Angry land invaders stone clinic

LAND invaders went on the rampage in Kraaifontein and stoned the Wallaceden Clinic after they were forcibly removed from the land.

Abut 1 000 shacks erected in the newly formed “phase nine” in Kraaifontein were torn down by law enforcement members yesterday.

Community members scrambled to collect their belongings as their homes were destroyed and said they received notice that charges were laid for the invasion of land, but were instructed only to be at the high court on October 17.

“We built our shacks there two weeks ago, law enforcement came and didn’t touch anything and on Saturday they came again with a case number and papers saying the municipality laid charges because we took the land by force.

“It said we need to go to high court on the 17th, but yesterday they came and started demolishing shacks. They’re going to come again tomorrow. We asked them ‘where is the interdict?’ and they said they don’t have one,” said Asanda Sipondo.

The Ward Six councillor, Xoliswa Pakela-Mapasa, said she was unfamiliar with the municipality making a case against the invasion of the land and said the invaded land was private property.

“On Monday I heard they were building, I did nothing about it and yesterday I heard they were demolishing. I’m going to the civic centre tomorrow and will mention it,” said Pakela-Mapasa.

JP Smith, mayco member for Safety and Security and Social Services, said the Wallacedene Clinic was forced to close.