Land grabs leave residents fearing for their safety

AN INDUNA has been accused of selling privately owned and vacant land in Clare Estate for R6 000.

Prospective buyers can allegedly buy a two-bedroom home, built with concrete blocks, from him for R22 000.

“I’ve spoken to a few people in the area, who were keen on getting a piece of land for themselves,” said Vincent Chetty of the Clare Estate Action Committee.

“They claimed an induna had told them, they could take the land, provided they paid a fee.”

Two weeks ago, informal dwellers began making inroads in the area, clearing the land with the intention to build their homes.

But committee members and the eThekwini Municipality’s Land Invasion Unit thwarted their efforts.

“This thing (land invasion) has been organised by someone,” said Chetty, who added that despite any structures being built he was certain the problem would fester if left unchecked.

“We have been working around the clock with the deputy mayor (Fawzia Peer), going out and tearing down the land markers and getting rid of any building material that we come across.”

By Monday, people were seen clearing the bush. They were instructed to leave.

A woman, 85, living in a complex in Chiltern Place, said while she was hanging clothing on the washing line, a person had walked by and said: “Hi ma’am, I am going to be your new neighbour.”

Her niece said they feared for their safety: “We can’t even leave the front gate open or clothing on the line for fear that something would happen. On Sunday, a group of people demanded we let them into our complex. We had to call the police.”

Another resident said her father, 77, refused to leave the area.

“He said he was comfortable here and had a good relationship with the current neighbours.”

A third resident said he moved in with his 68-year-old mother two weeks ago because she had called him late at night in tears.

“When I arrived, a group of people stood in the bush staring at us, while the others worked. Anyone would get scared.”

The municipality reportedly said it was looking at robust measures to address land grabs by engaging various interested groups, including the police and the criminal justice system, academics, civil society and other stakeholders.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said about 200 people blockaded Palmiet Road on Sunday. They burnt tyres and logs.

“Twenty-two people were arrested for public violence.”

She said on Tuesday that police had been monitoring the area and the situation was calm.

The person alleged to be the induna could not be reached for comment.

Peer has encouraged residents to develop on their private vacant properties.

She said residents must also promptly call the Land Invasion Unit if they noticed any activity in their area.