EFF encourages people to claim land regardless of ownership
Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are behind the land invasion currently taking place on the Matlala road on the outskirts of the city
Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are behind the land invasion currently taking place on the Matlala road on the outskirts of the city.
This was confirmed by EFF premier candidate Mike Mathebe yesterday (Wednesday). “Yes, the EFF are encouraging people with no land to occupy land, especially land belonging to government,” he said. He confirmed that he was aware that private land was also being occupied.
On Friday Review received numerous phone calls from business owners saying some of their employees had not reported for duty because “Julius said we must come and get land”.
Also on Friday, Mathebe denied that this statement was made, but confirmed that the expropriation of land was on the cards when EFF came into power after the election.
By yesterday he had changed his story, and confirmed that the EFF was indeed behind the invasion.
Thousands of people hearing rumours of a land grab started claiming stands and occupying some 800ha of land on the northern side of the Matlala road, starting last Friday. By Sunday more than 600 motor vehicles were parked along the road, as people from near and far came to claim and illegally occupy their piece of land. According to information, some people claimed and “registered” up to nine different pieces of land.
Since then, hundreds of cars from all over the coutnry were parked along the road every day. The invasion was well orchestrated with at least two points where people could register their claims: one in Seshego zone 1 and another in Extension 73.
EFF members were helping people measure their plots and showing them where to register their claims. Some people who spoke to Review were under the impression that the people assisting them to register their claims were municipal officials. Most of people laying their claims were fully aware that the land belonged to the municipality as well as private landowners and some were heard to ask: “How can one person own so much land?”
On Tuesday when Polokwane municipal manager, Conny Mametja and her team as well as the police and community policing members began breaking down structures and removing debris, Joseph Buthane from the EFF, addressed a group land grabbers telling them: “You must be prepared to fight!” He also promised that the EFF would support them in their fight.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene said the municipality had met with six people representing the claimants and had outlined the process to register for RDP houses.
She said an agreement was reached that no further invasions would take place and the municipality would engage with Coghsta regarding this matter. Yesterday (Wednesday), in spite of all structures and other debris having been removed, people were back marking “their” stands again.
Also yesterday, a large EFF meeting took place on this land, with attendees clearly feeling rebellious and shouting threats aimed at anyone who attempted to stop them from claiming “their” land.
Buthane said the EFF would continue backing the land claimants. “We will not back down and we will not accept the municipality’s proposals. They continue to insult our people by making promises of land and RDP houses, but we will continue with our actions,” he said.
I AM ONE OF THE RESIDENTS IN SESHEGO BUT WORKING IN JOHANNESBURG,I WAS TOLD BY MY MOM TO COME HOME THIS WEEKEND TO COME BUY FENCE FOR MY STAND SHE HAD FOR ME. THE THING IS AGAIN WE ARE ROBBED OF OUR STAND OR RDP HOUSES WITHOUT TRACE SO IF YOU GET OPPORTUNITY YOU MAKE SURE YOU GRAB LIKE SERIOUSLY HENCE YOU MENTIONED DIFFERENT NUNMBERPLATES FROM DIFFERENT PROVINCES IS NOT LIKE THEY ARE ORIGINALLY FROM THOSE PROVINCES BUT THEY ARE FROM LIMPOPO STRUGGLING TO GET PLACES TO STAY AS THEY REGISTER AND WENT BACK TO WORK WHEN THEY COME BACK THEIR PLOTS OR RDP HOUSES ARE SOLD
I really like what EFF is doing because the rulling party has failled dismal to give our people RDP housing I’m also one of them I’m paying rent but I did vote for ANC to help me and we are suffering we can get jobs where must we get this money to pay rent where’s we don’t have better jobs? Phambili nge EFF phambili I’m in Cape Town
This is our future? Having lawless zombies around claiming property?
Where are they going to get title deeds from Eff ?
Is eff now a property developer? I think soon enough someone high enough are going to have a long talk with juliaaas unless ofcourse this is as
Per my suspicion orchestrated by CancEr
I don’t agree with lawlessness. This unreasonableness saddens me. I too do not own a home and pay rent. I am a White woman who does not own her own property either. I do not have land.
Vote DA and get title deeds for your property to prove ownership stop ANC thieves stealing our money hiring us RDP houses stealing them and reselling them.
This situation is very disheartening!!!! The Government has failed the masses after promising them so much but this surely does not entitle the people to claim land unlawfully??? If the entire population made claim to land then how will this country produce food for the population??? To be honest this is anarchy and then surely the leaders of this movement should be arrested???
This land we are taking here belongs to us,we cannot afford to pay rent its too much we must take our land and build on it.and if you media people say the eff is behind this land evation then this eff is the right government for us because land is the first thing we want….viva. Fighter Mathebe and Buthane viva
I think we must have those land they promise rdp house for years ND the long waiting list,I will fight for those land until it’s approved.
Just remember that this type of behaviour then entitles me to invade the land that you’ve gained through invasions. The rules (or lack thereof) that apply to you must apply to me too. I don’t own any land or house either. So get comfortable on “your” new piece of land. But be prepared for when I come to take it away from you. I don’t want to hear you complaining because that would be hypocrisy.
I think this is absolute madness. How can you steal land from people that have worked all their lives to get where they are. The blacks have been given land but what do they do with it? They destroy it because they what the whites to do everything for them. This is typical of how the black population. Steal and kill but don’t work. Our country is going to the dogs and fast.