Question NW3316 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
14 October 2022 - NW3316
Zondo, Mr S S to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1) With reference to the litigation report that was presented to the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure on 24 August 2022, what are the details of the R2, 5 million that was reported as containment measures to prevent further land invasions costs of the Sheriff in respect of the (a) property address, (b) relevant dates, (c) incident-specific costs and (d) current status of the properties in terms of land invasions; (2) What are the ongoing costs related to the protection of properties of her Department from unlawful occupation; (3)What measures are being implemented to prevent further land invasions?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
1. I was informed in February 2021 the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure issued instructions to State Attorney to facilitate the obtaining of a court order preventing further invasion of the Grabouw state-owned property and, in the process, incurred the costs through the Office of the State Attorney by engaging the services of the Sheriff of the Court to assist through serving the papers and executing the court order concerning the following:
a) Grabouw FARMS 336, 445 and 335
b) Since the final containment Court Order was granted on 21 September 2021. containment measures have been carried out throughout the period to contain further invasions by conducting surveys on the portions of farms from time to time, with the Sheriff's survey report in July 2022 revealing that the total amount of completed structures on all the properties is 5599 and the incomplete/damaged/half-built structures amount to 177.
c) Sheriff of the Court is mainly instructed to survey the properties as part of the containment measures to prevent further invasions and provide the report to the State Attorney and the Department on the recommended measures required.
d) Based on the Sheriff's survey report, it is essential to note that the figures will move upward as there are still people erecting structures on all the properties listed and some areas are very well hidden..
2. Court Orders - as part of containment measures, require the Department to, amongst others, consider demolishing incomplete structures and the additional labour to assist the Sheriff in doing so, and also storage of personal belongings for a week. Included in the Sheriff's cost are the putting up of notices in all three local languages, the reading out thereof, and serving the applications and Court Orders on all relevant parties regarding the Rules of Court.
3. The Department has initiated a Grabouw State Land Steering Committee to address the challenges experienced as a result of land invasion within the Grabouw District. The first meeting is set to take place before the end of November 2022. The Department has subsequently extended an invitation to Department Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, the Western Cape Provincial Government, the Local and District Municipalities, and the SAPS. The Steering Committee will address issues such as equitable and sustainable land dispensation that promotes both social and economic development.