Khulubuse Zuma, others still liable for Aurora debt as appeal bid fails

Bloemfontein - The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed the appeal application by Aurora Empowerment Systems, which means they have to cough up more than R1.7bn for the debts of the Aurora gold mine.

"The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs on the grounds that there is no reasonable prospect of success in an appeal and there is no other compelling reason why an appeal should be heard," according to the order handed down by the court.

President Jacob Zuma's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma; former president Nelson Mandela's grandson, Zondwa Mandela; Thulani Ngubani, and Fazel and Solly Bhana applied for leave to appeal.

In September last year, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria denied the directors leave to appeal a ruling that they were personally liable for the gold mine's debts.

The directors applied for leave to appeal against an earlier judgment in terms of which they were held personally liable for the destruction of the Aurora/Pamodzi gold mines, that cost 5 300 workers their jobs. 

Aurora Empowerment Systems was the parent company appointed by the Pamodzi liquidators to manage the Pamodzi mines in Springs and Orkney.