‘Council will protect residents and businesses’

“eThekwini Municipality has noted the sharp increase in the number of illegal land invasions and will do everything in its power to protect the rights of residents and businesses within the ambits of the law,” Mthethwa said.

“Land is a scarce resource and the municipality has an obligation to protect and preserve land with the purpose of utilising it to unlock future development opportunities for the growth and sustainability of our city.

“The municipality is looking at robust measures to address land invasion including engaging with various interest groups, (such as) the South African Police Service and the criminal justice system in general, academics, civil society and other stakeholders.

“We are a caring municipality but we cannot allow lawlessness to prevail. Inasmuch as we recognise and protect human rights, we also have an obligation to protect community interests,” said Mthethwa.

Councillor for the area, Warren Burne, confirmed last night that he had met the deputy mayor, Fawzia Peer, and city officials yesterday afternoon. “At that meeting the city has undertaken that the metro would have a presence in Bonela. The situation has become very tense and hostile, with rampant lawlessness taking place.

“There is a meeting at 2pm at the secondary school to address the situation,” said Burne.

KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbhele did not respond directly to residents’ allegations over the lack of police response on Thursday night, but said: “We confirm that at about 10am community members blockaded the road with stones, complaining about service delivery in the area.

“No injuries and no damage are reported at this stage. The police are at the scene to stabilise the situation.”