Invaders vow to remain on Khayelitsha land despite ruling
KHAYELITSHA residents have said they will take steps to ensure they stay on land owned by Denel – an aerospace and defence technology firm – despite a high court judgment prohibiting them from occupying the land.
The judgment, made this week by Acting Judge Brendan Manca, confirmed an interdict granted to Denel to stop the illegal invasion of its land, and dismissed a counter-application brought by the illegal occupants against the firm, the City and police, for the return of building materials.
The illegal occupants have also been ordered to pay legal fees incurred by the City and Denel.
The Khayelitsha
back- yarders and informal settlement residents invaded Denelowned land at the beginning of April, but two days later, their structures were demolished by the City when Denel obtained an interim order to stop the invasion of the land adjacent to the Nolungile train station.
Thembelani Liwani, one of the occupiers of the land, said: “We will be taking further steps, making sure we will stay on the land no matter what the law says.”
Liwani said she has since been renting another place and living with friends.
Mabhuti Nyeni, who had also set up a home on the land, said he had lost everything after the demolition. “I am heartbroken because that material was not for free. We had to buy that material.”
Mayco member for human settlements, Benedicta van Minnen, said: “We welcome the confirmation of the lawfulness of the City’s actions in matters of this nature.”
She explained risks of fire and floods often associated with invaded land, and that the delivery of other services would be jeopardised, if not impossible in some cases.
She said the City could not afford or tolerate invasions.