2010-02-15 18:08

iSimangaliso wetland park officials on Monday started demolishing one of the resorts declared illegal by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court last year.

"They destroyed my structure today (on Monday). I'm totally devastated.

"I have lost more than R500 000 which I raised by selling my only house," said George Francois.

Francois was one of four developers ordered to demolish resorts built in an ecologically-sensitive coastal forest, which is also a World Heritage site and rehabilitate the properties.

The court ruled that, should the developers fail to demolish the properties before December 31, conservation authorities would tear them down, restore the damaged bush and recover the costs from them.

Francois, whose resort was in KwaDapha area in Kosi Bay, said he had obtained permission to build from the local traditional leaders.

"When I got a permission to build the lodge, I sold my house... so that I would use [the proceeds] to build it. That money is gone now and [I am] homeless," he said.

Francois, who was in hospital awaiting the delivery of his first daughter when interviewed, said he had been told his belongings were looted when his property was demolished.

He said he had partnered with the local people to build the lodge because he had wanted to uplift the community.

iSimangaliso chief executive officer Andrew Zaloumis confirmed that the resort would be demolished when contacted on Monday morning.

A Pretoria civil servant, Jacobus Hendrik Serfontein, 45, was recently fined R15 000 and ordered to demolish a house he pleaded guilty to illegally building in the St Lucia wetland park in Zululand.

The Pietermaritzburg Regional Court ordered him to restore the garden to its original pristine condition.

- SAPA