Global e-commerce giant Amazon will not tolerate more construction delays at its planned headquarters in Cape Town due to a court standoff, says a Sunday Times report. 

An affidavit filed in court last week suggests the R4.6bn development, with Amazon as its anchor tenant, could be scrapped should Amazon pull out.

Construction workers were forced to down tools by a court interdict related to heritage impact concerns. However, some recently returned to do 'remedial work', prompting a further court application by objectors seeking to halt the development.

The Leisbeek Leisure Property Trust was advised that if the courts ruled in favour of a continued work stoppage, it could last 12 to 24 months.

'Any such delay would almost certainly see ADC (Amazon Development Centre) terminating the development agreement and the lease agreements, as it would be entitled to do. Indeed, even a reduced delay of six months will result in termination by ADC,' he said.

Zwelinzima Vavi, general-secretary of the SA Federation of Trade Unions, has lambasted Amazon for its 'deafening silence' on the development dispute.

Full Sunday Times report