Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) Judge Ramarumo Monama is facing an unlikely opponent – North West widow Koketso Frieda Moreotlotlo (84) wants him to pay for allegedly failing to act on her RAF claim dating back to 1989. But The Star reports the judge – in defending the action – forwarded a number of defences in which he stated that he was not liable for her damages.

Moreotlotlo is suing the judge for about R1.2m, arguing he did not act on her instructions to claim damages on her behalf against the RAF when he was a lawyer many years ago.

She was ready to take the stand in court last week, but the matter was postponed due to technical reasons and will be back on the court roll in a few months’ time. According to the report, Moreotlotlo was allegedly injured in a bus accident in August 1989. She approached Monama shortly after the accident to handle her claim from the RAF. Monama undertook to do everything necessary to timeously lodge her claim and secure compensation.

According to the court papers, Monama breached his undertaking to follow her instructions by instituting a claim on her behalf and to see to it that her claim did not lapse. She is now claiming the damages directly from him, saying he did not act in time.

Monama has put forward a number of defences, which include that while Moreotlotlo did have a claim against the RAF, she approached him after August 2002, when her claim period had already lapsed. The judge denied all her allegations that he did not act in her best interests.

Full report in The Star (subscription needed)