UK COLLEGE WANTS TO BUY KOBE ACADEMY, AND ... 3 WORKERS BENEFICIARIES IN RAMOKGADI’S E20M WILL

MBABANE - Three employees of the late businessman, Geoffrey Ramokgadi, stand to benefit from his share of the purported sale of his school, Kobe Ramokgadi Advanced Learning Academy, which is estimated to be E20 million.

In his last Will and testament, the late businessman bequeathed amounts of E1 million, E500 000 and E700 000 to the three employees. As per the Will, one of his daughters is expected to receive a sum of E4 million, emanating from the sale of the property, situated in Ezulwini. One of his children, who was born out of wedlock as per the Will, is expected to receive a sum of E2.5 million from the share of the proceeds emanating from the sale of the property. The other children are expected to each receive E1 million from the businessman’s share of proceeds emanating from the sale of the property. In his last Will and testament, the businessman gave a sum of E1.5 million to his stepdaughter.

Bequeathed

“In the event the property, being Portion 141 of Farm 50 Ezulwini, is sold and my share is less or above E20 million, then the amounts bequeathed to the heirs herein shall be adjusted proportionally,” reads part of the Will. He directed that the remainder and residue of his estate, property and effects should devolve upon his wife Duduzile, who would at her discretion, disburse it, taking into account his employees who had served him for over 10 years. The businessman gave the whole of his shares, which is 50 per cent of the shares in the company known as Glamour Fashions (PTY) Limited, to his wife.  
In his Will, the businessman highlighted that anyone who would challenge the decision of the person named in the Will, would automatically be disqualified from benefiting in any way from the estate.

“If any of the beneficiaries under this Will, or any trust herein mentioned, contests or attacks this Will or any of its provisions, any share or interest in my estate given to that contesting beneficiary under this Will, will be revoked and shall be disposed of in the same manner as if that contesting beneficiary had predeceased me,” stated the businessman in the Will.

The unveiling of the contents of the Will come at a time when Buckswood School in the United Kingdom, is said to have shown keen interest in buying Kobe Advanced Learning Academy for E20 million. Kobe Ramokgadi Advanced Learning Academy is an independent private high school.
The school, which is situated in Ezulwini, has a capacity of accommodating 400 to 500 learners.  It was established by the late businessman, who died on September 13, 2019.

Intention

The intention to sell the school is contained in papers filed in court, where some the beneficiaries of estate have taken the executors to court. The proposed sale of the learning institution was, however, purportedly being frustrated by the late businessman’s wife, who is said to have refused to furnish lawyers with its financials. The challenges in selling the school are outlined in a letter that was written to the master of the High Court by Mokoena Attorneys, which is a South African law firm, representing one of the co-executors.

In the correspondence, the lawyers informed the master that pursuant to their discussion with Buckswood Schools from the United Kingdom, they requested copies of the school’s (Kobe Ramokgadi Advanced Learning Academy) financials from the late businessman’s wife Duduzile, who is a co-executor in the estate.  

They alleged that while the wife had initially, through her attorneys, acceded to the request for the financials of the schools, she allegedly made an about-turn and refused to give same to them.  The lawyers informed the master that the wife allegedly did this without a valid reason as to why she was withholding and/or intentionally delaying in forwarding the information. The master was further told that this was notwithstanding the fact that they had, on numerous occasions, tried to meet Duduzile with the view to work harmoniously with her in winding up the estate.  

Cooperate

They brought it to the attention of the master that the wife allegedly displayed tendencies of not wanting to cooperate with their client; Jezzy Lesenyane, who is a co-executor in the estate. It was further brought to the attention of the master that Duduzile would blatantly refuse to meet Lesenyane, where she (Lesenyane) travelled to Eswatini to take stock of the operation of the school. “In fact the chief executive of the school, Mthunzi, has actually refused to release the information about the school, citing reasons that, Mrs Ramokgadi had inter alia issued strict instructions to the effect that none of the employees of the school should interact with our client, much less cooperate with her,” reads part of the correspondence.    

The attorneys alleged that the wife’s behaviour was frustrating the process of winding up the estate, as she continued to unreasonably withhold important information pertaining to the school. “We have gone as far as requesting for a meeting with her to inter alia; reach amicable resolve, to discuss the estate and to furthermore appoint our client as co-director of the  school, company Moshav Properties (PTY) Limited and she has been non-committal in acceding to our request and/or suggestion,” alleged the South African lawyers. The estate dispute is still pending at the High Court.

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