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Johannesburg - Aurora director Khulubuse Zuma could not testify in the Pamodzi Gold mine liquidation hearings because he was suffering from obesity and ill health, according to reports on Friday.
Zuma, a nephew of President Jacob Zuma, said he could not give evidence because he had one kidney and suffered from a heart condition due to his obesity, according to Beeld and Business Report.
This was what his lawyer told the insolvency hearing, held before the Master of the North Gauteng High Court, which was subsequently postponed.
One of Pamodzi Gold's joint liquidators, Johan Engelbrecht, was quoted as saying: "I am furious. After going through all the expense of organising a translator, why do they not tell us in advance that they will not testify because of obesity? This is a delay tactic."
Beeld said this was the second postponement - the first was because Zuma refused to testify in English and had demanded a translator.
Earlier this week, Business Report said the politically connected directors of Aurora Empowerment Systems had turned to the high court to challenge a demand by the liquidators that they produce company financial records.
Aurora managing director Zondwa Mandela, a grandson of former president Nelson Mandela, and Aurora chairperson Zuma as well as four other Aurora directors are challenging the demand in the high court in Pretoria.
Aurora was singled out as the preferred bidder for Pamodzi's mines when they went into liquidation in 2009.
But it has since had its management contract cancelled and vacated the premises.
Aurora has been accused of destroying infrastructure at the mines and causing the loss of more than 5 300 jobs.
Trade union Solidarity brought an application to have Aurora liquidated as part of its claim for R3.1m in unpaid wages to workers at the two mines.
