Siyabonga Sithole | Published 33 minutes ago
The community of Lenasia, south of Johannesburg , has called on the provincial government to prioritise the eradication of illegally-occupied land in parts of the area.
On Thursday, members of the community marched to the Lawley police station to hand over a memorandum and voice their concerns over land grabs and the presence of undocumented foreign nationals.
Their call to action comes as tensions rise in the build-up to the June 30 deadline for addressing illegal immigration. As a result, residents are calling for immediate action from authorities.
This wave of protests is not an isolated occurrence; it follows alarming reports earlier this year by the Gauteng Provincial Government, spearheaded by the MEC for Human Settlements , Tasneem Motara, who highlighted the increasing issue of illegally occupied land across the province.
Lenasia, in particular, has seen vast tracts of land being irregularly occupied in recent years, with residents asserting that these informal settlements now predominantly house undocumented immigrants.
Thompho Dana, a marcher and resident, expressed that this surge of land invasions has stifled development and hampered service delivery.
"Land grabs have become a big problem because they are taking us backward from where the country was supposed to be, like post-1994. T he infrastructure here was designed to cater to a specific population size , but now the influx from the informal settlements is overwhelming our resources."
Fellow protester Faizel Hooisen echoed Dana's sentiments, describing the adversities of living alongside informal settlements.
"We are surrounded by shacks... we can’t move or even come out. T hey take electricity cables, and if you try to act, you risk being killed or arrested. ," Hooisen lamented.
Modise Baloyi, who led the march, called for a systematic audit of the land, identifying both South African and foreign nationals who have been occupying land for the purpose of renting it out.
"The government must prioritise auditing of these shacks and informal settlements because this is where crime happens.
"Everywhere you go, undocumented foreigners are there fixing cars, running spaza shops, and other businesses. We are saying everyone who is here illegally must go back to their country, fix their country, and only come back here as visitors," he insisted.
This growing unrest is underscored by the provincial government's prior actions, with Motara revealing that they have taken legal steps against land invaders through court interdicts aimed at reclaiming the encroached spaces in Lenasia.
However, the situation remains volatile; the conflict between established homeowners and new settlers continues to fuel the frustrations of local communities dealing with the impact of these land grabs .
The residents are calling for a full audit of businesses operating in the area, an investigation into alleged corruption involving police, and increased law enforcement operations and visibility to curb crime and violence.
Outside Lawley police station, the memorandum of demands was accepted by an unnamed police representative on behalf of the local police department.
However, community members were left in the dark as to when and how the authorities would respond to their serious allegations, further fuelling discontent among residents.
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