Criminal syndicates largely drove spike in unlawful occupations

15 April 2021

In 2020, Cape Town experienced an unprecedented increase in unlawful land occupations since the start of the Covid-19 national lockdown periods. Physical assessments of the settlements are under way, but preliminary information shows: By far the majority of the unlawful occupations were driven by criminal syndicates or so-called ‘shack farmers’. These unlawful occupations resulted in approximately 54 newly established settlements of various sizes across the city, many of which are demanding immediate service provision, mostly on unsuitable land. Read more below:

R300 million is required just to service the newly unlawfully occupied areas, where it is possible to do so.
The majority of recent unlawful occupations have occurred in areas that were never meant for human settlements, such as road reserves, wetlands and water detention ponds.
More than 10 000 dwellings established in the Western Cape Government’s Driftsands nature reserve alone.

‘Many claim that evictions (which are illegal under the Covid-19 regulations) of backyarders have driven the spike, however, the evidence on the ground shows that such evictions are largely in the minority. Economic profit for certain self-proclaimed landlords, ‘shack-farming’ and illegal electricity connection syndicates are the main drivers. In addition, many of the unlawful occupations have been politically driven.

‘The City has drawn up an Unlawful Land Occupation Framework as a means to proactively manage the challenges of the large-scale unlawful occupations that have taken place. Unlawful land occupation is an illegal act, but the City will always endeavour to treat the human needs that underline this activity.

‘The City must pre-emptively protect land earmarked for community use, housing and bulk services; to enhance the safety of unlawful occupiers and surrounding communities; to increase affordable housing opportunities and to prevent a situation where earmarked projects and beneficiaries suffer as a result of the already limited funds being diverted to newly invaded areas.

‘The City’s response to unlawful land occupations is made challenging by the extensive responsibilities placed on local government to act as the final provider of all basic services and housing needs, without the supporting levers to fund or catalyse these undertakings. A response which is premised on the capacity of local government alone will not work,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi.

Some hot spots

Kraaifontein
Blue Downs/Mfuleni
Khayelitsha
Philippi

Challenges
Human settlements delivery is beset with challenges, including R1,3 billion in City housing projects under threat from ongoing orchestrated unlawful occupations, National Government budget cuts reducing the City’s Urban Settlements Development Grant, a weak national economy and regulatory red tape.

The City’s Human Settlements Directorate spent 98% of its budget in the 2019/2020 financial year, despite the Covid-19 impact.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office