With the Western Cape struggling to quell the scourge of land invasions, provincial minister for human settlements Tertius Simmers has made an impassioned plea to residents to assist.
“This activity hampers progress at the various construction sites where the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements is attempting to radically improve and change the living conditions of the many law-abiding citizens that are waiting patiently on a housing opportunity,” he says.
He expressed his concern over vacant construction sites, especially over the festive season.
“In fact, a closer look at this criminal activity shows us that since July 2020 there’s been 1 639 land invasion attempts on our properties throughout the province. For the current (2021/2022) financial year, we’ve already spent R97,23 million on securing our properties and preventing these invasions,” he says. “Effectively this means, and excluding the bulk services, that 585 Breaking New Ground (BNG) housing opportunities have been lost. We must stand together and discourage all forms of invasions, as it is those law abiding citizens who are affected the most, as they have to wait so much longer. This is especially true for our elderly (60 years and older), those living with medically certified disabilities, those who have been on the Housing Demand Database (HDD) for 15 years and longer and our backyard dwellers.”
The recent invasion attempts at the department’s Forest Village development in Eerste River saw 104 units vandalised.
Among others, doors, handles and windows are some of the items that will need to be replaced. The damage incurred is in excess of R588 000. “Those who were due to move in early this year will now have to wait so much longer to live in a safer and improved environment.”
Simmers continues: “We would like to urge the public to reject all those who are planning, attempting and or participating in this thuggery. Furthermore to report any and those who are involved to the law enforcement agencies, so that they can face the full might of the law.”
Additional security has been employed by the department as a precaution.
