Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973)Chapter XIV: Winding-up of CompaniesDuties of Liquidators394. Banking accounts and investments |
| 1) | The liquidator of a company- |
| a) | shall open a current account from which amounts are withdrawable by cheque in the name of the company in liquidation with a banking institution registered under the Banks Act, 1965 (Act No. 23 of 1965), within the Republic, and shall from time to time deposit therein to the credit of the company all moneys received by him on its behalf; |
| b) | may open a savings account in the name of such company with such a banking institution, a mutual building society registered under the Mutual Building Societies Act, 1965 (Act No. 24 of 1965), or a building society registered under the Building Societies Act, 1986 (Act No. 82 of 1986), within the Republic, and may transfer thereto moneys deposited in the account referred to in paragraph (a) and not immediately required for the payment of any claim against such company; |
| c) | may place moneys deposited in the account referred to in paragraph (a) and not immediately required for the payment of any claim against such company, on interest-bearing deposit with such banking institution, mutual building society or building society within the Republic; |
| d) | shall not withdraw any money from any account referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) otherwise than by way of a transfer to the said current account. |
| 2) | Whenever required by the Master to do so, the liquidator shall in writing notify the Master of the banking institution or building society and the office, branch office or agency thereof with which he has opened an account referred to in subsection (1), and furnish the Master with a bank statement or other sufficient evidence of the state of the account. |
| 3) | A liquidator shall not transfer any such account from any such office, branch office or agency to any other such office, branch office or agency except after written notice to the Master. |
| 4) | All cheques or orders drawn upon any such account shall contain the name of the payee and the cause of payment and shall be drawn to order and be signed by the liquidator or his duly authorised agent. |
| 5) | The Master and any surety for the liquidator or any person authorised by such surety shall have the same right to information in regard to that account as the liquidator himself possesses, and may examine all vouchers in relation thereto, whether in the possession of the banking institution or building society or of the liquidator. |
| 6) | The Master may, after notice to the liquidator, in writing direct the manager of any office, branch office or agency with which an account referred to in subsection (1) has been opened, to pay over into the Guardians' Fund all moneys standing to the credit of that account at the time of the receipt, by the said manager, of that direction, and all moneys which may thereafter be paid into that account, and the said manager shall carry out that direction. |
| 7) |
| a) | Any liquidator who without lawful excuse, retains or knowingly permits his co-liquidator to retain any sum of money exceeding forty rand belonging to the company concerned longer than the earliest day after its receipt on which it was possible for him or his co-liquidator to pay the money into the bank, or uses or knowingly permits his co-liquidator to use any assets of the company except for its benefit, shall, in addition to any other penalty to which he may be liable, be liable to pay to the company an amount not exceeding double the sum so retained or double the value of the assets so used. |
| b) | The amount which the liquidator is so liable to pay, may be recovered by action in any competent court at the instance of the co-liquidator, the Master or any creditor or contributory. |