Lingering business has discouraged Sakeliga | Rhewal

Archive photo (Photo: Daniel Bone/Pixabay)

Business League’s so-called paymaster court case against the Ditsobotla and Naledi local municipality in North West was adjourned for the third time in the Mahikeng High Court last week.

This time, a lengthy court roll ensured that this case could not be heard.

Piet le Roux, head of Sakeliga, is now concerned about the “lack of prioritisation” that the case receives as communities and business people will end up paying for the delay.

In two separate applications before the Supreme Court, the organization is asking for mandatory national intervention, financial administration and interim management of municipal bank accounts by independent auditors who must act as special masters at the behest of the Supreme Court.

Le Roux says the case was postponed twice before before the judge finally ordered in February this year that the two applications would be heard together on March 23 and 24.

However, it never happened.

Le Roux says it quickly became clear on the morning of March 23 that the two cases would not be heard as there were numerous other applications placed on the relevant day’s court roll.

Affidavits submitted by the finance minister and the Ditsobotla local municipality at the eleventh hour made yet another postponement finally inevitable.

The court, in response to the affidavits that were filed late, granted two costs orders for the wasted costs of the case against Ditsobotla. These costs include the costs of three advocates.

However, Sakeliga requests “urgent case management” from the court so that new special trial dates can be set for its case.

“Sakeliga has also instructed its legal team to exert as much pressure as possible to quickly get the case back on track so that it can be settled. If legal aid is not available in the Mahikeng court, Sakeliga will, in consultation with its legal team, take all necessary further steps to ensure that justice is done.”