S.African court postpones ruling on objection to Amazon HQ on sacred land

Members of the Khoi, an indigenous group, picket outside the high court during a hearing, as they oppose development of the new Africa headquarters and residential buildings of U.S. retail giant Amazon, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 21, 2022. REUTERS/Shafiek Tassiem

A South African court on Friday postponed a ruling on a lawsuit from descendants of South Africa's earliest inhabitants, the Khoi and San, to try to halt construction of Amazon's new Africa headquarters on what they say is sacred land.

The 70,000-square metre development in Cape Town includes plans for a hotel, retail offices and homes, and with Amazon - which employs thousands of people in data hubs in the city - its main tenant. But it has faced a backlash from Khoi and San community leaders, who say they represent the majority of their people.