Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/10/23

Following reports of alleged illegal land grabs and intimidation in Lenasia, Ward 9 Councillor Kishore Badal says the South African Police Service and the relevant authorities have intervened in the matter.

Badal told Radio Islam that representatives from the mayor’s office visited the area on Monday to assess the situation.

He says that there is no indication as to who the owners of the unoccupied land is, making it difficult for SAPS and the relevant authorities to take action when needed.

“Where it is private property, the owner has to go to the police station and open a charge, and often enough we don’t know who the private owner is, and in some cases where we know who they are and we’ve been asking and they haven’t come through.”

Badal says that upon association of attire, they believe that the Economic Freedom Fighters are behind the alleged land grabbing incidents.

“They’ve been fought right and very brazen about it, they are in their attire all the time, and they talk about what the party represents and what the party will do.”

Badal claims that members of the EFF have been to his office instructing him to back off.

“They asked me not to interfere and I must make sure that SAPS and JMPD and CPF do not intervene, and I said that I cannot do that as long as they are breaking the law.”

Badal adds that if residents find themselves intimidated and harassed by the alleged land invaders, they need to go to the police station and report the incident.

Police Have Intervened

The police’s Hector Netshivodza confirmed to Radio Islam that a land invasion case has since been opened.

“Nobody is arrested yet at this stage, we are now investigating and monitoring the situation.”

Netshivodza also confirmed that the alleged land invaders affiliate themselves with the EFF.

“Some of the people who were there were wearing the T-shirt of the EFF.”

Protest Action In Extension 13

Tension remains high in the area with a violent protest on Jewel Street yesterday, where protestors burnt tyres and barricaded roads – allegedly trying to prevent the construction of a business centre.

Netshivodza says around three hundred people mobilised in the area.

“The owners were building a wall around the land where they want to build, so the people wanted to know why, so the owner of the land came and showed them the title deed and the police were able to resolve the issue.”

Netshivodza says police will be patrolling the area throughout the day.

Radio Islam attempted to contact the EFF’s Gauteng Provincial Chairperson for comment, however to no avail.