Land invaders thwarted by stakeholders
Residents were up in arms after a group of people attempted to build shacks between Berea West and Chesterville on Monday night.
RESIDENTS of Severn Drive, Berea West called an urgent meeting on Monday night after a group of people attempted to build shacks between Berea West and Chesterville.
ANC Ward 24 councillor, Sifiso Mngadi, said he received a call from Chesterville residents on Saturday about people clearing a forest to build shacks.
“I called the municipality police to disperse them,” he said.
Mngadi said the invaders returned on Sunday and police had to be called to intervene again.
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“On Monday, the invaders came to my office with their grievances and told me the crime is high in that area which is why building houses there will decrease crime.
“I really did not understand their explanation as what they were doing was illegal. I told them we will meet with committees and various stakeholders to discuss a way forward,” said Mngadi.
Steering committee
Deputy mayor, Fawzia Peer and all stakeholders were present to address the residents at the meeting.
“As much as we are against land invasion, residents needs to understand the cause.”
“There is a huge gap between Berea West and Chesterville residents. I appealed to the Berea West community to work hand in hand with the Chersterville community to try and close this gap.”
ALSO READ: Illegal land invasion angers residents
Ward 24 and 92 councillor, DA PR councillor, Caelee Laing, said residents have organised a steering committee to oversee land invasion prevention.
Blake Richards from the Land Invasion Department advised that his department is taking this matter seriously.
“Colonel Zwelakhe Zondi from SAPS and Metro Police officials reiterated this. The area will be watched to prevent this from recurring. The community are taking a strong stand against the invasion of land in their area,” said Laing.
Tozi Mthethwa, eThekwini Municipality head of communication response:
The City is aware of three land invasion attempts in Berea West area.
Each time our members have attended to the matter. On Sunday, 21 May, the invaders were found clearing land.When our Land Invasion Unit members tried to stop them, they became violent.
The invasions are on-going and our members are monitoring the area.
eThekwini Municipality’s Land Invasion Unit is mandated to stop and discourage people who attempt to illegally occupy land that has been identified for development for residents waiting for houses.
This is in fairness to most law abiding citizens who patiently wait to be allocated homes.
The Municipality’s Land Invasion Unit’s main function is to control, monitor and prevent any illegal erection or unauthorised building within the eThekwini jurisdiction and is in line with the PIE Act 19 of 1998 and Municipal Land Protection Policy.
Apply for court orders
Private property owners who have land under threat of being invaded are urged to apply for court orders to protect their property and immediately report trespassing to the police.
Residents are urged to contact the eThekwini Municipality’s Security Management Unit on 031 311 4699 or 079 821 8879 to report land invasion or our Land Invasion Unit on 031 311 4220, 031 311 4083, 031 311 4024 (during work hours) or 031 311 4702, 031 3114667, 031 3114669, 031 311 4701 after hours or on weekends.
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