Sandiso Phaliso
HUNDREDS of people who tried to invade a piece of city-owned land in Philippi yesterday morning were chased away by the police and city law enforcement officers.
However, as soon as the police and law enforcement officers left, people returned and started marking off land on which they intend to build their structures. They have vowed to return to it no matter what.
The would-be invaders said they had no other choice but to invade the land as they cannot afford the rent, and many who have large families are unemployed. They have also been on the government’s housing waiting list for years.
Community leader Joseph Makeleni said he supports the land invasion “because land invasions are happening everywhere else”.
“The people are landless and paying huge amounts of rent as backyarders – and that is why they are invading the land.
“People commit crime on this land because it is a forest. Bad things are happening here, such as young children being raped and people being killed. Aborted babies are dumped here because there is no one living on it.”
Makeleni said they would return to the piece of land no matter how many times they were chased away by the authorities.
“Even if the police chased us away, we would come back and build our houses. When we ask for land from the government, we are told there is no land. Here is the land and thousands of low-cost houses could be built here,” said Makeleni.
Ntombozuko Loya, 40, said she awoke at 5am and went to the site. “The only time we can build our houses is when it is dark, in the morning and in the evenings. The land invasions have been happening all over the province and we cannot be left out,” she said.
Backyarder Mzukisi Sipheni, 31, said he had known about the land invasion on Monday when community leaders in Lower Crossroads used a loudhailer to announce that anyone who is landless should build a house on the land.
He said he went to the site yesterday and earmarked where he intends building his house.
“The government must leave us because we are not going to stop. As a backyarder, unemployed and living with three children and a wife, it is very difficult for me because I have to use my children’s government support grant to pay rent,” said Sipheni.
He said he pays R500 rent, which covers his electricity, water and sanitation.
Sipheni said unless the government told them about plans they have for them, they would not back off from the land.
“All we want is houses,” said Sipheni.
City safety and security director Richard Bosman said the city’s law enforcement, with the assistance of the police, removed a group who gathered on the land.
“The city will continue to support the SAPS in preventing any further occupation of the land,” said Bosman.
Police spokesman André Traut said the land invaders were “monitored” during “an attempted land invasion.