Land invasions follow court ruling
Funds for metros to address burgeoning metropolitan sprawl – minister
OVER 700 structures were demolished by City Law Enforcement agencies over the weekend. This comes days after the Western Cape High Court dismissed an application to evict 60 000 people living in the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi.
Three mass land invasions in Khayelitsha prompted the City to demolish at least 751 occupied and unoccupied structures. Principal inspector for law enforcement Wayne Dyason said: “In Eindloveni, Khayelitsha, City enforcement agencies demolished a further 189 illegally erected structures.
“A further 45 structures were demolished in SST Section, Town 2, Khayelitsha. Both areas are currently calm.”
Dyason said it was the second time they had had to come back to Endlovini and the shacks that were not dismantled were those which had been there for a long time.
Speaking for Endlovini, Ward 98 councillor Anele Gabuza said: “At first it was desperate people who stayed there, people who really didn’t have houses, but now that is not the case. People are just taking advantage. It is the same people who cause violence, as they end up being homeless as their shacks are dismantled and we are asking where were they staying before. We will meet tomorrow with mini-mayor Anada Ntsodo for a way forward. Then later on we will meet with all stakeholders.”
Dyason said between Swartklip, Oscar Mpetha Drive and Baden Powell Drive, 474 unoccupied structures were demolished and 43 occupied structures were identified and eviction will be effected via the legal process.
“The officers were met with a large degree of hostility by a crowd of people at the scene, but the operation was conducted in a professional manner. All roads in the area are open.”
Khayelitsha Development Forum chairperson Ndithini Tyhido said they are investigating corruption, as there are allegations that community leaders promised people land and sell it, saying they can erect shacks there.
‘AT FIRST IT WAS DESPERATE PEOPLE WHO STAYED THERE, BUT NOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE.’
IN a response to rapid urbanisation, Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and human settlements MECs have made available over R650 million to five metros, including the City of Cape Town. The funds are set to be used for infrastructure development which includes social housing, student accommodation, upgrading of informal settlements and acquiring land for the development of human settlements.
“South Africa is facing urbanisation challenges as young people move to cities to seek better economic opportunities. With this financial commitment we are enabling provinces and metros to respond to these challenges, including student accommodation needs and adequate housing for low-income earners,” Sisulu said.
Her department would work closely with mayors to ensure that the funds were not used for anything other than what they have been allocated for,” she said.
“Property owners have a responsibility to ensure that their properties are guarded. When they see illegal occupations taking place they must act immediately and report it to law-enforcement agencies. l will be meeting with property owners to indicate my views about this. Municipalities and law-enforcement agencies must take action immediately when cases of illegal occupations have been reported,” she said.
Over the past few years, metropolitan areas have experienced an increase in its population size, Sisulu said.
In a presentation by Piet van Zyl, head of department at Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, earlier this year, he showed how the population in the province was forecast to continue to grow over the next few years.
He said the population was expected to increase by over 32% over the next 25 years, while urban population would grow from 4.2 million to 6.2 million over the next 25 years.
Mayoral committee member for finance, Johan van der Merwe, said the City had not been made aware of the allocation of funds for this purpose.
“We have also engaged the National Treasury for clarity, but they are also unaware of this decision. We will comment once the issue has been clarified,” he said.