ANC owes millions for Polokwane

31 July 2011 - 04:11 By SOLLY MAPHUMULO and MONICA LAGANPARSAD
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The University of Limpopo has obtained a default judgment against the African National Congress after the party's failure to settle a multimillion-rand debt from its historic Polokwane conference.

The party owes the university almost R6-million for the use of its premises during the conference in December 2007.

The Limpopo conference resulted in a fierce battle amid former president Thabo Mbeki's bid to seek a third term as ANC president.

Jacob Zuma, the then deputy president of the party - who had been fired in 2005 following allegations of corruption - clinched the leadership and Mbeki was toppled as president of the country the following year.

The money owed to the university was due to be paid immediately after the conference, but after repeated attempts to obtain payment, the institution resorted to legal action.

This week, the Sunday Times established that a warrant of execution issued by the High Court in Johannesburg was served at the party's headquarters, Luthuli House.

Charles Shapiro, the university's legal counsel, confirmed that the ANC had been served with the order.

''We are trying to resolve the matter. I am hoping the ANC is going to pay," he said.

University spokesman Kgalema Mohuba said: ''This is a matter between the ANC and the university. It would be irresponsible to involve the media. We are bound by the confidentiality clause of the contract entered into between parties, and I would urge you to also respect that."

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu would not be drawn on the details, saying the matter was between the party and the university.

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