Category Archives: land invasions unit

One death and several injuries in Marianhill, three arrests in Kranskop

Tuesday, 13 June 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

One death and several injuries in Marianhill, three arrests in Kranskop

Today we came under serious attack from the Land Invasions Unit in eMansenseni in Marianhill. One person is confirmed dead, two are in a critical condition in hospital and a number of others are injured – all shot in the back. It was a war zone. The Land Invasions Unit didn’t talk to anyone. They just fired live ammunition. The intention was clearly to kill, to teach a lesson.

There was also an eviction in Kranskop resulting in three arrests. Continue reading

M&G: Battle lines drawn over eThekwini land

Kwanele Sosibo, Mail & Guardian

The KwaZulu-Natal department of human settlements and public works this week said it would forge ahead with plans to establish its own land invasion control unit. This follows a Durban high court ruling that forces the departments and the eThekwini municipality to obtain court orders to carry out evictions. The unit would survey and protect all land belonging to the department that has been earmarked for housing. There is already such a unit policing land owned by the municipality.

Mbulelo Baloyi, spokesperson for human settlements MEC Ravi Pillay said on Thursday they had already begun the process of identifying a service provider. Continue reading

AEC: Police illegally destroy homes on Symphony Way

Police illegally destroy homes on Symphony Way

Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement
Saturday 4 October, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yesterday afternoon, the Symphony Way community was once again invaded by about 15 police officers from the city’s notorious Land Invasions Unit. This time, they attempted to illegally destroy a resident’s home without a court order and without the permission of the City.

Under the direction of Loot Petersen, the Unit proceeded to destroy residents home. Even though it is clearly illegal to evict anyone without a court order, the Land Invasions Unit does this all over South Africa on a regular basis. Still, the people committing these illegal acts are never charged.

This incident was no different. When the police arrived, the Anti Eviction Campaign immediately called Mzwandile Sokupa (the City of Cape Town’s Manager of Informal Settlements) to inquire as to whether or not he had authorised the eviction. Mr. Sokupa then spoke directly to Mr. Petersen.

However, despite this, Mr. Petersen and his unit went ahead an demolished the shack.

The AEC is now calling for the immediate firing of Mr Loot Petersen for his illegal and immoral action on Friday. It is unjustifiable for any law enforcement official to circumvent the courts and take the law into their own hands.

The AEC would also like to point out that Mr. Petersen has also been accused numerous times of corruption when selling government built shacks in the nearby Temporary Relocation Area (TRA) aptly dubbed ‘Blikkiesdorp’. It therefore makes sense that Mr. Petersen would go to great lengths to intimidate and evict residents of Symphony Way in order to force them into Blikkiesdorp where he stands to make a quick buck.

Within an hour after the home was demolished, residents had already come together and collectively rebuilt the home.

Symphony Way’s defiant – though traumatised residents – will remain united!

For comment, call Ashraf at 076 1861 408 and Auntie Jane at 078 4031 302

Click here for some photos

To obtain high quality photographs for publishing, please contact us by email at webmaster@antieviction.org.za