By Chris van Gass

Jonga Entabeni, the company involved in the development of the Big Bay project and which is part of businessman Tokyo Sexwale's Mvelaphanda group, has rejected claims that Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Dan Plato is a "partner" in the company or that he has a significant stake in the company.

Geoff Chait, CEO of Jonga Entabeni, said on Friday that accusations from the African National Congress (ANC) and Independent Democrats (ID) councillor Simon Grindrod that Plato had unfairly used his influence to change the title deed restrictions on the Big Bay development were untrue.

Chait said Plato was merely a trustee of three community trusts from Cape Town's most disadvantaged areas and had no personal interest in Jonga Entabeni, although he admitted that the wording Plato had used when submitting his declaration of financial interest had been "loose".

Chait said a spat among "certain councillors" that had dragged Jonga Entabeni into the controversy as "an innocent pawn" was affecting the company's credibility. Although refraining from specifically naming Grindrod, Chait said "there's a particular councillor who is an apprentice petty politician". The issue was an internal spat between various councillors and they were using the Big Bay issue for "some or other personal gain".

Chait said he had attempted to contact Grindrod, but his calls were not returned.

He said far from Plato being demonised, he should be "canonised" for his efforts and the work he had done in uplifting his communities.

Since the accusations were first aired, mayor Helen Zille has appointed an inquiry into whether Plato, the mayoral committee member for housing, had put undue pressure on officials to have the development restrictions lifted. Also at issue is the council's inability, after two-and-a-half years, to have provided a suitable piece of land for low-income housing, which formed part of the agreement for the development of Big Bay.

The council had placed a 35% restriction on the sale of the Big Bay development, subject to the low-income housing clause being met. Jonga Entabeni had also undertaken to provide a R50 million loan towards the building of the low-income housing.

However, after the council's failure to provide the land, Jonga Entabeni has requested that a further 20% of the Big Bay development be made available to it for development.

Chait said R220 million had already been spent on infrastructure.

He also said the remaining 15% building security would give the council "more than sufficient security to cover the R50 million loan on affordable housing".

"We have every conceivable document we could lay hands on and it is patently clear that all councillor Plato is a trustee of (is the) community trust," said Chait.

He hoped the council would resolve the issue immediately after the inquiry was completed as he believed there "is no issue".

"And if they don't, then we're going to reserve our rights. I'm not prepared to say more than that," he said.