Oakbay Investments (Pty) Ltd v Tegeta Exploration and Resources (Pty) Ltd and Others (1274/2019) [2021] ZASCA 59

21st May 2021

Oakbay Investments (Pty) Ltd v Tegeta Exploration and Resources (Pty) Ltd and Others (1274/2019) [2021] ZASCA 59

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In February 2018, eight companies in the Oakbay Group were placed in voluntary business rescue after the four major South African banks decided to terminate their banking facilities, rendering them commercially insolvent.[1] Among the companies were the first respondent, Tegeta Exploration and Resources (Pty) Ltd (Tegeta), and its three wholly-owned subsidiaries, Optimum  Coal Mine (Pty) Ltd (OCM), Koornfontein Mines (Pty) Ltd (Koornfontein) and Optimum Coal Terminal (Pty) Ltd (OCT). Oakbay Investments (Pty) Ltd (Oakbay), the applicant and the company that controlled the group, was not placed in business rescue. It was represented in these proceedings, which were commenced on 16 November 2018, by Ms Ragavan, the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Oakbay Group. She deposed to the founding and replying affidavits and sought the removal from office of Messrs Knoop and Klopper, the second and third respondents and the appointed business rescue practitioners (the BRPs) of Tegeta. The application was dismissed by Potterill J in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria and she refused leave to appeal. This court referred Oakbay's application for such leave for argument in terms of s 17(2)(d) of the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013.