Residents vow to continue land protest

MFULENI residents have vowed to continue protesting until the City meets their demands for land.

Their protest entered its sixth day yesterday, with residents claiming that the unused land in the area was meant for housing for them as far back as 2014, but up until the present nothing had happened.

Community leader Luvuyo Hebhe said the City had made empty promises regarding vacant land in Bardale in Mfuleni.

“We don’t understand why we are being shot at by law enforcement and the SAPS because we want what belongs to us. The other day we gave the law enforcement documents, which showed that the land was to be used to build houses for the people, by the City, but that has not happened.

“Instead, the City prioritises other places and yet they evict us when we occupy this unused land meant for us. As a community we want nothing but a place to stay because we have been given nothing but empty promises by the City.

“This battle started in 2014, and even today the City has not made a single development in this land,” said Hebhe.

Mayco member for human settlements Malusi Booi said that the anti-land invasion unit was doing its work according to regulations.

“There is nothing wrong with what the anti-land invasion unit is doing. It is their duty to stop the illegal invasion of land.

“We will continue to support it. The land in Mfuleni is wet, and so people are advised to stop occupying wetlands because they are not in a good condition for them to live in,” said Booi.

Meanwhile, mayor Dan Plato noted the application by the SA African Human Rights Commission and the Legal Resources Centre for an interdict to prevent the City from carrying out anti-land invasion operations during the national lockdown.

“The City has opposed the matter, which will be heard in court on Wednesday.

“The applicants further seek the voiding of existing court orders protecting specific sites from invasion.

“This would impact, for example, the court order protecting the land that was illegally invaded in Khayelitsha due to it being part of a R162 million water infrastructure project,” Plato said.

“We want nothing but a place to stay… We have been given nothing but empty promises by City Luvuyo Hebhe Mfuleni community leader