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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - The Mossel Bay Municipality said this week it decided to enlist the help of the Red Ants and the Public Order Policing Unit (POPS) to prevent any further land grabs in the area.
Acting municipal mayor Dirk Kotzé says the municipality has been facing illegal land invasions.
He says it, therefore, decided to call for the help of the Red Ants and the POPS unit.
Kotzé says he knows this comes at a great cost for residents. However, he says the land being occupied in Sewende Laan, KwaNonqaba, is earmarked for a future school.
Kotzé says negotiations have already started in this regard. "The people building the illegal structures are not only stealing the future of our youth, but also trying to jump the queue on the housing list."
He says no illegal structures already built may be demolished, according to legislation. "But we are acting to prevent any further land grabs from happening and cannot allow illegal occupation of land to continue."
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Land grabs
Mossel Bay municipal spokesperson Nickey le Roux says the land illegally occupied behind the Thusong Centre, directly affects service delivery to the entire community as the centre cannot be expanded as planned.
"Even land earmarked for the new KwaNonqaba Police Station, as well as other unoccupied land, must be protected from illegal occupation."
She says those who illegally occupy land mostly use the cover of darkness at night to erect illegal structures in circumstances that make it life threatening for law enforcement to act against the illegalities.
"Illegal land occupiers also readily use municipal services such as electricity and water without paying for them, to the detriment of the legal residents who pay for these services.
"Service delivery problems result when services cannot be provided due to unplanned demand."
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Le Roux says the municipality is constantly launching action against illegal land occupation when persons are still erecting structures as this is the most effective way to combat their illegal activities.
Residents are asked to report the building of illegal structures as soon as possible and while the construction process is still in progress by calling 044 606 5000.
The Red Ants, shortly before they started operations. Foto: Jannie du Plessis
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