THE North Gauteng High Court has ruled in favour of the City of Tshwane's auction of land occupied by squatters.
On Friday, the court in Pretoria dismissed an application by six businessmen to halt the auction.
Judge Sulet Potterill said the group had failed to comply with the court regulations on urgent applications.
But yesterday, Lawyers for Human Rights approached the court on behalf of the more than 3000 informal residents of Plastic View, who will be affected by the sale of the land.
Judge Thomas Phatudi dismissed the application because the rights of residents would be protected, and they will be allocated alternative accommodation should they be moved.
In January, mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa announced the land release programme, which is a plan to auction land to raise money for housing and infrastructure programmes.
Woodlands Village - the-so-called Plastic View informal settlement - in Moreleta Park, measuring 216hectares, is one of the areas set to go under the hammer today.
Two late urgent applications to interdict the city from the sale - one on Friday, and the other yesterday - were dismissed.
The informal settlement in Moreleta Park is situated on one of more than 80 pieces of land that go under the hammer to raise an estimated R500-million to fund housing projects, maintenance and infrastructure requirements, as well as the provision of basic services.
Myron Dewrance SC, representing the municipality, said the sale of the land was the only feasible means of raising the capital.
Another property on the list is near the intersection of Bergamot and Anthesis streets in Loftus Garden and includes a municipal clinic. The clinic will not be sold.
Other properties being auctioned off include the Soshanguve South Extension 14, Sinoville, Rooihuiskraal North Extension 22, Zwartkop Extension 8 and La Montagne.
The city has appointed High Street Auction Co, which sold the iconic Kyalami race track last year, to handle the sale of the land.
The auction will take place at Hyde Park in Johannesburg.
khumelaj@sowetan.co.za
Squatters fail to stop land auction
THE North Gauteng High Court has ruled in favour of the City of Tshwane's auction of land occupied by squatters.
On Friday, the court in Pretoria dismissed an application by six businessmen to halt the auction.
Judge Sulet Potterill said the group had failed to comply with the court regulations on urgent applications.
But yesterday, Lawyers for Human Rights approached the court on behalf of the more than 3000 informal residents of Plastic View, who will be affected by the sale of the land.
Judge Thomas Phatudi dismissed the application because the rights of residents would be protected, and they will be allocated alternative accommodation should they be moved.
In January, mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa announced the land release programme, which is a plan to auction land to raise money for housing and infrastructure programmes.
Woodlands Village - the-so-called Plastic View informal settlement - in Moreleta Park, measuring 216hectares, is one of the areas set to go under the hammer today.
Two late urgent applications to interdict the city from the sale - one on Friday, and the other yesterday - were dismissed.
The informal settlement in Moreleta Park is situated on one of more than 80 pieces of land that go under the hammer to raise an estimated R500-million to fund housing projects, maintenance and infrastructure requirements, as well as the provision of basic services.
Myron Dewrance SC, representing the municipality, said the sale of the land was the only feasible means of raising the capital.
Another property on the list is near the intersection of Bergamot and Anthesis streets in Loftus Garden and includes a municipal clinic. The clinic will not be sold.
Other properties being auctioned off include the Soshanguve South Extension 14, Sinoville, Rooihuiskraal North Extension 22, Zwartkop Extension 8 and La Montagne.
The city has appointed High Street Auction Co, which sold the iconic Kyalami race track last year, to handle the sale of the land.
The auction will take place at Hyde Park in Johannesburg.
khumelaj@sowetan.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos