Land invaders build shacks on private land in Etete

More than 200 people from Groutville and Etete invaded privately-owned land in Etete last week because they said it had become a hiding place for criminals.

According to the invaders, the land has become a dumpsite for dead bodies and criminal activity, which police have dismissed as untrue.

“To solve this issue, we thought it was better if we occupy the land. As far as we know it does not belong to anyone. So last week we began dividing the land and started to build our shacks,” said Sakhile Mthethwa from Groutville.

The four hectares of land belong to the Desai family from Tongaat.

Rajendra Desai said they were still weighing their options as to whether they will build houses to rent out or use the land for industrial purposes.

“My family bought this land more than 30 years ago and it was very unfair to be chased away by people who have illegally occupied our land,” said Desai.

The family is planning to fence the land and erect a board to state that it is privately owned.

Also read: Expropriation without compensation – what does it mean?

Umhlali SAPS spokesperson Vinny Pillay dismissed the claims that the land provided refuge for criminals.

“We have not received any reports of dead bodies found here nor have any crimes been reported,” said Pillay.

There is a meeting set to take place soon between the invaders and Desai to discuss a way forward.

“One thing must be clear, we will be occupying this land but we need to have a meeting with the Desai family and come to an agreement that will be fair to them,” said Khaya Dlamini.

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