Barloworld Equipment had withdrawn its application for the liquidation of the Gupta family’s Optimum Coal Mine, since part of the debt now overdue for 14 months was paid on Thursday, it said in a terse statement.The politically connected Gupta family’s R2.15bn acquisition of Optimum Coal Mine through Tegeta Resources has been mired in controversy ever since newly appointed Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane admitted he went to Switzerland in December to negotiate the sale to Tegeta.Barloworld Equipment, the dealer for Cat earth-moving machines and power systems in Southern Africa, said it had filed an application for Optimum’s liquidation in September as money due for goods and services rendered before the mine went into business rescue in August 2015 was not paid.Barloworld referred to a dispute over amounts due, which are understood to run into millions of rand, but it refused to answer questions.Optimum had agreed "under protest" to pay part of the debt, Barloworld Equip...
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