Wealthy socialities S’bu and Shauwn Mpisane have changed lawyers and shifted tactics.
|||Durban - Socialite couple S’bu and Shauwn Mpisane have changed lawyers and shifted tactics, arguing the restraint of all their assets, not just their luxury cars, was “tainted” and the court order authorising it should be set aside.
The couple have engaged criminal lawyer Eddie Classen of Joburg law firm BDK Attorneys, who lists Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir, Robert McBride and alleged KZN fraudster Jabulani Mabaso as clients.
Other partners have represented Brad Wood and former Blue Bulls player Bees Roux, and were involved with President Jacob Zuma’s defence in his corruption matter.
Classen was also quoted in the media on the Oscar Pistorius case.
Claasen confirmed that he was acting for the Mpisanes and fresh papers had been filed in the high court against the restraint of their assets, which will come before court again this week.
The assets were restrained in terms of a Pietermaritzburg High Court order. On February 6, court-appointed curator Trevor White seized nine cars and placed dozens of others under restraint.
The couple went to the high court, asking for their cars back and complaining that White “was treating us like criminals”.
Mpisane said there was no basis to seek restraint or the confiscation of R140 million in assets because one of the contracts, worth almost R70m, had been cancelled, others had not yet been paid in full and one was still “alive” with the company on site. She said hers was a “legitimate business” involved in two projects worth more than R600m.
The Mercury