Land invasion continue to be a norm in the Nsikazi region
The land invasion continues to be a norm in this part of the Nsikazi region and it continues to give government sleepless nights.
In the City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM), there are many cases of land grabbing at Emkhatsini, near Karino Estate, Gwede Mantashe Settlement near Emoyeni Mall, and Nomzamo Settlement near Tekwane South.
Just a year ago, CMLM evicted and demolished structures illegally occupying a piece of land near Tekwane South that was named Nomzamo Settlement. This was after the City of Mbombela had obtained a court order to effect evictions in the area. According to the municipality, this potion of land had been earmarked for development.
The demolition of structures sparked outrage among residents in April 2019, who demanded to be relocated as they had nowhere else to go. They took to the road in protest with burning tyres and branches.
Conceding defeat, the squatters abandoned their protest and refrained from occupying this land.
But just a few months after their failed attempt to occupy the land, they came back and this time in larger numbers.
Just a few kilometres from this area lies another land targeted by invaders. The Gwede Mantashe Settlement near Emoyeni Mall dominated media headlines in 2015 after property developers won a High Court battle to stop people from erecting shacks and selling stands there.
After the court ruling, squatters desisted from illegally occupying the land. But fast forward to 2020, this piece of land has once again been targeted, with people selling stands for anything between
R5 000 and R40 000, depending on who the buyer is.
The sale of stands in these pieces of land is conducted by bogus headmen claiming to be acting on behalf of traditional leaders.
Speaking to Lowvelder Express, Cogta MEC Mandla Msibi said he was aware of these illegal activities and government will act harshly against transgressors.
“I have discussed this matter extensively with the leadership of both our municipalities and Emakhosi (traditional leaders) and strongly condemned the practice of bogus headmen who illegally allocate land sites without following proper processes.
“Cogta will be providing support to all municipalities through radio slots to enable executive mayors and key political office bearers to speak out against the crippling acts of land invasion in the municipalities and communities,” said Msibi.
He said the trend of land grabbing gives rise to service-delivery protests and contribute to infrastructure damage.
“These people who invade unoccupied land are the very same people who turn and start service-delivery protests. You must remember that government plans timeously and therefore do certain things according to their planned budgets,” Msibi explained.
He said his department, working closely with Salga, will promote that service level agreements are entered into between traditional leaders and municipal councils in terms of Regulation 19 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, read with Section 24 of the Municipal Systems Act, which states that municipalities must consult traditional leaders when developing integrated development plans.
