The City of Cape Town is buckling under a wave of land invasions as thousands of people erect illegal structures in and around the city.
And, according to a report by the city’s Human Settlement Services to the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, most of the invasions are orchestrated either to achieve political goals or for other motives by groups of people such as backyard dwellers.
In the past four years alone city officials have removed 7 707 pegs put down by people intending to to build illegal structures on open land, while 1 320 illegal structures were demolished.
There were 62 land invasions and in addition, people illegally occupied 2 575 structures. These figures reflect invasions in only three of the city’s subregions, Central, South Peninsula and Tygerberg.
They do not include Blaauwberg, Helderberg and Oostenberg.
Steve Hayward the city’s operational manager for informal housing told the committee that it was virtually impossible to deal with the situation with its small staff.
The city only had 36 staff members to help prevent and remove illegal structures or to stop land invasions city-wide.
Hayward said once officials had stopped invasions, private contractors were contracted to remove illegal structures.
He said there had been some instances where city councillors had taken sides with the land invaders against officials trying to do their work.
This made it extremely difficult for officials to carry out their work.
He made a passionate plea to city councillors to allow officials to carry out their work.
Portfolio Committee chairperson JP Smith pointed out that if councillors obstructed law enforcement officers in carrying out their duties, such councillors could be suspended.
“There is a code of conduct councillors must comply with, otherwise they will have to face consequences.”
Independent Democrats councillor Celeste Williams said it was important that councillors upheld the law.
“What is right is right. We should uphold the law. It is better to stay away from such situations otherwise people expect miracles from you.”
Smith asked whether the Metro Police were helping the small team of 36 officials in cases of land invasions.
Metro Police Chief Bongani Jonas said city police were law enforcers and provided protection and should not be required to remove illegal structures.
ANC Councillor Depouch Elese said some of the people invading land were gangsters who occupied land and then formed illegal committees. Cape Argus
And, according to a report by the city’s Human Settlement Services to the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, most of the invasions are orchestrated either to achieve political goals or for other motives by groups of people such as backyard dwellers.
In the past four years alone city officials have removed 7 707 pegs put down by people intending to to build illegal structures on open land, while 1 320 illegal structures were demolished.
There were 62 land invasions and in addition, people illegally occupied 2 575 structures. These figures reflect invasions in only three of the city’s subregions, Central, South Peninsula and Tygerberg.
They do not include Blaauwberg, Helderberg and Oostenberg.
Steve Hayward the city’s operational manager for informal housing told the committee that it was virtually impossible to deal with the situation with its small staff.
The city only had 36 staff members to help prevent and remove illegal structures or to stop land invasions city-wide.
Hayward said once officials had stopped invasions, private contractors were contracted to remove illegal structures.
He said there had been some instances where city councillors had taken sides with the land invaders against officials trying to do their work.
This made it extremely difficult for officials to carry out their work.
He made a passionate plea to city councillors to allow officials to carry out their work.
Portfolio Committee chairperson JP Smith pointed out that if councillors obstructed law enforcement officers in carrying out their duties, such councillors could be suspended.
“There is a code of conduct councillors must comply with, otherwise they will have to face consequences.”
Independent Democrats councillor Celeste Williams said it was important that councillors upheld the law.
“What is right is right. We should uphold the law. It is better to stay away from such situations otherwise people expect miracles from you.”
Smith asked whether the Metro Police were helping the small team of 36 officials in cases of land invasions.
Metro Police Chief Bongani Jonas said city police were law enforcers and provided protection and should not be required to remove illegal structures.
ANC Councillor Depouch Elese said some of the people invading land were gangsters who occupied land and then formed illegal committees. Cape Argus
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