Markus Jooste to defend R858m Steinhoff claim

Markus Jooste's legal team last week indicated that he would be opposing Steinhoff's civil claim of around R858m. Jooste’s notice of intention to defend has been filed at the Western Cape High Court and sent to Steinhoff's legal team, says a Fin24 report. He has another 20 working days to submit his responding papers to the court. Callie Albertyn, of De Klerk & Van Gend, is representing Jooste and Robert Driman, of Werskmans Attorneys, is representing Steinhoff. Ben la Grange, against whom a simultaneous claim was brought, was given a month to indicate whether he would be opposing the claim because he had moved to Gauteng in the interim. La Grange reportedly confirmed he was intending to oppose the claim. He has not yet filed his notice of intention to defend. Steinhoff is claiming for nine years' worth of salaries, bonuses and share incentives, plus interest, as well as legal costs from Jooste, who was its chief executive until 4 December 2017. The claim was laid out in a summons stamped by the court on 14 June and served on Jooste shortly thereafter. Approximately R279m is being claimed from La Grange, who was Steinhoff's financial head until January 2018. It represents his salary, bonuses and share incentives from 2010 to the start of 2018.