The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng notes Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s recent remarks that his administration intends to strengthen partnerships with municipalities and take active measures to “halt further land invasion while ensuring lawful settlement development”. While this is a bold statement of intent, words alone are insufficient to convey it. We demand that Lesufi take tangible action to enhance the province’s capacity to address land invasions, which are unlawful and pose a direct threat to community safety.
The DA has consistently raised concerns about the escalating issue of land invasions in the Gauteng province. We have questioned both the scale of the problem and the provincial government’s ability to tackle it. Lesufi’s remarks validate our concerns and highlight the pressing need for action. However, the real test lies in delivery.
Land invasions have real consequences for everyone involved. From highjacked buildings and informal settlements, they expose residents to terrible living conditions, rampant crime, and severe health hazards due to the lack of basic services. Businesses are equally affected, as the surrounding environment becomes unsafe and unregulated. In such an environment, they may face risks like theft, vandalism, or violence, resulting in higher insurance costs, potential losses, and possible shutdowns that lead to job cuts.
Despite this, the DA has uncovered that Gauteng’s Land and Property Invasion Unit under the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS) is grossly under-resourced. It has only three officials, one director and two assistant directors, supported by a single vehicle, three cell phones, and three laptops. This notwithstanding, a budget allocation of approximately R10 million.
The DA will table questions to both the Premier and the MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, to determine whether they have a feasible and workable plan to deal with the expansion of land invasions in Gauteng beyond the rhetoric and soundbites at their press briefings.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would restructure and bolster the Land and Property Invasion Unit to include experts, law enforcement liaison, investigators, and data analysts. We would deploy geofencing systems to provide real-time surveillance of vulnerable land parcels. Additionally, we would strengthen the multidisciplinary task teams combining SAPS, Local government, Metro Police, Home Affairs, and Social Services to clamp down on illegal occupations while addressing humanitarian needs. We would also ensure police visibility in and around hijacked buildings and informal settlements to root out criminal syndicates that exploit vulnerable occupants, pedestrians, motorists, and businesses in the area.
The DA will continue to push the Premier to follow through on his promises by ensuring adequate resources and effective policing in fighting land and property invasions, both of which undermine safety, encourage criminality, and strip communities of dignity.