The Star reports that two former University of Johannesburg (UJ) executives have launched a court battle to have a summary judgment that ordered them to pay back the R14 million rescinded.  

Wim Trengove SC, representing Professor Roy Marcus, former chairperson of the university’s council, and Jaco van Schoor, who was deputy vice-chancellor of finance, argued their appeal application at the South Gauteng High Court on Wednesday.  Trengove sought to convince Acting Judge André Gautschi that the court erred when it granted the summary judgment against his clients in July last year.  The judgment, which ordered Marcus and Van Schoor to pay UJ R14m they allegedly stole, was granted without hearing the pair’s defence.  They had not filed opposing papers when the matter went before the court, neither did they send a defence counsel.  Trengove told the court that the opposing affidavits were not filed due to a mistake by an attorney.  Trengove also challenged UJ’s evidence that Marcus and Van Schoor defrauded the institution by having supplied fraudulent invoices for work that was never done.  He claimed that there was ample evidence that services were rendered, as per contracts that were legally entered into.  UJ’s lawyer argued for dismissal of the pair’s application with costs.  Judgment was reserved.

• Read Bongani Nkosi’s report on this story in full at The Star

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