Court orders new look at R1 land deal

[IOL, 14 May 2008]

Zelda Venter

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20080514055658332C367329

The ownership of Mpumalanga's R1-billion 2010 soccer stadium and 118ha of neighbouring land will be probed by a new board of trustees who were appointed by the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday.

Members of the Matsafeni farm worker community, who were originally granted the land in terms of a land claims settlement in 2003, spontaneously cheered and clapped hands following the ruling.

The stadium is being built on agricultural land originally ceded to them. Developers plan to use the stadium as the centrepiece for a new sport, entertainment and upmarket residential precinct in Nelspruit.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20070830041014303C110679

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula on Wednesday felt the wrath of the law when he was found to be in contempt of a court order and committed to jail.

Not only was his department scolded, but the judge held him personally responsible for not complying with a court order issued last week.

In terms of the order, police were given 12 hours to rebuild the shacks of homeless people in Moreletapark.

Eight days later the homeless people, including women and children, are still destitute.

Pretoria High Court judge Bill Prinsloo ordered Nqakula should be committed to jail "with immediate effect, until such time as this contempt of the order is purged". A fine of R10 000 was also imposed on him.