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Cape Town - Hostile elements “both inside and outside” the governing ANC are behind the campaign to sequestrate former Aurora Empowerment System directors and their associates. So says Thulane Ngubane, the former Aurora finance director.
At the same time Solly Phatoe, Cosatu regional secretary for the North West who has headed the campaign against what he calls the “massive theft and fraud” at the Pamodzi/Aurora mines, maintains that he has received anonymous threats against his life.
“But I don’t care. There are people who should be in jail, but are not because of political connections,” he says.
Ngubane spoke out in the wake of news that Cosatu had called on the sheriff to attach the assets of those concerned with Aurora management in order to repay R35m to creditors and miners.
Read: Call to attach property of Khulubuse, Zondwa
He denied that any money was owed — and certainly not in terms of unpaid wages. “We were only at those mines for three months and it was [previous owners] Pamodzi that did not pay,” he said.
He maintains that, because of a “political agenda” that involved both the National Union of Mineworkers and the Solidarity union, an attempt by Chinese investors to “rescue the situation” was sabotaged. Regarding the admitted stripping of assets from the mines, Ngubane maintains that this was done by miners responsibile for the care and maintenance. “We have video footage to prove this and we will show this in court.”
However, the high court in Pretoria last month had R16m of “unlawful” Aurora payments set aside and there was a ruling that R35m in outstanding debts to creditors, headed by nearly 5 000 miners, should be paid by December 15.
The responsibility here falls initially on Aurora financial advisers, Sulliman Bhana and his son, Fazel - “the agents of Aurora,” says Phatoe.
R1.7bn claim for 'reckless' management
This sometimes convoluted and long-delayed legal battle follows the botched attempt by Aurora to buy Pamodzi’s Grootvlei and Orkney gold mines in 2009. Along with the rulings last month, Sulliman and Fazel Bhana, together with Khulubuse Zuma, Zondwa Mandela and Ngubane, face a R1.7bn claim for having managed the mines “recklessly, with the intent to defraud”.
This has been set down for a final hearing in March next year.
The case dates back to 2009 and the botched attempt by Aurora to buy bankrupt Pamodzi’s gold mines. The first liquidator appointed was Enver Motala, who, it subsequently transpired, was once known as Enver Dawood and had been convicted of fraud.
Cosatu now wants R3m paid to Motala to be paid back.
“But we have workers who are hungry, who are starving,” says Phatoe. “That is what we are fighting for.”
- Fin24
At the same time Solly Phatoe, Cosatu regional secretary for the North West who has headed the campaign against what he calls the “massive theft and fraud” at the Pamodzi/Aurora mines, maintains that he has received anonymous threats against his life.
“But I don’t care. There are people who should be in jail, but are not because of political connections,” he says.
Ngubane spoke out in the wake of news that Cosatu had called on the sheriff to attach the assets of those concerned with Aurora management in order to repay R35m to creditors and miners.
Read: Call to attach property of Khulubuse, Zondwa
He denied that any money was owed — and certainly not in terms of unpaid wages. “We were only at those mines for three months and it was [previous owners] Pamodzi that did not pay,” he said.
He maintains that, because of a “political agenda” that involved both the National Union of Mineworkers and the Solidarity union, an attempt by Chinese investors to “rescue the situation” was sabotaged. Regarding the admitted stripping of assets from the mines, Ngubane maintains that this was done by miners responsibile for the care and maintenance. “We have video footage to prove this and we will show this in court.”
However, the high court in Pretoria last month had R16m of “unlawful” Aurora payments set aside and there was a ruling that R35m in outstanding debts to creditors, headed by nearly 5 000 miners, should be paid by December 15.
The responsibility here falls initially on Aurora financial advisers, Sulliman Bhana and his son, Fazel - “the agents of Aurora,” says Phatoe.
R1.7bn claim for 'reckless' management
This sometimes convoluted and long-delayed legal battle follows the botched attempt by Aurora to buy Pamodzi’s Grootvlei and Orkney gold mines in 2009. Along with the rulings last month, Sulliman and Fazel Bhana, together with Khulubuse Zuma, Zondwa Mandela and Ngubane, face a R1.7bn claim for having managed the mines “recklessly, with the intent to defraud”.
This has been set down for a final hearing in March next year.
The case dates back to 2009 and the botched attempt by Aurora to buy bankrupt Pamodzi’s gold mines. The first liquidator appointed was Enver Motala, who, it subsequently transpired, was once known as Enver Dawood and had been convicted of fraud.
Cosatu now wants R3m paid to Motala to be paid back.
“But we have workers who are hungry, who are starving,” says Phatoe. “That is what we are fighting for.”
- Fin24
