Mixed reactions to metro plans for evictions from Prasa land
Residents and political parties have different views when it comes to agreeing with the metro on what the solutions are to illegal settlements on land that does not belong to it, like land owned by Prasa.
The metro’s announcement that a discussion was held with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) on July 15 to discuss illegal occupation and land invasions encroaching on the boundaries of its business operations in Tshwane and land owned by Prasa, has been met with mixed reactions by several parties.
Mayor Cilliers Brink announced on July 17 that these illegal occupations have a negative impact on residents and Prasa.
Top of the discussions were three illegally occupied Prasa properties, namely Sportpark Station in Lyttelton, Pidedene Station and Irene Station.
Of urgent concern to the metro is Sportpark Station in Lyttelton, Centurion.
“Owing to the Covid-19 lockdown moratorium on evictions and relocation of informal settlements, this informal settlement has grown at an alarming rate and poses health and safety risks to nearby residential areas, including an old age home,” said Brink.
He emphasised that the land does not belong to the metro, making the eviction process difficult and requiring cooperation of all the parties involved.
He explained that in an effort to proactively find a solution to the Sportpark Station issue, the metro has resolved to immediately form a task team with Prasa and all other land owners, and to pursue an eviction order to resettle the occupants.
“This is critical as the land is not serviced and presents health and safety risks,” said Brink.
Brink told Rekord that the slow progress being made by the government in addressing issues governed by the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998 (“PIE”), remains a challenge.
Political parties like the DA are at present lobbying the government to relook the Act.
“It creates a rigid set of definitions and requirements that need to be followed in order for a person to be lawfully evicted. Our contention is that the Act must allow the state to prevent further unlawful invasions of land and criminally charge those who incite these invasions. The metro wants to be at the forefront of protecting property owner’s rights, while ensuring the poorest and most vulnerable in our society are cared for within its available means,” said Brink.
He emphasised that, due to the Act, it is complicated to find land for resettlements, and it is not due to maladministration. “The Act is not an effective mechanism.”
Two groups of residents recently brought to the metro’s attention their challenges with the consequences of the metro’s inaction to act on requests to address the problem.
These challenges are service delivery problems by the metro, exacerbated by the settlement and crime in the area and the threat of decreasing property prices.
Brian van der Merwe from the Lyttelton Ratepayers’ Association, who took the problem to the Public Protector’s office, said they would check if their facts regarding the illegal settlement correspond with that of the mayor.
“He has our support to support this problem,” said Van der Merwe.
A petition about Sportpark Station’s informal settlement was registered on April 23 with the metro by two residents, Ben van den Bergh and Suzette Stewart.
They contend that the informal settlement is a problem of the metro’s making, as it added to the problem of street-based people housed in tents in the areas concerned during Covid-19 in 2020.
Stewart said: “It is kind of them to give attention to this problem and we will support him and his team where we can. We want our neighbourhood to be the same as it was in 2018.”
Local councillor David Farquharson said: “It’s going to take a while to get the issue resolved but I am pleased that this is now a metro priority”.
He thanked all the residents and groups who have signed petitions, commented on the Integrated Development Plan, attended public meetings and written to the mayor.
“Our combined pressure has worked,” said Farquharson.
“People tend to forget that during the Covid-19 lockdown, there was an eviction moratorium. Then there were two illegal strikes and the administrative chaos around the election of the ten-day mayor. Unfortunately, there are also people and organisations who are actively fighting for law breakers. Eviction orders have been interdicted,” he explained.
“The city administration is now gaining traction.”
EFF spokesperson Obakeng Ramabodu said the EFF in Tshwane stands resolutely opposed to the steps the mayor wants to take.
“We condemn the city’s lack of empathy and understanding of the people’s plight. The occupation is not an act of defiance but a desperate call for the help from the people of Tshwane.”
Ramabodu said the metro and Prasa’s plans to form a team to pursue an eviction order do not address the real issues at hand.
“We remind the role players that the people’s demand for land is born out of necessity and not out of defiance,” he emphasised.
– Comment has been requested from Prasa but none has been received as yet.
– Click here to see a video of Cilliers Brink speaking on the metro’s discussion with Prasa
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