/ 27 November 2003

Roodefontein trial postponed until 2004

After two weeks of testimony and 10 witnesses, the Roodefontein corruption trial was on Thursday adjourned to June 21 next year. Bail of R10 000 each was extended for former Western Cape premier Peter Marais and his provincial environment minister, David Malatsi.

They are accused of taking hundreds of thousands of rands in bribes to smooth the way for provincial approval of the Roodefontein golf estate development at Plettenberg Bay.

The past fortnight’s proceedings have been in George, for the convenience of witnesses living in the southern Cape, but when the trial resumes, it will be in the Bellville Regional Court.

Before the adjournment, a Democratic Alliance councillor from the seaside town, Johan Brummer, told the court Malatsi declared at a meeting last year that he was prepared to approve developments without seeing the environmental impact assessments required by law. — Sapa