UPDATE: 12 December
The building of informal structures continued on the property of the Life Tree Community Project.
The organisation’s director Carla-Lee Kamp said that she feared for further intimidation from Kya Sand community members encroaching onto the organisation’s land.
Kamp said, “We have been engaging with the police on a daily basis, and when they do come, construction gets halted. But the minute they leave, the construction continues.”
According to Kamp community members had a meeting in the morning with political parties where they were told to continue the construction.
Police were on the scene to monitor the situation.
https://www.facebook.com/randburgsun/videos/287160555277699/
https://www.facebook.com/lifetreecommunityproject/videos/1195724627245564/
UPDATE: 9am
The attempted land invasion on the property of Life Tree community centre continued into the night of 9 December and the morning of 10 December.
This according to Life Tree director Carla-Lee Kamp.
Kamp said, “More people started to arrive in the morning as soon as the sun came up, so this morning we are opening a case of trespassing with the police.”
According to Kamp, no construction work has started as of yet.
Kamp said, “We are also trying to get a lawyer to arrange a court interdict for us to stop the invasion from happening. We, unfortunately, are struggling with money to pay for the interdict, as it will cost almost R50 000 on special with lawyer’s fees. The last time we arranged an interdict, we were quoted R180 000.
“Our organisation is also without electricity this morning, so we have no idea what the crowd has done during the night.
“Fortunately, we have had some community leaders speaking out against the invasion, particularly those who support the ANC and the DA.”
UPDATE: 5.30pm
Calm has been restored to the Pipeline informal settlement after an apparent attempted land invasion earlier today.
Police and Metro police are on the scene, and the land invaders have left.
Metro police’s Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said, “JMPD officers did stop the illegal building of shacks. The crowd has been dispersed and officers are monitoring the situation.”
This is a developing story, more information will follow as it becomes available.
INITIAL REPORT: 4.30pm
An alleged attempted land invasion took place at the Pipeline informal settlement on 9 December.
Hundreds of people reportedly marched onto the land to claim it as their own.
Reports have surfaced that over 200 Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) representatives allegedly stormed the land to claim as their own. This comes just a day after the launch of Thorn Tree Academy community football fields.
Randburg Sun has been unable to confirm if the land invaders were in fact EFF members.
Pegs have been planted to designate space for the people who are gathered on the grounds. The land in question has been earmarked for development by the Non-Profit Company (NPC) Life Tree. The area being seized is around the Life Tree community centre and Thorn Tree Academy, which schools many children from the community.
Life Tree representatives spoke to Randburg Sun, stating that when the leadership of the group of people was confronted by Life Tree directors who requested clarity on the situation, the leadership announced that they were taking the land to build houses. “The leaders as well as many of the 200 gatherers, were kitted-our in EFF berets and EFF shirts,” said director, Carla-Lee Kamp.
Staff members of the non-profit organisation are hiding in their homes.
Metro police and Douglasdale police are on scene.
Life Tree directors immediately contacted 10110 with an emergency.
According to director of Life Tree, Carla-Lee Kamp the registered organisation Life Tree has the lease agreement on the property until 2024.
“We have been embroiled in a difficult challenge with provincial government, who own the property, for over 18 years, in an attempt to gain permission to build permanent buildings at Life Tree. The organization openly stated to City of Joburg, that our organization is more than willing to share the property should Human Settlements opt to build RDP houses for registered South Africans…,” said Kamp.
The school, church and community centre have been closed until the situation is under control.
Police were having a meeting with the gathered group until heavy rainstorms dispersed the gathering.
This is a developing story and will be updated once information becomes available.
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Case of EFF councillor who ‘slapped’ Joburg official postponed
Land invasion foiled in Kya Sand
