Land grabs continue to trouble suburbs in the east of Pretoria, as a new informal settlement, referred to as ‘Seven Eleven’, on the corner of Delmas Road and De Villebois Mareuil Drive just after the Ghost Mall, has started to attract new residents.

The makeshift camp has been set up on both privately owned land and a portion of land owned by the metro, creating a complicated and worrying situation for residents and authorities.

Earlier this year, on July 11, the metro completed a long-awaited operation to remove illegal occupants from the environmentally sensitive Wolwespruit wetland, located on the corner of Solomon Mahlangu Drive and Delmas Road.

According to the municipality, 70 verified South African nationals were successfully relocated to Pienaarspoort Ext 22, 23 and 25.

However, while South African nationals were assisted with relocation, foreign nationals who did not qualify for resettlement have now moved into the new illegal camp, Seven Eleven.

Local ratepayers in Moreleta Park, Elardus Park and surrounding areas have raised serious concerns about the impact of the illegal occupation on health, safety, and security in the area.

Ratepayers say the presence of squatters is making the neighbourhood unsafe, while the open land is now being used for illegal dumping and criminal activity.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said a social worker’s visit confirmed that the people currently occupying Seven Eleven are illegal foreign nationals who previously lived at the Wolwespruit informal settlement.

Mashigo said, according to findings at the site, there are five shacks currently built in the area, and around 15 people. The shacks are mostly erected at night and taken down during the day.

He said the matter has now been handed over to the Human Settlements Department and TMPD.

Mashigo said the outcome of the investigation will determine what kind of intervention is needed and whether further action will be taken by other municipal departments.

Ward 47 councillor Lida Erasmus said she is aware of the illegal occupation, but explained that the situation is not simple, as a large portion of the land was sold at auction and is now privately owned.

“The City of Tshwane cannot remove people who are residing on private land, even if they are squatting illegally. Only the owner of the property can have them removed for trespassing,” Erasmus explained.

She added that TMPD regularly removes people from the parts that fall under municipal land, but this does not solve the wider issue, as many move back or stay on the private part of the property.

Shawn Fouché, a spokesperson for the LS4 Community Policing Support Forum, said the organisation has been asking the city for help for more than five years, but the land remains unsecured and continues to be a danger to the community.

“Despite repeated requests for Tshwane to secure the area, the property remains open and has become a dumping site and a shelter for vagrants and illegal occupants,” said Fouché.

“This presents a serious health and security risk to the surrounding community.”

She added that since the property was sold at auction, LS4, SAPS, TMPD and residents have tried to reach out to the apparent new owner, but no meaningful action has been taken.

Fouché said the city needed to perform their duties related to the by-laws under the metro’s housing by-laws on property maintenance. The by-laws state that property owners must maintain their buildings and land to prevent neglect and prevent it from becoming a risk to public health and safety.

LS4 has demanded urgent action to secure the property to prevent illegal occupation, clear illegal dumping, and ensure continuous compliance with by-laws.

She said residents are frustrated and fear for their safety.

“We are heading into the festive season, and people will go on holiday, leaving their houses, which makes it tricky as squatters move into the area and could pose a security hazard.”

Corrie Burns, who lives in Moreleta Park, said the number of squatters is increasing every day.

“The squatters are getting more and more. Some of them even hide under trees, but their number keeps growing,” she said.

“Something needs to be done because most of them move onto the private property and the owner is nowhere to be found.

“Residents are calling on the city, law enforcement and the private property owner to take urgent and co-ordinated action before the situation spirals out of control.”

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