Century Property Developments (Pty) Ltd and Another v Kallesen and Another
Case: Century Property Developments (Pty) Ltd and Another v Kallesen and Another (2021/5098)
Court: High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg
Date of hearing: N/a
Status: Finalised; Matter withdrawn on 14 January 2025
Last updated: 4 February 2025
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Case overview: Kristin Kallesen and the Greater Kyalami Conservancy (GEKCO) (Defendants), represented by Power & Associates, defended an action brought by Century Property Developments (Pty) Ltd and Riversands Developments (Pty) Ltd (Plaintiffs) for damages amounting to around R197 million as a result of objections and/or appeals lodged by the Defendants in the context of land-use change or similar applications made by the Plaintiffs. The Defendants pleaded, among other things, that the action constitutes an abuse of process and strategic litigation against public participation, also known as a SLAPP suit.
On 14 January 2025, the Plaintiffs withdrew the action by consent between the parties, with each party to pay their own costs.
Court papers:
- Plaintiffs’ summons and particulars of claim (4 February 2021) (3mb)
- Defendants’ notice of intention to defend (11 March 2021) (0.1mb)
- Defendants’ special plea and plea on the merits (7 May 2021) (0.6mb)
- Plaintiff’s Notice of Withdrawal (14 January 2025)
In the press:
- Mail & Guardian, Developer withdraws huge lawsuit against Joburg activist and conservancy (4 February 2025)
- GroundUp, Massive SLAPP suit against environmentalists withdrawn (24 January 2025)
- Mail & Guardian, Property developers slap Jo’burg environmentalist and conservancy with R197m lawsuit (1 March 2021)
- Mail & Guardian, Century Property, Riversands Developments sue Joburg environmentalist for R197mn (14 May 2021)
Attorneys:
