Trustees’ appointment lands minister in court

THE Gauteng High Court in Pretoria is expected to hear a case today (Friday) involving Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson over his appointment of five trustees to the Independent Development Trust (IDT) board.

- MANYANE MANYANE

This comes after NGOs Black Forum South Africa (BFSA) and Izwi Labantu Forum (ILF) filed an urgent interdict to suspend the appointments, citing lack of transparency in the process.

The matter includes a two-part application. While Part A seeks to halt the appointments, Part Bm, set to be heard later, aims to review and set aside the decision entirely.

The organisations argue the appointments were unlawful, violating the IDT Trust Deed by proceeding without public input or transparency, which infringed on their right to nominate candidates.

However, Macpherson argued the organisations did not complain that the five are not suitably qualified, and any suggestion that they are not suitable and unlawfully appointed has no merit.

The hearing was set for Tuesday (April 22) but it was postponed for Friday after two judges requested that the matter should be re-scheduled.