Key Takeaways
- A company has secured a court interdict to halt development at the Fish River Resort due to a contractual dispute.
- The dispute has been ongoing for over a year, with the company being removed from the site.
- A US-based investment group, Joktel, had announced plans to redevelop the resort, including expanding the hotel and constructing a water park.
- The court ruling has put a stop to these plans, at least temporarily.
- The developer, Xoliswa Daku, of the Daku Group, had approached the high court in Makhanda to seek the interdict.
Introduction to the Dispute
The Fish River Resort, once a luxury destination, has been at the center of a protracted contractual dispute. The dispute has been ongoing for over a year, with one of the companies involved being removed from the site. Despite this, a US-based investment group, Joktel, had announced ambitious plans to redevelop the resort. These plans included expanding the hotel from 126 to 250 rooms, revamping the Gary Player-designed golf course, and constructing a water park. However, these plans have now been put on hold due to a court interdict secured by another company involved in the dispute.
The Plans for Redevelopment
Joktel, working with Vuyokazi Batana’s Ezamatshawe company, had announced plans to reopen the dilapidated resort as the Joktel Fish River Resort by February 2026. A website for the project had already been launched, and a sod-turning ceremony was held in November to mark the beginning of the redevelopment process. The plans for the resort were ambitious, and it was hoped that the redevelopment would bring new life to the area. However, the contractual dispute has thrown a spanner in the works, and it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved.
The Court Ruling
The court interdict was secured by developer Xoliswa Daku, of the Daku Group, who approached the high court in Makhanda to seek the interdict. The ruling has halted all development at the resort, at least temporarily, and has put a stop to Joktel’s plans to redevelop the site. The court’s decision is a significant blow to Joktel and its partners, who had been hoping to move forward with the redevelopment of the resort. It is unclear at this time how the situation will be resolved, but it is likely that the dispute will continue to be contentious.
Implications of the Ruling
The court ruling has significant implications for the future of the Fish River Resort. The redevelopment plans, which had been announced with great fanfare, are now on hold, and it is unclear when or if they will be able to proceed. The dispute has been ongoing for over a year, and it is likely that it will take some time to resolve. In the meantime, the resort will remain in a state of disrepair, and the local community will continue to suffer the consequences of the dispute. It is hoped that the situation will be resolved soon, but for now, the future of the Fish River Resort remains uncertain.
Conclusion
The contractual dispute over the Fish River Resort has taken a new turn with the court interdict secured by the Daku Group. The ruling has halted all development at the resort, at least temporarily, and has put a stop to Joktel’s plans to redevelop the site. The situation is complex and contentious, and it is unclear how it will be resolved. However, one thing is certain: the future of the Fish River Resort hangs in the balance, and it will take time and effort to resolve the dispute and move forward with the redevelopment of the site. The local community will be watching with interest as the situation unfolds, and it is hoped that a resolution will be found soon.
