Former Western Cape environment and development affairs MEC David Malatasi approved a housing development after he had already left office, according to a High Court judge.
In a judgement given on Monday, Judge Deon van Zyl found Malatsi had backdated his decision to his last day in office.
Van Zyl was giving reasons for his order last month that developer Andre Thirion halt building development at Gouritsmond until the Cape High Court had reviewed Malatsi’s decision.
The order was sought by the Gouritsmond Ratepayers’ Association, which also wanted a review.
Work on the site began in March this year and fynbos plants have already been removed and placed in a nursery.
Malatsi is currently out on bail on charges of corruption, along with former New National Party premier Peter Marais, connected to the approval of the Roodefontein golf estate near Plettenberg Bay.
He left the MEC’s post in October last year to take up a position as deputy social services minister, which he quit in February when the Roodefontein row erupted.
Van Zyl said Malatsi made the Gouritsmond decision on November
6. – Sapa