CAPE TOWN — Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has made a firm stance against land grabs, declaring that such actions will not be tolerated under his tenure. The minister’s vow came as he addressed the ongoing land invasion in Grabouw, a situation that has seen over 4,000 people settle illegally on state-owned land. The occupation of the land began in 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
What started as a small — scale occupation has now escalated into a large, unsanctioned settlement on state-owned land. Macpherson highlighted the scale of the occupation, noting that an estimated population of between 15,000 and 20,000 people now reside on the 1,800 hectares of land. He emphasized that the size of the occupation is not the sole concern, but the more pressing issue is the absence of effective law enforcement and intervention. “.
The scale of the occupation is not the only concern. The far more serious issue is what has taken root in the absence of effective law enforcement and intervention, “Macpherson stated. He pointed out that Knoflokskraal, the site of the occupation, has become a place where the rule of law is, in many respects, non-existent. “.
At present, Knoflokskraal is a space where, in many respects, the rule of law simply does not exist, “he.
The minister also expressed concern over the inability of department officials to access certain parts of the site for inspections. “In effect, there are areas within Knoflokskraal that are off limits to the department, which is the lawful custodian of the land. That is deeply concerning for any democratic government to be in, and it is frankly unprecedented, “Macpherson remarked.
Source: enca
