SA Court Orders Release of UK Arbitration Records in $110m Port Dispute

SA court orders release of UK arbitration records in $110m port dispute

Image source: Racool_studio from [[https://www.freepik.com/ Freepik]]On 22 December 2025, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court delivered an important judgment in The National Ports Authority, a division of Transnet (SOC) Ltd v The Owners and Underwriters of the MV Smart. The court directed that a substantial body of documents produced in confidential London arbitration proceedings be disclosed for purposes of related litigation in South Africa. Read mor…

Arbitration confidentiality offers no shield in South African courts, warns High Court – Moonstone Information Refinery

Insurers and other parties should assume that any arbitration evidence relevant to the same dispute may be discoverable in South Africa, the High Court has confirmed. In a December 2025 judgment arising from the loss of the MV “Smart” at the Port of Richards Bay, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court ordered the owners and insurers of the vessel to disclose extensive documents from confidential London arbitration proceedings for use in related local liti…