4 March 2024
Free State Agriculture has expressed concern about widespread illegal land occupations taking place around Lourier Park and alongside Pellissier in the south of Bloemfontein.
Francois Wilken, chairman of Free State Agriculture, told African Farming the fact that Gregory Nthatisi, mayor of Mangaung, said the occupiers should stay for now, will set a precedent.
“This will only cause the land occupations to expand. From our side, we want to see the eviction order obtained by the municipality being enforced.”
The occupations began over the weekend, and by Monday morning thousands of illegal structures had been erected as far as the turnoff to the Bloemdal East farms, 4 km outside the city on the road to Jagersfontein.
Occupiers who spoke to African Farming said ANC councillors had told them they could occupy the land. They complained about a lack of housing in informal settlements and said they were tired of waiting for government-subsidised houses and could no longer afford the high rent they pay to squat in other people’s yards.
On Sunday afternoon, Nthatisi told a press conference that the municipality and police had obtained a court order against the occupiers and informed them about it. However, he also indicated that the occupiers cannot be removed now because it is only a provisional order.
Dave McKay, councillor for ward 18, which includes Lourier Park, Pellissier and Bloemdal where the occupations are taking place, sent an urgent memorandum to the mayor and city manager, Sello More. In it, he warned that residents’ lives were being endangered by the illegal occupiers.
“Occupiers allegedly threatened and insulted residents of Lourier Park and their children if they refused to provide the occupiers with water. This while residents of these neighbourhoods have to pay for that water.”
On behalf of the Lourier Park community, he requested an emergency meeting with the mayor and the erection of police roadblocks to halt further occupations.
A landowner in the area who did not want his name mentioned says the occupations are taking place on land used for grazing by more than 300 communal farmers.
“The communal farmers have told my herdsmen they are very unhappy about the occupations because suddenly all their grazing is gone. They fear their cattle will be stolen and slaughtered.”
