Illegal land grabs
Violent protests erupt in Hangberg after anti-land invasion operation by CoCT
Residents burned tyres, threw stones, and moved a vehicle and a fishing vessel into the road to block motorists.
The applicants are asking the court to interdict the city from demolishing structures without court oversight for the duration of the national state of disaster.
The plan seeks to fight the mushrooming of informal settlement and illegal land invasions.
The City of Cape Town says since last January, it had to clear more than 26,000 plots and pegs marked out for dwellings.
On Monday, Makhubo visited Lawley, south of Johannesburg, after over 80 shacks were destroyed by the Red Ants last week.
Mayor Geoff Makhubo visited the Kokotela informal settlement on Monday afternoon after over 80 shacks were destroyed by the Red Ants last week.
That was on the back of ongoing complaints by residents in who have slammed alleged land invaders in the area, arguing that homelessness does not legitimise occupying vacant property.
The area had been a hotspot for land grabs with Lenasia residents last week threatening to shut down the area in protest against illegal land occupation.
The Midvaal community says those who carry out the land invasions are violent, leaving them fearing for their lives.
Officers fired rubber bullets at a group that had occupied land in Soshanguve on Monday.
About 295 have been recorded between January and May. By this time last year, there were only 110.
Farouk Jardine, who mobilised the illegal occupation, says he’s told at least 3,000 more residents to set up their homes.
DA Chief Whip in the Western Cape Legislature Mark Wiley says the majority of these protests are being orchestrated by individuals and groups with the clear aim of destabilising the province.
The community has been demonstrating since early Monday morning with several people being injured in clashes with officers.
The land occupiers clashed with police on Sunday after they tried to erect shacks on a vacant plot.
Earlier on Sunday, residents went on a rampage, barricading roads with rocks and burning tyres while claiming that they have received permission from the owners of the open field to build their homes.
About four structures have been demolished by police following a land occupation in Protea Glen.
The group says they want space to erect their homes and the vacant piece of land is an ideal location.
Earlier this week, police dispersed a crowd in the area which was trying to illegally grab land, claiming they wanted the space to build their homes.