President Thabo Mbeki's office had not received a promised resignation letter from Deputy Social Development Minister David Malatsi by 5pm on Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo told Sapa at 6.30pm he had spoken to the director general in the Presidency at 5pm, and no such letter had arrived. "The people in the office are on notice to inform me as soon as it arrives," Khumalo said.

Malatsi said on Tuesday he would ask Mbeki on Wednesday to relieve him of his duties. Malatsi has been under pressure to quit after allegations emerged that he approved the Roodefontein golf development near Plettenberg Bay, in exchange for a kickback from the developers.

Malatsi also said on Tuesday he would take legal advice.

Attempts to contact Malatsi on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

On Wednesday, the Cape High Court halted any further activities at the controversial R250-million Roodefontein golf estate development at Plettenberg Bay.

An interim order was granted in an urgent application launched by the acting Western Cape environmental affairs MEC Johan Gelderbom.

The application was brought late on Wednesday before Judge Burton Fourie in chambers after allegations that the developers gave Malatsi a kickback to approve the project.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and iafrica.com.