Top court brushes off Steinhoff bid

The Constitutional Court has denied Steinhoff’s request to hear an appeal against a high court ruling that an application to have it liquidated can be heard in SA even though the company is registered in the Netherlands. Successful liquidation would have grave consequences for Steinhoff, which is pursing a R24bn settlement agreement from claimants in SA, Germany and the Netherlands. The Constitutional Court rarely, if ever, hears appeals on legal matters before they are first heard at the high court and then the Supreme Court of Appeal. An appeal against the ruling that the liquidation case can be heard in SA is expected at the Cape Town high court on Friday.