The back-and-forth over the vacant land in Austin View seems to be far from over after land invaders built shacks again.

Midrand Reporter spotted the increasing number of shacks, some made of cardboard and plastic, on June 30.

Between March and April last year, there was a massive eviction conducted by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), the province’s Department of Human Settlements, the Red Ants, and private security companies.

Also read: Court interdict stops 2 Glen Austin illegal land grabs in 2 different areas

During that eviction, about 5 000 shacks were taken down, leaving thousands stranded.

The land, which belongs to the city, has been a subject of back-and-forth evictions between authorities and the determined people, who want to settle there.

After several evictions in 2024, the land was fenced with barbed wire, and a private security company was appointed to guard against any intrusion.

Also read: City takes illegal flat owner in President Park to court over illegal building

It is unclear what has happened to the security company.The Department of Human Settlements and JMPD were contacted on July 8 about the recent developments.

Their responses will be published as soon as they become available.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!