Immediate service demands from new unlawfully occupied areas not possible

19 November 2020

The City of Cape Town notes the continued action by protesters purporting to be from new unlawfully occupied areas in Khayelitsha, who are demanding immediate services.

• There was no constructive outcome from a virtual meeting held between the City and representatives from this group on Friday, 13 November 2020, as the representatives logged off in protest about 45 minutes into the meeting.
• The City does not have unlimited resources. In its assessments of the areas, the City’s stance is that the land assessment/physical conditions determines what, if any services, can be provided in terms of emergency relief. Such assessments will happen.
The extreme increase in mostly large-scale, organised unlawful land occupations, often with the involvement of so called ‘shack-farming’ syndicates over the COVID-19 lockdown period and while the national crisis regulations remain in effect, among other reasons, have led to the establishment of new settlements in many parts of the metro such as in Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein and Mfuleni.

These areas are now demanding immediate services.

The City has been communicating for months that it is unable to provide immediate services, if at all, to all newly-formed settlements at the expense of the existing services and programmes planned in accordance with its Budget. The City does not have unlimited resources. In its assessments of the areas, the City’s stance is that the land assessment/physical conditions determines what, if any services, can be provided in terms of emergency relief.
 
The majority of the occupations have happened on land that is not suitable or viable for human habitation, such as in flood-prone wetlands, low-lying areas and even in water retention ponds or on the slopes of loose, sandy nature reserve land that will get eroded by wind and rain. The City has repeatedly advised people not to settle in these areas. These areas are typically not well resourced in terms of bulk services as the City cannot develop it for housing purposes.

The City advises residents not to pay ‘rental’ money to ‘landlords’ who are ‘renting’ out invaded sites and also not to ‘buy’ invaded sites from syndicate operators who have invaded land. It must be noted that sites with services are of course ‘rented’ out or ‘sold’ at a premium. There are many intricate levels to the unlawful land occupation situation. Some residents have also been illegally evicted by their landlords which is not allowed under the national crisis regulations.

People have also unlawfully settled on land earmarked for other beneficiaries of housing projects and have settled on land earmarked for services, such as on the site of a 5 km water pipeline that would serve a large section of the Khayelitsha community.
 
Any person who has been evicted by their ‘landlord’ must make a case at their local South African Police Service as this is against the COVID-19 regulations.
 
Illegal occupations have a very negative impact on planned projects, community facilities, basic services, beneficiaries of housing projects and infrastructure expansion and maintenance. It also severely negatively impacts those who have illegally occupied land. Those who occupy land illegally knowing there are no services do so at their own risk.
 
The City will continue to do everything in its power to prevent the illegal occupation of land, which is a criminal act and which hurts us all.
 
All law enforcement agencies continue to monitor the situation.

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:
Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity that is taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies.
 
 
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office