TWO trucks were torched and more than 10 destroyed during a protest in Winburg, Free State, on Thursday, 11 August.
Angry residents of Zola informal settlement barricaded the N1 highway with burning tyres and stones after the Masilonyana Municipality activated an eviction order, issued last September.
Residents were granted a year to vacate the land after being defeated in court, but they took their frustrations to the street from Wednesday, 10 August, blocking the road between Bloemfontein and Joburg, and some allegedly looting shops.
A community leader, who asked not to be named, told Daily Sun that most illegal occupants were unemployed people who could not afford rent.
“We want the municipality to formalise our area. We have been applying since 1994 with no success. We had no money to challenge the eviction order. We are South Africans and entitled to own land,” said the leader.
Municipal spokesman Zongezile Ntjwabule said all residents who had occupied the land were informed of the court application, and had the opportunity to present their side as to why they should not be evicted.
“Throughout this process, the municipality made alternative land available to ensure that people are not stranded. Notwithstanding the more than a year notice period, the number of illegal occupiers is not going down but rather increasing,” he said.
He said that the land had not been identified as a housing development zone, because the area was dominated by a rocky outcrop.
“It’s outside the urban edge and close to a biohazard buffer zone. The area has no access from external road systems, which will pose a challenge to the traffic network,” said Ntjwabule.
Police spokesman Captain Steven Thakeng said three people, aged 15, 19 and 22, were arrested for public violence.
“The police and traffic officials are monitoring the situation,” he added.
