Cosatu accuses Aurora of reneging

THE DIRECTORS of Aurora Empowerment Systems were trying to renege on their responsibility to pay workers at the Pamodzi gold mines, Cosatu said at the high court in Pretoria yesterday. After the proceedings of an urgent application by Khulubuse Zuma to have claims of about R1.5 billion against Aurora set aside, general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said: “We have a group of directors… who are doing everything to stonewall and delay workers from ‘getting’ what is clearly due to them.” Zuma’s case was premature and inappropriate, Vavi said. The National Union of Mineworkers Matlosane regional secretary Joseph Monisetse said he was concerned about Zuma’s application. He hoped the case would be dismissed. Zuma’s bid could hinder liquidators’ efforts to hold Aurora directors responsible for the apparent stripping of assets at the mines in Springs and Orkney. – Sapa