MORE than 14 000 illegal land occupiers re-erected their shacks a few days after their makeshift homes were demolished at Coin Estate in Olievenhoutbosch, Tshwane.
This after dozens of residents were left stranded after their homes were destroyed on 31 March.
Some residents were injured during the eviction when the police fired rubber bullets. One of the injured included a two-year-old baby who was hospitalised.
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Despite being shot at by rubber bullets, the illegal land occupiers vowed to keep on erecting their shacks.
The illegal land occupants claimed they cleaned up a small plot of land that had previously been used as a dumping site and converted it into homes. They argued that the land, which they grabbed in August 2022, is not owned by anyone as it is part of the Olieven formation from 1996.
One of the shack dwellers, Sanza Kau, told Daily Sun his shack was destroyed while he was still asleep. "They came and destroyed our shacks and the problem has caused us stress as we don't have any other place to go," said Sanza.
Another shack dweller, Itumeleng Leche, said: “We need a place to stay and we also don't have money for rent as we only rely on piece jobs."
Peter Seolela, EFF chairman, said they first evicted a few shacks but stopped in December 2022.
"We challenged them and went to the high court for an interdict because we were not informed. Our application was dismissed by the judge and referred to a small court because it was not considered urgent," said Seolela.
Seolela said they would keep building shacks and living there as they have nowhere else to go. "Our people are not leaving this place despite being terrorised by the police. They must remain here while we await a response from the president's office," said Seolela.
City of Tshwane spokesman Lindela Mashigo said the invaded land is privately owned.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said a group of shack dwellers were evicted through a court order.
“Eleven of them were arrested for public violence and the case is still going to court,” said Nevhuhulwi.
