Will Durban A1GP race be cancelled?
In proposed court papers, Ecopeace attorney John Govender states that the party is concerned that there has not been proper consultation with all the relevant stakeholders about this weekend's race. The proposed papers have been forwarded to Sports and Recreation MEC Amichand Rajbansi, City Manager Michael Sutcliffe and race organizers. The party has raised concerns about elderly people, children and pets living in the race area being subjected to high noise levels during the event.
Worried
The party is also worried about the security of residents. "Beaches, amenities and roads have all been appropriated for the private and commercial use of the race event.
"Surely they (residents) should have been consulted in this matter," Govender said. He had been instructed that if Ecopeace had not received a satisfactory response from the event's organizers and the government departments which had authorized the event by 12pm today, the party would make an application to the Durban High Court to stop the race from continuing without notice to the event's stakeholders. Alternatively, Ecopeace has asked that residents living in the area be offered alternative accommodation for the period of the race or be compensated for inconveniences and given complimentary tickets.
Govender said they were serious about the legal threat and would follow it through. Sutcliffe said the city had responded within 10 minutes of receiving the proposed court papers and denied all allegations leveled in the court papers. He threatened to sue Ecopeace convener Alan Murphy for legal and other costs if the matter went to court. Sutcliffe said he did not know if he should take the legal threat seriously, because it appeared that Murphy was simply trying to score free hotel accommodation and tickets for the race. The Mercury