Court prohibits EFF’s land grabs

EKURHULENI: METRO SECURES AN URGENT INTERDICT Fighters ‘and local community leaders have been involved in the unlawful invasion of properties since September last year’.

The Ekurhuleni metro has obtained an urgent interdict to stop the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from occupying vacant land and farms earmarked for RDP housing.

Judge Natvarlal Ranchod granted an order in the North Gauteng High Court, authorising the metro, with the help of the SA Police Service (SAPS), to demolish structures and remove people who are occupying land.

Selven Frank, who works in the municipal legal office, said in court papers: “The EFF and local community leaders in Ekurhuleni have been involved in the unlawful invasion of properties since September last year, inciting vulnerable members of the community to gather in the hope they will receive land.”

The EFF has on many occasions stated its resolve to begin strategic occupation of mostly vacant land throughout the country.

Their unlawful acts have in the past resulted in violent clashes with law enforcement agencies.

Frank states that RDP houses have already been constructed on government land and were awaiting services – electricity, sewerage, water and so on – while in other instances land had been approved as a township and was awaiting development.

The municipality, with the help of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police, the SA Police Service and Red Ants, have so far managed to thwart all land invasion attempts.

Frank said statements attributed to the EFF showed an orchestrated attempt on the part of the party to encourage and incite members of the community who were clearly desperate to invade land and cause lawlessness.

Jemmy Kwenaite, an EFF community organiser in Tembisa, went as far as to state that they will “burn and destroy everything that belongs to government”.

Frank said: “Their [EFF] unlawful conduct derails the progress which has been made by the applicant [Ekurhuleni metro] and other municipalities. It encourages lawlessness and anarchy by playing on the emotions of the poor.”

Early this year, City of Tshwane also obtained a court interdict against the EFF to stop unlawful land grabs within their municipal boundaries. –