GRABOUW – Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has announced measures to restore law and order at the Knoflokskraal informal settlement, a 1 800-hectare occupied area along the N2 between Grabouw and Botrivier that has been a flashpoint for service delivery protests and economic disruption since 2020.
The settlement, first occupied by individuals seeking to establish what they described as a self-sustaining Khoisan community, has grown rapidly despite being on state-owned land, sparking concerns about governance, criminal activity and the impact on one of the Western Cape’s critical transport routes.
The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape said the expansion of Knoflokskraal was “clearly driven by political groupings” ahead of the 2021 local government elections. The settlement has been the site of protests that have repeatedly shut down the N2, disrupting freight transport, emergency services and commuters.
According to the DA, the settlement faces multiple challenges beyond illegal land occupation, including allegations of drug-related activity, intimidation of emergency services, criminal syndicates and illegal land sales for as little as R1 500.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, which owns the land, has outlined a three-pillar approach to address the situation.
Containment measures will focus on monitoring and controlling multiple access points to the settlement to prevent further expansion. The department has emphasised that containment is not eviction but an effort to restore order. A court-issued containment order already prohibits new occupants from moving onto the land and prevents expansion of properties or introduction of building materials.
Social facilitation will involve gathering information about residents, their circumstances and the settlement’s layout to enable informed decision-making by authorities.
Direct community engagement aims to interact with residents without intermediaries, giving them a voice whilst allowing the department to distinguish between vulnerable occupants and those exploiting the situation.
Residents have previously stated they occupied the land not primarily for housing but to farm and achieve self-sufficiency, particularly in response to rising living costs. The settlement has developed to include homes, livestock farms and vegetable gardens across the sprawling site.
ALSO READ: Taakspan aangestel om Knoflokskraal buite Grabouw te ondersoek
The department has stated it does not provide basic services to people illegally occupying state property and has been reassessing security measures at the site, which it acknowledged have been inadequate.
The DA said the intervention illustrates that “the DA in government does not hesitate or procrastinate” but tackles issues to “build a better, functioning society for all”.
The future of the settlement and its residents remains uncertain as the department considers its options for the occupied land.
ALSO READ: Een van stigterslede van Knoflokskraal kry lewenslank vir verkragting
You must be logged in to post a comment.