Land matters and rural development: 2010

Abstract

In some municipal areas, land grabbing was instigated which led to illegal clearing of land and settlement even within wetland areas (Coetzee ‘Jeugliga-hoof deel grond uit’ Beeld (2009-08-11) 4). In the Tshwane Metro Council area informal settlement seems to be orchestrated in certain mining areas. Although the Council is able to provide land to 29 500 people, land invasions are still a common feature and the Council is constantly embroiled in eviction proceedings (Versluis ‘29 500 kan blyplek kry met plan, hoor hof in uitsettingsaak’ Beeld (2010-03-25) 18). In Johannesburg people were evicted from derelict buildings without any alternative accommodation. They paid rent for the flats and were unaware that they were illegal occupants (Thakali ‘Red ants evict 1000 from derelict block’ Saturday Star (2010-02-13) 5).