Residents of Lourierpark in Bloemfontein have taken matters into their own hands by attempting to stop an influx of land invaders after claiming that authorities have failed them.

Yesterday, tensions ran high as angry Lourierpark residents grew impatient with how the police and Mangaung Metro have handled the land occupation. Numerous police officers were deployed to disperse the community of Lourier Park who came out in numbers to protest, with roads leading to the invaded land filled with burning tyres and rocks.

The situation was calm on Wednesday morning with high police visibility in the area. Picture: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

Accusations are being levelled against various role players, including Mayor Gregory Nthatisi, who is accused of protecting land invaders. It’s understood that Nthatisi ended his meeting with Lourierpark residents before it was completed.

“We thought we would have a civil meeting with the mayor, where we would state our grievances. However, to our surprise, the meeting lasted less than 10 minutes. At the meeting, the mayor stated that we should just find common ground to stay with these people and we should just accept the situation as it is,” said Lourierpark resident Tshepo Malokoane (34).

He said this frustrated the community and they decided to stage protests to ensure illegal land occupiers get evicted. Malokoane added that some residents were arrested during the unrest on Tuesday.

During a recent visit to the area, Nthatisi asserted that the metro is addressing the matter through proper channels and had called for patience as those who’ve erected shacks cannot be removed despite the court order. However, his statements have fallen on deaf ears as residents demand swift and decisive action to reclaim their neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus said it sent a reminder, in writing, to both the mayor and the city manager to put them on terms, that should the existing court order not be carried out as a matter of urgency, its legal team has been instructed to bring an urgent application against the municipality. The application includes personal cost orders to the mayor and the city manager. 

FF Plus leader Dr Pieter Groenewald allegedly contacted the national police commissioner about the effectiveness of the police action during the occupations. He undertook to investigate it as a matter of urgency. The FF Plus called on the community to be prepared and protect themselves properly.

Reinforced platoons of Public Order Police continue to conduct crowd management duties to maintain public order at the Brandkop farm and Bloemfontein Ext. 148, said police spokesperson Lt Col Thabo Covane.

It is alleged that some land invaders obtained containers as homes, delivered to the area which they now call “Mountain View”. Picture: Kekeletso Mosebetsi 

Eleven people – seven men and four women – were arrested for public violence and contravening the Road Traffic Act on Tuesday (5/3). They were blocking the road on the corner of Kokerboom and Curie Avenues (R706) with burning tyres and throwing stones at the police.

The thirteen people arrested on Saturday (3/3) for contravening a court order and land invasion/trespassing, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (5/2). They remain in custody and are due back in court on Friday.

AfriForum 911 and Saai compiled a quick guide for landowners regarding land occupancy.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg