Eff leads invasion of land in Caro
He added that they were against the idea that the municipality had reserved the land for business people
Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Carolina recently led hundreds of people who ran amok occupying municipal land in Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality.
EFF members called a community meeting in Silobela Community Hall where previous payments made for portions of land which they never received were on the agenda.
According to EFF’s Ward 15 branch commander Jabu Shabangu, members of the community were made to pay to the municipality R50 in 2015 and R100 in 2016 for portions of land which they never received.
Mr Shabangu further alleged that the money was paid at the municipal offices in Carolina, but no receipts were issued and they wanted answers to where the money went.
“This is no land invasion; we are merely taking back what is ours and are responding to the EFF party resolution on land expropriation without compensation,” said Mr Shabangu.
Shabangu further stated that they are implementing the Freedom Charter on land to be accessible to all irrespective of socio-economic status.
The EFF said members of the community heeded the call to reject a bidding system, which they say is unfair and will disadvantage others.
They said their efforts were for all landless members of the community, regardless of their political affiliation. When asked how they prioritised people getting pieces of land, they said their priority was unemployed, landless and needy people.
Coordinator Lindokuhle Victor Sibeko said the process was open to everyone in the community and the EFF was trying to deal with congestion experienced in various families where a family of eight or more shared a four-roomed house.
He added that they were against the idea that the municipality had reserved the land for business people.
Responding to questions on infrastructure, the EFF said this would not be the first time people occupied land with infrastructure following later.
Mr Sibeko said they would use the opportunity to present their issues during the tabling and submissions for the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and demand that there should be development in that area.
Spokesman for the Albert Luthuli Municipality Mr David Nhlabathi said the municipality condemned the illegal occupation of municipal land.
“We call upon members of the community to refrain from invading municipal land, as that could have severe consequences. We also call upon those that claim to have paid monies to the municipality for portions of land to come forward with such evidence so that the municipality could look into the matter and give it the attention that it deserves,” said Mr Nhlabathi.
He said the land in question was divided into two portions, one privately owned and a municipal portion. The municipality had earmarked part of its portion for new cemeteries and other uses he did not detail.
He warned that parts of the land had underground municipal infrastructure such as water and sanitation channels which could be damaged by digging.
Mr Nhlabathi concluded by saying the municipality was in possession of a court order and anyone found in contempt of the order would be dealt with.
