The Cape High Court on Wednesday halted any further activities at the controversial R250-million Roodefontein golf estate development at Plettenberg Bay.
An interim order was granted in an urgent application launched by the acting Western Cape environmental affairs MEC Johan Gelderblom.
The application was brought late on Wednesday before Judge Burton Fourie in chambers after allegations that the developers gave the New National Party a kickback to approve the project.
The judge set February 20 as the return date when the respondents, Count Agusta Golf and Equestrian Estate Pty Ltd, had to give reasons why the order should not be made final.
The interim order restrains the company from any activities on the terrain of the development, except for covering the the terrain with grass and an irrigation system as prescribed in the Environmental Management Plan Phase one.
The application was a sequel to a R300 000 donation allegedly donated by Ricardo Augusta to the New National Party in order to get the go-ahead for the controversial development.
Gelderblom’s representative Ossie Gibson confirmed the developers had agreed to halt work until an application for review of the case had been heard.
”In terms of an agreement reached between the legal teams on Wednesday, new earth works on the golf course will cease but uncovered earth on the driving range will be covered with grass and drainage installed to prevent erosion,” Gibson said.
On Tuesday, former Western Cape environment affairs MEC David Malatsi announced he would resign as national deputy social development minister after being asked by NNP leader and Western Cape premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk to step down.
According to Van Schalkwyk, the developer of the golf estate donated the R300 000 to the NNP in April last year at the request of former Western Cape premier Peter Marais. Malatsi, who was Western Cape environmental affairs MEC at the time, approved the application soon afterwards.
The scandal is being investigated by the national Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the public protector.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday after presenting certificates to emergency rescue staff who responded to the train smash in Muldersvlei in the Western Cape on January 7, Van Schalkwyk said that under his premiership if anyone in the party took bribes they would be exposed.
”We will start a criminal investigation and we will lay criminal
charges.”
Van Schalkwyk said he had dealt with the scandal surrounding the golf estate in a manner which he felt was honest and forthright.
Van Schalkwyk said donating funds to a party was an honourable thing to do. ”There are hundreds of honourable people out there giving money to a party because they share the ideals of that party.
”But there is a difference between that and bribing people.”
Van Schalkwyk said the central issue surrounding the golf estate development was whether Malatsi and Marais had taken bribes to approve a project.
”Did they take bribes to give preferential treatment to certain people to the detriment of others. That’s the central issue.” – Sapa