Construction work has been stepped up to 24/7 on the five-star, R400 million Fairmont Zimbali Hotel development near Ballito to ensure that the beach resort is opened in May, before the World Cup.

That is the word from the Kuwait-based developers, IFA Hotels and Resorts (IFA HR), speaking to The Mercury this week. It comes in the wake of a row over an R18 million payment with its principle contractors, Liviero Building, which halted construction on the North Coast development in August.