Where an appellant succeeds in overturning a premature summary dismissal but fails on the substantive merits when the matter is fully ventilated on appeal, a 75/25 costs split in favour of the respondent may be appropriate. A respondent's failure to adduce relevant evidence at first instance, contributing to the need for the appeal, is a relevant factor in the costs discretion. The meaning of 'step in a proceeding' under r 1.4(1) of the Uniform Civil Rules 2020 (SA) remains to be comprehensively determined.
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