Land occupation in the WCape: Have we reached a tipping point?
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In tonight’s show, we are dealing with the thorny issue of land occupation. Land and housing and is always a sensitive subject, which lends itself to race and politics.
Recently, our news has been dominated by reports of lady land occupation attempts in Cape Town, which have descended into violence and chaos.
The City of Cape Town says it has dealt with 260 incidents of alleged illegal land occupation between April and July's lockdown. The Western Cape government says these are "highly coordinated and sophisticated" incidents.
Attempts to illegally occupy land, City projects or community facilities include several orchestrated attempts in Kraafontein, Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Delft, Dunoon, Firgrove (Macassar), Milnerton and Nyanga among others.
In various incidents this past week, shacks were erected on open pieces of land, but law enforcement authorities dismantled these dwellings – which resulted in clashes.
What is at the root of these land invasions? How should the government respond? And what does the law say about the invasion of land?
Those are the questions we ask in tonight’s show
Joining me on air:
-Linda Phito, an activist from Kraaifontein and Pastor Charles George from the Delft CPF
-Sherylle Dass from the Legal Resources Centre and Zama Mgwatyu from the Development Action Group
-After 8: We chat to Mayco member for Human Settlements, councillor Malusi Booi
and MEC for Human Settlements Tertius Simmers
-And as we wrap up, Anele Khumalo from Werkmans Attorneys
Recently, our news has been dominated by reports of lady land occupation attempts in Cape Town, which have descended into violence and chaos.
The City of Cape Town says it has dealt with 260 incidents of alleged illegal land occupation between April and July's lockdown. The Western Cape government says these are "highly coordinated and sophisticated" incidents.
Attempts to illegally occupy land, City projects or community facilities include several orchestrated attempts in Kraafontein, Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Delft, Dunoon, Firgrove (Macassar), Milnerton and Nyanga among others.
In various incidents this past week, shacks were erected on open pieces of land, but law enforcement authorities dismantled these dwellings – which resulted in clashes.
What is at the root of these land invasions? How should the government respond? And what does the law say about the invasion of land?
Those are the questions we ask in tonight’s show
Joining me on air:
-Linda Phito, an activist from Kraaifontein and Pastor Charles George from the Delft CPF
-Sherylle Dass from the Legal Resources Centre and Zama Mgwatyu from the Development Action Group
-After 8: We chat to Mayco member for Human Settlements, councillor Malusi Booi
and MEC for Human Settlements Tertius Simmers
-And as we wrap up, Anele Khumalo from Werkmans Attorneys