Durban – Oceans uMhlanga has welcomed the Durban High Court’s judgment against the urgent interdict lodged against the Oceans Mall project.
This according to Oceans uMhlanga spokesperson Brian Mpono, who said that the R1.3 billion Oceans Mall would open its doors to the public on November 15 as planned.
Mpono said that two weeks ago, Mr Rob Goulden, a known serial litigant, lodged an urgent application to interdict the opening of the mall.
Mpono described the interdict as nothing but the abuse of court processes and the system to try to economically sabotage the project.
“We are glad that the judge threw out the application, especially its hearing, on an urgent basis.
“As stated in our replying papers to the court, Mr Goulden’s ‘case’ is frivolous, baseless and vexatious litigation,” Mpono said.
“It was nothing but a publicity campaign to try and negatively profile the Oceans project, and to harm the reputation of the co-developers in the process.”
Mpono said that this was evident with the controlled media leak to a certain journalist, who was in possession of the “papers” by the applicant, before such papers were formally served to them.
He said that with the initial false media reports, they suffered immense harm as a result of this frivolous action. The theme of “impropriety” and innuendo of irregularities was carefully chosen to inflict maximum harm to the brand.
“However, we are glad that the court did not allow the weaponisation of the legal process to harm economic projects,” Mpono said.
“We further reassure the public, customers and stakeholders that the developers, as accomplished businessmen, continue to uphold fair and ethical conduct in all their business practices.
“No amount of attempted smear, propaganda and lawfare can distract us from our goal of developing the country,” Mpono added.
He said that the Oceans uMhlanga Mall will open as planned with 2 000 jobs created, which will be a great economic boost for KwaZulu-Natal and the eThekwini Municipality.
“The amount of jobs and the massive rates and utilities that would be created by the project will go a long way in terms of positively contributing to our ailing economy,” Mpono said.
“Once more, we are glad that the courts refused a bait to distract this great project.”
Daily News