MORNINGSIDE millionaire, Alan Burke, made an urgent application in the Durban High Court this week to evict his former partner from his home in Mentone Road.
According to media reports, Burke, who is founder and chairman of ARB Electrical, claimed in an affidavit before Judge Peter Olsen that his relationship with his former girlfriend, Abigail Edwards, had ended in December after Edwards had allegedly breached a “cohabitation agreement” which listed terms and conditions of their relationship.
In his affidavit, Burke said he had broken off the relationship with Edwards several times over the eight years they were together. They got back together in August last year and signed an agreement which was predicated on her living in Cape Town in a property he would purchase for about R6m. The agreement stipulated that he would give Edwards R500 000 equity in property every year and once the equity reached the purchase price, it would be transferred into her name. He also agreed to pay her R40 000 a month. Edwards, in return, agreed to be faithful, not to take diet pills which Burke alleged made her aggressive, and to be respectful of his family and friends. They agreed than any contraventions would render the agreement null and void.
Burke claims he did not buy the Cape Town property because Edwards had wanted to live in Durban and had moved into his home instead. He said they had agreed that he would invest R2 million in the stock market and R500 000 would accrue to Edwards every year.
In December, Burke discovered packaging for slimming tablets in her bag and brought the agreement to an end. Edwards has refused to move out of his Morningside home and he alleges she has since damaged an antique table, stolen some of his fine whisky and wine valued at more than R100 000 from his locked private wine cellar, sold his television set, left his tools out in the rain, cut down a tree and chased away a security guard.
Burke said he had suggested mediation and offered Edwards money to move out the house but she had refused. He said Edwards was intent on damaging his reputation and had sent defamatory e-mails to board members of the listed company whose board he chairs.
Judge Olsen, after hearing argument and noting the R500 000 offer made to Edwards to move out, granted the order evicting her and instructed her to move out by 2pm on Friday, 13 March.
Edwards attorney is reported in the Mercury as saying her client would persist with her R6m claim against Burke.
