An angry teacher took the meaning of “peed off” to a whole new level when she urinated in the offices of her Gqeberha attorney — in front of shocked onlookers — after she accused Du-Wayne Stoltz of withholding money owed to her.
The bizarre series of events that played out at Stoltz’s practice in Main Road, Walmer, earlier this week, resulted in the police being called to intervene.
According to witnesses, the infuriated life sciences teacher, whose name is known to the Weekend Post, rocked up at the practice on Tuesday morning, demanding Stoltz pay her the alleged outstanding portion of the R255,000 the provincial education department was ordered to pay in her civil matter.
Though Stoltz said he was awaiting payout from the department, the department said the matter had been finalised in February.
“Oh, she was angry,” a shocked eyewitness said.
Another witness said: “She staged a scene the moment she arrived, was looking for Du-Wayne. I was like shocked, shocked, shocked.
“I heard and saw bits of the commotion in the building, then her brother also arrived at the practice.”
According to the witness, police were called when the “matter got out of hand” and the teacher urinated on the floor.
Another insider said: “She was the epitome of the saying ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’.”
Police spokesperson Col Priscilla Naidu confirmed police were dispatched to the scene.
“Police attended to a complaint of [a] disturbance at the mentioned address,” Naidu said. “On arrival, there was no disturbance and the alleged suspects had voluntarily left the premises.”
Another eyewitness said the puddle of urine in the foyer had to be cleaned up with a mop and bucket of water.
Stoltz, who is already under scrutiny by the Legal Practice Council, confirmed the teacher’s visit.
“I can confirm that a client attended our offices for a consultation to report on progress made with regard to the prosecution of a matter,” Stoltz said, adding he had then paid his client a large sum of money from his personal bank account during the visit.
“Unfortunately, the details of our discussion cannot be divulged due to [attorney-client] privilege.
“With regard to your further query, I can confirm that we successfully prosecuted a high court matter on behalf of our client in terms of which the defendant was inter alia ordered to pay the legal costs of the action ... such costs are still to be recovered from the defendant.”
Stoltz, on behalf of the teacher, had taken the Eastern Cape department of education to court over money owed to her. The court ruled in September the department had unlawfully breached the fixed-term contract concluded with the teacher for the period February 9 2015 to December 31 2015.
“The defendants are to pay the plaintiff the following sums, jointly and severally, the one paying the other to be absolved, the sum of R255,513.74,” the judgment read.
The teacher testified her boss at the time had given her an appointment letter in March 2015 from the department.
“The appointment letter recorded her employment at Luvuyo Lerumo High School [in Komani] for a fixed-term period from February 2015 to December 2015,” the judge said. “Though [the teacher] taught life sciences in February, March and April 2015, the department of education did not pay her.
“[She] approached [her boss] to enquire whether the school could advance her a loan until such time as the department paid her salary. [The boss], in turn, approached the school [governing] body [SGB]. The SGB agreed to pay [her] a R5,000 stipend per month, [but she] was required to repay the SGB the stipend when the department paid her salary.”
The department paid Stoltz’s client the equivalent of three months’ basic salary.
In court, she testified she had repaid the SGB the R15,000 that had been advanced to her. This was not refuted.
According to the court documents, the teacher testified she did not receive payment of her allowance in lieu of benefits.
“She queried this shortfall with [her boss] and testified that [the boss] approached the department of education to obtain clarity regarding [her] salary.
“On his return, [her employer said] that the department had terminated her contract.
"[She] testified that [her boss] suggested to her that she seeks advice as he had not encountered such an issue before.
“This is where the evidence of the parties diverges.”
Stoltz said in accordance with the judgment, his client was also entitled to interest on the amount.
“In accordance with the in duplum rule, the interest amount due and payable is equal to the capital amount awarded,” he said.
The in duplum rule (double the amount) provides that interest stops running when the unpaid interest equals the outstanding capital.
“Appropriate steps are being taken to recover such an amount,” Stoltz said.
However, Eastern Cape education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the matter had already been finalised.
“Payment of the capital of R255,513.74 was paid on December 13 2022, interest was paid in February 2023, and costs in December 2022,” he said.
“This matter has since been finalised,.”
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