Pilgrims Rest court unrest

MBOMBELA- The CEO of AfriSake, Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg, said today that the Mpumalanga Provincial Government is still driving its campaign to rid Pilgrims Rest of small businesses.

This came after the Government gave notice of opposition in an application to have a current interdict against the unilateral termination of rental agreements with business owners extended.

Rensburg who is serving the business community of this historical town with legal advice, said that the application was initially placed on the unopposed court role for December 9, he alleged that due opposition by Government, that case will only be heard in 2014.

Two years ago business owners in Pilgrims Rest were informed by the Department of Public Works that their lease contracts for the premises in town would be unilaterally terminated.

An initial application in July 2012 for an interim interdict against the eviction was successful and the court ordered that all documents pertaining to the tender process be made available.

“More than 18 months later this requirement has still not been met, which is why we had to approach the court again to have the order extended,” said Rensburg.

Since the news of the Provincial Government’s corrupt tender process broke, tourism in Pilgrims Rest had been on a decline. Shopkeepers and their workers are losing income, something for which the Government is directly to blame. According to Rensburg it appears that the Mpumalanga Government is dragging out the case, apparently hoping that the community of Pilgrims Rest will lose hope. The organization recently visited the town and after discussions with community leaders the organisation promised its continued support.

“This case in Pilgrims Rest is indicative of the unbridled arrogance of civil servants who will ruin a town’s economy if there is an opportunity for self-enrichment or profiteering,” he concluded Rensburg.