The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform would like to warn members of public and desperate communities against buying land/sites from bogus sellers as they will lose their hard-earned money and face prospects of being evicted as occupation of such illegally sold land constitutes illegal occupation and is a criminal offence.
This warning comes in the wake of recent and ongoing land invasions in Wallmansthal, north of Pretoria, where desperate communities are being illegally sold land/stands belonging to the State.
Wallmansthal farm is a finalised restitution claim that is in the process of being transferred to the Wallmansthal Community Property Association (CPA) as successful restitution claimants. Scrupulous fraudsters have however, since late September last year, being illegally selling sites and/or encouraging people to illegally occupy this state land.
The department, together with representatives of the Wallmansthal CPA, have been engaging the illegal occupiers in an effort to have them leave Walmanthsdall and cease this illegal occupation.
The department resorted to courts when these efforts failed. The court’s application to interdict the illegal occupiers was heard on 26 September 2011 and the department was granted an interim order restraining invasion and the selling of portions of the farm. The illegal occupiers were subsequently served with the interim court order.
In spite of the interim orders served on the illegal occupiers, the representatives of illegal occupiers of Walmanthsdall continued with their illegal occupation.
It must be emphasised that there are at least two illegal acts being committed in this case – the illegal selling of state land as well as the illegal occupation of state land that is being transferred to its rightful owners, the Walmanthsdall restitution claimants.
The department has consulted with its Counsel and the State Attorney and is approaching the Registrar of High Court for a hearing date to seek a final order to ensure that people illegally occupying land in Wallmansthal are evicted with immediate effect.
It is unfortunate that scrupulous people are exploiting desperate poor communities, who stand to lose the money they have paid to these scrupulous characters when they are evicted from the land they are currently illegally occupying.
Enquiries:
Mr Eddie Mohoebi – Head Communication Services
Tel: 012 312 9648
Cell: 082 550 1445
