[miningmx.com] — TRADE union Solidarity on Thursday said the postponement of Aurora’s liquidation case was a “slap in the face for employees”.
The case, which is before the North Gauteng High Court, was postponed after Aurora submitted its opposing papers only on Wednesday, more than two weeks after its deadline of June 21.
“Aurora’s laxity to submit its opposing documents in time is not only a slap in the face for the employees, but also shows its disregard for the South African legal system,” said Gideon du Plessis, Solidarity deputy general secretary.
Solidarity served a liquidation application of R3.1m on Aurora in May in a bid to make the company pay outstanding salaries.
The liquidation application was served on behalf of 42 claimants.
At the end of May, Solidarity’s legal team received a notice from Aurora indicating that it planned to oppose the liquidation application.
However, Aurora did not serve Solidarity with its opposing documents nor did it submit them to the court before the deadline.
Du Plessis was not surprised that Aurora was late in their submission.
“Judge Mokgoba reprimanded Aurora today and said it was unacceptable that the case needs to be postponed, especially considering the extent of the crisis,” Du Plessis said.
Du Plessis said the former Aurora employees had been expecting justice for over two years.
Aurora, which was singled out as the preferred bidder for Pamodzi Gold’s East Rand and Orkney assets, has since had its management contract cancelled and vacated the mine premises.
The company, which is headed by former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Zondwa Mandela, and President Jacob Zuma’s nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, has been accused of stripping the mines’ assets while waiting for funding to come through to pay for the mines.
Just before Aurora was thrown off the mines, two of the six provisional liquidators appointed to manage Pamodzi Gold’s assets were dismissed.
The remaining liquidators last month said there were “serious discrepancies” between the assets handed to back to them and those given to Aurora when it made a R600m bid for the financially stricken mines.
The two mines were fully operational when Aurora took over management of them in late 2009. There is not much left of the mine infrastructure and Num believes that Aurora has even looted the mine of its gold.
“Solidarity will immediately respond in a replying affidavit and serve it as soon as possible on Aurora. The case then urgently needs to be placed on the opposing roll,” said Du Plessis.
