An urgent application by Khulubuse Zuma to have claims of approximately R1.5-billion against Aurora Empowerment Systems set aside, will be heard in the high court in Pretoria on Monday, the Sunday Independent reported.
Zuma’s court bid could hinder efforts by liquidators of Pamodzi gold mine to hold the directors of Aurora responsible for the apparent stripping of assets at the mines in Springs and Orkney.
In 2009, Aurora was appointed by liquidators to manage the mines in Springs and Orkney. However, the company instead allegedly stripped the mines of infrastructure and also left hundreds of employees without pay and surviving on handouts. Last Thursday, court proceedings were postponed after Zuma’s lawyer left a file in Durban.
According to the Sunday Independent, Zuma’s application claims an error of law had occurred and decisions were taken in “bad faith” by the liquidators.
Lawyers acting for Pamodzi have described Zuma’s application as a ploy to stop the court hearing the application by the liquidators that seeks to hold him and other directors personally liable for the R1.7-billion. The hearing is set for next month. – Sapa