July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - Web posted at 10:07:29 AM GMT

SA govt urges court to evict squatters
ALLAN SECCOMBE

PRETORIA - South African government lawyers urged the high court yesterday to allow it to evict hundreds of squatters and end a land invasion that has helped nudge the volatile rand to a new low against the dollar.

The health and safety of squatters occupying a barren field east of Johannesburgnear the international airport was at risk and they should be promptly evicted, thelawyers told a hearing in its second day at Pretoria High Court.

Judge Carl Rabie said he would make a ruling today.

The attempt by thousands of poverty-stricken blacks to set up shacks on the land, owned by government agencies and two farmers, has raised fears that the violentseizure of white-owned farm land in neighbouring Zimbabwe could be repeated in South Africa.

The rand sank to a new low of 8.2425 against the dollar yesterday, after jitters over the domestic land grab made the currency vulnerable to emerging market concerns, traders said."

"The one thing which is worrying them is this land grab," Barclays Bank rand trader Andy Horne said.

South African ministers have said the state will not tolerate land invasions and will use the full force of the law to ensure events in Zimbabwe are not repeatedin South Africa.

Lawyers for the government said the squatters' safety was at risk because the landwas criss-crossed by electricity pylons, an underground oil pipeline and railwaytracks. - Nampa-Reuters

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