Dan Plato says backyard dwellers must "retreat"

The defiant backyard dwellers who are continuing to illegally occupy a piece of land in Macassar should retreat, Mayor Dan Plato said. (from IOL)

Tension has grown over the past three days, with the protesting group not backing down on its intention of permanently occupying land close to the N2.

(photograph by Sam Clarke, Independent Newspapers, used without permission since they didn't protect it.. more great pics here)

On Thursday Plato said the protesters should stay away from the city-owned land, which had been budgeted for and earmarked for 2000 housing units. Once environmental impact studies were completed, work would start, he said.

If the group was allowed to squat there, they would "start shouting for services" such as electricity and toilets, he said. (Best excuse ever heard on InternAfrica! Dey Shouting at us!)

Plato claimed he had heard that certain elements had orchestrated the land invasion through misinformation.

They were sleeping in proper houses while causing trauma for the families spending nights out in the cold, he said.

On Tuesday, police and law enforcement agents razed structures the group had erected and confiscated their building materials.

A fracas broke out as the group clashed with the police, resulting in the injury of one policeman and several other people, and three arrests.

Professor Martin Legassick of the University of the Western Cape, a supporter of the backyard dwellers, was also held but later released.

A day later, the backyard dwellers said they had again erected about 70 structures on a nearby piece of land. The structures were demolished on Thursday by the law-enforcement agents, and building materials confiscated.

When the Cape Argus visited the area on Thursday, the situation was relatively calm, but police and law-enforcement agents were there with a Casspir and several police vans.

The backyard dwellers, some with beds, mattresses and blankets still lying on the land, claimed that local councillor John Heuvel had betrayed them by ordering law-enforcement agents to raze their structures despite an agreement with him.

"People are desperate, my brethren.

"We don't need violence.

"We need a place to stay," said Gert Smit, 38.

Women with children said they had nowhere to go on the cold and rainy nights.

Their spokesman Mzonke Poni said the group would stay on the land and the way forward would be discussed on Friday night.

Aluta Continua!!