'Municipality to sue Tongaat mall developer'

The eThekwini municipality wants Ravi Jagadasan, whose company built the Tongaat mall which collapsed last month, to be jailed for contempt of court, The Star reported on Thursday.

Alternatively, the city also asked the Durban High Court to impose a fine on Jagadasan's company, Rectangle Property Investments.

Two construction workers died and 29 were injured in the collapse.

According to the report, the contempt of court application had been set down to be heard in February.

In court papers, the municipality alleged the company disregarded an interim order and final order granted against it to stop construction of the mall.

In court papers filed in response to the application at the time, Jagadasan said: "There is no danger to members of the public or any other person in relation to this project."

He also claimed that the interdict application was "an abuse of the court process".

The municipality reportedly said Jagadasan should be held liable because he had controlled its actions and "caused the company to disobey" the court orders.