Cloete Murray, who recently landed the job of sorting out the affairs of African Global Operations, formerly Bosasa, which went into liquidation last week, has taken on another tough assignment with his appointment this week to take control of the assets of Durban power couple, S’bu and Shauwn Mpisane.

Their assets have been attached by SARS as part of a dispute over what they and their Zikhulise Group allegedly owe the taxman.

As a TimesLIVE report notes, Murray, of Sechaba Trust, takes over from curators Henk Strydom and Tshifhiwa Mudzusi, following their successful urgent application in the KZN High Court (Durban) to be relieved of their duties because SARS had not paid them R800 000 for their services.

The application was supported by SARS, which claimed the curators were not doing their jobs.

The switch raised the ire of Shauwn Mpisane, who – in an affidavit before Judge Jacqui Henriques opposing the substitution – said it appeared Murray was a ‘hired gun’ who would not be objective.

She suggested the arrangement was 'an unholy collaboration'.

S’bu Mpisane did not oppose the application. According to the report, Ben Swart SC, for the two curators, said Shauwn Mpisane wanted the dispute to go on ‘for as long as possible’ and there was a threat the assets would, in the meantime, be dissipated.

Shane Dayal SC, for Shauwn Mpisane, said a similar application brought by SARS last year had been struck off the roll for lack of urgency. He claimed the curators, who were supposed to be independent, had formed a ‘tag team’ with SARS.

The judge said she would give her reasons for the substitution order later.

Full TimesLIVE report