By Eddie Botha

Developers of a proposed multimillion-rand golf estate at Kei Mouth have run into a new wave of opposition as they prepare to meet the Great Kei Municipality (GKM) today.

Forster Sikolobo, who represents the Iciba Kei River community and is a member of the Kei Mouth Country Club, yesterday said he wanted the council to reverse a deal its former municipal manager Oxley Ngqele, has done with company Bahlodi Housing for the land.

Bahlodi Housing is a subsidiary of Bahlodi Holdings, chaired by South African soccer boss Molefi Oliphant. The company wanted to develop the “Kei Eco Estate” at the scenic river mouth.

“We object to the development because it is municipal land and the transaction did not follow proper procedures,” said Sikolobo.

The plans to build the golf estate, a hotel and conference centre at Kei Mouth was put on ice last month by the GKM after a scathing report into its financial affairs by the provincial Auditor-General last year.

Former manager Ngqele featured prominently in the report.

Results of the hard-hitting report, released in late December, highlighted the land’s sale by the municipality, saying that accounting records of the action were possibly “withheld to conceal fraudulent activity”.

Sikolobo yesterday added fuel to the fire by claiming that the Iciba Kei River community “does not want the golfing estate. Great Kei cannot sustain such a development and it will collapse,” he said.

He said the community was worried about the future of its cemetery which was on the land that Bahlodi wanted to develop. Although Bahlodi’s project manager Rudi Bunge has given an assurance that the burial ground would not be affected, Sikolobo said nothing to that effect was signed and sealed. “It is not on paper as part of the agreement with the municipality. We want it on paper. What guarantee do we have?” he asked.

Sikolobo added that the community supported the country club members, who have also voiced concerns about the development, which would impact on a section of the present nine-hole golf course.

Sikolobo, a scratch golfer who has played on the European development tour, said Ngqele never discussed the plans for a golfing estate with him prior to negotiations with Bahlodi.

“Ngqele does not know anything about golf. He should have come to me before he signed the deal,” Sikolobo said.

He said a number of black golfers played at the country club because it was affordable to them.

“In five years’ time Bahlodi will leave and the poor golfers will then face increased fees. I hate golfing estates because they keep the poor out,” he said.

Glen Taaibosch, Bahlodi Housing’s chief operations officer, confirmed that he would meet acting municipal manager Nomboniso Mtwini today.

In a further twist to the saga, local businessman Willie Labuschagne - who also signed a deed of sale with Ngqele for part of the land that the Bahlodi deal now includes - said he was waiting for the Scorpions to investigate the matter.

Labuschagne said the Scorpions, who took the matter up following the A-G’s damning report, have intimated that they would visit Komgha tomorrow.

Mtwini was not available for comment yesterday.

Daily Dispatch