NATIONAL NEWS - Gauteng COGTA MEC, Lebogang Maile has vowed to take legal action against land invaders who are taking ‘advantage’ of the no-evictions law during the lockdown in the province.
Maile said land invasions had increased in recent weeks. In Tshwane they took place in Garankuwa and Atteridgeville.
He said in Johannesburg, there were illegal land grabs in Alexandra, Ennerdale, Devland, Freedom Park, Lawley, Diepsloot and Roodepoort, among other areas.
“There has been a notable and concerning increase in illegal land invasions since the announcement of the lockdown by President Ramaphosa.
“Criminal syndicates taking advantage of legitimate housing needs within communities during this unprecedented Covid-19 crisis, have been behind the rise in illegal land occupations around the province.”
He said the department called a meeting with mayors of municipalities from across the province on Monday and took a decision to seek legal assistance in land-grab matters.
“We have tasked the state law advisors with approaching the courts on our behalf, seeking a blanket court order to interdict and restrain any person on any properties belonging to government from unlawfully occupying the properties and/or erecting structures on the properties and/or occupying and/or developing shacks on the properties.”
He said the department will not tolerate illegal land grabs and would ‘unleash the full might of the law against those who want to invade land illegally during this crisis’.
Maile pointed out that land invasion created urban management and developmental challenges for municipalities.
“Illegal invasions further add to the housing backlog, because the land invaded, is often land that has already been identified for housing development, meaning that these invasions also complicate and to some extent compromise our development plans.
“This leads to more housing delivery protests and greater social unrest.”
Maile concluded that a legal notice will be issued to the metros to enforce eviction in all instances where invasion is taking place on government-owned land in the province.
This follows a public outcry as homes were demolished by security officials, the Red Ants in Lawley, south of Johannesburg, last week Thursday.
Minister of Human Settlement Lindiwe Sisulu said evictions and demolitions were not allowed during the lockdown period.
Maile said the Mayor of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo, had said the demolished structures were not occupied by anyone.
“These structures were demolished to prevent land invasions, however, the criminal syndicates behind these illegal invasions spread false rumours and gave misleading information that there would be evictions in the area, in order to mobilise the community,” he said.
Maile said the illegal invasions were well-coordinated and had criminal elements to it and took advantage of communities experiencing housing backlogs.
“The backlog is currently sitting at 1.2 million, but is growing rapidly, owing to in-migration, with 300 000 people coming into the province on an annual basis looking for better opportunities and a better life.”
He added that the department was finalising administrative requirements to allocate houses to owners, although they cannot take physical ownership of the houses yet, due to the lockdown.
“We are also improving our planning and coordination across all spheres of government so that development can take place quicker.
“Unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks are removed and houses can be allocated more efficiently and efficaciously as the ultimate measure in dealing with the issue.”
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Article: Centurion Rekord
