A university professor is taking steps to attach North West government assets after it failed to compensate him for missing his mother's funeral when his car hit a pothole, according to a report.
Beeld newspaper reported on Sunday that on June 10 the premier's office agreed to pay Prof Wannie Carstens R115,000 for emotional suffering, a day before the matter was to have been heard in a Mahikeng court.
Two tyres on his Mercedes-Benz burst when he hit a pothole near Ottosdal while on the way to his mother Dot's funeral in Upington, Northern Cape, two years ago. He and his wife Wilma were unhurt, but missed the funeral.
Carstens, who is director at the North West University's language school, was meant to have received the money on June 30 this year, but it was not paid. His lawyer Cerneels Lourens said he would begin proceedings to attach movable assets belonging to the premier's office.
Acting spokesman for the premier's office, Bonolo Maohlakoana, said payment had been approved and was expected to be made in the coming week.
Carstens said he did not pursue the matter for the money, but to hold government to account.
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