In a move aimed at combating the building of shacks in open public spaces, the city had vowed “to take swift action each time the unlawful occupation of land takes place”.
Following the dismantling of the “illegally” built shacks of 18 Joe Slovo Park families living in a stormwater retention compound in Milnerton on Wednesday night, the city’s human settlement services director Seth Maqethuka said it could not condone unlawful land invasions.
“The city does not offer unlawful land invaders halls, tents or alternative land. The city cannot condone unlawful land invasions by issuing starter packs. We have not done so in the past,” said Maqethuka.
The breaking down of the shacks by the City of Cape Town’s land invasion unit left the families collecting their belongings and scrambling for a place to sleep.
On Thursday night the city ward councillor for the Joe Slovo Park area, Elizabeth Berry of the DA, said: “That is my area, but I never heard anything about that.”
A committee member for the area, Patricia Mahitsha, condemned officials of the city’s land invasion unit for not issuing a warning and for conducting their action just after sunset.
But Maqethuka replied: “There was no need [for a warning] in this case as when our staff arrived on the scene, they [the shack dwellers] started removing their belongings themselves.
“We assume that they knew what they were doing was illegal as we have had previous actions of this sort in this area.”
However, Maqethuka said that, in the normal case of events, the city does warn unlawful occupants of land that their actions are illegal and that the city would take measures against them.
A city official in the housing unit, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the city’s no-nonsense approach to land invasions would be the start of a “very hard but effective process” in controlling land.
“The tough action against Joe Slovo residents would set a precedent for whoever intends doing likewise in future. People are clever - they had just arrived in the city, then they occupy any open space hoping to be prioritised by the city when it comes to housing or land allocation.
“What about the thousands of homeless who have been waiting for years in the midst of this staggering housing backlog of more than 350,000 units? Any preferential treatment to them would sound very unfair to others. The bottom line is that people must know there is limited land and more people are wanting a roof over their heads,” said the official. - Cape Argus
Following the dismantling of the “illegally” built shacks of 18 Joe Slovo Park families living in a stormwater retention compound in Milnerton on Wednesday night, the city’s human settlement services director Seth Maqethuka said it could not condone unlawful land invasions.
“The city does not offer unlawful land invaders halls, tents or alternative land. The city cannot condone unlawful land invasions by issuing starter packs. We have not done so in the past,” said Maqethuka.
The breaking down of the shacks by the City of Cape Town’s land invasion unit left the families collecting their belongings and scrambling for a place to sleep.
On Thursday night the city ward councillor for the Joe Slovo Park area, Elizabeth Berry of the DA, said: “That is my area, but I never heard anything about that.”
A committee member for the area, Patricia Mahitsha, condemned officials of the city’s land invasion unit for not issuing a warning and for conducting their action just after sunset.
But Maqethuka replied: “There was no need [for a warning] in this case as when our staff arrived on the scene, they [the shack dwellers] started removing their belongings themselves.
“We assume that they knew what they were doing was illegal as we have had previous actions of this sort in this area.”
However, Maqethuka said that, in the normal case of events, the city does warn unlawful occupants of land that their actions are illegal and that the city would take measures against them.
A city official in the housing unit, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the city’s no-nonsense approach to land invasions would be the start of a “very hard but effective process” in controlling land.
“The tough action against Joe Slovo residents would set a precedent for whoever intends doing likewise in future. People are clever - they had just arrived in the city, then they occupy any open space hoping to be prioritised by the city when it comes to housing or land allocation.
“What about the thousands of homeless who have been waiting for years in the midst of this staggering housing backlog of more than 350,000 units? Any preferential treatment to them would sound very unfair to others. The bottom line is that people must know there is limited land and more people are wanting a roof over their heads,” said the official. - Cape Argus
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