Miningmx reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will be seeking to dislodge the business practitioners appointed for Optimum Coal Mine owing to their alleged links to the Gupta family which owns the operation through Tegeta Resources.  

Attorneys for the union will launch a court application to set aside the appointment of Johan Klopper and Kurt Knoop on the basis they were appointed unlawfully “… and that they are not independent”.  The application will also contest the fact the business practitioners were appointed over eight other Gupta companies similarly in business rescue.  “Our client is seeking the appointment of a truly independent business rescue practitioner,” said NUM’s attorney, Kruger & Co Attorney.  “In fact, in the case of Klopper, his appointment was simply fraudulent,” it said in a statement.  “The plea of the NUM is that independent business rescue practitioners be appointed, who they can trust and will act in the best interest of all affected parties,” the NUM’s attorney said.  Optimum Coal Mine, which supplies Eskom’s Hendrina power station, as well as Koornfontein and Brakfontein coal mines, are currently not operating after the NUM called strikes at the properties on the basis that its members have not been paid their latest salaries.  

• Read this report by David McKay in full at Miningmx
• Read too, NUM in legal bid to remove ‘fraudulent’ Gupta business rescue duo, at The Citizen
• And also, Inside the Gupta business rescue: Pillage, distrust, lawsuits, at City Press

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