THE Greater Tubatse municipality in Limpopo has threatened to evict more than a hundred families who invaded a portion of land on farms that did not belong to them.
Municipal spokesperson Thabiso Mokoena said the municipality had obtained a high court order to evict the families.
About 100 families erected shacks on the Steelpoortdrift farm and Praktiseer farm early last month after allegedly learning the municipality had sold the land.
This was after the land was left vacant for many years.
Mokoena said a local taxi association had approached them with a view to buying the land for business purposes.
Mokoena said the municipality told the taxi association members that the land belonged to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, "hence it could not be sold to anyone".
"But it was also important to note that the land in question is still under consideration by the land claims commission after the Mashifane community claimed it," Mokoena said.
According to Mokoena, the municipality secured a "caretakership" of the two farms "and other strategic land".
He said the municipality was surprised to see shacks being erected on the farms and had applied for an eviction order.
"Presently, we have been granted an order by the magistrate. But we have since elevated the matter to the high court to be able to evict those illegal occupants," he said.
He said the Mashifane community also applied for an order to evict the occupants, in its capacity as the land claimants. The case is due to be heard on October 3.
Municipality seeks order to evict more than 100 families
THE Greater Tubatse municipality in Limpopo has threatened to evict more than a hundred families who invaded a portion of land on farms that did not belong to them.
Municipal spokesperson Thabiso Mokoena said the municipality had obtained a high court order to evict the families.
About 100 families erected shacks on the Steelpoortdrift farm and Praktiseer farm early last month after allegedly learning the municipality had sold the land.
This was after the land was left vacant for many years.
Mokoena said a local taxi association had approached them with a view to buying the land for business purposes.
Mokoena said the municipality told the taxi association members that the land belonged to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, "hence it could not be sold to anyone".
"But it was also important to note that the land in question is still under consideration by the land claims commission after the Mashifane community claimed it," Mokoena said.
According to Mokoena, the municipality secured a "caretakership" of the two farms "and other strategic land".
He said the municipality was surprised to see shacks being erected on the farms and had applied for an eviction order.
"Presently, we have been granted an order by the magistrate. But we have since elevated the matter to the high court to be able to evict those illegal occupants," he said.
He said the Mashifane community also applied for an order to evict the occupants, in its capacity as the land claimants. The case is due to be heard on October 3.
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