Concern grows over Motala Heights land invasion
A concerned resident said they have tried their very best to have this matter dealt with but it falls on deaf ears.
THE DA PR councillor for ward 15, Marlaine Nair said she has requested details of the owner of the property that is being invaded illegally in Motala Heights.
This comes after a resident complained that the invasion started on Alagappa Road four years ago and felt that no one took the issue seriously.
ALSO READ: Attempted land invasion halted in Motala Heights
“Sometimes the structures are knocked down but, within a short space of time, the invaders return and rebuild. The number of shacks are now increasing drastically,” said the resident, whose name is known to the Highway Mail.
According to the resident, the land is demarcated as a Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (DMOSS) and no one is allowed to build or develop it.
Nair said it is everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment for generations to come. “If this is a DMOSS land, then owners are not permitted to destroy the natural vegetation on it or build on it,” said Nair.
She noted that the problem is that the local environmental law enforcement has limitations on the mandate.
ALSO READ: Residents and municipality clash over Mariannridge land invasion
“They cannot arrest anyone for environmental crimes, but only refer the crimes to metro police and have the perpetrators eventually come before a court. Unfortunately, this takes far too long and, by that time, the environment has already experienced irreparable damage. This is an issue that needs to be addressed,” she said.
Nair added that if the government was serious about preserving the environment, it needed to look at making amendments to legislation to give greater powers to environmental law enforcement.
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