JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Labour unions the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and Solidarity have welcomed a Friday judgment by the North Gauteng High Court that denies the application of five former directors of the controversial Aurora Empowerment Systems for leave to appeal an earlier judgment that held them liable for damages of R1.7-billion.

Aurora Empowerment Systems had been appointed by the liquidators of Pamodzi Gold to manage the Pamodzi mines.

Former Aurora directors Khulubuze Zuma, Zondwa Mandela, Thulani Ngubani, Fazel Bhana and Solly Bhana were found personally liable for the collapse and asset-stripping of the Pamodzi gold mines, in Springs and Orkney, which saw 5 300 workers losing their jobs.

The parties would now be legally required to pay dismissed workers wages owed to them since 2009.

“Cosatu North West calls on the Aurora bosses to respect the judgment and pay what is due to workers. Human dignity has been eroded from these workers for [too long].
 
“We also acknowledge the intervention of the Department of Social Development in assisting the former Aurora workers with food parcels and other related issues,” the union said in a statement.
 
It further called on the Department of Labour to finalise the payment of Unemployment Insurance Fund payouts to former Aurora workers.
 
“Justice has been done today for hundreds of Aurora employees and this ruling is an indication that others involved in this case will not be able to hide from the law,” added Solidarity general-secretary Gideon du Plessis.