DURBAN - THE spate of land invasions taking place in Pietermaritzburg suggests an individual or group of people driving it, the Msunduzi Municipality said on Sunday.
This comes after reports surfaced at the weekend of people preparing to construct structures in Signal Hill on land earmarked for middle income rental properties by the municipality.
Municipal spokesperson Thobeka Mafumbatha said the municipality was concerned about the spate of land invasions in the province’s capital city.
“We have been made aware of instances where people decide to erect structures and have gone as far as getting a court order last week,” Mafumbatha added.
She said one person had been arrested following the Signal Hill invasion and the municipality was hoping this would warn potential land grabbers.
“It suggests that somebody is behind this, and our security is on high alert to ensure that no structures are built there,” Mafumbatha continued.
She cautioned members of the public not to be lured into buying land in the area – as it belonged to the municipality – an that it would constitute a criminal offence.
This is not the first time that the municipality has had to deal with land invasions, as parts of the Aloe Ridge Flats, a complex for middle income rental, was invaded by MKMVA members more than two years ago.
THE MERCURY