UPDATE: An increase of illegal land invasion leads to authorities’ operation on Allandale and K101 roads
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has since 'condemned officials from burning or destroying any belongings' during illegal land occupation operations.
[Update: January 19, 15:00]
Further comment has been made by Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s spokesperson Officer Xolani Fihla since the original story was published.
According to Fihla, “JMPD condemns officials from burning or destroying any belongings, and if that is the case, the department requests any tangible evidence for disciplinary action to be taken.”
Details: JMPD 011 375 5911.
[Initial: January 19, 09:00]
An increase in illegal land occupiers around Midrand has seen the demolition of hundreds of plastic shacks by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD).
The structures were erected on the corner of Allandale Road and the K101. Authorities promise to expand the operation to other areas.
In December last year, the Midrand Reporter noticed about three groups of land invaders in different locations, including the above-mentioned location, as well as on R101 Old Pretoria Main Road (North) just after the Gautrain Station and on Le Roux Avenue.
On December 31, JMPD and a private security company, conducted an operation where 89 illegal structures (plastic shacks) were removed.
However, within two weeks the land grabbers returned and erected shacks again.
On January 13, JMPD officials, together with the Red Ants and private security companies, burnt down the shacks on Allandale Road and K101.
JMPD spokesperson Officer Xolani Fihla has conceded that illegal land invasion remains a severe scourge in Johannesburg, where people illegally occupy land without approval from legal owners.
Fihla said the operations will soon expand to the other areas, and it would be beneficial if departments such as Pikitup could assist with the removal of remaining waste. “There are municipal by-laws that empower JMPD to do the relevant enforcement by removing illegal structures erected in the city, and this must be done within the ambits of the relevant legislation.”
He added the Municipal By-Laws on Public Open Space Section 17 (1)(c) states, No person may within a public open space – erect, build or assemble any structure, including a hut, tent, screen, bulletin board, pole, stand or stage. Section 13 (c) states, No person may camp or reside within a public open space.
Local residents applauded the officers for removing the invaders. Resident Lolo Lorr said next time JMPD must act quickly, “[The invaders] have been staying here for more than a year and their numbers kept growing.”
Thenjiwe Ngcobo, another resident, added, “Well done JMPD, we are tired of this non-compliance of people invading spaces unauthorised. Bring back the law enforcement.”
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said in a statement that both state and privately-owned land can be invaded unlawfully. “Government has a constitutional duty to ensure – where required and with available resources – that all citizens can enjoy their basic rights to access to land and to housing. Where large-scale invasions occur, the government has a similar duty to assist private landowners to protect their land.”
When the Midrand Reporter approached MMC for Public Safety David Tembe to comment on the removal of illegal land invaders and JMPD’s subsequent torching of shacks and possessions, Tembe’s spokesperson Tlotlego Kgosilentswe said the MMC ‘did not want to comment on the JMPD’s operation’.
Details: Report land invasions by calling the Anti-Land Invasion Hotline on 080 012 0555.
Related article:
UPDATE: Police on scene of attempted land invasion in Waterfall
