Tragic passing of Cloete and Thomas Murray

Updated: 23 March 2023

See full details of Memorial Service below message...

20 March 2023

Dear SARIPA Members,

It is with a very heavy heart that we learnt about the tragic and shocking murder of Cloete Murray and his son, Thomas, over the weekend. The SARIPA board and its members are deeply saddened, concerned and devastated by this news.

Cloete was an acclaimed leader in the field of insolvency and restructuring. His contribution to our profession goes back many years. Cloete was an immense and strong professional. He was brilliant and incisive as an insolvency practitioner and set the bar for administering complex insolvencies. Many of his matters have set important legal precedent for all insolvency practitioners in South Africa and which will be referred to with reference to his name for many years.

Cloete was highly respected by his colleagues and everyone that came across him. He ran a very professional practice, which was well known and recognized throughout the country. He devoted his professional life to the profession and to the development of the practice of insolvency and restructuring. 

Cloete has been a long-standing member of SARIPA and also served on the SARIPA board for a number of years. He always believed in a strong SARIPA, serving all of its members and he played a powerful role in achieving the targets set for the organisation.

Cloete and his son, Thomas, were members of the insolvency and business rescue professions. In terms of the Insolvency and Companies Acts, this required them to investigate and interrogate the trade, dealings and affairs of distressed entities and insolvent estates, with the aim of maximizing pay-outs to creditors.

The Master of the High Court appoints liquidators to carry out their roles independently and professionally, and they should be able to do so without fear or favour. Government recognises the importance of the insolvency profession in South Africa, and in this spirit, we need the support of Government to allow our members to practice in safety, and where they can continue to make a contribution to our country without having to live in fear.

SARIPA strongly condemns the shocking, senseless, and brutal attack on Cloete and Thomas and urges Government to ensure that no stone is left unturned in finding and convicting all those persons responsible for this brutality. In addition, an example must be set such that this never occurs again, and so that our members can continue to act and discharge their duties in a professional manner.

Cloete and Thomas will be sorely missed. Their passing is a huge loss to us all, personally and professionally. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Renata, to his son, James, to the rest of his family and to his friends. We wish the Murray family comfort in such difficult and harrowing circumstances.

SARIPA also extends to all of Cloete’s colleagues and employees at Sechaba Trust our heartfelt sympathy and condolences.

Our prayers and our thoughts are with all of you.

The Board of SARIPA

https://vimeo.com/event/3194443/88697f1069