Twenty-five shacks have been demolished on vacant land in Sheffield, built for the purpose of renting them out.
Last week police and local councillors were called to the area opposite Sheffield Manor, along the road leading to the Flag Farm.
Also read: Police arrest land invaders – Etete
DA Ward 22 councillor Malcolm Hubner said the land was owned by KwaDukuza municipality and that this was not the first incident of land invasions there. He said the shacks were quickly demolished.
“The shacks were demolished by KDM but they did not look as though they had been occupied. It is was believed that these shacks were built for future letting.”
Hubner said there was no telling if the invaders would return as most housing projects in KwaDukuza are progressing slowly or at a halt.
“People need places to stay and they are desperate. They are now taking matters into their own hands because they have been waiting for houses for far too long.”
Umhlali SAPS spokesperson Vinny Pillay said police were kept on their toes with reports of land invasions on the Dolphin Coast. He said that aside from the recent invasion in Sheffield, privately owned farm property in Etete was occupied for the third time last weekend.
“We had an incident in Etete and Tinley Manor a few months ago which we assumed was under control. But last week invaders returned to farmland in Etete to re-erect shacks which had been previously demolished. This time the shacks were erected in a different spot. We are still investigating the case.”
Pillay said 17 people were arrested three weeks ago for Etete land invasions. They were each released on R2000 bail last Friday.
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