The Gauteng Provincial Government has called on communities to work closely with law enforcement agencies in reporting illegal land sales. Image: Supplied.
Land
1Min
South Africa
Gauteng calls on communities to help fight illegal land invasions
The Gauteng Provincial Government has appealed to residents to report illegal land sales and invasion activities as authorities intensify efforts to clamp down on unlawful land occupation across the province.
The Gauteng Provincial Government has called on communities to work closely with law enforcement agencies in reporting illegal land sales, land invasions and criminal syndicates accused of exploiting vulnerable residents.
The provincial government said the interventions form part of broader efforts aimed at building safer, better planned and sustainable communities amid growing concerns over unlawful land occupation.
In a statement the department of community safety said that rapid urbanisation, population growth and persistent housing backlogs have contributed to the increasing number of land invasions and the expansion of informal settlements across Gauteng.
They warned that illegal occupation of land continues to place severe pressure on service delivery, infrastructure, public safety and spatial development.
To strengthen prevention measures, the provincial government is working closely with municipalities, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to improve monitoring, intelligence sharing and rapid response operations targeting unlawful land occupations.
The province has also introduced LIMIT (Land Invasion Management Information Technology), a technology-driven system designed to detect illegal land invasions in real time, improve response times and support evidence gathering for law enforcement agencies.
Government said it is further engaging stakeholders on legislative and institutional reforms aimed at improving coordination between all spheres of government and strengthening the management of unlawful land occupation.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to adequate housing and the importance of protecting human dignity, the province stressed that illegal land invasions and unlawful land sales undermine the rule of law and contribute to criminal activities.
Law enforcement agencies are continuing operations targeting syndicates allegedly involved in the illegal occupation and sale of government and privately owned land to unsuspecting residents.
