Property rights battle: DA's Haniff Hoosen intervenes in land crisis

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance's (DA) mayoral candidate in eThekwini, Haniff Hoosen has stepped in to assist the farmers whose land has been illegally occupied.

Despite numerous police reports, the farmers have received little help from authorities.

Hoosen engaged with traditional leadership and government ministers to address what he described as criminal elements masquerading as traditional leaders.

Hoosen said he had been approached by the land owners for assistance. 

“I was invited to a meeting with a group of farmers who were desperate for help. These are pioneer farmers who had been operating for decades. They have called on every government department for help, but they have been ignored. They have had several criminal cases opened at the police station, but the perpetrators are still occupying their land, and no action was taken against them. I will be fighting for their rights to land ownership.” 

Hoosen said he had since convened meetings with the traditional leadership in the area. 

“It appears that criminal elements are masquerading as traditional leaders in the area and I will soon meet with the local police and force them to do their job. Alternatively, we will seek an order of court to compel them to act against criminal elements in the area. The DA’s provincial deputy leader, Sithembiso Ngema, is arranging a follow up meeting with the Qwabe Traditional Council and affected farmers to find a resolution to this matter.

“I have also sought the assistance of the Minister of Public Works who has brought this to the attention of King Misizulu’s office. The Minister has been very supportive and helpful in trying to resolve this matter,” he said. 

Hoosen said while he was mindful of the land restitution rights, there was a legislated process that must be followed. 

“People cannot be operating outside the law and taking over properties by force. We will not tolerate that behaviour and will use the law to prevent this type of criminal behaviour. 

“However, the eThekwini Municipality is in crisis. Not a single one of their departments are operating optimally. Calls to the land invasion unit go unanswered and these farmers are under attack every day. Unfortunately, we live in a city where the government does not care. If they cannot even provide basic services like water to communities, expecting them to respond to these types of cases is simply beyond their ability. We will not turn a blind eye to this and will do whatever it takes to support these farmers and ensure that their rights are protected,” he said. 

Gugu Sisilana, spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality, said the city did not own all properties and land parcels in the municipal jurisdiction, and that majority of these were privately owned. 

She said therefore the onus of maintaining a private property or vacant land lay with the owner to prevent the property being hijacked and occupied illegally or occupied as an informal settlement.

“The property owner must report the illegal occupation to the police to be dealt with in terms of trespassing. Furthermore, where there are illegal occupants, the property owner will have to approach the court so that they can seek a court order to remove them from their property.”

Sisilana added that  the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act protects both land owners and occupiers while empowering authorities to address illegal land occupation.

“For land invasion on municipal-owned land, the municipality collaborates with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of these laws and regulations.”

The Qwabe Tribal Council did not respond at the time of publication.

THE POST