Scuffles broke out on Sunday between Faerie Glen residents and men believed to be land grabbers. Locals confronted a group of men who were believed to be illegally erecting a building on municipal property in Plaston Street.
Resident Anette Delport said when she and others approached the invaders, they claimed to have bought the piece of land.
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“When we asked them to produce proof of this, they were unable to do so. They then became rude.”
Delport said members of the group were especially angry at black residents of the area, calling them “sell-outs”.
Ward councillor Ernst Botha said the men had started building a structure and had an illegal water connection to the property.
“Probably to make the construction seem more legitimate,” he said.
Botha said the property belonged to the metro department of roads and transport.
“I proceeded to disrupt this meeting, saying that we could not engage with thugs grabbing land and, unless they could prove the contrary, they should leave,” he said
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“The land grabbers became very hostile and threatened the community that they will burn down their homes and kill them,” he said
In a video on social media, the men can be seen arguing with members of the community.
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One man can be heard saying he would forcefully occupy the land. “We are going to take it by force, it is our land,” he said.
“I am the legitimate owner,” another said. The men are seen driving off.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the piece of land concerned had not been sold to anyone. The metro was geared to deal with transgressions of this nature, he said.
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“The City’s metro police has a designated division that strives to proactively deal directly with issues of land invasion or grabbing.”
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