Land grabs
Despite decrease in land grabs, WC govt spends over R53m on security
The Western Cape Human Settlements Department said since April its spent over R53 million to secure state land.
However, the Western Cape Human Settlements Department on Monday said this was down compared to last year's figures.
Makeshift shelters have been popping up on a piece of land earmarked for development.
There have been running battles between private security guards, police and protestors in the Midrand area.
Twenty-six years into democracy following the end of apartheid, land ownership remains a thorny issue in South Africa, which is one of the world’s most unequal countries, according to the World Bank.
Bloekombos has been volatile for the past few weeks as a result of these demonstrations.
Many of the clashes broke out during land grabs and ensuing operations to take down illegally. Over the past weekend - violence erupted again in a Kraaifontein community, four people have been arrested.
A video, which has been shared widely, shows the officers removing Bulelani Qholani from his home in the Empolweni while he was washing himself.
The action took place as a cold front swept over the peninsula and sparked violent clashes with police on Thursday.
It is believed the buildings were erected on Saturday morning.
The Khayelitsha community went to court last week after their homes were demolished, despite a prohibition on evictions during the lockdown periods.
Last week, the Red Ants demolished homes at the Kokotela informal settlement in the area.
The City of Johannesburg says there’s been an increase in a trend of criminals invading open land owned by the state as the rest of the country is on a 35-day lockdown.
Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile on Tuesday said illegal land occupation in the south of Johannesburg has spiraled out of control.
In recent weeks, land and sugar cane fields belonging to the Mathulini Communal Property Association were set alight resulting in damage estimated at around R3 million.
Land grabbers went on the rampage on Thursday morning, blocking the R558 and K54.
Residents in Zakariyya Park and Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg on Friday said they were tired of the recent mushrooming of informal settlements in their areas.
EFF leader Julius Malema made the comments at the party elective conference in Bloemfontein in 2014.
On Saturday, police had to be deployed to the area as tensions boiled over between alleged land grabbers and community members.