July 2001 Africa News Headlines

CAPE TOWN - A swift action by Western Cape law enforcement officers averted an attempted illegal occupation of government land in Khayelitsha outside Cape Town on Sunday.

Police had to clear and patrol the area after between ten and 20 people, apparently having been displaced by recent floods, gathered on the land belonging to the Department of Public Works and had already erected a single shack from cardboard boxes when police arrived.

Khayelitsha police station commissioner, Director Risimati Shivuri, told Nampa-Sapa that while patrols were continuing, the place had been cleared and the situation back at normal by (Sunday) midnight.

Shivuri said there had not been any confrontation as the would-be invaders did not attempt any resistance when ordered to vacate the place.

"Other people who were on the land earlier just allocated land for themselves before leaving", he said.

Risimati said those involved were the same group of people who were demonstrating on the land on Saturday.

"The unicity is attending to the issue together with a newly formed committee including councillors, and they have already embarked on negotiations with the homeless people. The unicity is apparently supposed to give the homeless people feedback during August sometime, but it seems that the squatters are rushing the matter."

He said leaders of the committee spoke to the land invaders on Sunday afternoon, and persuaded them to leave.

"We explained the procedures to them once again. They heeded to our requests and everyone dispersed peacefully thereafter." - Nampa-Sapa

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