Owners of the farm 346JS applied to have the 577 stands electrified following their successful land claim after forced removals in 1974.

Since the handover, thousands of illegal land grabs have played out at Doornkop where invaders are estimated to be in the vicinity of 4000 families.

A group of people from Skierlek informal settlement on the farm, went to the place where poles were delivered and set it alight.

The association says that the SAPS failed to respond to calls by owners who knew about the sabotage two hours before the first match was struck.

“Our farm is experiencing illegal occupation by police, defence force members, traffic officials and other government officials, who are also responsible for the illegal sale of more stands,” a complainant told the paper on conditions of anonymity.

The man says that the municipality has done nothing to assist the association with evicting the thousands of invaders threatening their lives and property.

Eskom has petitioned the association to seek political intervention now that illegal occupiers of land are demanding electricity.

Steve Tshwete mayor, Mr Mike Masina, met with the association shortly after the incident and instructed them to allow Eskom to also electrify the informal settlement, which does not enjoy township status.

The owners want to see the property remain farmland and are looking to the high court to serve eviction notices on all illegal occupiers.

Meanwhile, the municipality in conjunction with the department of land affairs, has promised to provide alternative land for the illegals.

The complainant equates the situation to that of the apartheid regime saying that the land restitution is “just another President Mandela legacy being destroyed by the security forces of the new government”.