Situation turns volatile at Dann Road squatter camp
EXPRESS tried to get comment from the squatters but they were too irate
Security guards deployed at the land on Dann Road near Glen Balad Mall in Glen Marais currently being occupied by illegal squatters,, were sent running by squatters on Saturday.
According to ward councillor Jaco Terblanche the security officers where chased away by the squatters carrying sticks.
“To try and stop this, the police were called to scene. While they were talking to the squatters, they realised one of their vehicles had a flat tyre. They returned to the station to get it fixed.”
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Terblanche said with the police gone, the squatters had the freedom to continue what they had started in the morning.
“Due to the fact that the land owner was intimidated at previous encounters with the squatters, the squatters did not allow him to go near them,” said Terblanche.
“There was not much he could do but to watch as they continued erecting structures on his land.
“The security guards were deployed to the land on Friday and was instructed to lock a gate on Saturday, which was to the disapproval of the squatters.”
Things turned sour when the squatters discovered they couldn’t enter and exit the land as they wished due to the locked gate.
EXPRESS tried to get comment from the squatters but they were too irate.
Land occupation: done.
— Mampuru M Mampuru (@Mampuru_Mampuru) October 4, 2017
Providing them with toilets: done.
Providing clean water: done.
Marikana in Glan Marrais is our home pic.twitter.com/aEY6a3FEnv
Terblanche told EXPRESS the land owner eventually managed to demolish the new structures.
“The police were back on scene and gave the land owner security while he demolished the new structures. We thought the worst was over but when I later passed by the land I saw people running and realised it was the security officers being chased away by squatters.
“I spoke to the land owner who was aware of what had happened. I was told he opened a case of trespassing against the people erecting the new structures, another for intimidation and for damage to property as the squatters also damaged the gate.
“New security will be deployed to the land.”
