Businessman faces huge claim over guard’s death
THE largest Jse-listed internet and media group, Naspers, said yesterday it was “very disappointed” by the prohibition of its proposed acquisition of Webuycars by the Competition Commission.
The Competition Commission on Thursday recommended the Competition Tribunal block the proposed acquisition of Webuycars by MIH ecommerce Holdings, an entity of Naspers.
Investment holding company MIH ecommerce wants to acquire 60% of Webuycars.
It already has investments in OLX and Naspers’ subsidiary, Car Trader, which operates as Autotrader, but it does not itself supply any products or services in South Africa.
Webuycars is a dominant wholesale and online buyer of used cars from the public, while Autotrader is the largest online classified platform and generates significant customer traffic, making it a key online platform for traditional used car dealers seeking to sell their car stock.
The commission said its view was that the merged entity would have the ability to leverage its significant Autotrader position as well as the OLX platform to exclude rivals of Webuycars.
Sjoerd Nikkelen, general manager of OLX in Africa, Middle East and Asia, said it was disappointed by the recommendation and respectfully disagree with the commission’s findings.
“As a long-term investor, we believe that the transaction, which will bring a R1.4 billion investment to the country, will help stimulate the economy and will provide more consumers with innovative and convenient models to buy and sell used cars,” Nikkelen said. |
ZELDA VENTER
A BOKSBURG businessman faces a multi-million rand damages claim following the death of a security guard who, in responding to a burglary at a business premises, was shot and killed.
The security guard, Clinton Warnock, had been working for AAA Alarms, and died in hospital on October 16, 2016, as a result of gunshot injury.
It is claimed that he was shot by the business owner, Manuel de Jesus Da Silva Guimaraes, during an altercation with intruders. But he told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that it wasn’t him who shot the guard.
A charge of murder was brought against him, but the State declined to prosecute.
Warnock’s widow, Chantelle Warnock, of Edenvale, and his former wife, Maya Turnbull, who lives in the UK, claimed damages totalling more than R3 million from Guimaraes.
In the case of Turnbull, the claim is on behalf of Warnock’s daughter.
They state in court papers that as a result of Warnock’s death, there is no financial support for his widow and his child.
Chantelle is claiming R2.2m in damages for the emotional trauma she has suffered due to her husband’s death, and for funeral expenses, while Turnbull’s claim is for R1.2m.
On the night of October 16, 2016, the alarm went off at the business.
Security guards were dispatched and they discovered a burglary in progress.
Guimaraes was alerted and rushed to the premises.
It is claimed that as Warnock was pinning one of the suspects down, tying his hands with cable ties, Guimaraes became agitated and took out his handgun. A shot went off which hit Warnock, as well as the suspect.
According to the two women’s lawyer, when it became apparent that Warnock was injured, Guimaraes – according to witnesses – apologised, promised to call an ambulance and left the scene.
However, Guimaraes said nobody witnessed the shooting and, in any event, the State would not withdraw a murder charge against him if it believed he was guilty. He accused the two women of being vexatious and trying to “extort” him.
He asked the court to order that the two pay R250 000 into the lawyer’s account to serve as security for the legal costs incurred in the case, as it was clear they wouldn’t be able to pay his legal fees when he won the case.
Judge Johan Louw, however, turned down his application and slapped him with the legal bill for the security of costs application. The claim by the two women will now proceed at a later date. makes an incredibly impressive collection of statues depicting a long period of our history, 350 years of liberation history”.
The chief executive of the National Heritage Project, Dali Tambo, said each time a statue is unveiled in The Long March to Freedom, it marks the first phase for that person, which comes from deep research, both historical, photographic and anecdotal.
“The first phase is about taking Kathrada from the pages of history, in which he walked the history of South Africa and placing him appropriately into the heritage of South Africa,” Tambo said.
Dali said they stand as the world’s biggest display of bronze sculptures of human rights activists.
“Let’s honour the fact that our forebears built the greatest international solidarity movement in human history”.
After unveiling Kathrada’s statue, Mlangeni remembered their past and said Kathrada did not want special treatment.
“Rest in peace bra Kath, we honour you, boy.” |
According to the Irish Times, a spokesperson for Trinity College sent the institution’s support to his family.
“Seamus and his family are in our thoughts during this extremely distressing time,” she said.
“(On Thursday morning) his family, friends and colleagues shared his joy on reaching the peak of Mount Everest. We hope that Seamus is found safely as soon as possible and until then we will be offering any support we can to his family.”
Lawless was tackling the mountain in fulfilment of his lifelong dream to reach the summit, as well as to raise money for a charity which supports seriously ill children and their families.
The Irish Times reported that his fascination with the mountain grew from a young age, after his father gave him a National Geographic map of Everest which he stuck up on his bedroom wall.