Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court has granted a sequestration order against Sam Buthelezi after he failed to pay the R475 000 agreed to by the close of business last Tuesday.
Buthelezi had allegedly misappropriated the pension funds of workers affiliated to the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu).
Sactwu’s attorney, Tony Canny, said the High Court had granted a final sequestration order in respect of Buthelezi after failing to pay the court-ordered amount.
“Despite Judge Owen Rogers ordering Buthelezi to pay, he never paid, and he has now been declared insolvent. We are going to hold an insolvency inquiry with the purpose of finding out what assets he has.”
Sactwu spokesman Fachmy Abrahams said they would “leave no stone unturned to find out what happened to the workers’ money”.
“We welcome the court’s decision of the sequestration order against Buthelezi, this is just another step towards the direction of finding out what happened to our worker’s money.”
It was reported that Buthelezi and his co-accused, Richard Kawie, were previously criminally charged for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of millions of rand in pension funds.
The R475 000 was related to court orders that were obtained by Judge Bennie Griesel at the Western Cape High Court compelling Buthelezi to attend the Canyon Springs enquiry last year.
Sactwu’s general secretary, Andrè Kriel, said: “Sactwu welcomes this development. It is a further firm step forward in the execution of our mandate.”
Buthelezi’s lawyer, Rooshdeen Rudolph, confirmed that a sequestration order had been granted against his client. “I have confidence in our constitution and are considering options to my avail to secure a fair and objective closure.”
Kawie had already made his payments.
Buthelezi and Kawie are also facing criminal charges of fraud. They are due to appear in the Commercial Crime Court in Bellville on February 15.
CAPE ARGUS