NOTES TO THE GROUP ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – NOTE 32

32. CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES
32.1 CONTINGENCIES

EXPOSURE TO ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS

As for any business with similar operations, the Group is exposed to various potential claims relating to alleged errors and omissions or non-compliance with laws and regulations in the conduct of its ordinary course of business. At the date of these annual financial statements, the Group is unaware of any material claims, actual or contemplated, by any of the Group’s stakeholders or customers, except for those listed below.

NEIL HARVEY & ASSOCIATES (PTY) LTD

Neil Harvey & Associates has instituted a claim against Medscheme Holdings (Proprietary) Limited and three of its employees in 2008. The allegations concern alleged copyright infringement and a breach of the Medware license agreement. The maximum capital amount of the claim as presently pleaded is R390.4 million. An amendment sought by the Plaintiff was the cause of this. The increased sum has no impact on the merits of the claim which remain the same as before. The parties are still engaged in private arbitration, however it is unlikely that the matter will be finalised during the current financial year. Medscheme Holdings (Proprietary) Limited will continue to vigorously defend the claim and is confident that there will still be no liability in this matter.

32.2 COMMITMENTS

  Group  
  June
2016
R'000
  June
2015
R'000
 
Building rentals        
Rental obligations with respect to land and buildings        
Not later than 1 year 79 123   68 828  
Later than 1 year but not later than 5 years 182 584   235 008  
  261 707   303 836  
32.3 GUARANTEES

  Group   Company  
  June
2016
R'000
  June
2015
R'000
  June
2016
R'000
  June
2015
R'000
 
Guarantees issued in respect of office rental for premises                
occupied by the Group 6 072   5 461      
Medical aid schemes   500      
South African Post Office 3 800   3 803      
City Power Johannesburg 500   500      
Rand Merchant bank   497      
  10 372   10 761      

NOTES TO THE GROUP ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – NOTE 32