Aurora: Criminal investigation in the wake of judgment

Solidarity will assist police investigation

3 July 2015

Trade union Solidarity today said it would assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in a criminal and penal investigation in the wake of last week’s Aurora judgment. In terms of the judgment the directors of Aurora Empowerment Systems can be criminally charged for counts of, among others, corruption and the mismanagement of the two former Pamodzi mines.

Earlier this week, the SAPS announced that a criminal investigation would be launched and requested interested parties to provide information to it which may assist in the investigation. This comes after the North Gauteng High Court last week ruled that Khulubuse Zuma, Zondwa Mandela, Solly and Fazel Bhana, as well as Thulani Ngubani, are jointly and severally liable for damages amounting to hundreds of millions. The judgment has thus paved the way for criminal prosecution of the said directors.

According to Solidarity General Secretary Gideon du Plessis, criminal prosecution of the directors is a further step towards getting justice for the former Pamodzi employees. “It is only just that the guilty parties are brought to book for their crimes. We will, as far as possible, provide information and evidence to the police to facilitate the process,” Du Plessis said.

Du Plessis added that Khulubuse Zuma has shown his true colours by denying that he had contacted Du Plessis telephonically after the judgment. “He (Zuma) discussed the possibility of a settlement regarding the payment of outstanding salaries to the former Pamodzi-minders and was worried that he would be sequestrated. Now, he denies having contacted me at all. However, my cell phone records serve as proof of the call,” Du Plessis said.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Mandela, Ngubani and the Bhana’s approached Solidarity during the week to reach a settlement on the payment of damages.

Statement issued by Gideon du Plessis, Solidarity General Secretary, July 3 2015