By Lynn Shaw

The Nguni River and Safari Lodge in the Addo National Park has taken insurance giant Mutual and Federal to court, claiming more than R500000.

The claim in the Port Elizabeth High Court comes after Mutual and Federal refused to pay out R562171 after a fire ravaged one of the units at the lodge.

The fire in the unit caused because the wall that surrounded the fireplace was not sealed correctly during construction happened on April 9, 2006. As a result of the mistake, heat from the fireplace was partially routed through the wall cavities and caused combustible materials to ignite.

In court documents, the lodge says it entered into a written agreement with Mutual and Federal in terms of its insurance contract.

Mutual and Federal has indicated it will defend the case.

The matter was postponed until January.

Source: The Herald