Cape Town - There is nothing illegal about the attempted “land grab” at Nellmapius, Pretoria, Economic Freedom Fighters chief whip Floyd Shivambu said on Wednesday.
“There is nothing wrong in it. If government delays allocating land people must occupy it,” Shivambu told journalists at Parliament.
“We are not condemning the fighters who took the action in Pretoria.”
EFF leader Julius Malema was not available for comment.
Earlier on Wednesday, Nellmapius residents dispersed after rubber bullets were fired at them.
Just before 1pm, people threw stones at the metro police, who retaliated by firing rubber bullets.
The stone-throwers ran into the informal settlement to hide and the metro police, in a Nyala, pursued them firing more rubber bullets.
A few minutes later the residents began emerging again.
Prior to this, EFF supporters set off in search of the ward councillor Precious Marole.
The Nyala came out of the informal settlement and followed this group up the street, and then fired more rubber bullets.
This group blocked Old Bronkhorstspruit Road with rocks and tree branches, and lit fires in the road.
By 2pm, the groups dispersed and police were removing the debris from the road, allowing traffic to flow.
Still-burning remnants of tyres and rocks lay on the sides of the road, while in some places the sticky residue of melted tyres still adhered to the tar.
A few men stood around smoking and watching police clear up the road, while two women, carrying corrugated iron sheeting on their heads, walked away towards the informal settlement.
Police and metro police maintained a significant presence in the area.
EFF Nellmapius branch chairman Vusi Msiza said the “land invasion” began on Sunday.
“We found people on the land who were trying to erect shacks,” he told residents earlier.
“As the EFF found them here, then we decided to support the community because we are all affected by this.”
According to ANC Gauteng spokesman Dumisa Ntuli, the land had been earmarked for a low-cost housing development.
Sapa