PEOPLE who continue to illegally build houses on government land in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, do so with the "high probability" of financial ruin, the Gauteng local government and housing department has warned.

"I cannot believe that there are still people building homes there," department spokesman Motsamai Motlhaolwa said yesterday. "They do so at their own risk as they will lose out on more money when we get the final order to demolish houses that are built illegally."

Residents have appealed a court order granted on September 21 allowing the department to evict them and demolish houses built on its land. According to the initial ruling the residents had 30 days before the department could reclaim its land forcibly.

Motlhaolwa said the department was certain it would win a second court order granting permission to demolish the houses.

At least 163 families in Lenasia extension 13 will be affected if this ruling is upheld.

Residents lost their battle with the department in the Johannesburg High Court after initially getting an interdict in September last year stopping government bulldozers from flattening their homes.

Motlhaolwa said: "The department will act within days of the prescribed period as this has taken us a lot of time."

In Eden Park, the department and Ekurhuleni metro have partnered to evict 903 families who invaded RDP houses.

Others have built their own structures on incomplete RDP stands.

"The defendants have asked for an extension and the matter will probably be heard in mid November. We are just seeking an eviction order in this case."

Motlhaolwa did not say why there were no security guards at developments to alert authorities before the 24 hours prescribed for government before it is legally forced to obtain a court order to evict.