A group of residents allegedly erected structures on a piece of land along with the bustling R510 on Tuesday. The municipal spokesperson, David Magae, explains that the city's officials, police, along with soldiers from SANDF, oversaw the demolition of these structures on Wednesday. He says the municipality further cleared the site of the debris following the demolition, and constant patrols in the area will continue. 

Magae adds that the municipal mayor, Mpho Khunou, has slammed the invasion of land and said that this would have been an inconvenience to one of the busiest highways at Rustenburg.

"Part of the earmarked land by the grabbers was used as a site establishment office, by one of the appointed contractors for the Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) project. Initial reports received by the municipality late yesterday, indicated the construction of illegal structures (shacks) by a group of people, who had also begun to demarcate the land. 

The municipality’s Public Safety Officers and an official from the Human Settlements Directorate descended upon the portion where the land grabs were underway. After successfully halting the continuation of the construction of illegal structures on the edge of a flood line, and within close proximity to the concrete barrier of the highway, the group was dispersed and law enforcement patrolled the area overnight to ensure no further illegal activities took place," he further adds.

Magae praised the municipality and said it has made great strides to ensure that the issue of access to housing, especially for sections of the community with minimal to no income, is addressed.

He further continues to explain that "before the national lockdown earlier this year, the municipality had begun the process of formalising ten informal settlements in Rustenburg as well as purchasing additional land for purposes of human settlements and further development, for those who require housing".

OFM News