Media statement - KwaDukuza municipality acts decisively against illegal occupation of its property


In a move triggered by a stringent order issued by the Durban High Court, KwaDukuza Municipality today, 17 September 2024, demolished several illegal housing structures in Shayamoya within the Rocky Ridge Project area (Ward 23).

 

The illegal occupation of municipal property in this area has been ongoing - with the situation having to be exacerbated by an upsurge of informal structures over the past three days.


With the support of law enforcement agencies, the municipality has acted in accordance with the order which interdicts and restrains any person from entering, erecting, or occupying any structure on the property. It also grants the municipality the right to take all reasonable steps to prevent any persons from entering the property.

 

KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca has said that the battle against illegal occupation of land by criminals will be heightened with the support of law enforcement agencies and the justice system.

 

“In our bid to deal with the prevalence of criminality and as part of protecting municipal property, we have taken appropriate action to remove all those who have no entitlement to our property and ensured that they are dealt with by the law. We have said time and again that selling, allocating or occupying council land without proper documentation is a criminal activity. We will therefore continue to implement the order by ejecting all transgressors within the property, by demolishing any existing structure, and removing possessions or structures including building material on site. It is unfortunate that the affected area is already earmarked for the Rocky Ridge Housing Project (near Guzana Secondary School) which is to yield 3000 beneficiaries and the majority of residents will be within the community of ward 23 and ward 08”, said Nhaca.

 

The mayor also called on the local community to protect municipal land by reporting perpetrators to the police.

 

Meanwhile, the mayor has obtained a copy of the memorandum of demands which was submitted yesterday, 16 September 2024, by Abahlali Basemjondolo following a peaceful protest at the Nokukhanya Luthuli Building in Ballito. Abahlali Basemjondolo used this march to call for interventions by the mayor on a number of cross-cutting issues which includes collective security of tenure, improved service delivery by the affected municipalities and government sector departments, amongst others.

 

Mayor Nhaca also thanked law enforcement agencies for ensuring that the protest was peaceful and also commended Abahlali Basemjondolo in holding high regard for the law during this demonstration.

 

Ends


Issued by the Office of the mayor of KwaDukuza Municipality


Enquiries: Sphe Ngobese | 0737847822 | sphelelon@kwadukuza.gov.za

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