The land debacle in Zandspruit has already caused so much unrest as informal dwellers continue to fight for the right to remain on the land they have occupied.
Whether legally or illegally, makeshift homes have mushroomed on unoccupied land in the area, with families marking their territories.
Law-enforcement entities destroying their ‘homes’ is usually an issue that triggers violent demonstrations – a stance they take to make their voices heard. Nevertheless, after causing the noise, they go back and build even more structures once the dispatched units are no longer on site.
However, this constant cat and mouse situation between law enforcement and the community is what the local EFF (Bokamoso branch) leaders are against and seek answers from the powers that be about what they claim are illegal evictions.
Community activists Gift Mkasi, the Branch Secretary and the EFF’s development leader, and Yandisa Phungu recently visited Honeydew Police Station to warn the police to stop interfering in land issues in Zandspruit.
Speaking to the Northsider, Mkasi claimed, “People are continuing to occupy unused land and aren’t turning back. But we’ve been having challenges with the local police who interfere with the dwellers. They continue to break the constitution and the rights of the people by removing them from the only place they call home. They do so without eviction letters, but influence from a private landowner.”
In a previous in-depth interview about this hot topic, the EFF member indicated that the land invasions, particularly in Zandspruit, were driven by poverty and to evade paying rent.
Mkasi further alluded that the dwellers are reasonable and peaceful people when unprovoked. “There was an item to occupy a piece of land that is earmarked for development, but because our people are normal and understanding they listened when they were informed not to erect on the said land. However, with private property, we want the private owner to safeguard his land by using private measures instead of the state and creating clashes among us,” he suggested.
Honeydew Police spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan rubbished the claims that the station interfered in private land matters. “The police do not have the mandate to remove structures – Council does. In the event that a private owner has laid a complaint with Council, action is taken accordingly,” he clarified.
