obliged to supply the goods and/or services and/or undertake a project as may be specifically quoted for and accepted by the customer.
4. Packing
Unless otherwise specified, all prices contained in a quotation shall include packing in accordance with the standard practice of MC Design.
5. Contract Completion, Delivery and Claims in Respect of Goods Delivered and Projects Undertaken
- 1. Delivery of anything to be delivered in terms of a quotation or the contract shall be deemed to have taken place upon the happening of the event/s defined in clause 1.5.16 and the date of such delivery shall be the delivery date for purposes of this contract. In the event that MC Design is ready to deliver and the customer is not ready to accept delivery then MC Design shall store such goods on behalf of the customer in its own storage facilities and shall be entitled to claim from the customer its’ then prevailing storage charges therefore.
- 2. The addresses at which the goods and/or services shall be supplied shall be those addresses specified on the customer’s order form.
- 3. Delivery shall include off-loading, unless otherwise agreed, in which case the customer shall arrange and pay all costs of hiring any special hoists and other lifting equipment, if necessary. In the event that delivery does not include off-loading i.e. the customer arranges for the goods to be off-loaded, delivery shall be deemed to have taken place when the goods arrive at their agreed destination notwithstanding the fact that they have yet to be off-loaded. In such event the provisions of clause 8.1 shall apply.
- 4. The customer shall ensure that MC Design is given free and unfettered access to the addresses referred to in clause 5.2 above. In the event of the customer not being able to provide such access or in the event of the customer requesting a suspension or delay in performance by MC Design, the customer shall be liable to MC Design for any additional costs incurred by MC Design by virtue of such suspension or delay.
- 5. Where applicable, the customer shall prepare any address referred to in clause 5.2 above or where necessary shall procure that such address be prepared, in accordance with MC Design’s recommended specifications as contained in the quotation and that all necessary electrical and other installations and fittings are available in accordance with those specifications.
- 6. MC Design shall endeavour to complete delivery in the time period specified in the quotation or the contract but shall not incur any liability of any nature whatsoever to the customer in the event of it failing to do so. Unless specifically otherwise agreed in writing, the customer’s sole remedy in such an event being to claim specific performance.
- 7. Unless specifically otherwise agreed between MC Design and the customer, where delivery of any works in accordance with a contract is due and MC Design tenders such delivery and the customer refuses to take delivery or is not ready to accept such delivery, delivery shall be deemed to have taken place and MC Design shall have the right, without detracting from any other legal remedies it may have in law, to act as if delivery had taken place and to issue an invoice for payment, which payment shall then become due in accordance with the agreed terms, to store the goods and/or project works at the customer’s risk and cost. In such event, , the customer shall be liable to MC Design for any additional costs and/or damages incurred or sustained by MC Design as a result of the customer’s refusal or failure to take delivery.
- 8. It is the duty of the customer to inspect the goods on receipt, and by signing the delivery note the customer shall be deemed to have confirmed the receipt of the goods in good order, except to the extent of any damage thereto which is endorsed on the delivery note.
- 9. It is agreed that after delivery to and acceptance of the goods by the customer, the customer will inspect and test the goods and that no defective goods may be returned to MC Design for credit more than ten (10) days after the delivery date, unless the customer is a consumer who is not excluded from the CPA by virtue of section 5(2)(b) of the CPA, in which event the goods have to be returned within six (6) months from the delivery date .
5.10.Any goods returned to MC Design due to an error in ordering by the customer will be accepted for credit solely at the discretion of MC Design and will in all cases be subject to a handling charge equal to 10% of the value of the order. 5.11.In the case of projects undertaken by MC Design, the goods delivered, erected or installed are deemed to be operating
satisfactorily when the customer has signed an acceptance certificate in accordance with the provisions of clause 15. 5.12.All goods returned to MC Design must be recorded on a goods returned by customer document which can be obtained from MC Design.
6. Prices, Payments, Credit Limits and Financial Circumstances
6.1. Subject to the provisions of clause 6.2, the price for a specific contract or order shall be as reflected in the quotation, or as agreed and/or amended by the parties in writing.
6.2. Where the price or any portion thereof set out in the quotation is for goods sourced from outside the Republic of South Africa, the parties agree that:
6.2.1. the price has been quoted on the basis of an identified fixed exchange rate between the Republic of South Africa and the currency of the country from which the goods are to be supplied (“the base rate”);
6.2.2. if the exchange rate on the date of placement of the order differs from the base rate on the date of quotation, then the price shall be adjusted in accordance with the prevailing exchange rate at the time the order was placed.
6.3. In the event of a variation or suspension of work at the instance of the customer or as a result of a lack of instruction by the customer or as a result of delay caused by force majeure circumstances, MC Design shall be entitled to increase the contract price by a sum of money sufficient to cover the extra expenses incurred or sustained by it as a direct or indirect consequence of such variation or suspension or delay.
6.4. Unless otherwise agreed, payment terms shall be either payment against invoice or statement or progress payments whichever is specified in the quotation or the contract, and if progress payments are in force payment intervals and the basis of calculation of such payments will be those as set out in the quotation or the contract.
6.5. Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the parties, prices shall generally be payable on the due dates reflected in the quotation or the contract, absent which shall be the dates defined in clause 1.5.13.
6.6. Without prejudice to any of the rights of MC Design, if any payment is not made on the due date it shall bear interest which is 3 (three) percentage points above the prime interest rate charged on short term loans and facilities by MC Design’s bankers as they may be from time to time, which interest shall be calculated from the date any such payment falls due until it is paid, compounded monthly in advance.
6.7. MC Design shall be entitled, in its sole and absolute discretion, to appropriate any payments received on account of the customer’s indebtedness to any indebtedness whatsoever of the customer to MC Design.
6.8. In the event of the customer disputing any amounts due by it to MC Design, which dispute must be bona fide then the customer shall only be entitled to withhold payment of that amount in dispute and shall not be entitled to withhold the full payment then due by it to MC Design.
6.9. A certificate produced and suitably signed by MC Design, detailing the invoice numbers, invoice dates, invoice amounts due, the interest rate applicable in terms hereof and the interest payable, shall be prima facie proof of the facts stated in such a certificate and will be binding upon the customer for purposes of obtaining summary judgment against the customer.
6.10. Should the customer at any stage default in the observance of any of the payment terms hereof, MC Design shall be entitled to claim the full amount then owing by the customer to MC Design, notwithstanding the fact that such amount may not at the time be due and payable.
6.11. MC Design reserves the right to make partial deliveries against any order and the customer shall make payment in respect thereof, as stipulated in the quotation or the contract.
6.12. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or elsewhere included, unless otherwise specifically agreed to, the supply of all goods to the customer by MC Design shall be subject to an agreed credit limit, which is subject to the successful granting of credit insurance cover by the relevant insurer, contracted to MC Design in this regard and as such may be subject to change in accordance with any change in such insurance cover from time to time. Once the agreed credit limit is reached or exceeded (as the case may be) and notwithstanding any agreed payment terms to the contrary, MC Design shall be entitled to demand payment by the customer of such amount that will in MC Design’s sole discretion be necessary to reduce the outstanding balance on the customer’s account after delivery of the relevant goods to an amount less than or equal to the agreed credit limit. MC Design shall be entitled to suspend the supply and delivery of all goods to the customer until such payment is received. MC Design shall not have any liability of any nature whatsoever towards the customer as a result of any such suspended supply and delivery of the goods.
7. Ownership
7.1. The ownership in all goods sold, delivered or in any other way made available to the customer by MC Design (including goods forming part of a project undertaken by MC Design) shall remain vested in MC Design until the customer has made full payment of the contract price for such goods and or the project.
7.2. MC Design shall have the right at any time to give notice of its continued ownership in the goods to every possessor and every landlord of premises in or on which the goods are stored or may be placed or installed, whether for sale, repair, assembly or otherwise.
7.3. Without prejudice to any of its rights in terms of this document or the law, MC Design reserves the right to repossess goods in the event of the customer failing to make any payment on due date or at all.
7.4. Payment will only be acknowledged when the relevant deposit is acknowledged by MC Design’s bankers as having been deposited into MC Design’s bank account by MC Design or the customer.
7.5. It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure that payments are either deposited directly into MC Design’s bank account (supported by adequate detail to identify the deposit) by due date or received at MC Design’s domicilium citandi et executandi or physical address as identified in clause 24.1 of this document in time for MC Design to bank the monies into MC Design’s bank account by due date.
7.6. The customer is obliged to advise MC Design in writing of any change in ownership or control of the customer including the sale of the customer’s business or any part thereof, failing which the customer indemnifies and holds MC Design harmless for any loss, damage claim or expense that MC Design may incur as a result of any change of ownership or control, including but not limited to, any loss sustained by MC Design as a result of continuing the grant of credit facilities. It is specifically recorded that the intention of MC Design is not to continue to grant credit facilities in the event of a change of ownership or control of the customer.
8. Risk
- 1. Risk in the case of the supply of goods, shall pass to the customer upon delivery having been effected in terms of clause 1.5.16.1.1.
- 2. Risk in the case of the undertaking of projects, shall pass upon delivery having been effected in terms of clause 1.5.16.1.2.
- 3. In the event of any goods being repossessed by MC Design, the customer shall be liable for any damage sustained to the goods, from the time the goods were delivered by MC Design to the customer until such time the goods were repossessed
by MC Design.
9. Liability for Delay and Extensions
Any times quoted for delivery are dependent upon receiving of all necessary information to enable MC Design to effect delivery, commence work and to proceed therewith without interruption. Whenever any delay is caused by any instructions, or the lack thereof, by the customer, or as a result of industrial dispute or force majeure or any other cause whatsoever beyond the reasonable control of MC Design, the time for delivery shall be extended by a reasonable period in the circumstances.
10. Performance, Inspection and Tests
- 1. Any performance figures given by MC Design are based upon MC Design’s experience and are such as MC Design expects to obtain on testing at its premises. MC Design accepts no liability for damage or failure to attain such figures unless specifically guaranteed performance figures subject to the recognized tolerance applicable to such figures have been given, in which event MC Design’s liability shall be limited to the insurance cover it has in place and which is accepted by its’ insurers to cover such eventuality. The customer bears the sole responsibility should the performance of the works that were supplied be in accordance with the customer’s specification and requirements but are nevertheless found not to be performing in accordance with what is required therefrom.
- 2. MC Design’s works are carefully inspected and, where practicable, submitted to standard tests at MC Design’s premises before dispatch. If tests other than those specified in the quotation or tests in the presence of the customer’s representative are required, these will be charged for in accordance with MC Design’s standard tariffs then in force. In the event of any delay on the part of the customer to attend such tests after 3 (three) days’ notice in advance of the tests being concluded, the tests will proceed in the absence of the customer and shall be deemed to have been made in its presence.
11. Warranties
11.1.MC Design warrants that the goods supplied by it will be safe, free from defects in materials, parts, design and workmanship, that they will be reasonably suitable for the purposes they are generally intended for, and that the goods will operate fault-free and safely under normal operating conditions for a reasonable period after delivery, which the customer hereby specifically agrees shall be for a period not in excess of 12 (twelve) months after delivery of the goods to it.
11.2.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these terms and conditions, where the goods supplied by MC Design have been procured from a third party, the warranty granted to the customer in terms of clause 11.1 above shall be restricted to the warranty given by the third party. In the event of a claim by the customer arising in respect of such goods, MC Design’s sole responsibility shall be to endeavour as far as may be reasonable in the circumstances to enforce the warranty against the third party.
- 3. MC Design will repair or replace at its own cost any goods that don’t comply with the warranties contained in clause 11.1 above or which fail within the agreed warranty period. Any repaired or replaced goods shall be subject to a further 3 (three) month warranty period.
- 4. MC Design shall have no liability in terms of the warranties contained in clause 11.1 above in the event that:
11.4.1.the goods supplied by it were manufactured in accordance with customer’s design/s and/or specifications;
11.3.1 the characteristic, failure, defect or hazard that is alleged to be in breach of the warranties did not exist at the time of supply; - 3.2 the goods have been altered or tampered with by the customer without the approval of MC Design;
- 3.3 the goods have been used under wrong operating conditions or for purposes not intended or have been abused
by the customer;
- 3.4 the customer has failed to properly take care of and maintain the goods; or
- 3.5 the customer has failed to comply with any usage – and/or operating instructions provided by MC Design in respect
of the goods.
11.5.MC Design’s liability in terms of the warranties provided by it shall under no circumstances exceed the invoiced selling
price of the goods.
11.6.The warranties contained in this clause 11 are the sole and entire warranties applicable to the goods, services and/or
projects delivered and/or undertaken by MC Design and no other warranties, express or implied by conduct or common law, shall apply.
12. Limitation of Liability
12.1.MC Design’s sole obligations and responsibilities to the customer in relation to the goods, services and/or projects delivered by it shall be in terms of the warranties as set out in clause 11, and furthermore, insofar as the relevant transaction is subject to the provisions of section 61 of the CPA, to indemnify the customer against and to hold the customer harmless from, any harm arising from the death or personal injury suffered by the customer, and from the loss of or physical damage to property belonging to the customer, caused by the goods supplied by MC Design, subject to the limitations and/ or exclusions and/or effects of sub-sections 61(4) and 61(6) of the CPA.
12.2.MC Design shall under no circumstances be liable towards the customer for any other losses, damages or harm of whatsoever nature, irrespective of whether such losses, damages or harm may have been caused by the fault of the supplier, provided MC Design is not guilty of gross negligence.
12.3.MC Design’s total cumulative liability to the customer shall under no circumstance exceed the greater of the value of items for which MC Design may be held liable in terms of the warranties referred to above together with the liabilities provided for in clause 12.1, and the invoiced selling price of the goods, provided that MC Design shall under no circumstances be liable for any indirect or consequential damage, including but not limited to loss of income, loss of revenue, loss of profits and any other economic loss, except to the extent caused by its gross negligence.
12.4.The customer, by accepting the goods subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, acknowledges that the contents of this clause 12, including the limitations contained herein, have been specifically pointed out by MC Design and drawn to the attention of the customer, that the customer has read it and that it fully understands and appreciates the implications of this clause 12, that it had sufficient time to consider the acceptability of this clause 12 before it entered into the transaction of purchase with mc design, and that notwithstanding the provisions of this clause 12 it freely and voluntarily decided to proceed with the transaction to which this clause 12 applies.
12.5.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in clause 8 above (the passing of the risk) and this clause 12 (limitation of liability), MC Design’s liability shall never exceed that which it is insured for in terms of either its contract works insurance cover (currently limited to R20mil for any one contract) or its contractors liability insurance cover. In the circumstances, it is incumbent upon the customer to take out and maintain in force such insurance policies as may be necessary to protect itself against any potential risks associated with the goods, services and or projects to be delivered or undertaken by MC Design.
13. Relief from Duties under the OHSA
13.1.The customer undertakes to take such steps as are sufficient, necessary and reasonably practicable in order to ensure that the goods supplied in terms of a quotation or contract, will be safe and without risks to health when properly used, and will comply with the requirements of section 10 of the OHSA and herewith releases MC Design from any duties imposed on MC Design by section 10 of the Act.
13.2. MC Design shall under no circumstances assume any liability for any health and safety hazards arising out of the misuse or abuse of the products manufactured, sold, imported or supplied by MC Design.
14. Duties under the CPA
In the event that the customer will not be the end user of the goods and will on-supply the goods to third party users, the following shall apply:
14.1.The customer is familiar with the provisions of the CPA insofar as the supply of goods or services to “consumers”, as
defined in the CPA, is concerned, and the customer hereby agrees to comply with all the provisions of the CPA insofar as they relate to such “consumers”.
14.2.Without detracting from the generality of the provisions of clause 14.1, the customer hereby undertakes with specific reference to sections 49 and 58 of the CPA, to provide “consumers” with all such notices as may be required in terms of the aforesaid sections 49 and 58, and to provide same in the manner and format prescribed by the CPA.
14.3.The customer hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold MC Design harmless from, any claims, losses or liability made against, suffered by or established by any third party end user against MC Design, based upon or founded in the failure by the customer to comply with the provisions of the aforesaid sections 49 and 58.
15. Acceptance Certificates
- 1. At the delivery of goods and/or the completion of the works or phases thereof the customer shall be required to sign an acceptance certificate in accordance with the provisions of this clause.
- 2. The acceptance certificate shall state in clear terms to what portion of any work performed by MC Design the certificate relates, and shall state clearly the matters set out in clause 15.3 hereunder. The acceptance certificate shall be signed and dated by the authorized representative of the customer.
15.3.In the event that the works form part of a phase of a bigger project which is dependent upon any work and/or services to be performed by a third party, the customer shall not be entitled to refuse or delay the signing of an acceptance certificate relating to MC Design’s works, and shall be obliged to sign an acceptance certificate stating that although that phase is not completed, MC Design’s works have been completed to the satisfaction of the customer. Should in such an event any testing of anything provided by MC Design be required but could only be done after the completion of a phase, the acceptance certificate so given shall state that it is subject to and dependant on the results of any such tests undertaken after the completion of the phase.
16. Retentions
No retentions shall apply to any contract unless specifically agreed between the parties in writing and the customer shall under
no circumstances be entitled to retain any portions of the contract price.
17. General Price Variation
17.1. Any price quoted is subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of this clause.
17.2.Unless otherwise stated in MC Design’s quotation or the contract the amount of all duties, taxes or other charges
applicable to the works shall be borne by the customer.
17.3. Quoted prices are based on the cost of material, transport, exchange rates and labour ruling at the date of MC Design’s
quotation and, unless otherwise stated, if between that date and the date of delivery variations occur in these costs, then quoted prices shall be amended to provide for these variations, the detail of which will be written into MC Design’s quotation or the contract. Such variations shall be reasonable.
18. Penalties
18.1. MC Design shall not be liable for the payment of penalties unless specifically so agreed between the parties in writing. 18.2.Where penalties are agreed between the parties, the amount of penalties shall be calculated on the value of the
outstanding portion of the works only.
19. Law To Apply
This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with South African law.
20. Breach
20.1.This agreement shall be deemed to be breached by any party if that party is placed into liquidation in terms of the Insolvency Laws operating in the Republic of South Africa, or in the case of any judicial management of that party or compromise by that party with its creditors, and may under such circumstances immediately be terminated by the one party by registered letter sent to the other party informing it of the termination of the agreement.
20.2. Should either party commit a breach of any provision of this agreement and fail to remedy such breach within fourteen (14) days of receiving written notice from the other party requiring it to do so, then the party aggrieved by such breach shall be entitled, without prejudice to its other rights at law, to claim specific performance of all the defaulting party’s obligations, whether or not such obligations would otherwise have fallen due for performance or to claim cancellation of
this contract, in either event without prejudice to its right to claim damages, and who shall be entitled to claim payment of any legal costs incurred from the other party on an attorney and client scale.
21. Force Majeure
21.1.Neither party will be liable to the other for any failure, delay or default in the performance of its obligations under this agreement, if and to the extent that such failure, delay or default is caused by force majeure including, (without detracting from any other events covered by the rules and principles relating to vis major), casus fortuitus, acts of God, strikes, lock- out, fire, riot, flood, drought, state of emergency), inability to secure power or materials or supplies, embargoes, export control, international restrictions, shortage of transport facilities, any order of any international authority, any requirements of any authority or other competent local authority , war (whether declared or not), civil disturbance, any circumstances beyond its reasonable control, Court order, or failures, shortages, interruptions or fluctuations in electrical power, water supply or communications (collectively, “Circumstances of Force Majeure”).
21.2. On the occurrence of any Circumstances of Force Majeure, the party disabled thereby shall;
22.2.1 as soon as reasonably possible, notify the other party thereof by whichever means available and if possible
thereafter, confirm the notification in writing;
22.2.2 be released from further performance or observance of its obligations so affected for so long as such
Circumstances of Force Majeure prevail;
22.2.3 continue to endeavour to re-commence performance or observance whenever and to whatever extent reasonably
possible without delay; and
22.2.4 co-operate with the other party in implementing such contingency measures as the other party may reasonably
require, until the Circumstances of Force Majeure cease.
21.3.Should the Circumstances of Force Majeure continue or be likely to continue for any unreasonable long time, having
regard to the nature of the affected obligation or obligations and the surrounding circumstances, then either party shall be entitled to terminate this agreement by giving written notice to the other party to that effect, subject to any other provisions contained in this agreement dealing with rights and obligations arising from termination, including but not limited to the payment of cancellation fees.
22. Dispute Resolution
22.1. In the event of a dispute between the parties remaining unresolved after reasonable attempts have been made to remedy the situation concerned, either party may refer the dispute to an independent third party to determine the dispute. The independent third party (“the expert”) shall sit as an expert and not as an arbitrator.
22.2.The expert shall be entitled to engage the services of any other person/s whom the expert in his sole and absolute discretion considers has particular knowledge or expertise relating to the matter/s in dispute.
22.3. The expert shall be, if the matter in dispute is:
22.3.1.primarily an accounting matter, the nominee of the Chairman for the time being of the Port Elizabeth Regional
Association of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants;
22.3.2.primarily a legal matter, a practising Attorney or Advocate of at least ten (10) years standing nominated by the
Chairman for the time being of the Port Elizabeth Attorneys (Side Bar) Association;
22.3.3.any other matter, the nominee of the Chairman for the time being of the Port Elizabeth Attorneys Association; 22.3.4.The aforegoing notwithstanding, if the parties agree upon the appointment of an expert, the person agreed shall
act as an expert.
22.4.The expert shall not be bound to follow the general principles of law, but may decide the matter submitted to him
according to what he considers just and equitable in the circumstances, regard being had to the principles of natural justice and, therefore, the strict rules of law need not be observed or taken into account by the expert in arriving at his decision.
22.5. Any hearing by the expert shall be at such venue or venues in Port Elizabeth as shall be selected by him.
22.6. In the absence of written agreement by the parties to the dispute, the expert shall be vested with entire discretion as to
the procedure and manner to be followed in arriving at his decision.
22.7. The expert shall be entitled to direct who shall bear the costs of such proceedings, regard being had to the validity of the
case presented by either party to the dispute, it being within the discretion of the expert to make such order as he feels
just in the circumstances.
22.8. The parties shall use their best endeavours to procure that the decision of the expert shall be given within fourteen (14)
days, or as soon thereafter as possible after it has been demanded.
22.9. The expert’s decision shall be final and binding upon the parties affected thereby, shall be carried into effect and may be
made an Order of any competent Court at the instance of any of the parties.
This clause constitutes an irrevocable consent by the parties hereto to the proceedings in terms hereof and none of the parties shall be entitled to withdraw therefrom or to claim at any such proceedings that it shall not be bound by this clause.
22.11. If a party shall fail to make representations to the expert, the expert, after having afforded such party reasonable opportunity to make such representations, shall be permitted to deliberate and decide upon the dispute in the absence of such representations.
22.12. This clause is severable from the rest of this Contract and shall remain in effect even if this Contract is terminated for any reason.
23. Domicilium
23.1. The parties choose as domicilium citandi et executandi and for the delivery of all notices arising out of this agreement or its termination or cancellation, the addresses set out below:
23.1.1.MC Design at the physical address that appears on MC Design’s official letterheads and/or statements; 23.1.2.the customer at the physical address specified in the application for credit facilities or any contract concluded
between the parties.
23.2. Either party shall be entitled from time to time, by written notice to the other, to vary its domicilium to any other address
within the Republic of South Africa which is not a post office box or poste restante.
23.3. Any notice given and any payment made by any party to any other (“the addressee”) which:
24.3.1 is delivered by hand during normal business hours of the addressee at the addressee’s domicilium shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved by the addressee, to have been received by the addressee at the time of delivery;
24.3.2 is posted by prepaid registered post from an address within the Republic of South Africa to the addressee at the addressee’s domicilium shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved by the addressee, to have been received on the seventh day after the date of posting;
24.3.3 is sent by facsimile shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved by the addressee, to have been received within one (1) hour of transmission where it is transmitted during business hours of the receiving instrument and at noon on the following business day (excluding Saturdays) where it is transmitted outside such business hours.
23.4.No provision of this domicilium clause shall be taken as affecting the validity of any notice which is actually received by any party, whether at Its domicilium or not and whether delivered in terms of the express provisions of this domicilium clause or not and any notice which is actually received by any party shall be deemed to be notice validly given.
24. Cancellation Of Orders
Notwithstanding anything contained in this agreement, where the customer seeks to cancel any order placed on MC Design for any reason whatsoever, excluding breach of the agreement on the part of MC Design, then, subject to MC Design agreeing to such cancellation in writing, the customer shall be liable towards MC Design for a cancellation fee equivalent to the higher of 10% (ten percent) of the value of the cancelled order or the actual cost incurred by MC Design in the procurement of materials and/or goods as well as for other expenses necessarily incurred in connection with the execution or planned execution of the order.
25. Required Standards and Principles of Ethical Business Conduct
The parties shall adhere to the highest levels of lawful, ethical and responsible business conduct.
26. General
26.1. No alteration of, variation of, or addition to this agreement shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by the parties or their duly authorized representatives.
26.2.Subject to clause 26.1 above, this document contains the sole and entire record of the agreement between the parties. No party shall be bound by any express or implied term, representation, warranty, promise or the like not recorded herein or otherwise created by operation of law.
26.3. No indulgence, leniency or extension of time which either party (“the grantor”) may grant or show to the other, shall in any way prejudice the grantor or preclude the grantor from exercising any of its rights in the future.
26.4. Neither party may cede its rights or delegate its obligations in terms of this agreement without the prior written approval of the other party.
26.5. Any person who signs any credit application form or order or document on behalf of the customer warrants that he/she is authorized thereto by the customer.
26.6.These Standard Terms and Conditions of Sale, Tender and Granting of Credit Facilities form part of the application for credit facilities and the signatory or signatories thereto acknowledge that they have read, agreed and irrevocably accept and understand the Standard Terms and Conditions of Sale, Tender and Granting of Credit Facilities.
26.7.MC Design shall be required to issue letters of demand and institute legal proceedings as required in terms of its credit insurance policy and this fact shall be highlighted in all relevant correspondence to the customer or his authorized representative.
26.8.In the event of an order being placed on the official order form of the customer, the customer shall be precluded from denying the validity of such order, notwithstanding the fact that such order may have been signed by a person not authorized to do so.
26.9. The customer hereby authorizes MC Design, subject to the provisions of the NCA and the regulations issued subsequent thereto, to transmit any details contained in this document (including personal details if applicable), as well as any information relating to its performance in meeting its obligations in terms of any agreement and/or transaction concluded between it and MC Design, to any credit bureau registered in terms of the NCA. The customer furthermore hereby acknowledges and agrees that such credit bureau may, in the normal course of its business, share any such information with any of its customers and other credit providers registered in terms of the NCA, for the Prescribed Purposes (as defined in terms of the Regulations published in Government Gazette No. 8477, Notice 28864).