No-show by Dann Road property owners at squatter camp meeting

THE owners of the Dann Road property, who failed to attend the public meeting about the squatters on the property, informed ward councillor Jaco Terblanche via email why they would not be present.

“We welcome any constructive and positive comments, suggestions to resolve this concern of illegal land occupation currently on Dann Road.

“We are in the process of approaching the courts for assistance. This is a lengthy and costly process. Early indications are that we will only have a court date some time during the course of 2018.”

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The owners said this was the only available recourse as the EMPD and SAPS had indicated they were not willing to be involved with any further action regarding this matter without a court order.

“Just as the community is frustrated, we are also angered, frustrated and bewildered as to how this sequence of events unfolded so rapidly in the last couple of months. We are, after all, also community members,” read the email.

The property owners have denied ever allowing anyone to settle on their land. The owners also confirmed they had placed unarmed guards on their property.

In the same email, the owners said this had become what could be deemed a political agenda.

“We have compassion and understanding with the plight of the vagrants who have invaded our property. We have tried to resolve both the council and the community’s concerns on numerous occasions by way of mutual engagement with the vagrants.

“We have come under the impression that this property is now part of a political agenda that we never anticipated or intended to be involved with. We are always available to any further positive and constructive advice, or advice or discussions from either council, SAPS, EMPD and the community,” the email read.