Metro police fire rubber bullets at land invaders

Rubber bullets flew as the Tshwane anti-land invasion team along with the police pounced on so-called land invaders in Soshanguve and Olievenhoutbocsh recently.

Responding to information that groups of people were invading land and illegally putting up structures in Soshanguve Block MM and Olievenhoutbosch ext. 24, Tshwane metro police went to the areas to evict the groups and demolish the structures.

Mayor Randall Williams said the metro’s land invasion unit, along with a service provider, demolished 55 unoccupied structures in Soshanguve.

“The teams were, however, met with resistance by a small crowd trying to prevent the metro from enforcing the law,” he said.

“This led to our teams having to fire a few rounds of rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. No one was injured.”

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The second incident occurred in Olievenhoutbosch ext. 24 where 45 structures were demolished.

He said this would send a stern warning to those who encouraged land invasions through “shack farming”, an act by criminals to erect shacks illegally on unoccupied or vacant land to sell or rent them out for money.

“The Tshwane metro has a zero-tolerance approach towards this illegal activity and stands ready to demolish these structures and prosecute wrongdoers.

“I would like to commend our teams for speedily responding to these incidents of attempted land invasion and shack farming.”

Randall Williams urged residents to report land invasions on a 24/7 service number: 012 358 7095/6.

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