“I just can’t afford to pay rent in these difficult times,” said Joyce Yoliswa (56) of Witsand.
One of hundreds of current land invaders, she says she made good money before the lockdown selling fast food to residents in the area, and paying rent was no problem.
“If these people think I want to live like this they are making a huge mistake,” she explains.
“My current situation forced me to take a piece of land to put a roof over my grandchildren’s heads, as I can’t sleep with them on the streets.”
Law enforcement officers stands by while illegal structures are taken down. Photo: David Rossouw
City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officers had their hands full and various structures were broken down just as rapidly they were put up last week.
Joseph Witbooi, proportional representative councilor for the area, said council was monitoring the situation, and Law Enforcement had conducted a number of anti-land invasion operations on the site since the situation first escalated.
The situation remains volatile.
He said attempts to invade City land will not be tolerated and added privately owned land was also targeted by residents. The Disaster Management regulations as well as a recent High Court interdict prevents the City from protecting land once a structure is erected. “So we have only one option, which is to guard against land invasion as it occurs.”
