The illegal occupation of Transnet land along the N1 was due to end this weekend. The eviction would have brought an end to a long-standing occupation that has contributed to increased crime and safety concerns for motorists and cyclists along this route. However, at the eleventh hour, Ndifuna Ukwazi filed leave to appeal directly to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), after the High Court denied leave to appeal the eviction.

The illegal occupation, which has led to constant cable theft and vandalism of public property, was stopped at the eleventh hour by Ndifuna Ukwazi, which filed an application for leave to appeal directly to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), after the High Court refused leave to appeal the eviction. 

This petition to the SCA has the effect of pausing the eviction for now, prolonging the unsafe and illegal occupation for many more months. This will only extend the significant criminal activity severely impacting the surrounding community, cyclists and all road users. 

Ndifuna Ukwazi’s (NU) application for leave to appeal to the SCA is based on a denial of the extensive evidence of cable theft, drug dealing, and incidents of violent and petty crime visible on the site itself. The court took the time to see this first-hand during a site inspection before granting the eviction order. 

Under the veil of “protecting human rights”, NU’s actions only allow crime to continue, prolong the awful living conditions of people living there illegally, and undermine the rights of residents in the broader community. 

The City painstakingly submitted extensive evidence to the court of numerous muggings, smash-and-grab incidents, the stripping of vital infrastructure, cable theft and other crimes at this site. But now the courts are again being asked to wave this evidence away in favour of unlawful occupants remaining on Transnet land during an appeal process, which can take months, if not years, to finalise. 

‘The illegal occupation and associated anti-social and criminal behaviour has placed an enormous strain on City and SAPS resources. The impact on surrounding communities has been severe, including attacks on cyclists in the lower Woodstock area, both before and after last month’s High Court eviction order. 

‘I condemn the violent incidents at the site when the Sheriff of the Court issued the ejectment notice to unlawful occupants on Thursday, prior to the eleventh-hour leave to appeal filing with the SCA,’ said Ald JP Smith. 

Weekly enforcement report

Weekly enforcement patrols across the metropole saw officers issue 53 422 fines and arrested 226 suspects, while Metro Police recovered nine hijacked and stolen vehicles.

Metro Police officers arrested 137 suspects, of which 63 were for driving under the influence of alcohol. Officers also issued 4 603 fines for various transgressions. 

During general enforcement patrols, Law Enforcement officers made 34 arrests and issued 3 783 notices. 

On the roads, Traffic Officers arrested 55 suspects, 46 for drunk driving, four for reckless and negligent driving, and five on other charges. They executed 2 077 warrants, impounded 91 public transport vehicles and issued 45 036 fines. 

The PECC recorded 3 279 calls, including 205 physical assault-related incidents, 83 domestic violence cases and 114 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents. Call agents also dealt with 564 noise nuisance complaints.

The public is reminded to report incidents and emergencies, or any suspicious and/or criminal activities, to the PECC on 021 480 7700, or to log by-law and traffic-related complaints using the Safety and Security feature on the City App.