‘The violence perpetrated by the criminals in retaliation to the City acting to uphold the rule of law and to protect the False Bay Nature Reserve area behind the City’s Coastal Park Landfill site in Vrygrond, should be condemned by all communities and influencers in our society. Thank you to City teams, security and especially City Law Enforcement who assisted the female security guard.

‘The City will continue to act to prevent the unlawful occupation of land, which at the end of the day, hurts us all. Most unlawful occupations occur on land unsuitable for habitation, prone to flooding or in nature reserve areas that were never meant for the installation of bulk services. As soon as land is unlawfully occupied, demands for services ensue. The unlawful occupation of land also places our future land earmarked for housing, community facilities and general growth as a city, in jeopardy. A planned approach to development is required and in the best interest of future Cape Town generations.

‘Cape Town experienced an unprecedented increase in unlawful land occupations since the start of the 2020 Covid-19 national lockdown periods. Physical assessments of the settlements are under way, but preliminary information shows: By far the majority of the unlawful occupations were driven by criminal syndicates or so-called ‘shack farmers’. These unlawful occupations resulted in approximately 54 newly established settlements of various sizes across the city, many of which are demanding immediate service provision, mostly on unsuitable land. Some R300 million is required just to service the newly unlawfully occupied areas across the metro, where it is possible to do so,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi.

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:
Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity that is taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies.
 

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