Court stops illegal development
iSimangaliso's jurisdiction over buffer zones confirmed
A LANDMARK ruling in the Pietermaritzburg High Court late on Friday afternoon has halted a major holiday home development on the banks of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park‘s Lake Mgoboseleni.
The developers have until the 31 December to vacate and rehabilitate the site.
Judge Daya Pillay’s judgment in favour of iSimangaliso and the KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism
and Environmental Affairs confirms that the World Heritage Site’s management has authority and jurisdiction over buffer zones around the park.
The development abuts the proclaimed iSimangaliso-Sodwana Bay section and overlooks Lake Mgobeseleni and pristine wilderness – integral parts of the world heritage property which was listed by UNESCO as South Africa’s first natural wonder in 1999.
The Mgoboseleni estuary is considered extremely important as a nursery area for estuarine-dependent marine species.
The estuarine also has breeding populations of crocodiles and hippopotami, including some 467 IUCN listed threatened species.
Read the full story in the ZO Monday edition.
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