Stanger residents take on Viv Reddy

A GROUP of concerned residents have filed for a high court interdict to be granted against a company owned by billionaire businessman Vivian Reddy, to prevent him from building a shopping mall in their community.

The Concerned Citizens Group and two other applicants, Cassim Mohammed Moola and Devadas Paul David, opposed the proposed redevelopment of the 30 hectare Stanger golf course to be built by Reddy’s company, Double Ring Trading (Pty) Ltd.

The municipality sold the property to Reddy for R9 million in 2015.

In the court application, applicants request that Reddy “not take occupation or possession of the property and should not commence or continue with excavations or any form of construction on the property”.

The applicants accused the Kwadukuza municipality of not following the tender processes and for accepting an “unsolicited bid” from Reddy.

They have called on the court to review the sale of the property.

In the municipality’s responding affidavits opposing the interdict, municipal manager Nhlanhla Joshua Mdakane said the applicants will face no harm if the project proceeds. He said millions of rands were involved in the development.

“This is a multi-million rand improvement to the infrastructure as part of the municipality’s spatial development plan, which would create employment opportunities and contribute to the economy,” Mdakane said in his affidavit.

Reddy, who is on business in Malaysia, said he would be “opposing the frivolous action”.

“This grouping tried everything over the past three years to obstruct us. We are focused on creating over 2 000 urgently-needed jobs and that is foremost in our minds. The concerned citizens group is really a front for some business persons that fear competition in the town,” said Reddy.

The matter will be heard in the Durban High Court tomorrow.

Haroon Mahomedy, a representative of the Concerned Citizens Group, said the applicants would issue a statement after court tomorrow.