Stupel & Berman Incorporated v Rodel Financial Services (Pty) Ltd (1075/2013) [2015] ZASCA 1 (27 February 2015) per Brand JA.
The law of agency provides that if an agent gives undertakings in its capacity as an agent on the instructions of a principal, those instructions can be terminated. Even if the instructions are described as irrevocable that does not detract from the principle. An undertaking was given by the appellant as conveyancer on instructions of the seller to pay proceeds of sale to the respondent upon transfer of immovable property. The appellant was an agent whose instructions to pay the respondent could and were revoked by the seller as principal.
Reported 2015 (3) SA 36 (SCA)