SARB not backing down in legal battle with Markus Jooste's alleged former lover over payments

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is not backing down from a drawn-out legal battle with the supposed former lover of defamed Steinhoff CEO, Markus Jooste, who took his life almost three weeks ago.

Berdine Odendaal applied for leave to appeal before the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in a bid to compel the central bank to reinstate monthly payments to her from frozen bank accounts.

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The SARB attached four of Odendaal’s bank accounts in 2021 after suspicion that she was living off millions of rands that were gained under suspicious means.

The ongoing court battle between the reserve bank and Odendaal stemmed from a 2021 agreement.

In the agreement, the central bank would pay Odendaal R150,000 a month from her frozen funds to cover her living expenses.

Less than a year after the first tranche was paid, the agreement lapsed when Odendaal demanded that the SARB also pay for her legal costs in addition to the R150,000.

In her application to the SCA, Odendaal said the Western Cape High Court erred in its judgement when it found she repudiated the agreement.

The SARB is opposing Odendaal’s application, adding there are no compelling reasons why leave to appeal should be granted.

The central bank said the fact that Odendaal lives at the exclusive Val de Vie Estate in Paarl was proof that she was not destitute.