Billionaire Not A Tsotsi, Says Judge

This story raises questions about our ability and willingness to report what we call facts. The subject of this article was factually maligned as an alleged fraudster across media platforms. The shocking fact arises in that a High Court judge has found him not guilty, but we do not see media houses rushing to give updates. It is as if we are saying the fact that we branded him an alleged Tsotsi does not deserve to be corrected. I think the onus is on us to do the right thing and report on what the court found. I'm sure if the court had declared him a fraudster a series of stories would have been published. Yes, it is not our duty to decide who is a Tsotsi or not. We leaveive that to the courts, and whatever the courts pronounce must be reported, factually, in line with how we previously pursued preceding developments. Let us be consistent so that we do not find ourselves as masters of confirmation bias.

Regards,
Kgoshii Lerabela

PRETORIA - A High Court judge has ruled that a Mpumalanga billionaire who sells coal is not a tsotsi.
The tsotsi allegations surfaced when Mr Ramesh Joe Singh was accused of forging his business partner’s signature in company documents.
He was accused of doing this so that his partner, Mr Ralston Smith, could stay away from operations and not get to enjoy any money from tenders.
But the judge did not buy it.
He said Mr Singh had in fact saved the company from being liquidated.
“[This company] could not comply with the terms of the agreement with Absa, and was unable to serve the interest on the outstanding capital… Absa wanted to launch liquidation proceedings against Lahleni,” said Justice Tolmay, in the Pretoria High Court.
The judge explained in his judgement that the company that was allegedly stolen had wanted to build a township between Middelburg and Emalahleni in 2006.
Unfortunately, by 2008, the company could not keep up with economic challenges that affected the entire world.
It found itself drowning in debts, owing Absa bank a whopping R40 million.
“On 27 September 2012 Absa issued an application for the liquidation of Lahleni in this Court… Mr Singh then extended a financial lifeline to Lahleni in an amount of R60 million,” said the judge.
Judge Tolmay said Smith had no problem when Singh saved the company from liquidation.
“Mr Singh secured the release of Mr Smith and [another] from their liability towards Absa. Mr Smith never took issue with this release, as one would have expected, if he did indeed not resign as a director nor signed the transfer of his shares,” the judge said. 


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