Johannesburg -
Tshwane metro municipality has been granted a court order against the invasion of government-owned land in Soshanguve south, north of Pretoria, the Gauteng housing department said on Monday.
The land was invaded in November and the invaders were evicted by the municipality, departmental spokesman Motsamai Motlhaolwa said in a statement.
The land, which consists of 800 stands, was earmarked for the development of low cost housing.
“Even following the start of the construction of houses on these stands, illegal invasion continued,” said Motlhaolwa.
“The mushrooming of shacks on the vacant stands and several attempts by the municipality to remove the illegal invaders until now, proved to be problematic.”
Housing MEC Ntombi Mekgwe said: “I hope this court order will help to get the message across that we will not stand by and let these lawless invasions disrupt our services to the people any longer.”
Motlhaolwa said Gauteng residents could help the government by reporting illegal land invasions and the building of shacks on government-owned land. - Sapa