Opponents of Garden Route golf course development threathened

Police are probing cases of arson, intimidation and housebreaking following threats and alleged cases of intimidation of environmental campaigners who are challenging the construction of a luxury golf course resort in George.

The investigation was ordered by Premier Helen Zille's office.

Southern Cape police spokesman Michael Pojie said the Cape Windlass Environmental Action Group had complained of intimidation and arson. This followed a petrol-bomb attack on a member's house in Bellville and an arson attack at the front door of a member's house in Glentana.

Dr Wim Gericke said the group was opposed to the Lagoon Bay Lifestyle golf resort because they wanted to protect the coastline that it would be built on, and there were concerns over the scarcity of water to service such a golf course.

The Lagoon Bay resort is so massive that it will create another urban node on the coast between George and Groot Brak.

It includes two 18-hole golf courses, 886 houses, 320 lodges, 150 apartments, a 150-room hotel, a conference centre, a school, and 8 hectares of shops and other amenities.

About half of the Lagoon Bay land falls within the Garden Route's declared Sensitive Coastal Area.

Two weeks ago, Zille had instructed MEC for Community Safety Lennit Max and MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell to investigate the the matter.

Jo Lennox, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Community Safety, said Max had met with the complainants, who had briefed him in full on the alleged threats and acts of intimidation against them.

The provincial police commissioner's office was also present at the meeting.

Several cases in this regard have been lodged at various police stations, and Max had therefore requested for these case dockets to be investigated from a central point to ensure proper focus.

Max has also requested a report from the commissioner's office on the progress of each case.

The SAPS Western Cape media office said: "We are investigating cases of arson, intimidation and housebreaking in this regard.

"At this stage, nobody has been arrested, but our investigation still continues."

In 2009, the development application was turned down by officials at the provincial environment department because it had not complied with several environmental and development policies.

One concern from officials was that Lagoon Bay would use 5 million litres of water a day and that the southern Cape water supply system was already under severe pressure. Last summer, water had to be trucked into Sedgefield.

The developers appealed, and the then MEC for local government, environmental affairs and development planning Pierre Uys, overturned his department's decision and gave it the green light.

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