DA pressure leads to an eviction notice for GDE Funny Farm land

Issued by Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education
29 Oct 2024 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng welcomes the issuing of eviction notices to the illegal occupants at the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) owned land, Funny Farm situated in Alberton.

For years, the DA has been pushing for the GDE to take legal action against the illegal occupants at the Funny Farm.

This week the illegal occupants were served with an eviction notice.

For a long time, residents in the vicinity of the Funny Farm have been complaining about the rise in crime and safety in the area.

It is unacceptable that the department abandoned this land, which made it accessible to invaders when we have many schools that are overcrowded because there are not sufficient classrooms and schools in the province.

Furthermore, the department is spending more than R192 million a month on rent for ten district offices, which means that if this land is used to build a district office for the department, they could have saved R19 200 000 per month.

The eviction notice has been served, and the DA will monitor the court case.

Should the eviction order be granted to the department, they need to ensure that this land is properly secured and that there is security at all times to prevent the land from being invaded illegally again.

A DA government would immediately ensure that the eviction order, when granted, is carried out and that the vacant land is used to either build a school or offices for the department.