BLOEMFONTEIN – The Free State High Court has dismissed the DA’s application to halt the development of land next to Lourier Park.

The court gave judgement today, 5 June, in the case that the DA in the Mangaung Metro brought before the court to halt the development of land after it had been unlawfully occupied by residents in 2024. The case was dismissed with cost.

The Mangaung Metro in March 2024 was served with a court order to stop the illegal invasion, but refused to implement the order. This led to land grabbers pouring into the area to erect houses here.

The metro later involved the Red Ants to start evicting the unlawful occupiers. Still, many informal settlements stayed put, and even more settlements were established.

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In January the Mangaung Metro started with a process of grading and levelling of the site, demarcation of sites, installation of municipal services.

The DA called on the court to stop the process and an interim order followed in February.

The case was heard on Thursday 4 June, with the verdict given today at 10:00.

The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Planning and Human Settlements, Ntombi Nhlapo, said outside the high court that the Mangaung Metro welcomes the judgement in its efforts to provide vulnerable residents with access to land.

“This is a victory for Mangaung. It has been a long fight for residents who continue to struggle with housing challenges. We did this for the residents of Mangaung, and we are pleased that the programme can continue to serve our communities,” she said.

Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi said in a statement that the ANC-led municipality has consistently maintained that the government has a constitutional and moral obligation to confront poverty, unsafe living conditions and the legacy of spacial inequality though lawful and responsible interventions.

The court verdict follows incidents where 16 households in Botshabelo and surrounding areas were affected in sever weather conditions, including winds and hail, on Thursday.

Nthatisi said the matter was never merely about legal arguments.

“It concerned the lives of ordinary men, women, children, pensioners and vulnerable residents who continue to endure difficult circumstances. Many of these families have been forced to live in areas susceptible to flooding, poor drainage, overcrowding and severe weather conditions.”

He said the administration remained resolute in its commitment to ensuring that every resident of Mangaung has access to safe and habitable living conditions and the opportunities necessary to improve their quality of life.