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CENTLEC has emerged victorious over a two year legal battle in trying to get the Michael Family Trust to pay what is owed to them. The High Court in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, ruled in favour of CENTLEC.
According to the Acting Spokesperson for the utility Tseliso Leba, the legal battle was between the Trustees of the Michael Family Trust represented by Joseph Reynolds Chamley (first applicant), Michael Nicolas Georgiou (Second applicant), Andriana Georgiou (third applicant), Loch Logan Waterfront (Pty) Ltd and CENTLEC (respondent).
Leba explained in a statement that the trustees of the Michael Family Trust No. TM 2502 and Loch Logan Waterfront (PTY) Ltd, brought an urgent application before the Bloemfontein High Court on 16 of January 2024 (Main application) and interlocutory application on the 07 February 2025, in which it had sought to interdict CENTLEC from interrupting the supply of electricity to its business premisses, due to non-payment of outstanding account.
The interim order were granted in both applications on the condition that the applicants (Michael Family Trust No. TM 2505 and Loch Logan Waterfront (PTY) Ltd ) comply with an agreement reached between two parties on the 24 October 2023 which states that the applicants should pay the respondent all amounts owed in respect of current usage of electricity supplied by CENTLEC.
According to Tseliso Leba, the Michael Family Trust No. TM 2505 owes CENTLEC around R 150 million.
“In her judgement, Judge Soma Naidoo dismissed the main application with costs including the costs of the Counsil on scale B, cost of the 25 January 2024, 5 February 2025 and the 6 February 2025. Secondly, the Rule nisi in the interlocutory application was also discharged and dismissed with cost.
As CENTLEC, we welcome and appreciate the judgement of the High Court in our favour. Failure to honour its obligations and the provisions of approved Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy is what led us to the situation we find ourselves in.
As we had previously indicated, disconnection is not our primary goal; however, CENTLEC’s survival depends on the monies owed to the utility. This judgement will enable us to recover our long outstanding debt with The Michael Family Trust No. TM 2505,” said Leba.
The Business Weekly is yet to get a comment from the Michael Family Trust.
