Boesak denies golf-estate links
2006-08-24 23:37
Cape Town - Church and community leader Dr Allan Boesak has denied any involvement in the planned development of a luxury golf estate in the Southern Cape.
Boesak told Die Burger that he hadn't been officially involved in the planned development at Hoogekraal near George for more than a year.
The developer of the Lagoon Bay golf estate, Dr Werner Roux, said Boesak was definitely not involved in the project. He was not a partner, nor a role player.
"Community leaders in the George area asked Boesak to act on their behalf at the time, because they felt they were 'out of their depth'," he said.
Roux said Boesak was not paid for his involvement then.
Negotiated for three months
Boesak said speculation in an English-language weekly paper about his involvement was untrue.
Boesak said: "The communities of George, Klein Brak River and Groot Brak River asked me nearly two years ago to convey to the developers their concern about the project and their interest in possible negotiations.
"I acted as a negotiator between the communities and the developers for three months.
The role players in the development undertook to create a R10m trust, to give preference to job creation and to seek other ways of empowering the community.
"I have withdrawn totally from negotiations and the project in the meantime and can also not give the communities any guarantees about promises made earlier," said Boesak.
He said Roux had told him recently that Western Cape minister of the environment and community planning Tasneem Essop had not approved the development yet.
Roux confirmed the conversation had taken place.
Essop's spokesperson, Lynnette Johns, told Die Burger that no such development had been approved by the department.
Roux also confirmed this conversation took place.
Totally withdrew from project
Boesak said the community asked in the final round of negotiations for a school, accommodation and other facilities for their own small town.
He said negotiations were also underway at that time to establish a consortium to boost black economic empowerment among groups and individuals living in the area.
"I was asked to be part of this process as well, but later totally withdrew from the project," said Boesak.
He said that since withdrawing from the project, he had had no contact with the role players in the project, apart from a recent conversation with Roux.