Insurance firm sues Johannesburg over Wanderers blaze
In a test case that could have serious implications for Johannesburg, insurer SA Eagle is taking the City Council to court in a bid to get back R30m it paid out to rebuild the Wanderers Club, claiming the council was negligent in letting the club burn down in 2004.
A Business Day report points out that under-funding of Johannesburg Emergency Services and staff shortages are long-standing concerns, adding that losing the case would open the door to other legal challenges by companies and individuals unhappy with the service they received from emergency services. SA Eagle, insurer of the 70-year old Wanderers clubhouse, approached the city last year after it paid R30m to rebuild the club, claiming that Johannesburgs emergency staff were negligent. Council sources say the action could stem from reports that a fire in the roof, which had not been properly extinguished, started up again later, suggesting that inspection of the scene was inadequate. Full Business Day report