BEZUIDENHOUT SLAMS CLAIMS OF VIOLATING THE LAW
Appointment of Bosasa liquidators under scrutiny, moving of files from Joburg to Pretoria questioned
ACTING Chief Master of the High Court of South Africa, Theresia Bezuidenhout, has been placed at the centre of the controversial appointment of the Bosasa liquidators, described as illegal by her learned colleagues.
Bezuidenhout’s educational qualifications and fitness to hold office also came under heavy scrutiny after Cloete Murray and Ralph Lutchman were appointed Bosasa liquidators in February, a month before the company, now known as African Global Operations, successfully overturned its own voluntary liquidation in the South Gauteng High Court in Joburg. The corruption-accused company claimed it entered into liquidation in an error of judgment, forcing Murray to appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Sources this week said that Bezuidenhout was involved in the appointment of Bosasa liquidators in violation of sections of the Companies Act.
One said Bezuidenhout, who is based at the Pretoria office of the Master of the High Court, had no jurisdiction over the Bosasa matter.
“She took the files from the Joburg office of the Master of the High Court to Pretoria and that’s wrong,” the senior official said.
Bezuidenhout has however denied the allegations, insisting that all Masters Offices fell within her supervision and control.
“The allegation that I have no control over the Joburg office is thus wrong.
“It is my duty to ensure that all matters are dealt with correctly and within the ambit of the law.
“I thus have lawful jurisdiction over the office,” said Bezuidenhout.
She argued that the appointment of the Bosasa liquidator, however, was done by the Joburg office.
Bezuidenhout stressed that she had two law degrees and had not been parachuted into any position as she had applied for the position through a lawful process.
“I have been vetted on various occasions as I have been in the public service for 26 years.”
She demanded proof of her alleged sequestration, stating:
“In any event this is not a disqualification or a requirement requested when applying for a position in public service.”
However in an email between assistant masters from the Joburg office, the officials questioned why the Bosasa matter was transferred to Pretoria.
“I did not sign any certificate of appointment (for the liquidators), I did not sit in any panel for appointments,” one email read.
“However, I noted that all the certificates of appointments were issued by the Master’s Pretoria office.”
Another remarked: “This is the first time I see something like this, Johannesburg files done in Pretoria. Interesting!”