An application by American Natural Soda Ash Corp (ANSAC) to suspend a discovery order handed down by S Africa's Competition Tribunal last July, has been dismissed. The discovery order relates to a complaint lodged by Botswana Ash (Botash) a competitor, over 7 years ago, which alleges that the US-based company is a cartel. Both Botash & ANSAC export soda ash into S Africa. ANSAC logged an application with the tribunal to suspend the tribunal's June 22 discovery order, claiming that W W Bowens, the legal representative of Botash, included Daryl Dingly in the Botash legal team. In 2001, Dingly worked at the Competition Commission & was part of the earlier suspended confidential settlement negotiations between the Commission & ANSAC. ANSAC claimed Dingly might have had access to confidential issues & this could prejudice the fair hearing.
