The development of the sensitive Green Belt area has been called off for the time being. A moratorium was placed on any agreement until such time as Council has obtained legal advice.

Municipal spokesperson Mr Peter Magwala, said on July 31 that Council had resolved that a legal opinion be sought in order to advise Council on what to do. He refrained from answering any other questions on the matter.

Council’s sale of the portion of Louis Trichardt Extension 9 Township West, also referred to as erven 2783 to 2961 and erven 3174 to 31778 or West of N1 and North of Stubbs Street, has been contentious from the beginning. It was put out as Tender 47 of 2004. Environmentalists objected strongly against the sale of land in a highly ecologically sensitive area without a satisfactory environmental impact assessment. The area is a sensitive water catchment area and home to indigenous fauna and flora, including the clawless otter, bushbuck, red duiker, bandit mongoose, rare bird species and more than 300 indigenous tree species.

On the other hand, the area also became a hiding place to cover criminal activities and a development that could keep criminals out and still maintain the green look of the town was seen by some as an answer.

The initial developments proposed by the client gave rise to outcries of protest by nature conservationists. Wadanga-I-Tole Entertainment Park (Pty) Ltd, later called Daybreak Properties 7 (Pty) Ltd. proposed developments including a hotel, amusement park and filling station. Official documents seemed to indicate that shares were to be sold to Imbali Props 27 (Pty) Ltd. Somewhere along the line, Under the Boardwalk Properties 58 (Pty) Ltd were also involved.

Three banks and differing guarantee amounts were involved, the latest being Nedbank with a guarantee of over R20 million, the total of the guarantee of R15,3 million plus interest from November 2006.

In terms of the conditions on the guarantee Nedbank require from the developers, amongst other conditions, was that the municipality supply minutes to confirm that all necessary resolutions to enter into the Deed of Sale have been properly passed and that the municipality is acting strictly in accordance with the applicable legislation.

When one of the ‘greenies’ contacted Nedbank to find out whether they were aware of the ecological sensitivity of the land in question, the interesting answer was that "their buyer had cancelled." On July 31, Magwala refused to answer the question whether their buyer’s offer was still standing.

"Nothing in this whole process seems to be transparent," was the comment of the Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association on August 6.

The fact remains, however, that those against the development heave a sigh of relief, even though the breather could be temporary.