CAPE TOWN (Reuters). A South African court has halted the construction of Amazon (NASDAQ.)’s Africa headquarters. It was stopped by descendants of country’s earliest inhabitants who said that the land where it would be constructed on was sacred.

The High Court Western Cape division prohibited the project developer delaying work at Cape Town’s site. This was until consultation and meaningful engagement had occurred with indigenous communities.

“This issue ultimately concerns rights of indigenous peoples …. “The fundamental rights to culture and heritage, especially of the Khoi peoples and San First Nations Peoples are at stake in the absence proper consultation,” judge Patricia Goliath wrote in her ruling.

South Africa was first settled by the Khoi (and the San) in 1899. They were hunter-gatherers and pastoralists for more than 2000 years.

Some descendants of the victims had opposed the River Club development. Amazon was the “anchor tenant”, but the plans also include plans for homes, offices, and hotels. It is located at the confluence two sacred rivers, the Black River and the Liesbeek Rivers.

Some people did not identify with San or the Khoi. The case involved a number of respondents, including a Khoi and San association that supported the project.

Amazon wasn’t named as a respondent and did not reply to an email request for comment that was sent after office hours. The court case was initiated in the early part of this year. A spokesperson refused to comment.

Goliath stated that her decision should not be taken as criticism of the development, but rather that it was a core issue that proper consultation had to take place before the project could proceed.

Amazon has thousands of employees in Cape Town data hubs. Authorities are eager to attract foreign investment as South Africa is home to more than a third of the unemployed.

The construction of River Club had been continued, despite this case not being heard by the court.