Residents form task team

CONCERNED residents of Crossmoor, Chatsworth, have formed a land invasion task team to ensure their community is policed around the clock.

Their initiative came after invaders again tried to grab land in the area this week, leading to a clash with residents.

They claim they are now paying for the municipality’s failure to provide services.

They said they often had blackouts due to illegal electricity connections.

Resident Amina Sheik said a meeting was held on Wednesday and the community decided to form their own task team.

“The municipality’s land invasion unit shuts at 3pm. We’ve requested a night shift team because land grabbers built shacks after sunset.

“Our unit is civil task team. We will not fight people, but ask them to stop with their invasions. We’re just looking after our community and properties,” she said.

Another resident, Fatima Ismail, said schools had been affected.

“The land grabbers want to build informal settlements near schools. This will obstruct the school’s entrances and interfere with their water and electrical supply.

Ward councillor Sharon Hoosen commended the community spirit.

She said she’d asked the city to send a 24-hour response team but metro police had only two patrol vehicles for Chatsworth.